PPD or IPO prospect? - Page 3

RH2, not RH1 within SV...
As long as the OP didn´t go anywhere to evaluate the dog, it´s useless to think about any appropriate activities.

Your question about PPD or IPO prospect -
I tended to title my "serious" dogs in IPO, too. They didn´t mind.
You just need a good helper who knows how to stimulate and work a serious dog, and everything is fine.
You may not win the Nationals, but you will be able to title ( IPO3 ) for sure.

Don´t think about lines and pedigrees, just think about your dog and its advantages.
Over here we tend to do, not to ask.

"Sounds to me like you got all the bases covered.....Good Luck!"

You tried!  

Sounds like you have a good dog on your hands. Don't feel down if people tell you your dog has weak nerves. I think many people have different opinions on this subject. Your dog is perfectly old enough to show defense. I've seen defense in great dogs from very young.  

Does your dog's drive to bite override any insecurity? Judging by your information I'd guess that it does. From what you say, it sounds like he has some fight. Now it's time to put him in front of a helper and slowly bring him/her along and challenge him on the next level. Nerves will become an issue for me if the dog shows avoidance under pressure. But if brought along nicely by a good helper, this dog should do the work fine. 

Some people like a dog that is confident and social and will walk up to anyone and not perceives threat but some people like a dog that perceives threat. They make better natural protectors. I like to compare having nerves like having a temper in humans. You have a temper, you're a little more less to be f'ed with. You won't have as great of a social life. But that's who you are. It works for dogs better than humans by the way haha.

Typically, a dog that does PPD should be able to do IPO and visaversa. 

if a pup gets defensive on strangers minding their own business in public then it definitely has nerve/confidence issues. pup doesnt need to be social at all but it shouldnt "worry" about strangers. the world defense and pups is usually a bad combination. petting the pup when its nervous is also not what i'd recommend. i'd say the loudest most huffy puffy pups are the ones that are unsure of themselves. 

a video would be nice though. fiercy defensive can mean a wide range of things to different people. it could be a couple of barks to full on hackles and lunging. 

someone tell me again when defence is a good/useful drive, a cornered lone compound dog perhaps?

i really don't get it, but i know there is a big market in the pet crowd for dogs that are 80% defensive and 20% prey drive LMAO.

vk4gsd, german shepherds are suppose to be naurally suspicious and territorial. i wouldnt want a 100% prey dog. if that was the case i might as well get a bordier collie (just made that up, dont know anything about collies). even at ipo clubs the dogs with high pitched prey barks dont get as much ooos and aahhhs as the deep serious barkers. 

op, i just read your other thread and your dog definitely has confidence issues. only thing ill say is this; this sounds like your first dog. when i owned my very first shepherd (turned out to be extremely nervy), i made all kinds of excuses for his behavior. i just didnt know any better as i had nothing to compare it to. him as a pup barking at a plastic bag blowing, barking at a "strange" looking fishermen, etc. things i thought were normal for the breed. it wasnt until i actualy owned a super solid dog that i realized the things my old dog did weren't protection based but instead was fear based. my point is, since you have nothing to compare your dogs behavior to, you should take the advice of people who have owned multiple shepherds more seriously. also realize many people here own civil serious dogs who have no problem biting. fine line between civil and nervy though. 

boomer, good BC's are horrible to train for obed and such, they physically and mentally lock up (at least on the outside)  ie they internalise their huge work drive when most in drive, literally.

the pet/sport crowd have worked hard to breed a lot of that intrinsic and most desirable trait out of them tho to get a freer more open dog i might add.  

the new "improved" ones are not worth feeding at their natural game/venue tho.