YEAH, HOORAY, I start schutzhund training tomorrow(13 wk female) - Page 1

sorry about the pic size. I could be the poster child for"can't teach an old dog new tricks. I am so excited, this is my first, my trainer has had aq female titled in Germany. They raise Goldens for search and rescue now. Any thoughts on what to expect??????

How do you start Schutzhund training a 13 week old puppy? Whatever happened to puppy obedience classes?

I don't know, that is what I am going to find out tomorrow. My dog was born at my house and is a VERY OBEDIENT GIRL, She is highly intelligent, comes, sits, stays, lies down and is totally housebroke, How much more obedient does she need to be before starting something new?

Foose, sitz in motion, platz in motion. prolinged stay porper socialization. A pup that age doesn't have the attention span for too much obedience, or any tough stuff. I think you would be doing imprinting on sent work and prey drive stuff. Then food motivated obidence. Not a pro but i think thats what others would say.

Hey kitkat3478, I'm not going to say that I even come close to being a schutzhund trainer, but I do know that 13 wks is way to young. Your little girl needs to be allowed to be a puppy. This is not to say that you can't take her to a schutzhund club and let her watch the big dogs. It will show her how much fun it is, and if they have a good helper, you can even put her in a puppy circle, but keep in mind a bad helper can ruin your puppy. Some helpers just know how to bring out drives in puppies to help them excel as they grow and mature. She is mentally too young for any serious obedience or training. Everything should be positive motivation with little or not correction. Well at least that is how my trainer had me raise my first girl and she was a beast. I did as he told me and as hard as it was,  her success was worth all the hard work.

I do agree with the previous posts, your pups attention span is that of a flea right now, and she will need alot of socializtion, not just at home either. You have to take her out into the public (make sure she has all her shots) and let her encounter the big world out there. This is where you will see how she handles stress, strangers, etc.

There are many knowledgable, gifted people on this forum that can tell you what to do with her at this age. Please take in all the good advice, and don't be in a hurry with your girl. Before you know it, she will be ready to start her schutzhund training.

Sincerely,

Debbie

Yes, tracking, imprinting, very basic motivational ob is what I do with the young'uns too.  Please come back & post what you do tomorrow.

Congratulations!

A 13 wk old pup is prime for starting puppy tracking, watching a nice older dog do protection work from the sidelines, and learnig a bit of obedience, but only with toys and food: No serious corrections. If the helper is good with prey work, you might ask him to bring out a burlap sack, puppy tug, whatever, maybe on a stick with a string or a leash to tease the pup's prey drive. don't be disappointed if he/she fails to fire the first time, just praise like crazy when he'/she is at the end of the leash, showing interest in what the helper is doing. Ignore anything else. Just getting your puppy out and socializing him/her at the club will be good stuff. One note: Be careful what dogs you allow to approach your pup.

Ask people beforehand if they have a kind dog your baby can meet who won't try to overtly dominate him/her. Old male dogs, proven to have stable nerves, temperaments are best here. We call them "professional puppy sitters."  Pups and youngsters can crawl all over them, bite their heads, bellies, chase their tails, etc., with no worries. I like to put my PPS's on a down and then invite the pups to do what they will.  :) The last thing you want is for another dog to scare your puppy at this point in his/her development. Never let a strang dog approach your pup until you are confident the pup will have a positive experience. When in doubt...DON'T. Better no experience than a negtive one at this point.

Good luck and have fun with your "baby".

SS

wHERE in the world do some of you get    that this pup is too young to attend schutzhund..   you start your socialization in a circle with other pups in the club...you go to training   you do rag work with a trainer to tell; you how to do it right    you do your obedience from words of praise with othe schutzhund members.....where in the world do you think a schutzhund candidate pup belongs          Petsmart....  the wrong training is why some dogs cant engage in this sport.......

They make puppy tugs   puppy bite pillows  and the learning begins now   not later....   you start tracking at 5mos old     I know   havae the best tracker female in east texas......the pup in the thread on   this site posted this am is only  5 months old    there is a video of that pup doing bite work on a puppy tug and pillow     he is in obedience and does sit, bringz and platz      must be something wrong with my pup     brain infusion I guess.....you can sling him to the clouds and he wont release ,,,,,he a puppy with drive and wants to learn   when his teeth fall out   he will track on those months.......

A 6 month old pup goes to schutzhund comes home and plays with everyone and is a fun proud pup.....then when you head to the truck with your orange, green and blue leash    you know what?  that 6 month old pup actually knows where you are going.....does he or she want to go  ,,,   you pick them up and put them in the cage and off you go....you take your pup to the lake or bay afterwards and buy them an icecream cone on the way home........

ok Shelley"   :    Your turn     Veronica  : your next....bring out your pup....

The thread I posted the pup working and playing in schutzhund are on the       Freak of Nature    thread    puppy with yellow tug in mouth....dob March 02, 07

I agree with Shelly

Take her play with her on the field. You will most likely be learning alot from watching other members of the club train/play. This is foundation at the begining level. Let your pup watch 1 maybe 2 of the strong club dogs work protection. Do her a favor though. Please bring her crate so she has a place to go after watching the big dogs do protection and a place to rest between play times.

This is a great time to develope her toy drive, play drive and to socialize in a controlled environment and start tracking.

Have Fun!