Children that want to learn Schutzhund.... - Page 1

After seeing that adorable video on the Jr handler 4 yr old thread I thought I'd ask some questions relating to that topic.  I have 3 little girls and my oldest who's 10 has indicated to me on several ocassions that she'd like to learn to train.  She's seen me working Agar in obedience, agility, but never any protection.  My husband and I disagree with if she should be expossed to seeing what our "family dog" is capeable of and what exactly he does when we go out to train.  She's asked if she can come along to visit a club to watch the dogs; I seem to feel it would be aliright since she is a very mature 10 year old. My husband on the other hand has reservations about her seeing dogs biting on command and just isn't comfortable with her seeing the dog she rolls around with, tosses ball with and hugs and kisses turning into a dog you'd definately not want to walk down a dark alley and face off with.  I asked him what is he concerned about and he said he never wanted our children to even know the commands to "watch" and certainly not to "bite" because he's afraid one day even engaging in a general chat with a friend that one of them may tell a curious neighborhood kid that wanted to find out if our dog really would do all these things if he were told to do and then a horrible accident takes place".  To some degree I understand but I also know my dog fairly well and I'm not so sure he'd respond to a child giving him commandsl especially the bite one.  In any case, she's asked me if she can start working with Agar....he'd probably be alright with her but to tell you the truth he sometimes tends to try to show his ass when a woman is handling him. lol  He has more respect with men when training.  Go figure I feed, brush, bathe, and love on him the most and he gives me a hard time???  Typical male! lol  We talked about getting her her own dog to train that may be more suitable for a child but my concern is that this will be a phase and I'll just wind up with another dog to take care of. lol  Which is entirely a bad thing just more work than I need right now.  How do you all feel about children coming to spectate at clubs, seeing dogs do the protection phase and just getting started in the sport??

DH said it all.  I can't wait for my kids to get old enough to hold the leash. 

I agree with D.H.  i think what she said is almost one of  THE best posts I've ever read on here.  EXCELLENTLY put.

Lisa

D.H. is so right.  The only thing I would add is when you do take your daughter, sit her down before you go and explain what she will see.  How it is a trained excercise done on command with protective equipment.  You don't want to surprise her with the protection work.  e have kids come watch at our club. 

Nice post DH.

Devon was about 2 yrs old when she saw a video of Andy doing bitework.  She asked "why is Andy biting that man".  In an attempt to explain it on her level I said "Andy only bites the bad guys"  She said "Oh, okay".  And that was that. 

When she was 3 years old she came to the training field for the first time.  We had a helper seminar that day.  As my husband drove up the driveway she saw a bunch of helpers and asked him "is this where all the bad guys are!?" LOL, SO I then explained they were only pretending to be bad guys to help train the doggies.

She's no longer scared of the men with sleeves and at 4 years old, I think has a pretty good grasp of whats going on.  Simply put, (to her) training is all pretend to teach the dogs how to be brave. 

Although I did get chastized by her once when I gave Andy a simple leash correction, lol, she angrily yelled "HEY don't yank my dog!!"  it was a good laugh.  So I think some of the harsher methods some people use should be kept to a minimum or out of sight from the young ones.

I think its good for her to know and understand.  To learn about safety, what to do and what not to do (no running when a dog is on the field, no petting the dogs unless you have permission, you can pet certain dogs but not others, and NEVER get close to any dogs' crate except your own dogs etc.)  Yes supervision is a MUST and the support of you club members is key (necessary when you are working your dog and can't watch your kid).  My club is awesome, unfortunately she's the only "club kid" right now, but the adults are GREAT with her.  Coloring, horsey rides and just being silly with her.  The founders of the club basically raised their kids there, so they are great with her and make me feel very welcome to bring her.  At first it was because I didn't have anyone to watch her, but now as she's getting more involved, she comes because she wants to.

A dog to start a kid on...IMO a fairly well trained older dog, a female on the soft side would be good.  Must be clear in the head and easy to handle.  A retired brood bitch would probably be pretty easy to obtain for this purpose.  At this point all you are doing is teaching the kid how to be a handler.  Start with OB and tracking, maybe have them trial for some OB and TR titles for the practice.

