I just got my puppy and.... - Page 5

This dog is 14 weeks old.

The pup is 14 WEEKS, not months, other wise that WOULD be a bigger concern.

DR, I understand what you're saying and would tend to agree. The only thing that bothers me is, there is more to this story. Why wasn't this pup that timid and afraid before or is the author of the post not divulging everything? Was the pup perfectly normal and someone in that short time traumatized the pup while they were gone? Did they just not notice this when they picked it up? What is missing?

a 14 week old pup ought to come out of the crate ready to grab , run, bail right inot every pot plant, take the world and run with it...any thing less is undesirable trait and I wouldnt keep or even consider a pup with a shy trait...If coming to a new home is stress what do u think trying to get it to sitz, heya, and platz in a stern voice is gonna do....it u want only a pet for a dog, then a pup with this indicated problem from day one at my home would be on the way back for a new pup or my money back...vets are not qualified to evaluate a gsd for german standards, or the schutzhund sport or any sport, even if u are going to do AKC....u cant undo what gets done wrong , and it takes twice as long to undo it.......crates are a way of positive training and dogs love the comfort and den like feeling it gives them and they dont have a problem like them or loving them and will be much more keyed into the owner when she or he lets the pup out for that bond......a loose dog always looks to something else to key on and not the owner ....

Spook-Nothing traumatized this pup, he is doing so much better. He is terrorizing my house. The pup was never in a crate, i put him in there for the first time. He was in an outside kennel when i got him. Never been in a home full time. He adapted well, just the first 36 hrs were different. I have him in a crate now, he goes in and out with no problems. As for seeing the vet, i am not an idiot, i know that a vet can't evaluate possible performance. I just wanted to rule out any underlying issue. I have been in constant contact with my breeder and has given be good advice. As for some of the comments on here they have helped. Maybe some are too quick to judge. To reply to some of the questions, his name is Ando Vom Boeselager, his pedigree is on here and if you want to see it you can. Also, i do plan on training him in Shutzhund. I have started already, with some of the things my trainer said to do. Daniel

Do u have a copy of Susan Barwigs and Hilliards Theory and Method of Schutzhund....if not , I suggest u get one....I was led down the wrong path many years ago by Schutzhund want a be's trainers in a club that folded later, after I saw they didnt know beans about what they were doing and they wouldnt have known what a young pup needed if they had it one their forhead...so just read and take other opinions,,,,,,a pup that shows any timid traits or hang back, not being a terrorist has nothing to do with , they all are terrorists , thats not a part of the timidness trait.....or the ability to make transitions immediately....an 8 week old pup should be already doing rag work, sitting and eating on the ground every day one meal, throw the bowl in the closet , let it eat on ground and learn to bury its nose.....this is the advice of one of the greatest SCH trainers who titles and his wife was on the world Team , so just a tidbit from someone whose old and had many scoops of poop under her nails and feet......u must seek knowledge from people who have been there done that and have the papers under the belts they wear,,,thats not me, but Ive rubbed leashes with a lot of them and Have I ever learned a lot.......good luck......Balabanov has books also and the Schutzhund magazine also has articles on how to pick a pup for schutzhund......and what to look for.....

Good morning Fireguy; I am glad to hear your puppy is doing better, but please take heed to the sound advice many have given here! I suspect it was too late to give it, you were already locked in to that "cute puppy", but please please PLEASE understand, what your puppy "went through" was NOT traumatic, and should NOT have taken him "a few days", or even a DAY to "come around"..what he has just shown you is that you will need to "condition" him to accept new things, these things will be anything that he considers a "stressor" (for lack of better terms). __Normal sound nerved__ puppies arrive from Germany and other countries daily..and after spending 16+ hours in the crate (usually for the first time as well) being bumped and jostled around and then arriving in a completely new environment with new smells, sounds (english language) and people, ALL come flying out of that crate ready to take on the world! At least they should...when they don't, I worry..and my worries have always turned out to be true to the form..the "worried" puppy never makes the cut, they always take "a day or two" to get "used to new things". By the sounds of your post, the puppy is _staying_ now..you are attached to him, and although I don't know this breeder, I know many breeders count on this bond developing, you won't return him. You will likely spend many exhaustive hours training him, only to find you must trial him ONLY at your home club with your home helper to be able to pass..if you can get him to that point. Best wishes with your pup..whatever happens now, please don't set lofty goals for him...at the least expect him to be a good "family companion" at home..it will be hard to say how he does in new environments. Please drag him EVERYWHERE now, flood him with new things..you will never make him strong in nerve, but you will be able to "imprint" on him now to "accept" life in general. Good luck..and next time you select a working puppy, go with an experienced trainer to the breeder..save yourself some heartache. Signed; Just_another_chump_who_has_walked_in_your_shoes_a_couple_of_times_in_my_greenhorn_years.

Morning again Fireguy; I forgot to add one more point I would really like for you to pay some attention to..no one that gave you the same advice regarding how your puppy should be returned actually knew how your puppy was bred..so please keep that in mind, no one is "picking on" your puppy or breeder..we all offered some sage advice based on years of knowledge learned the hard (and expensive) way. Please remember how your puppy "reacted" (shy-spooking), this is what he will always fall back on when truly stressed..no matter HOW much you "condition" him to "accept" new things. When something really stresses him, he won't muddle through it, he will fall back to his first instinct, to RUN. Good luck with him, and I truly mean that..you and your helper have a long road ahead of you in schutzhund with him.

Fireguy, you have a pup with pretty nice lines. I'm a big fan of Jeff. Remember you were the one that supplied the info that we responded to. I like your lines, but am not sure you don't have a problem. Like Kor said, it sounds like the pup has a home no matter what. Well, good for you, but keep this incident in mind and keep mental and/or physical notes. It may help you understand and develop your dog in the future. Lastly, socialize, socialize, socialize. Introduce him to many things, but let him be a puppy. Do not hurry his training. It's not necessary. Mistakes you make by rushing a young dog will come back to haunt you.

yellowrose..that is a good book..read it many times.. kor und...Exactly correct.. I have been trying to make him realize exactly what you are saying...