IPO Training - Page 1

Hi,
I have a 2 year old GSD, and he is home-taught. No real courses/classes done. He can listen quite well, though it's not the level I'd like it to be. (Yes I am planning to take a course)
I'd also really like to start doing IPO/Schutzhund. But I'm afraid my dog is too old and won't be able to catch up or that I won't be able to do it. That I won't be able to be the ''pack leader'' that he won't listen to me. Because he has issues with listening when he sees a rabbit, known dog or cat. And I know it's my fault, it's just that I'm trying my best to get him focused on me and willing to learn new things, but he doesn't want to. GSD's like to please their owners, just not mine I guess haha. That is probably my fault, and I just probably don't know how to change it.
P.S. I'm 16 and the actual owner of the dog.

So my questions are:
- Do you have any tips for me regarding the listening and focussing on me?
- Do you have any tips regarding training in general?
- What would you do in my place now? (Go training, leave it, etc.)
- Do you think my dog is too old for IPO?
- Do you think he'll be able to protect? (in IPO) (My father tried to teach him that, but he doesn't do it)
- Do you think I'll manage?

Thank you!

No, 2 years old is definitely NOT too old! However, a lot depends on your dog's temperament. He must have the necessary drive to do IPO, and not all dogs have it.

Find a good club, and they will test your dog to see if it has the potential. They will also teach YOU what you need to know to train your dog.

...He must have the necessary drive to do IPO, and not all dogs have it... Find a good club, and they will test your dog to see if it has the potential. They will also teach YOU what you need to know to train your dog -Sunsilver

@Izack - The above from Sunsilver is excellent!!! The one thing i would like to add is that even though a lot of dogs may not have what it takes, a lot of handlers/Trainers dont have "it" either. IF you are unfortanate enough to get addicted to IPO (like a lot of us do) the basic foundation you will learn with your current dog, you will be better equiped to carry over to next. You should be able to pick up some pretty decent foundation skills that will center on engagement, foucs, how to make training look like a fun game, all of these are key skills any basic owner/trainer should have :)

Everyone starts someplace and you should too...Schuzhund is a dog Sport which is supposed to build a bond between you and your dog...You also learn along the way...
Don't let you "not knowing" something stop you...In fact let it encourage you to get involved and learn...You seem to have a will/desire to want to learn and expand your knowledge of training your dog...Take it to the next level and have a good time...
We never know what our dogs can do before we get out and TRY...I always have the view of "I want to take my dog as far as they want to go"...You never know until you get out and try it...
The main thing is to HAVE FUN...and ENJOY your time with your dog...

NEVER be afraid to ask any questions...It's how we learn...

You don't learn by doing everything CORRECTLY...We only learn my making MISTAKES...by falling on our face...then getting back up and try again...

~Bob~

"We only learn by making MISTAKES..."

Very true, Bob! When I moderated on a nursing website, my sig line was "Good judgement and the ability to make right choices comes with experience. Experience comes from making wrong choices...."

I have a 10 year old female that's a mix of German and American show lines. I didn't start her in schutzhund until she was 6 years old. I was told by some of the people in the club I'd never put a BH on her, let alone an IPO 1.

Getting her to do a focused heel, after years of CKC style heeling was really, really hard. I joined the club in September, and the following year, despite all the naysayers, we did successfully get a BH.

However, she was not the ideal dog for schutzhund. She didn't like harsh corrections, and let our trainer know about that by biting him. The year after we got the BH, I left the club, for a number of reasons that I can't go into here. Okay, one of the reasons was I moved, so the club I belonged qto was much farther away.

I also realized that her genetics were not ideal for the sport, so I was keeping my eye out for a good working line pup. I saw a litter posted on the PDB, and fell in love with one of the pups, and arranged with the breeder to purchase her on a co-ownership. She is now in training for her BH, and the difference between her and my showline dog is like night and day! But the things I learned from my showline female are really, really important in knowing how to train her for IPO.

So, even if you find out your dog is not the perfect dog for IPO, what you learn from training him can be very valuable.

Here's how I start teaching the dog to focus on me. There are MANY different ways of doing this - a lot of schutzhund people use a ball or a tug, instead of food.

Slice a hotdog into thin pieces. Get the dog sitting in front of you. You want him to LOOK at you, so hold a piece of hot dog near your face. When he focuses on you, immediately say YES! and give him the hotdog bit. The 'yes' is what I use as the equivalent of the 'marker' in clicker training. It tells the dog he's doing what you want him to do, and can expect a reward.

Some people say the dog's name to get their attention. I generally say 'fuss' instead, because that's what I am trying to teach the dog. Also, some judges will dock you points if you say "Killer, fuss", because they believe it's repeating the command. (DUH...I think this is stupid, but, it's what I've been told!)

After the dog has mastered this exercise, you can switch the dog's position so it is sitting beside you. Make sure it does a correct sit, with both hind legs centered under the body, and sitting parallel to your feet. Repeat the exercise, getting the dog to focus on your face, then rewarding it.

After a few days in the 'sit' position, begin teaching the dog to take a step or two forward, while remaining focused on your face.

It is not nearly as easy as it sounds from this description, and especially once you begin to teach the dog to do it in motion, there are a lot of things to learn about the positioning of your hands, and how to deliver the food reward without the dog getting out of position, jumping up, or nipping your fingers. It really helps to have an experienced person showing you how to do it, and correcting your mistakes. That's why we pay good money to join a schutzhund club!

@Sunsilver

While sitting he can focus very well, though for not too long, but he can. It's the motion, when walking he can't. I'll try to use your tactic, thank you very much :)

your dog can't pay attention while in a sit how do u expect him to heel . The first step is focus I use a slip line and food . When the dog looks away use little pressure and release when he looks back and feed . Continue this for as long as it takes when u have full attention that's the first half then u need to add distractions when the dog looks away u use the slip lead and food it's not about pressure the dose must be very mild . When u get full attention under distractions . . Don't get impatient it takes as long as it takes u must do this exercise is different places with different distractions and still no step. Only when u have total attention under heavy distractions when u say fuss .now may take a step feeding on the first step always using your slip lead I tell u if u do not skip or rush this u will get attention like nobody or nothing else matters . Don't worry if this takes months because this is the only foundation in heel work believe me

Help and guidance IN PERSON is what will take your training to the next stage. If you let us know the general area in which you live then perhaps someone can suggest a club or group to visit/train with. There are also some very good videos out there, such as Michael Ellis.

It is never too late for your dog to learn.

Koots why do u think he need a club im no saying it could not be useful .but come on it heel work follow the instructions and u will be fine that is the problem most people skip the foundation work and try to heel with little or no attention .dog must understand the rules and the command word before u can have an expectation.