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by Konotashi on 14 April 2010 - 02:04
I want a German shepherd - that I'm sure of.
What I'm NOT sure of is whether I want to do agility or Schutzhund!
I don't know how to decide. Could you guys give me the pros and cons? I know that there's several SchH clubs around here, all about an hour away from me. I've gotten replies from all regarding cost (though I can't find the e-mails, GRRR), and there's an agility club about 20 minutes away. BUT I've yet to get a reply from them - I've sent them several e-mails over the past month.
So.... help? (Oh, and thanks for all the input on my other thread!)
What I'm NOT sure of is whether I want to do agility or Schutzhund!
I don't know how to decide. Could you guys give me the pros and cons? I know that there's several SchH clubs around here, all about an hour away from me. I've gotten replies from all regarding cost (though I can't find the e-mails, GRRR), and there's an agility club about 20 minutes away. BUT I've yet to get a reply from them - I've sent them several e-mails over the past month.
So.... help? (Oh, and thanks for all the input on my other thread!)
by TIG on 14 April 2010 - 06:04
Kono, They are not mutually exclusive. Most GSDs can show talents in several areas. Go out and look at some of the P.A.M. dogs I linked to in the other thread. You will find they have titled in Sch plus agility or herding or flyball or tracking or high competition AKC obedience.
Agility is a great way to establish a relationship with your young dog and teach correct habits for the walls and jumps. It;s great to do with young dogs while waiting for them to grow up to do Schutzhund. Many Schutzhund competitors way over do the bite work with young dogs and as a result they get locked in prey and never develop into the dog they should be.
Get your puppy. Find a GOOD local puppy kindegarten class to get you started on how to learn and on basic socialization. Find someone to teach you about clicker training ( seminars are great for starting in this). Focus first on giving your dog adequate socialization to people AND places AND things - stairs, slides, children's playyard equipemnt. Search the web the dobe people on one of their sites have a Rule of 7 re pups - things that they should be exposed to such as 7 types of flooring/footings, 7 types of people etc etc.
Then learn how to encourage your dog to focus on you. Play games with it ( hide and seek, find it.) Lay baby puppy tracks in the front yard by letting it track for it's breakfast. Find an agility trainer who has puppy size equipment and is good working with young dogs.
If you work your young puppy a couple times on the rag in the first year and it shows aptitude - that is enough. Then use it's growing up time to teach you both about clicker training, obedience, agility ( do NOT jump young dogs), tracking. You can be working on the basics for a BH. You can teach article indication, the aus and the retrieve using behavorial modification. If your dog is a talented tracker you can actually get an AKC tracking title I believe as young as 6 months.
Have fun and show your dog in breed in some puppy classes. If he/she turns out to be a great working dog you may want to get them koer'd and for this they will need a show rating as an older dog so great experience.
From age 1 to 2 you can increase the the protection work but again be careful about overdoing it. Meanwhile you will be polishing your obedience for a BH and possibly and AKC Rally or obedience title.
As you go you will find where your dog's talents lay. Listen to that in choosing what sport or sports you do with them. Sometimes the hardest thing is to let go of our dream of a great agility/schutzhund/herding/whatever dog and realize that their love and aptitude lies elsewhere. You may find that while a passable agility dog the pup is a superb tracker. If so do both. Whatever you do remember it's about the relationship and remember to have fun.
BTW my favorite is herding. If you get a chance try it - wonderful stuff. True obedience in drive. Good luck. Beth
Agility is a great way to establish a relationship with your young dog and teach correct habits for the walls and jumps. It;s great to do with young dogs while waiting for them to grow up to do Schutzhund. Many Schutzhund competitors way over do the bite work with young dogs and as a result they get locked in prey and never develop into the dog they should be.
Get your puppy. Find a GOOD local puppy kindegarten class to get you started on how to learn and on basic socialization. Find someone to teach you about clicker training ( seminars are great for starting in this). Focus first on giving your dog adequate socialization to people AND places AND things - stairs, slides, children's playyard equipemnt. Search the web the dobe people on one of their sites have a Rule of 7 re pups - things that they should be exposed to such as 7 types of flooring/footings, 7 types of people etc etc.
Then learn how to encourage your dog to focus on you. Play games with it ( hide and seek, find it.) Lay baby puppy tracks in the front yard by letting it track for it's breakfast. Find an agility trainer who has puppy size equipment and is good working with young dogs.
If you work your young puppy a couple times on the rag in the first year and it shows aptitude - that is enough. Then use it's growing up time to teach you both about clicker training, obedience, agility ( do NOT jump young dogs), tracking. You can be working on the basics for a BH. You can teach article indication, the aus and the retrieve using behavorial modification. If your dog is a talented tracker you can actually get an AKC tracking title I believe as young as 6 months.
Have fun and show your dog in breed in some puppy classes. If he/she turns out to be a great working dog you may want to get them koer'd and for this they will need a show rating as an older dog so great experience.
From age 1 to 2 you can increase the the protection work but again be careful about overdoing it. Meanwhile you will be polishing your obedience for a BH and possibly and AKC Rally or obedience title.
As you go you will find where your dog's talents lay. Listen to that in choosing what sport or sports you do with them. Sometimes the hardest thing is to let go of our dream of a great agility/schutzhund/herding/whatever dog and realize that their love and aptitude lies elsewhere. You may find that while a passable agility dog the pup is a superb tracker. If so do both. Whatever you do remember it's about the relationship and remember to have fun.
BTW my favorite is herding. If you get a chance try it - wonderful stuff. True obedience in drive. Good luck. Beth
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