**What Schutzhund puppy tug do YOU use 1st?** - Page 2

I guess my theory is leather first because in the real world a 250 lb threatening man's arm feels more like leather in the mouth of dog than an empty potato bag or sleeve. Then again, I don't want him to shy away from the sleeve because he doesn't like the feel of it in his mouth as much as he does leather...

Dude, If your dog wont buit something because of the material, get a new dog! If your dog has the neccessary drives, you wont have a problem.

Oh, he'll bite anything (just ask our dining room chairs, couch, loveseat, walls, trim, corners of our cabinets, edge of our floor rugs...etc), I just don't want to screw him up and want his bitework to be supreme - heard SO many horror stories of people screwing up puppies bitework and dogs never recovering - when you get a new pup it's that clean slate, you know! It's like all your sins have been forgiven and you have another chance! LOL

I like the French linen tugs myself.

French linen for play and obedience - orbee balls and kongs too... rag work - burlap suede/chamois old sleeve cover k9toolbox.com has nice stuff JRThomas

I just got some nice bite rolls from Jim Hill (http://hallmarkk9.com/) , I have always been very happy with everything i buy from him Jessica Gainer

gsdlvr That is chewing, not a bite. Sounds to me like he has some anxiety. Honestly, I think you should use it all. A good dog like I said will bite anything. If you don't have a good dog,with the neccessary drives, use everything with him. Don't let him bond with that security blanket you have provided. The more you show a dog, the better it will become. Get the dog to bite leather, burlap, wood, metal, suede, plastic, rubber, and whatever. The bite is what is of importance. not the material he bites.

GSDLVR, I don't agree with your theory about using the leather because of the 250 lb man feeling more like that to a dog. He may he may not ,that's moot really. Keep in mind that if the dog has the drives and it sounds like you believe he does, you still have to use the building blocks in his training. What I mean is that if you plan on training this dog to bite or take down the 250 lb man one day you still have to do sleeve work first. You don't start with the hidden sleeve or real man,you start with soft sleeve and work your way up. By the time you get there the dog will bite anything or anyone you tell him to assuming he really has the drives. You don't say how old this puppy is now but to me,if he's being allowed to eat your furniture etc. it's time to get going on that bite work and channel that. Is he teething or does he just love to bite? I'm a little confused by something else you said , if you are training for SCH the dog won't be biting a man for real he will only bite the sleeve. Don Corleone--thx for the tip.

Thanks Don, Jessica, JRT , spook - I will check those sites out and probably get everything. As for the "if you are training for SCH the dog won't be biting a man for real he will only bite the sleeve" comment, maybe you stated this wrong or I misunderstood you because that comment sounded ridiculous to me. And I don't "believe he has drives" - he HAS DRIVE! I'm UTILIZING the Schutzhund training in order for my dog to be real world protector of my family (not to compete in the Nationals). If you go back to the goal of the training in history, it was so that the dog could be trained for protection, obedience...tracking. I want him to have it for real world, not a trophy, ribbon or title necessarily. He's way above average and promising for what I have him for and actually I got more of an intense instinctive bite drive, great prey and food drives and a super nose than I even expected in the lines... which was refreshing. He has exceeded my expectations in all facets. He's got TONS of toys and will already retrieve a miniature tennis ball perfectly (and that does include bringing it back - he dives into my chest with it!). He comes in FAST to the Here command and sits perfectly staright at my feet like a champ. No - he is not "allowed" to chew my furniture, etc. - just TRIES to when my back is turned, LOL. I have however let him bite my casual shirt sleeve and arm as hard as I can stand (play) because I am amazed at what an alligator he is and have never seen such a full and hard bite on a puppy...and he's been that way since his little baby razorsharp shark teeth came in. Yeah - he's only 10 weeks right now and I am needing to channel him and in my opinion, I am behind the 8 ball for bitework and tracking imprintation (as in times past I started with tugs earlier and tracking imprinting earlier). But he has already had plemty to bite on that are his own toys. Now, once again, my whole point here was to find out the *experienced schutzhund majority opinion on a puppy tug and I've gotten some great responses, so thanks ....so you can put the brass knuckles away, gsdlvr2! Thanks again for the great advice Don (about the security blanket - I like that!).

GSDLVR-you took my comments the wrong way and NOT in the spirit I intended. I meant no harm or no insult. No brass knuckles. I was just trying to be friendly and help you. Sorry if you misunderstood. I guess that's one of the problems with the internet ,you never get the persons tone of voice. I'm sure you are doing a good job and have a great dog.