❣️Help! Dog bitework/bitesports❣️

[gemmaec]

🕸️ Hi y’all! 🕸️

I’m leaving for the US navy in 7 months (if I lose 20 more lbs by then LOL)

My mom is friends with a police k9 officer who has offered to mentor me and help me learn from him when I’m out of the military as I’d like to work with working dogs and hopefully train PPD’s eventually, or at least own one myself. But, I’d love to get some experience first before I leave if possible. Is there any way I could find some sort of apprenticeship or something? It’s so difficult to find bitesports clubs in IN but I will search anywhere 😭😂

Also interested in detection work for fun even though I don’t intend on becoming an officer.

I figure someone in these forums must have some info!

[gemmaec]

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[gemmaec]

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[gemmaec]

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[gemmaec]

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[Dawulf]

There's a couple Schutzhund clubs in Indiana. OG Indianapolis Schutzhund and Polizei is run by Mike Diehl who is a multi-time national and world level competitor.

https://www.diehlspolicek9training.com/schh-experience

There are quite a few clubs in IN, so hopefully one close to you.

https://www.germanshepherddog.com/regio ... m=02&re=me

From experience, I will say shop around if necessary. Visit as many as you can to see who you click with. Not all clubs have the best people involved, or training methods.

[bnom]

I would even check out working line breeders - they'll sell puppies to police, military, trainers, all sorts who do PPD work might be a good idea to get in touch with them and meet their dogs

[Meoauniaea]

Definitely meet with potential mentors. It's important to remember that this is not something you should take on without an experienced, and reputable, trainer to assist you. Most of the people I have met who do it are happy to work with veterans, so that's a plus.

In my line of work I am absolutely not allowed to work with PPD and Bitesports, including Schutzhund and IPO. I do however advocate for learning all relevant laws, ESPECIALLY laws about the dog containment for bitework-trained dogs and allowed access areas. In some places, you MUST muzzle the dog off-property at all times if trained in these sports, and they are not given protections in most areas due to the risks involved with bitesports.
(Relevant comment: I work with service dogs; service dogs in the US are absolutely not given protections at all if trained in bitesports. It's actually a violation of the law, and can be prosecuted depending on the state in question.)

However, detection is another story!! Detection can lead to great post-service jobs with the police forces, SAR teams, and all sorts of applications in forestry and surveying. I know and have worked with detector dogs and their handlers in the past and think this is a really underrated area of canine utilization. Even within the military (and I know the Navy uses them) there are a ton of detector dog applications.

[cswolf.]

I would even check out working line breeders - they'll sell puppies to police, military, trainers, all sorts who do PPD work might be a good idea to get in touch with them and meet their dogs

I absolutely agree!