[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: puppy training and the GSD
- From: Kate Syssoloff <rockannand@xxxxxxx>
- To: arcturusgermanshepherds@xxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2014 13:39:59 -0600 (MDT)
Sorry to hear about this Sue. Can I just explain how we do it here? With our
Sales Agreement comes 8 weeks of obedience training where the owners come back
with their pups when they are 6 months. Until that age, they must follow our
puppy book and not go to any obedience classes. 6 months is the earliest our
breed should be in formal training and by that time, their necks are tough
enough that a german choke chain can be introduced. Up until that time, they
wear a martingale. Having all the pups back does 3 important things: 1) It
allows me to see how I'm doing in my breeding program; 2) It allows me to see
how well cared for it is; 3) It provides correct training for the owners to
get the most enjoyment from owning their dog.
In your case, at 7 months, their pup is just behind by 1 month. It's still
just a baby, easy to train and hasn't solidified it's obnoxious behavior to the
extent that of a 2 yrs old dog. Flipping this puppy around isn't going to be
that difficult. However, I do not train with food... Ever. As far as I'm
concerned, it just teaches a puppy to snap at the hand. Professionals, who
have mastered the art of 'timing' may find treats in training beneficial in
that it certainly makes an already obedient dog work very quickly, and if
working towards a CKC/AKC test, can make a good dog, great. With puppies in my
class, treats can be given after class when we are seated and loving them up.
Prior to competing with American/Canadian dogs, I had German bloodlines. I
loved to compete at the Seiger Shows and was trained by a retired dog master of
the German Police force who was a member of the Schutzhund Club. His name was
Carl Schilling and his classes [back in 1979], taught me everything that I
still use today. If you are worried about training your pup, may I suggest
taking him to your local Schutzhund Club and having them temperament test him
[it should be free], and they should be able to give you excellent advice on
how to proceed.
Kate Syssoloff
Rockannand
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sue Tomlinson" <arcturusgermanshepherds@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "The list" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, 6 April, 2014 7:33:21 AM
Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] puppy training and the GSD
I am very frustrated right now. I have a beautiful puppy coming back to
me shortly. Champion sired, ofa's on both ends of parents, beautiful
pedigree, deep red sable. Sound, sweet tempered parents.
Puppy is almost 7 months old. The owners tried to do everything right.
Took him to puppy classes starting at 9 weeks, where an older puppy
jumped on him and began to drag him around. This went on every week for 8
weeks. Instructor said " let them play!" so the owners did.
The 8 week course was a "Champion of my Heart" training. In other
words, all positive, no choke collars, no martingales, nothing but a soft
buckle collars. You weren't allowed to use the word no, or a corrective
sound. You followed the puppy around and when it sat you praised it and
gave it a cookie. As the weeks went on you could "position" your puppy and
then, of course, give it a cookie.
Not surprisingly, at the end of 8 weeks the puppy knew little more than
sit and to run from bigger dogs.
So, another 8 week class was in order. At home, if the puppy was doing
something it shouldn't the owners were told to distract the puppy with a
toy and then....you guessed it! Give a cookie! By 5 months the puppy was
destroying things in the house, jumping up on people and had begun barking
at people coming to the house. The owners did what they were told and
would distract him with a toy or cookie and then give him a cookie! Guess
what he has learned?
The first time they brought him out to start training with me they told me
not to look him in the eye or he would bark at me. The puppy began to jump
around and pull the owners all over the place. The wife immediately said,
"Wait!" I have cookies in the car and ran to get the cookies.
Training went pretty well for 3 weeks with them coming every week. They
were told: " German Shepherds Need a Leader!!" and I tried to enforce that
with them by setting up situations. Sadly they called to tell me the dog
had bitten the husband and they no longer wanted him as he was dangerous.
Here's what happened: the now almost 7 month old puppy was playing with
the 20 year old daughter. He was pawing at her and biting at her hands.
She would grab his face and push on it. Soon she was tired of the game
and wanted the puppy to leave her alone. She called her Dad, who told the
dog to stop ( yeah right ) and when he didn't he grabbed the puppies
collar. The puppy turned his head and grabbed the man's arm. He didn't
break the skin, just pinched him. So much wrong here.
Sorry to vent, but this puppy wasn't given a fair shake either. I will
try and re-train and then find a home with people who are leaders. The
puppy's owner did tell me there were 3 other shepherds in the class and the
instructor had commented "she didn't know what was wrong with Shepherds
today". Sigh..
============================================================================
POST is Copyrighted 2014. All material remains the property of the original
author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind
are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the
Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its
administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in
any post.
ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY
MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS
PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY
FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE
PROSECUTED.
For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxx
VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org SUBSCRIPTION:
http://showgsd.org/mail.html
NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/
============================================================================
============================================================================
POST is Copyrighted 2014. All material remains the property of the original
author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind
are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the
Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its
administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in
any post.
ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY
MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS
PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY
FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE
PROSECUTED.
For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxx
VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org SUBSCRIPTION:
http://showgsd.org/mail.html
NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/
============================================================================
Other related posts:
