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by Two Moons on 01 October 2008 - 16:10
You surely can't take any dog at 2 or 3 and retrain it for Schutzhund can you??
Doesn't it take some preparation in raising the dog to that end?

by Two Moons on 01 October 2008 - 17:10
bump !

by Shelley Strohl on 01 October 2008 - 17:10
You surely can't take any dog at 2 or 3 and retrain it for Schutzhund can you??
I have done so on several occasions, yes. Depends on the dog and what kind/how training was done before. Emma, the female I titled at 7, was a demo dog for obedience. (AKC style) She had a few issues I couldn't straighten out completely, wasn't up to the 1 meter hurdle both ways (not in the best of condition after 5 litters) but she did manage to pass her SchH 1. Funny thing, I titled her 2 yr. old son 3 years earlier.
SS

by SchutzhundJunkie on 01 October 2008 - 17:10
If the dog has the proper nerve and drive there should be no reason why you can't (except maybe health). I think having a good club/training director would be key (specially if you are green).
I say go for it and have fun.
Julie
by triodegirl on 01 October 2008 - 18:10
How about the age of the owner/handler? Do those blinds come with bathrooms? :)

by SchutzhundJunkie on 01 October 2008 - 18:10
LOL- we have a porta potty at the OB/protection field- nothing but the trees at tracking though kind of scary in the spring before the leafs come on.
In all honesty I have seen some " life experienced" folks do quite well (note I did not say old). There are things that will help regardless of age.
#1 a good dog strong nerves and lots of drive
#2 a good club & training director/helper
#3 an experienced tracking partner
#4 time, commitment and patients
#5 be a good student- there are a number of books and videos (even free stuff on the web).
Happy Training,
Julie

by Two Moons on 01 October 2008 - 20:10
Shelley,
It would be those few issue's I wondered about.
But I figured it would be more a training problem than a health or fitness problem.
Considering the dog is up to the task, you don't think it's all that big of a deal to train a dog that's already had training maybe in the wrong direction? Or to break maybe a few bad habit's?
Brent.

by Shelley Strohl on 02 October 2008 - 14:10
Considering the dog is up to the task, you don't think it's all that big of a deal to train a dog that's already had training maybe in the wrong direction? Or to break maybe a few bad habit's?
Correct, to a point. It all depends on how far in the which "wrong" direction and how deeply ingrained the behaviors are. Ex: a dog I recently had here was trained to down from the sit at a distance, and trained to do it WELL. We don't do that in Schutzhund. In the two months I had her, I only managed to stop her doing it about half the time. No huge matter. Its only 5 points. So maybe you eat 5 points, a few more here and there you might not have if you'd raised the dog as a SchH prospect from Day One. As long as the basics are not too bad (heel, sit, down, recall) the dog likes to use its nose for food (or toy) and the temperament, ability and desire to do the protection work is present, (and you aren't dead set on a high score) an older dog can often be titled.
Most of my own dogs, even those I raised from 8-10 weeks, are not titled till they are at least 3 yrs. old. I don't like rushing youngsters, and with the weather here in PA, winters are all but useless for serious training if you don't have an indoor facility. Plus, my OWN dogs always end up getting the short end of the stick at the end of the day. If I don't do a good job with the Pay Dogs, my own won't have anything to eat this winter. LOL
SS

by Tygerlily on 02 October 2008 - 15:10

by Two Moons on 02 October 2008 - 16:10
I remember post's about raising pup's with Schutzhund in mind versus other career's, also pet's and I new certain thing's were different in the process.
It sound's like a lot of extra work without the proper foundation's from the start as a puppy. I have a lot of trouble breaking old habit's in my dog's once they have set in. Leaving the property being the worst. Or my bitch who obey's like gold, only when she feel's like it, then embarassing me at other time's.
I have a lot to learn.
Maybe I can pick up a few pointer's in Kentucky......:)
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