Big mistake - Page 2

Occasionally we all need help with different issues. This behaviour will not get better, but worse if not handled properly. Most likey there is nothing wrong with the dog, that a little assistance would fix. Sometimes we also buy dogs that are over our skill level, been there done that and not fun. However, you can get up to speed quickly with the proper help.

I noticed the second word you wrote was "recently".  How long have you had the dog? 

Too many times we want to take our new toy for a test drive.  Im not saying you did this, but too many people don't give an older dog long enough to bond.  I think we get excited about our new dog and want to see how great he really is.  If he is a hard dog, the last thing you want to do is go into heavy corrections.  Heck, if the dog is that hard, I wouldn't even do obedience with a leash and corrections.  I'd take Rover in the back yard  with a tug or a ball and do our obedience that way for about a month. No corrections, just fun and bonding.  If that doesn't work, it is time to crack out the Louisville Slugger!

He has been here for about a month and a half. My SchH3 never did anything like this. In fact me and my dog had a round today, he is a fence runner, and I yelled the correction to stop, and he looked and growled. Well I have figured out that he doesn't like the water hose, so I pointed it at him, and he came towards me snapping and growling so I popped him with it.

Owning this dog has taught me alot, and many may not agree with me, but I think a dog should repeat titles, regardless if he passed them or not. I came on here a while back and asked should a title be done again if low scores were earned and I got the reply "would you send your kid back to the same grade if he had d's? Of course not, cause he passed!"

I think that mentality is what creates dogs like this, because if he scores low on the title, most likely he will fail the next.

moose, it sounds as if you are afraid of this dog. If that is the case then you will not be able to go any farther with it. Not a criticism, an observation. The best and fairest thing you can do , at this point, is to find a handler with the ability to properly take care of the dog.

By the way I received one of the finest GSDs I have ever seen last August. It took me 4 or 5 months before I was completely comfortable with him.

Additionally, the following statement; makes it sound as if you  are blaming people on the board for this. Buying titled working dogs without finding out what makes them tick, may be your real problem. Cavetor emperatus-it is your responsibility to know what you are purchasing.

"Owning this dog has taught me alot, and many may not agree with me, but I think a dog should repeat titles, regardless if he passed them or not. I came on here a while back and asked should a title be done again if low scores were earned and I got the reply "would you send your kid back to the same grade if he had d's? Of course not, cause he passed!"

I think that mentality is what creates dogs like this, because if he scores low on the title, most likely he will fail the next."

Don't take it personally, you are not and will not be the only one to make this mistake.

Moose,

Before you bail on this dog, take him to a club and get a second set of eyes on him, and you.  There's not enough info in your posts to really know what's going on, except that you see behaviors in the dog that upset you. 

For example, growling at the family...  Is this dominance, or fear?   Sorry, but I dropped my crystal ball last week and the super glue isn't holding it together very well. 

Do you have a club nearby?   Doesn't even have to be SchH, just a group that knows dogs.  PSA?  Ring?  Anything?  I hope you're not stuck in a vacuum.

In any case, I hope you don't expect to find a carbon copy of your SchH3 dog somewhere.  If so you might as well sell or return the other dog right away and give it up.  Each dog will have his or her own unique temperment, strengths, and weaknesses.  Sometimes it's just a question of chemistry between dog and handler. 

Yvette

spook101,

I am not sure why you believe I am afraid of this dog, there has yet to be one that frightens me. I dont think I would have met him half way with the water hose is I was scared.

I have had him looked at by other people, they do not know what to think of him.

I think SchHbabe hit it right on the nail, however. I expected to get a good, clear headed dog, and instead what I got was a dog who does not know how to take different enviroments, and the only reaction he knows to show is anger.