**What Schutzhund puppy tug do YOU use 1st?** - Page 3

It's all good, gsdlvr2 :) No worries!

Don Corleone - You were right...got the tugs - he'll bite anything! I am suprised he can even get his teeth into that Gappay (bought from Jim Hill and the stuff is the best quality I've ever seen!) bite pillow - it's unbelievably tough and he won't let it go to save his little life! :) I also bought a leather obedience 2 handled tug that is very nice! I am SO EXCITED! I walked around the house with these and him hanging on - us going up flights of stairs and all over the house and he won't let go! SO MUCH FUN! He's having a blast, too!! It's like he has purpose to his life now - so funny!! :)))

GSDLVR I'm glad to hear your pup is doing good. I don't know the age, but if it hasn't started loosing its teeth, keep an eye on that. Make sure, when you let him win the tug, that he returns for play with the tug. You are the sorce of action. Don't ever let him go into the corner to chew his tug. You can let him carry it, but don't let him get chewy. This may, down the road, be seen in later exercises like the dumbell. Sounds like a great pup. Have fun with it!!!!!

Don't forget to check ebay for jutes and tugs. I've bought several from various sellers, and all have been good quality and cheaper prices than those charged on the dog gear web sites.

"I'm UTILIZING the Schutzhund training in order for my dog to be real world protector of my family" Then you want a PP dog, not a schutzhund dog. ;) Unless you have one of those very rare agitators that knows how to incorporate it. Before I get my butt jumped up, yes, I have titled a dog in schutzhund, yes, I have trained a dog in street protection work. But to be honest a big barking german shepherd is enough to keep intruders away, they dont know if your dog will eat them or run screaming if you say boo, and it doesnt matter, have fun with your dog and enjoy the sport. I digress. Either way, building your pup's prey drive will make for nice balance, best of luck to you. I use a jute tug and I have a soft leather tug that I feel are easier on my pups' teeth and easier to grip at young ages than say a hose. "Make sure, when you let him win the tug, that he returns for play with the tug. You are the sorce of action. Don't ever let him go into the corner to chew his tug." Wow, Don Corleone thanks for giving that excellent valid advice. Nothing irritates me more than pup that behaves like a yahoo and plays keep-away with their toy. IMO, kind of sets the stage early for working against you rather than with you. :)

He's 14 weeks. He alwasy brings the tug(s) back. What method do you use to end it and get the tug back to put away, though? He won't let go and I don't want to rip it out of his mouth or pry it - he doesn't out yet and when I pick his forelegs up to cause him to out, he STILL holds on! The only time he really puts it down is if I stop playing with him and that's what I've been doing, but the second I go over there to get it - it's ON again from his perspective! When I let him have it and he carries it away, he immediately gets bored and has no interest in it by himself and usually drops it - but he watches me to see what I am going to do. I always try to beat him to it because I don't want him chewing on it. But he will play forever until I am finally too tired to keep it up.

That is always a controversy! Some people teach the out right away. Even Koos haasing (Tiekerhook Kennel) i have just learned teaches them at around 4 weeks. I like a lot of people was always worried about teaching them too early. I think, if you are going to teach the out, you need to give a re-bite immediately. That for a bit and move to building prey with the toy and a bite. He has to learn that the out doesn't mean that HE is done with HIS toy. you need to let him know that the OUT is a part of OUR game. If you reward him for the out it will come easily. Yes I know a lot of puppies have a locked grip, but you have to be innovative. Yes i Know a lot of hard ace trainers are gonna say that the out is a command and they should obey that command, but it will frustrate the hell out of your dog to know he is about to get that reward. The guard after the out will be intense. When you add conflict many dogs get chewy and don't out. They don't want to give it up. They haven't been taught that the best is yet to come. Take the forced retrieve as an example. Because of the drive of most dogs today and humans evolving, most people don't do a forced retrieve anymore. With motivational you get a better picture. Faster out, faster back, and hopefully less chewy. I don't want to start another chapter and I'm almost out of knowledge, so I'll stop now. Man I could talk about dogs all day. Glad I'm getting paid right now

Don, I agree with you again on the out, teaching a young dog control imo BUILDS drive when applied correctly. I have to disagree on forced retrieves, though. A *correctly* taught forced retrieve can still create a very enthusiastic dog while being very clear to the dog that it is work, not play, and therefore non-optional. If you apply pressure fairly and correctly work=fun at any age. They can be self controlled and still love it.