First working dog (bite sports) I need advice on breed, sex, and sourcing for Europe
Hi,
I’m looking for some advice from people with experience in bite sports / protection sports (IGP, Mondioring, PSA, etc.) before I go ahead and get my first working dog.
A bit about me:
I live in Iceland
I’m fairly active (hiking a lot, outdoors often)
I’m in school during weekdays (around 8–15)
I also work about an hour a day, and full-time in summer (8–16 with a break at home)
In about 3 years I’ll be training to become a pilot, but I’ll still likely be living with either my dad or my girlfriend, so the dog wouldn’t be left alone all day or anything like that
In terms of training/working time, most days I’d aim for around 1.5–2 hours of structured work/training, but I want to be realistic that some days it could drop to around 30–45 minutes because of bad weather, sickness, or just life happening. I would still make sure the dog is getting exercise and engagement, but I don’t expect every day to be perfect.
This would be my first dog specifically for bite work / sport training.
What I’m trying to figure out:
What breed would actually suit a first-time handler in my situation?
Male or female — does it really matter for a first working dog?
Is going for a high-drive line a bad idea for someone new, even if I’m active?
Where should I realistically be looking for breeders (Europe imports, specific countries, lines, etc.)?
What are the main red flags I should avoid when choosing a breeder?
Should I be looking at getting a puppy from a breeder or is adopting/rehoming a started dog a better option for this kind of work?
Also, what should I realistically expect to pay for a well-bred working prospect (including import if needed)? I’m trying to get a rough idea so I don’t get completely lost with pricing.
Is there anything important I should know or think about before getting into this that people usually don’t mention early on?
I’m not looking for a casual pet with some training on the side — I want something I can actually develop properly in sport — but I also don’t want to end up with a dog that’s too much for a first handler.
Any honest advice from experienced handlers would be really appreciated.