Proper age for starting protection work - Page 4

Yes, Senta youare right,. Steady away is always the best course to take

They believe that over here in Belgium they do not over work a young dog, as you say five minutes to get its confidence then stop when the Pup is winning

Rome was never built in a day nor was a top Schutzund Dog

My last dog was one that came out of his mother ready, my new dog is  much slower to mature.  There is no right or wrong, you just really have to know how to read the dog.

At the start of this topic I assumed we are talking about working on the field with a helper, not all the stuff we all do with puppies like rag work, etc..

Whatever, my point is there are many ways and methods of training.  Some dogs can be started younger than others.

Senta,  I understand what you and Steve are saying, as a matter of fact I wait until mine are over a year too.  My point is there are others who achieve great success and have great dogs that start them, even pressure them a lot earlier.  You have to leave room for the fact that there different styles of training, not necessarily better or worse, just different.

To me, that's one of the best things about this particular board.  I can't think of anywhere else that I learn so many different styles and philosophies of training.

I find waiting for a dog to get older (8-12 months) is found much more in Sch than in other sports. Almost all the ring diciplines start very early as well as PSA. Alot of ring trainers wash a dog out by 8-12 months, not just start them.

One reason may be that most ring dogs are Mals, which in general mature much faster than GSD's.

I would like to hear Steve1's opinion on this as he is from Belgium. Do you see the same thing with trainers waiting in the sport of BR?

I have seen (and worked) many GSD's from day one. Again, we have to consider individual dog development and line maturity.

http://www.orkies.com/webmedia/baden/baden-ring-1.mpg

4 1/2 months old and cutting teeth. Most Sch people who have seen this thought it was crazy. The guy working the dog is the premier French Ring decoy in France, regarded my many as the best in the world. Several people told me I was stupid to allow this or train this way. Dog is just fine.

10 weeks old

http://www.orkies.com/webmedia/baden/baden-ring-1.mpg

4 1/2 months with environmental pressure

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTgnsd3xZIk

and again with long send and pretty heavy stick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkcXML1Q2Rk&feature=related

Like Sue says, it is often 6 of one 1/2 dozen of the other. I just don't have the patients to wait too long if a dog is not showing me something. My friend has a East German line dog that didn't do anything until he was three. He retired him at 7. Not a very long career. I could never wait that long.

One thing I can say from my experience is that many dogs, when not exposed to environmental stress at an early age, have issues with them when they get older. Instead of just blowing through it, they hesitate. Even very good dogs, so I always expose puppies to water, shaker bottles, slippery surfaces, noise, gunfire, etc when doing puppy bite work development.

Same dog @ 12 months......

http://ellistraining.shutterfly.com/action/slideshow?caid=67b0de21b35c1a5625ae&a=67b0de21b35c1a5625ae&auto=0&idx=33&m=1&d=1203053121792

http://ellistraining.shutterfly.com/action/slideshow?caid=67b0de21b35c1a5625ae&a=67b0de21b35c1a5625ae&auto=0&idx=34&m=1&d=1203053735319

Get a Real Dog

Your Pup is doing the same as they do over here except there is not the bits a\nd pieces lying around on the ground

As for the 12 months ols bits i cannot open them to see how he has progessed

My oldest Dog as i said 14 months is near on ready for his BH he has gone through the Programe many times for ScHh 1 but that will come i expect in the spring or early Summer, he needs to be a few months Older

Last Night Fred did well on the Sleeve whilst Baby Goran was on a Tug biut he went well, and it was a job to get it from him when he took it back to the car Trailer and took it inside with him

I agree there are many ways of Traing, Some Dogs are a lttle slower to mature than others but that i think is not a bad thing. As some say here Watch the Pup from the time you get it, and just see what it likes to do and then try and build it on what the Pup likes most Goran is fanatical about his Obly Ball

Fred' is a changed Dog as soon as he sees the Pakwerker

As they said Rome was not built in a Day, But many Roads lead to Rome and i think the same appies to the Dog Training, The right way is the way that works for the Individual

By the way , i am an Englishman living in Belgium