Pics of Ruger ( aka Prince ) - Page 2

Testing again....if it comes out .this was taken this afternoon...best I could do...whatcha think????

                                                                                           Ruger1

"I could not find the pedigree and who is Julie?"

Sorry, Nans, Julie Martinez from Mittelwest.  Here's a link to the pedigree:

www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/659136.html

                                                        Here they are...all taken today....thanks for the comments be they good or bad....either way I will enjoy your input.... it won't change how I feel about this WONDERFUL BOY.....


                                                                  Ruger1

He's beautiful...looks almost identical to my pup, Axel, who will be 5 months old tomorrow.  How are his drives and temperament?  What are your plans for him?

Keith Grossman, thank you for the nice comments....I am not sure about his drive..?? We have attended AKC obedience classes since Prince was 12 weeks old and he excels in everything very nicely.  We are starting our first Schutzhund class in mid- June. I am looking forward to seeing what he is made of...lol.. I have never been involved in the sport so I am anxious to start classes.
  As far as his temperament goes he is smart and very willing to please. However, he is not at all fond of people outside our immediate family....this has been a concern for me. Just today I brought out a bag of cloths that I got from a garage sale and his hackles went up and he became very alerted.....???? I am guessing it was the unfamiliar scent. 
   I would appreciate any thoughts, opinions or advice.....

                                                                          Thanks  Ruger1 

He's beautiful! He might have alerted on the clothes if they smell like cigarette smoke or something else he doesn't know--in and of itself it doesn't mean he has problems with people. How is he with new people at your house or in new places?

How does he react in your training classes? What methods are you using for puppy training? At his age, he should be having a lot of fun in training and whenever you go new places.

I'd start taking him out and walking him in lots of different places--he doesn't have to like other people, but you don't want him scared of them.

Walk him around the edges of parking lots where he can see people at a distance and see how he reacts. If he is worried, praise him for curiousity and willingness to explore. There's lots you can do--but you're better to get him out now while he is still young--it becomes much more difficult when he is older and bigger.

Christine

               BlackthornGSD thanks for your post  I made the biggest fuss about socialization with this guy. There wasn't a place we did not bring him along since he has been 8 weeks old. He was the most confident GSD pup I had ever owned and very friendly and outgoing too. At about 4 months old he started showing dislike for all types of people in all different situations...could not really pinpoint any particular type of person or situation. He has had no bad experiences and I did everything to my knowledge  to try and avoid this type of behavior.  We have attended obedience class with the same group for 2 months and as long as everyone ignores him...he is fine. Basically if you ignore him for the most part he is happy to ignore you. I  hesitate to talk about it because most often people think it has been from lack of socialization....I really find that hard to believe given how diligent I
have been to socialize him.  . I am at a loss here with what I should have done differently with this guy...

                                                                     any advice welcome thanks...Ruger1

What does he do when people pay attention to him? Does he bark or does he dislike it and duck with his ears down or does he get fearful and look for a way to get away?

It's so frustrating when a puppy changes like that despite the foundation of socialization. But you don't want to keep him away from exposure to new people--that may only "lock in" his current attitude. At the same time, you don't want to push him and confirm his current opinion of people. I would make sure he's not forced into interactions with people that he doesn't want. But you want to encourage acceptance and, at the least, neutrality towards other people.

                            Most often when someone starts to talk to him and walks toward him he will bark with ears forward and his tail up. That usually is enough to stop the average person from continuing any closer. I will show my disapproval by saying leave it with a firm voice and put him in a sit. There has been one occasion that our friend did not heed the warning signs and reached toward him and was bit.  I talked with the breeder and she wanted me to bring Prince to her for an evaluation. She is an eight hour drive from our home. To make a long story short.. I brought him to a local Schutzhund club for their opinion. Prince's breeder new of them and felt comfortable with their evaluation of his temperament. Their opinion was he needed more obedience training and that maybe he would benefit from some bite work to build his confidence. I start classes in mid June with the club I am hoping that this will help Prince.. In the meantime it is very hard if not impossible to take him for socialization...... 
                                               
                                                                     Thoughts???        Ruger1