K9 Working Breeds

In order to understand people better, we often look to their past. Resi Gerritsen and Ruud Haak show that the same is true for dog breeds. By taking a look back through the history of those breeds most active in K9 work, Gerritsen and Haak reveal why the traits of each breed emerged to make them world class K9 workers. Each chapter in this book examines the history, characteristics, training experience, and physical defects of the world's best working breeds. Only through understanding a breed's history can a K9 handler truly appreciate the different characteristics and capabilities of the dog they're working with. Knowing this information is invaluable in training a dog in order to develop his full potential. To this end, the authors include a chapter devoted to the difference in training the increasingly popular Malinois versus the previous top K9 worker, the German Shepherd.

Published in hardcover as What the dog knows: the science and wonder of working dogs by Simon & Schuster, New York, c2013.

The definitive history of the German Shepherd, the most famous working dog in the world Learn: - Details of the breed standard, past and present. - How and why show and working dog lines developed. - Key problems with the breed today and potential solutions. Countless books have been written about how to train and care for German Shepherds, but until The German Shepherd Dog: A Historical View of the Breed’s Development, Prime, and Deterioration, no other book has offered a deep exploration of the breed’s history and development. Expert trainers Resi Gerritsen and Ruud Haak take fans of the German Shepherd on a fascinating journey from the breed’s origins in the 19th century to its spread around the world as one of the top working dog breeds. More than 130 pedigree and bloodline analyses and over 400 photos painstakingly document influential dogs in the breed’s development, including lists and analyses of the Siegers, Siegerins, Leistungssiegers, and VA class dogs that form the foundation of today’s German Shepherds. In recent decades, the breed has declined in both health and popularity as a working dog. After highlighting reasons for the breed’s deterioration, the authors demand change for the breed they love and look forward to a future when the German Shepherd regains its status as the world’s premier working dog. Anyone who breeds or trains this incredible dog needs this book.

K9-5: New York Dogs at Work is a collection of photographs that celebrate the culture in New York of bringing your dog to work. Studies have shown that having dogs in the office lowers stress and can even increase productivity. New Yorkers are known for having the longest work weeks resulting in many bringing their pooches with them to work. Featuring the offices of lawyers, hair salons, interior designers, furniture and textile showrooms, architects, jewelry boutiques, art galleries and many more with all types of dogs from Dachshunds, Shih Tzus, a Great Dane, Labradoodles, Corgis, French and English Bulldogs, mixed breeds, rescues, and others. With photography by Michelle Rose and a preface by famed dog trainer and author Bashkim Dibra, the book intimately shows these adorable 'workers' and the beautiful spaces they inhabit from nine to five.

Discover how man's best friend can also be our country's greatest weapon in this enthralling account of some of the most skilled working animals on the planet. As a SEAL during a combat deployment in Iraq, Mike Ritland saw a military working dog in action and instantly knew he had found his true calling. He started his own company training and supplying dogs for the SEAL teams, U.S. government, and Department of Defense. Today, Ritland's highly trained dogs are capable of handling both detection and apprehension work in the most extreme environments and battlefield conditions. With this first-of-its-kind book, readers are offered an inside look at these elite K9 warriors—unwavering in their devotion to duty, tough enough to protect our country against all enemies—and the extreme missions they undertake to save countless lives. "After a stellar career in the Teams, Mike Ritland has gone on to train working K9s for some of the most elite units in the U.S. Special Operations community. If you want to learn about these amazing animals, the sacrifices they've made, and their effectiveness in combat, then read TRIDENT K9 WARRIORS."—Brandon Webb, Former Navy SEAL and New York Times bestselling author of The Red Circle This edition of the book is the deluxe, tall rack mass market paperback.

What happens when the best man for the job turns out to be a dog? Find out in this surprising and inspiring tribute to working dogs who earn their keep performing ordinary, occasionally wacky, and often extraordinary tasks for which they expect little more in return than a pat on the head.

Combining heroic stories of dogs with the latest scientific and psychological information, this book has provoked controversy with its lists that rank more than 100 breeds and its exciting new insights into the thoughts, emotions, and inner lives of dogs.

Train your dog to reliably follow a human scent trail Learn: - How to pick the right dog for tracking - What equipment you need - How to lay both simple and advanced tracks - The science of scent and your dog’s nose A well-trained tracking dog can be the deciding factor that determines success in both criminal investigations and search-and-rescue operations. When the stakes are high, demanding the highest level of performance from your K9, you need training methods relied upon by police forces and SAR teams around the world. Dr. Resi Gerritsen and Ruud Haak show you how to train your dog in clean-scent tracking, a proven method that trains dogs to follow a particular scent on a track, while ignoring cross-tracks and other odors. In K9 Professional Tracking, you’ll learn how to train a clean-scent tracking dog you can count on. You’ll also learn to fully understand what your K9 is and is not capable of in the field. With the right knowledge and techniques, you’ll be able to train tracking dogs to the highest professional standards.