This is a very common misconception. A lot of people buy puppies from working lines without realising just how much energy these dogs have — and how much training and mental stimulation they actually need. Because of the work and dedication required, most people simply don’t have the time, ability, or inclination to provide it. They think that because of the dog’s genetic potential, it could make a good police, government, or security agency candidate. Due to my experience working with police, military, and security agencies — and supplying trained dogs — people often approach me thinking I can do a bit of training with their dog and then on-sell it to the police or government agencies. The reality is that almost all of the dogs brought to me by owners who originally bought them as pets lack the development and socialisation needed before a trainer like myself can even think about presenting them to an agency. When I’m purposely raising a pup or dog for this kind of work, the training and socialisation goes far beyond what the average pet dog receives. These dogs must be exposed to many different types of sounds — gunshots, explosions, all sorts of environments, and crowds of people. They may have to work in front of children, drunk people, drug addicts, violent individuals, and those who are emotionally unstable. These dogs must also be good with other animals — particularly other dogs. They need to be comfortable living in a kennel environment with lots of other dogs around them, crate trained for car and plane travel, and comfortable working with multiple handlers. If a dog hasn’t been raised in this type of environment, almost all will struggle to adapt. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with dogs living like this, but it’s exactly what life looks like for police and agency dogs. That’s why most agencies are now buying puppies and raising them themselves. While there are vendors around the world who do this for a living, these dogs typically receive at least a couple of hours of training each day, plus all the environmental and physical conditioning required before being presented to an agency.

I remember when I first began studying dog behaviour with trained professionals. I had to face a lot of uncomfortable truths about dogs and how they learn. These truths were presented with reason, facts, and proof. While I thought I knew something about dogs, I was wrong about many things I had learned from people who didn’t train dogs for a living, had never studied dog behaviour, and whose own dogs were very poorly behaved. A lot of what these individuals said about dogs was motivated by feelings, not facts. I have been fortunate to learn from numerous talented trainers, and without their dedication and generosity, I wouldn’t be the trainer I am today. Social media has its issues. As Mark Zuckerberg said on the Joe Rogan podcast, social media is a reflection of human nature. With the rise of so-called “force-free” or “pure positive” methods, we’ve seen a massive increase in dog behaviour problems throughout the industry. For the most part, force-free trainers rely on emotionally manipulative propaganda — particularly shaming. They shame anything that doesn’t suit or align with their ideology. As a result, many susceptible owners have inadvertently rewarded unwanted behaviours through these “training techniques.” They eventually reach a point where they can no longer live with their dogs and are left with limited options: sedatives, surrendering them to a rescue or shelter, or worse — euthanasia. I have written before about medicating dogs for behaviour issues and why it is unnecessary. If you’re experiencing these problems, don’t give up. Instead, contact a balanced trainer who can demonstrate reliable training (such as a solid recall) that doesn’t rely on constant bribery and begging.

https://youtu.be/TorDQb26rMA

Incremental changes.