Good luck,

Melanie

Great post everyone!

I have been working with my niece to show my 4 year old female in Rally.  My niece Dallas has ADHD (Attention Deficit Hpyeractivity Disorder).  She has a difficult time concentrating, especially in school.  She has been on Concerta and Strathera since she was 3.  She lived with me for a year when Falon was a puppy and began to come with me to obedience class.  I had told her if she was quiet when everyone else was training - she could work Falon afterward.  Dallas was about 5 at the time.  It was amazing to watch her patiently sit on the chair watching the class and focusing on everything the instructor was saying.  Afterward she would put Falon thru the paces again, almost in the same order that the instructor did in class.  I have to constantly watch her because if she gets frustrated she tends to harshly correct Falon and or start yelling, but as long as I am there to monitor her, it is ok.   The amazing thing is that Falon is so bonded to me that she doesn't want anyone else to take her leash - but if Dallas takes her - she accepts it.  We used to think Falon had ADHD too because when she would get anxious she would leap straight into the air and scream.  In class she was called Tigger.  Anyway, Falon seems to understand that Dallas is different and will allow her to do anything to her.  One day I noticed something gold running through my backyard and for a minute I thought is that a golden retriever running thru my yard?  When I looked closer I saw Falon dressed in my brothers football coach jacket.  I know this is not the same as bite work, but I think that with proper supervision there can be nothing better than a child working their dog. 

Cheryl

Let me start off by saying we have taken our grand-daughters to training since they were 2 yrs old they are now are 10 and 9.The 10 yr old now

now wants to start to participate in the sport,we are very excited about this.We have keep a pup out of our last litter so she has a dog to work.For the last several yr she has messed around with my old male,he was never very good at obedience ,my fault my first dog n was learning myself.But was always very gentle with the girls.He looked better with her than me most times.So we always thought it was ok for the kids to go and watch n particapate with the adults..But this group was a older bunch who's kids had already grown up so we all liked little kids and had more tolerance for them..Eventually that group disbanned so we started to train with with a different group no so youth oriented,of course they didn't understand they were the future of the group and the sport,not real bright folks but in this group you never had the feeling you were working together but more like you were competeing not a real fun group experience.

  We looked around say a new group had started up n decided to go n visit the new group.Wow what a refreshing experience very family friendly.They are all very young the oldest member of the group was 30 of course made me feel real old at 48.The training director 28 had a 2 yr old out watching .They are a fun group,yet very serious about the sport Ron the training director has just competed in his first DVG national this yr.So i know that you can compete at a top level with children present.Not saying that there aren't complication with having childern there but the benifits far out weigh the extra work with kids there..Its crucial to the sport to have these kids start early hook them young n pass our love for the dog and the sport..

Now that being said you also need to keep your childern watched and under control,just like our dogs.As a group we all look out for all the childern making sure no one gets hurt or gets in trouble.Lets make the sport family friendly in this country..I wouldnt join a group that wouldn't except youth in it..Take the kids and have some fun..out photo albums are full of dogs and kids kinda go hand in hand in our book.

Kids are the future of the sport, and they are the future voters too (who can fight BSL in the future!). If they learn proper behavior and see the value and rewards in training, they will grow up at a minimum with an understanding and respect for our sport and for dogs.

Of course, children need to be supervised and have respect for the training and trial field. I think it's a shame when some Schutzhund clubs ban children from coming with their families - as a blanket statement, not because of bad behavior on someone's part. Sure, if someone comes with out of control children I would have no problem explaining what is expected and asking them to leave if they don't supervise their children, but to forbid families from bringing their children altogether is sad.

Fortunately I think most clubs are very welcoming for families.

As long as the parents have control of the children, I see no problem.  When they have their kids with them, do they help set up and take down blinds?  Are they helping in any way with training?   like the group, gunfire, and acting as judge?  Who is watching the kids while they are on the field?  I know I don't come to the club to watch someone else's snotty nosed kid.  I am there to train!  Unless they have this all under control, I think they should ask Granny  to sit for them.  I want members that are there for you, not a distraction.