BIG question, at least for me it is!!!! Schutzhund training? - Page 2

Then I think you will really enjoy training him in Sch.  It seems everything new I try with my dogs, just increases the bond that much more.

Let me know how you make out once you have Chaos evaluated.  Good luck.

C

Shepherdwoman- If it can work who cares if it's a long haired??  If you go to a SCH club and they don't make you feel welcomed or uncomfortable that you showed up with your boy not "fitting the part" then there's always a DVG club you can look into that may be a little more up your alley.

Shepherwoman,

You are near me, so I can help you find a club for you and Chaos. I know of a few in the area. Ill catch you on yahoo about it.

HI Shepherd Woman,

I never thought about doing Schutzhund until coming on this board, I have been aware of it since the 80's but never really looked into it in depth. After listening to the talk here I went to a local club and wasn't sure if my dog had what it took or they were just being nice. They said he had good drives but I didn't know them and just wasn't sure. There was no room in the club anyway so I just kind of gave up and continued in AKC OB, started AKC tracking, etc.  Well, someone from here on the DB put me in touch with a trainer, we went this past weekend and he told me my boy has MORE than enough potential, drives like crazy! I am going full steam ahead with training, ordered some equipment last night when I got home! I have lots to learn but I really like the trainer and I'm sure I'll have plenty of help along the way. When I train Drake in OB he will do what I ask but never seems "excited" or happy, just does it because I want him to. Yesterday he was "all attention" and seemed happier to work than I've ever seen him.  HE liked it and that's why I'll pursue it. As long as we're having fun and learning along the way I see it as a win/win situation.

So my advice is GO FOR IT!

As a side note, the boy I lost last year, my Link, was a long coat dark sable and nobody could have changed my thinking that he was the best dog in the world!  So you see, I'm partial to long hairs, I've seen your boy and you've nothing to be ashamed of, he's absolutely gorgeous!

SW,

That seems to be the problem in a lot of areas (that the clubs are so far away).  I too have that problem and with the time the training itself takes, it just seems like a lot of time away (that isn't involved in the actual training) not to mention the gas and my big a$$ truck!

I too would love to find someone close to me that could do one on one training.  I just know I would love it.

(Does anyone ever feel nervous about looking so dumb when they first get out there?)  I'm one of those people that don't care to be the center of attention and it would probably be me making my dog look bad!!  Sorry, just wondered if I'm the only one!!! lol

Go for it SW!  And, if you do find a club and/or trainer, let us know how it goes. 

Give it a try! Have him evaluated and go from there. DO NOT send him away to be trained. The only way to train a dog to get a SchH title in a month is with a TON of compulsion. This is crap training.

   GO FOR IT!!   The coat is a non-issue.  Most of the working folks are only going to "judge" by the dog's abiities anyway.  If he has the drive and temperament, that is what matters.   Yes, you might  be reminded that coats are not "breedable,"  but you will probably also hear opinions that such cosmetics restrictions are dirt-dumb, and eliminate lots of dogs with excellent drives and temperament from the gene pool. 

Things you must remember, if you decide to get into schutzhund:

  1.  You do schutzhund, you travel.   Nobody gets to train in their own backyard, unless that is where the club training field and equipment is located.     Get used to the idea, now.

2.  You do schutzhund, it is not just a "hobby;"  it becomes a life-style.   You will never drive past an expanse of ground, even highway medians,  again, without thinking of whether it would be good for tracking.   You will judge and purchase vehicles based on how many  400 or 500 crates you can get into it.    Mileage becomes secondary to crate-space.  You will purchase, and actually wear, clothing you would never have been caught dead in before.   Schutzhund aint for Barbie--you need Muck boots, Wellies, raingear, snow gear,  and warm, thick socks.   You learn what the big deal is about Cabelas.   Even more, you get all excited when you learn that a Cabelas is opening withing 100 miles.   You will never look at a package of hotdogs the same way.   You will forget that you ever went to matinees.  In fact, you will forget whatever you used to do with your weekends altogether!! 

3. Schutzhund aint for sissies!!  You train and trial in nasty weather (hence the rain and snow gear).  You learn to eat outside, standing up.   If you were fastidious about bathrooms before, you will get over it!!  You will be grateful for portapotties!!  

You will learn that there are some folks who smoke like fires and don't care about the Surgeon General's warning.  You will learn that there really are tobacco-chewing people in the world who don't realize how terribly unattractive that nasty habit is.  You will also learn that they tend to have been "raised right" and will try to minimize inflicting their nasty habits on you.  

You will learn that some of the folks you thought would be the "rednecks" you had always been warned about are some of the best folks on the green Earth, and don't judge you by anything other than how you treat and train you dog...and whether the dog works.   They will remember your dog's name, his bloodlines and his ancestor's stats, before they get your name straight. 

JMHO

Nia

Nia,

Sounds like my kind of fun!

Call Nermin at the Grand Rapids SchH Club

GSD fanatic,  don;'t worry about looking like an idiot!  Wait until you see some of the folks in schutzhund clubs!    Let your dog speak for you.  if you have a great dog, it doesn't matter so much that you a haven't a clue--people will be glad to help you!  One thing about schutzhund folks--generally they all want to do right by the dogs and help everyone else do right by them,too.