Slow to Mature - Page 1

I hear that all the time on here.  Can you folks tell me what you mean when you say  a certain line is slow to mature?
 
  What traits are you  talking about?  Are you talking about behaviours? Learning ability?  What exactly?

Sometimes it's the dog's body...Sometimes it's their mind...It's whatever makes up a dog...His Drives...His Personality...It all takes time to mature...
You're talking about Maturity...How long it takes for them to Mature into whatever they can be...
Some dog's will have their drives intact right a way...they're born with certain traits and they can be ready when they hit the ground and sometimes they take awhile to become what they can be...
The German Shepherd is one of the hardest dogs to tell what their Drives are going to be...Because they mature much more slowly then other dogs...
So to put it simply...When people say they're "Slow to Mature"...they're talking about the Whole being of the German Shepherd...and how long all the traits take to become what they can be...

~Bob~

I agree with Q man....would like to add..

Young dogs and pups with strong defense are typically "slow to mature".  Defense in pups appears unattractive and insecure (defense is an inherently unsafe place for a dog)....but with maturity comes confidence (which can be sped up/solidified with socialization).
 
while a 10 year old kid may hide behind his mom a 20 year old young man will deal/react with a threat differently because of maturity, a 20 year old young man trained in martial arts even moreso.

a pup who presents with little to no prey drive at 6 mos on the training field, may just not have the confidence needed to show it with a stranger (decoy)...it does not mean the dog is a wash.  As the pup matures, is socialized and becomes more confident he/she may deem the decoy as less of a threat and be more willing to "play" with him (for foundation work).  Play with the decoy will cultivate more confidence.

This type of dog, allowed to fully mature could later be "brought out" in bitework through their defense (I personally would make every attmempt to start a dog in prey though)....but you have to wait till the dog is mature as immature dogs are more easily pushed into avoidance.

a pup with very high prey drive/low-er defense will work for a rag very early...be very confident and appear like a child prodigy.  Sport people love this type of dog, but if training in a venue that requires civility...challenges may lie ahead.

JMHO

(edited to fix typo's)

             Very interesting topic,,,,,,Thanks...

Good post, Mel

Thanks Don!

German shepherd is a working dog. (Duh!)_Thus it is important to promote fast maturing so that the dog can work asap. That is if the dogs are actually bred to work. However the breeding which is not directed to work subconsciously promotes puppyish traits in structure and behavior which then results in slow maturing. I have heard many times people telling me:"...I wish my pup would stay a pup for ever." Thus many promote puppyish adults which promotes faulty slow maturing..
When the original progeny from foundation dogs of z Pohrnaicni straze  were selected, fast maturing was one of the most important traits to be considered. Most dogs were put into practical in service training around 1 year of age. and were eliminated if they could not perform basic duties due to lack of mental maturity.  
Another aspect of age of the dog is longevity and working  age.
It is also important  to look back on grandparents and so on and consider this important trait when breeding. I hear police Dept complaining that many German lines dog are retiring at 6 years of age. z Pohranicni straze dogs worked on regular basis to 9-10 years. 
Serviceability. 
  Fast maturing dogs and longevity /long working age give to a working dog longer service life. That is one of the most important traits which you do not hear anybody to talk to much about. But we want police , S&R, or family companion and protector after initial investment of money and training effort,  to work as long as possible.
 Sport dogs.
That is another problem I see in sport dogs who are titled and competed within first 4-5 years of age. Than these successful competitors are bred. And nobody cares about longevity. Thus the sporting lines are often done competing  early and dieing early.
Prager Hans
http://www.alpinek9.com

I believe that I have a pup that is "slow to mature" as described by Gsdfan above.  At 6 months she showed no interest in chasing the rag, tug, ball, etc.  I kept comparing her to my WGSL who chased the ball, tug from the time she came off the plane at 11 weeks.  My plans are to do Schutzhund with this new pup, so I started doubting that it would be possible.  Luckily good trainers told me to have patience and keep socializing her.  One trainer told me that he had not doubt that she would come out and surprise me some day.  2 weeks ago at 10 months old, she barked on the field for the first time, and not a puppy bark but deep barks.  Her grips are full and she is showing great drives.  To say the least I was surprised how it happened like a switch was turned on. 

Cheryl

bump

Good question Red Sable :)  and very interesting point & prospective from GSDfan and Prager.

What would you guys consider "mature" for a dog?