Choosing a dog for beginner in SCH... - Page 1

With so many newbie's showing an interest in shutzhund I thought it would be a big help for the more experienced folks to guide the newbie in selecting their first dog to begin in the sport.  Would you recommend a pup to start from the beginning or an adult younger dog that has been started or titled?  What type of characteristics would you advise them to ask the breeder to make certain the dog had?  I think this thread would be helpful to those that have gone out and bought a dog they anticipated to use for sport but then later found this dog was not at all appropriate for sport. 

Agar,  I wanted to answer this but then everything got so complicated.  All I want to say though is that no matter what you do with a dog, be they young or old it is terribly rewarding to develop them to the best of their capabilities.  They do say you make most of your mistakes on your first dog, so hopefully it is one that is resilient and forgiving.  I was fortunate in this way.  If you as a Newbie in the sport want your first dog going to the Nationals, your best bet is a well trained adult dog, and this would require a substantial financial investment. 

i would say,, find a honest trainer who can evaluate the new handle first, and then figure out the right dog for that person.  too many times have i seen someone come to club with a dog that does not fit them.  mainly because they did not ask for help.  they went out, got a dog, and then wanted to get into some type of sport or training.

if i were to do it over that is the way i would do it.  it would have saved me buying dogs not fit for sport or my temperment.

john

I think it does have to start with the handler. Not everyone who witnesses the sport has the drive and determination to put in all the time and effort to build the relationship, the training dedication, or even posesses the cognizant awareness of dog behavior that is so greatly needed.

If I knew then, what I know now, I would still want my first dog to be my first dog. I would do some of the early foundation work a bit differently. I would have found my perfect schutzhund club sooner rather than later (their guidance, knowledge, and support makes all the difference). I definately wouldn't go back and have another adult already trained and titled, been there done that. Fixing someone else's problems when you can't even accomplish the basics would cause most people to give up.

I strongly believe after my own experience and observing the experiences of some newer folks, that before I even considered a dog for the sport I would recommend looking at one's own traits, characteristics, and drives. Then find a dog that meets the handler's drives. Then pray that the dog they chose has a large margin for forgiveness.

find an honest breeder who wants what is best for the puppy AND the handler.  One who wants to make the best match - so that the handler who wants to start Schutzhund or any other sport, has plenty of dog for what they want to do, but doesnt' have too much dog.  A breeder can make that first choice and help the handler get the right pup to start with.  The breeder can also help along the way with advice, help, even training help, so the novice gets the right beginning.  The breeder can also replace the pup if it does turn out to be not enough/too much for the handler.  The right breeder can and will be willing to do all of these things to ensure the match is right, and the dog/handler team are happy for the dogs' lifetime.

molly

Hi,

my advise is, just about any dog of medium size with some kind of spirit and instincts like wanting to use it's nose for what it was intended to will do, including a dog from the pound.

That way you will learn to be a good trainer, after you made it to Schutzhund 1 and are getting ready for your second one you learned,  also from seeing many other dogs being trained, that each dog has it's own personality, no dog is borne with a title.

Good trainers are folks with a lot of patience and folks who have the ability to read a dogs mind.

Your second dog will remind you ,hopefully, of how much time you invested and appreciate the qualities of #2.

Hopefully this dog will xray clear and not have any health problems, hopefully this dog will develop in to a dog that will at least qualify for a very good structure so you can consider breeding that dog because you do  want to

improve the Breed if reproducing comes to mind. Good luck

P.S. I am trying to familiarize myself with this board was not able to insert the smiley

Anna

www.vonweissblau.com

Honestly, get the dog you want. It is so less frustrating to work some stupid breeders cull than to just have a good dog that can do the work no problem. I see so many with the advice to get a lessor dog, and that is just crap.

Get a nice one, establish a good repore, establish a great foundation, think about what you are going to do before you go on the field, and try not to correct to often, and a real good dog will take you the rest of the way. Don't settle for "the beginners dog" crappola. You will just be pissed off that you did.

Quote: Honestly, get the dog you want. It is so less frustrating to work some stupid breeders cull than to just have a good dog that can do the work no problem

WOW I fucked that up. Reverse the cull and the good dog.........I think. I need some sleep : )

Jeff

I understood what you meant the first time and I agree!  If you don't totally know what you are doing, a peice of crap will not help you at all.  It is better to go into something with all the tools needed at your side.  I wouldn't advise someone that has never worked on a vehicle to go into it with only a pair of pliers and a screwdriver.  It is alot easier if you have a full arsenal of tools.

I would find a trainer first...then a back up trainer in case the first trainer moves or something.  It sucks having a dog to train and no one to help you train it.  Leerburg vids just wont get it. 

 Then I would do all the research on the time and effort it takes to train a GOOD dog.  After that I would determine if I will have the time to work a GOOD dog and make sure you will be able to follow through with the training.  IF you get a GOOD dog and decide after a few months the training isnt for you....well, this is the point you may have a little to much dog.  A working dog that is not worked or exercised may not be such a GOOD dog anymore.

After taking all of this into consideration I would then go out and find a  GOOD dog for the sport.   I would let the trainer help me pick the dog....I would not go by what people on a forum tell you.

I bought my first dog....then I found schutzhund.  After that I found a trainer and he helped me find what MAY be a good dog.  Only time will tell.

Puppies are a crap shoot....