Pedigree Question/Training - Page 1

Hi all!

I'm new to the GSD community, but I have tried to do a tremendous amount of research when it comes to these dogs, as well as training. So I'll get right to the point of this thread..

My sister purchased this dog for quite a bit of money, then gave him to me for free. He's 8 years old really obedient and I'm wanting to work with him and develop him a bit more. He has no health issues at all, and gets around perfectly.

What I'm curious to know, is a bit about his pedigree: Does he have a good history/genes? Also what others think of his pedigree. Did I get lucky to acquire him for free?

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/dog.html?id=2450931-ruegrr-vom-haus-malonek9

Also, given his age, can I still work with him on developing new skills? I'm sure I can, I just want to know how difficult it would be.

BACKGROUND:

I'm going to make up names here since I don't want to complicate anything with breeders.

My sister purchased Ruegrr from "Smith's K9" who purchased him from "Andersons Breeding". Smith's K9 is the one who trained him in both German and Czech languages. My sister purchased him from Smith's K9 less than a year ago. My sister didn't really ask a whole lot of questions about Ruegrr and honestly didn't know his background a whole lot. I've had to look things up all over the internet and play Private Detective to get a full history behind him. I contacted the original breeder.. "Andersons Breeding" They told me Smith's K9 handled all the training.

I found the original owners, Smith's K9, on Facebook and reached out to them asking if I could know more about his training. I sent them a friend request and also sent them messages (husband and wife) a few days ago, and all have been ignored. So a lot of what I have to go on is guess work.

The commands I know he knows:

Sit - Sedni (He sometimes responds to "Sitz")
Down -Lehni (He sometimes responds to "Platz")
Stay - Bleib
Come - Hier
Speak - Stekej (I think, still learning what command he knows)
"No" - Pfui/Fuj
Leave it
Drop/Let go - Aus
Heel - (Still learning what command he knows but I'm pretty sure it's the English form)

As to why she gave him up. She owns 3 businesses 2 dogs, has a 16 year old daughter, is married. She is currently focusing all her spare time and training on another Czech Shepherd and just does an insane amount of work with him. So she gave Ruegrr to me, I honestly crapped myself when I learned how much she paid for him. I don't know the market for senior trained dogs, but I feel like she overpaid.

That's an excellent working pedigree, and you have a mature dog to go forward with. New basic skills? I think so. Polish up the commands he is familiar with, new language, hand signals etc..go from there.

Thank GK1 I appreciate the response. I just wish I knew his exact training as this would make things a whole lot easier. I might contact a local club or trainer to help me out a bit as this is my first German Shepherd. He's still super playful which is great. He's a blast so far.

Even with knowledge of his previous training, you are a new handler to him, with a different training/leadership style, different lifestyle and home environment so he might express himself a bit differently. An exciting project.

You certainly can work/train him for whatever you want and have fun at doing it...He will teach you a lot of things...
If you can't get an answer from the "trainers" about his training then it would be very helpful to find a good trainer that can help you unlock what he's already been trained to do...
I get dogs from overseas and most of the time I have no idea what their training was like...So I just start from the beginning and can get a good idea about what training they've had...
A good start would be to find out what language he responds to the best and use that to train with...

~Bob~

Thanks for the replies! I feel pretty fortunate for getting him for free. I just wish he was a little younger so I could enjoy his company a little longer. Damn age limits... Can anybody recommend me a decent trainer in the Saint Louis area?

As Bob and GK said, looks like he will repond to training with you. Could be the best sort of dog to start out with, since even if there is some initial 'getting used to you' and any confusion with methods / languages, this is a dog who has been bred to work and been 'around the block' so knows the sort of thing he is expected to do; it isn't like starting out with a puppy. Agree that it is a pity you have missed so many years already, but if kept fit & active & interested, through Work or sport, and if you look after him well otherwise, in terms of e.g. diet, then it is quite possible you will keep him around for quite a few years yet.  Very best of luck; enjoy him !

Some more Czech commands the dog may know (spelled the best I can phonetically)

K'now-zhay       heel

Kee-kee            good

Zhoo stahn        stay

P note say        get up (as on a platform, on a couch, into a big truck, etc.)

Drogee              drugs (find)

Tichee              quiet

Pooscht            drop it/release

Here's a couple of websites with commands in multiple languages

https://leerburg.com/commands.htm

http://www.daytondogtrainer.com/about-us/dog-commands/

 

The dog may know some things in English, like pee, poo, out, ride, veterinarian, dog park, car, training, collar, work, etc. The words may have been trained, or the dog could have figured it out listening to humans talking about something and then getting the official command or doing something/going somewhere.

Please keep in mind that due to covid19, responses to inquiries could be really slow from any business, especially if they closed down or cut hours/services/capacity until the pandemic dies down, or if someone is reallysick or there was a recent death(s).

 

by Theminatar on 15 November 2020 - 10:11

Can anybody recommend me a decent trainer in the Saint Louis area?

 

If you looked online, you already know there's a b'zillion in that area.  Be aware, some specialize in show, pet, sport, or K9.  Reviews on Thumbtack and Angies' List may be helpful, but still match the trainer/training facility.  A lot of the reviews won't specify, and most will be pet owners.

Here's the AKC-affiliated GSD Club in St. Louis

http://gsdcstl.org/

 

The American Schutzhound Clubs of America HQ is located in Arnold

https://www.germanshepherddog.com/

 

There are several sport clubs in your area:  PSA, Schutzhound, etc.  They might be able to help or refer you to someone that can.

 

Here are some of them in no particular order:

 

https://psak9-as.org/

https://www.facebook.com/stlouisschutzhund/

https://www.usmondioring.org/club/st-louis-working-dog-club/

https://www.facebook.com/stlwdc/

https://www.facebook.com/Gateway-Working-Dog-Club-658116394344517/

Etc., etc., etc.

 

It is possible someone will recognize your dog if he worked in the St. Louis Metro, as many K9 handlers train together, and some of them are also active in a club.  If you find out which department he worked for (if any), you could contact that department's K9 handler(s).  One might have been the/a previous handler and would love to see the dog again, and visa versa.

 

You're probably best off starting with a club to get a recommendation, but Tom Rose K9 trainer school is on Antire.  They do pet and working training and have a free training evaluation.  Try to get an instructor/trainer instead of a student.  Some students are better than others.  Don't do board and train with them.  They do have regular boarding if you need it and are experienced boarding working dogs.  Big $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ for pretty much everything except the free training evaluation, where they will try to sell you some training.  Theyknow pretty much everyone, so they may know your dog and/or previous handler(s), or can tell you who the handler or department was.  May have done some of his training.

https://www.doghouseinc.com/

 

St. Louis County Police Department and City of St. Louis PD have big K9 programs, so someone there might know your dog or the previous handler/department.

 

Congrats on your dog :-)