There is a fundamental difference between training pet service dog breeds (Malinois, German Shepherd, Giant Schnauzer, Airedale, Dutch Shepherd, etc.) versus those which have been selectively bred for competition or professional work. The top dogs look spectacular when they do the higher-level work. However, if you have a pet version of these dogs, don’t despair. You probably would find these high drive dogs too much to handle and not so much fun. You can get great performance out of pet bred dogs, I know because I do that kind of work every day.
Stronger drives, especially prey drive, give the trainer, and the owner, options that aren’t possible with pet dogs. I can introduce additional tools and techniques that wouldn’t be interesting to the pet versions. There are a variety of exercises that can be used to take advantage of higher levels of drive, responsiveness and eagerness to work. These specialty dogs also tend to have other behavioral features that were selected to give more options to the trainer to allow the dog to go to higher heights in training.
If you get a specialty dog like this, you should expect to spend more for equipment: from leashes to collars to the specific toys you are using. You also might need some specialty items for yourself. For example, for wet grassy surfaces, I have shoes with soft cleats so I can better maintain my balance, and more durable clothes that are less likely to tear or wear out.
The working versions can accidentally injure you along the way. Bruises, cuts, sprains and such are possible and should be expected, within lesson and even just living with your dog. These dogs aren’t trying to hurt you, they just have so much zoom you should have good cardio, balance, fast reflexes, be nimble and strong. That also means you should be partaking in a good fitness and injury rehabilitation program along the way, and the same for your dog. You and the dog need to be in good physical shape to handle the banging around you are both going to experience.
These dogs can also have stronger tendencies to recognize the social influences of 1.). Insiders vs Outsiders, meaning they can’t be expected to love every stranger and strange dog; 2.) territory; 3.) rank, status and relationships; 4.) age and sex of others, human and other dogs; 5.) play; 6.) communication gestures; 7.) early socialization and environmental exposure; 8.) past aversive experiences; and a host of other things depending somewhat upon the breed. All of that can complicate owning such a dog if all you were wanting was just a pet.
The biggest mistake is when someone gets their hands on dogs like this and then try to suppress every impulse these dogs have. You will regret trying to fence in drive like that. The other mistake is getting a dog from breeding lines that do police and military work. Those dogs are another level or two up from the competition bred dogs, and there is much more for you to know before embarking down that path. They can also be a hassle to own. Dogs that can fight and defeat a man in a fight should not be managed as just another pet.
For the average owner, they will be better off with a healthy pet of any breed. For those who want a working version, be careful with what you wish. Active, athletic, driven dogs can be fun and rewarding, but they also might not work out. If you do have a specialty dog, then you will need to dig in and do a better job of working with them in order to enjoy them as a pet.
Plan accordingly.