raising a schutzhund pup as a pet? - Page 2

Well that's not really raising a dog in the house is it? What is the difference between being crated all day or in a kennel all day? Ed does it correctly, I do the same with my dogs just mine are outside in a kennel. When they come in the house, they are under constant supervision and are doing some form of training. With all do respect to Ed Frawley he is a man who waa ahead of the game and very good in his day. Times change and training evolves. If you don't the world passes you by.

Jiggy, seriously what would be the point, think of the depravities for the dog. Dogs are what animals ???... Pack Dogs are_____________ insert descriptive... Social Dogs do not do well in isolation Pups taken away from mothers and siblings at young ages do not develop socailly as correct as those kept with mother and sibs longer Take a long hard look at the 1,000's of years of facts about dogs and they're socialiability and Pack mentality. The correct choice is very clear once you do. A dog raised in the home, can still be as competative as a kennel kept dog, but beyond that, the dog raised in the home is appropriate to take into PetSmart, or to the park, or the school for share and tell day. the kennel dog NOT!!

A pup is a sponge it will be in a learning mode at all times (other than sleeping). Do you want it to learn under your supervision and controlled circumstances or do you want him subject to situations you can't control? Pups sleep for approximately 16 hours a day. They need to spend time in a crate or kennel. Roaming freely, even when you think you know where they are and what they're doing, can be very dangerous for the pup. When was the last time Ed Frawley titled a dog in Schutzhund and when was the last time he showed in anything other than a club event?

This is an example where we could maybe use the "Dog Whisperer". This is a topic that is more about people and how they project emotion onto a pet, than it is about dogs. Ok to clairify. My definition of a kennel dog is one who spends the majority of their time in a kennel. They are not isolated, deprived of human contact, or mistreated in anyway. They are fed in their crates twice a day either in the garage or in the kitchen. They are allowed out of the kennel for excercise and training, trips to the river, snow, etc. and in the house for short amounts of time under supervision. The girls at the pet store know are dogs by name. Dogs absoulutly do not need to be kept in the house. In fact, I think they do much better outside. Their coat comes in good and strong, they get less table scraps and not as likely to be overweight, they do not become babies about the cold or the rain. It raises their level of suspicion and they become more territorial of the property, I could go on and on. There are Zero benifits, none, nada to raising a competition working dog in the house. I think I am talking about a different type of dog than many people. Trust me when I say you would not want my puppies in your house. If you want to keep a dog in the house; great. I have kept many a dog in my house and let them sleep on my bed. Not competition working dogs. It all depends on what your goals are. Keeping a dog in the house is a human need, not a canine need.

Oops that last post was from me. I don't want anyone upset with 4pack for my opinions LOL She wanted her pup to be in the house too. I let her do it. Lasted about 2 weeks.

Oops that last post was from me. I don't want anyone upset with 4pack for my opinions LOL She wanted her pup to be in the house too. I let her do it. Lasted about 2 weeks.

I would have to agree with Get A Real Dog. It really depends on whether you want to be on the podium or not. The problem with letting a high level dog live in the house, is that you are going to let them get away with murder. The wife/husband and the kids are not gonna respect your training philosophies. Your not gonna repect them either. your gonna let the dog get away with not following your commands because your are preoccupied with making the dinner, helping the kids, or watching American Idol. The dog that lives in the kennel knows that he must follow commands. He, if you are a good trainer, even is told when he is off command and free to play. I myself am lucky. My wife hates my dogs. Well she hates the hair. I am only allowed one dog in the house. That's my buddy. He's there to make me feel good. The others in the kennel are to make me feel and look good.

If we didn't already have 5 dogs, I would get a little Boston Terrier for a house dog in a second!!!!!

Since my dogs are not products "to make me feel and look good", my high level competition dogs live in the house. I have many more opportunites to interact with them than if they lived outside 24-7. I can reinforce calmness when I want it, (good for teaching dogs to cap their drives), work time, what to chew, etc... They spend time in their crates, and outside kennels as well, and oh my god, with each other as well. I don't have to isolate them from other dogs and from each other to make them like me and want to work for me. I also think drives are genetic as well as trained and if your dog can't do both, than maybe you are babying along a low drive dog in an effort to get more. The GSD is supposed to be able to do it all: take care of the kids and family and protect. Besides, where do you put your unhousetrained, jumping up, circling, crazy nut of a dog when it washes out of training at age six and you get the next best thing?

Good point, Changer. I know of a kennel that has been selling off excess 'stock' to make room for this year's puppies that look to be keepers. The first thing the new owners are having to do with these adult dogs is housebreak them! Not something I'd exactly expect if I were adopting a full grown dog. As a matter of fact many busy families would adopt an adult over a puppy so they could avoid having to go through the housebreaking stage.