Ways to "Aus" without lowering dogs confidence... - Page 1

I'm currently doing helper work for a local born male pup almost 5 mos. with very strong CIVIL (agressive) drive. He enjoys the Sleeve and you'll know he is agressive by his dominant and always competing gestures with his Dam. He is not too obedient (probably because hes a family dog and will only like to play and prey over family members...which by the way is afraid of him..making him more dominant) I WANT HIM to LEARN the "AUS" without lowering his confidence because it is developing an i want him for sport... I want a confident dog who is Obedient at the same time ... Any suggestions making HIM MORE OBEDIENT with lowing HIS CONFIDENCE in HIMSELF...???

IMO a dog at 5 months with a strong "civil" drive is probably showing more fear aggression. Or do you mean you have been working this dog for 5 months?? If you are talking about a older dog, one trick I found that works sometimes is... have the helper hold a mouthful of water. When you say Aus , give him his chance , then let the helper let him have it in the face. If the dog is truly hard or likes water, well its not gonna work. But for most the surprise gives them the idea I better let go. If this dog/pup is really 5 months old I can't believe he is that strong....

if you have two balls (no I'm not being a smart ass) do some OB for the toy, he is correct, you reward with on ball, tug a little, let him keep it. when you want him to "out" show the other ball, make it active, and as soon as he's going to drop it (you can tell the moment before they let it go) say "aus" and let him win the other ball (or any other toy you want, tug, etc). Do this hundreds of times (not at once of course). Soon enough, he wins, he knows he can, he outs cause the game isn't over, a new one is beginning. After a few hundred or thousand reps, "aus" is so ingrained, he won't even have time to think about not outing, he'll already have done it. You can also do this with a helper. Two toys or two sleeves. One is slipped he wins, trots around does his thing, when you're ready the helper becomes active with the 2nd sleeve and you "aus". I'd do it with the ball or tug in OB first, see how it works, playing two ball also works same concept. ANybody else got any suggestions?

We must've been posting at the same time, but yeah, I was wondering about the age too. I took it as he'd been working him for 5 months, but if he's only 5 months old, I think you have other issues to work on if he's that "civil"

I never teach the" aus" that young. wait til 18 months or after, thats the last to teach.esp with a civil dog. A sch dog might be different i don't know. My .02 Depends,are you hoping for civil or trying to delete it?

maybe just work on obedience, for now and don't cower the dog. make him confident

Marci, I'm concern about the fallowing quote that was written by you “He is not too obedient (probably because hes a family dog and will only like to play and prey over family members...which by the way is afraid of him..making him more dominant)” I would stop all protection work on this dog immediately and focus ONLY on obedience and discipline. If this behavior continues and that the family members are indeed afraid of this 5 month old pup.. things are about to get a lot worst when this dog becomes an adult. He will not only be a hazardous torwards other humans, but he will most likely bite one of the family members for doing something that the dog doesn't like, for an example... trying to kick him off of the coach. I assume that you are the trainer of this dog, am I right? If not then I would suggest you (If you live in the USA that is) to visit the fallowing sites: http://www.germanshepherddog.com/ http://www.gsdca-wda.org/ http://www.dvgamerica.com/ and find yourself an experienced trainer that can help you and the owners of this dog with the correct behavior problems. Make sure that you find a trainer that have dealt with alpha dogs before.

I agree with others on this post . I will asume you do not have your terminology mixed . a dog being dominant , strong willed . good nerves and higj levels before stressed , that is pushy does not mean that he is civil or readily willing to agress with little or no provocation . I agreer with the previuos post if your dog is agerssive , not meaning domineering or dominant. then you must take a look quite close . that is not what you desire . either there is a temperamnt issiue or the early training of this dog is amiss !! .E'G mu personal protection dog , children could go up pet him , he could walk the crowded city streets .. you would never know that he would protect in an intsatant and upon command sit without even a wrinkle in his face. also not : there is a difference in a dog having manners and obedience. a 4 or 5 month old canine should have been taught manners , should be agressive free and strict obedience as defined by the dog undertaken you direction the instant it is given [ notice i do not use the word command ] without a hesitation or any other thought .now i tach my 20 week pup to out . it is a fallacy about not teaching the dog out at a young age . i stated teach , i do not mean to blurt commands like a tyrant. i mean , and as your goal aims at , to tap into the dog's being and needs in order for the dof to realize that it is within its interest to out when communicated to do so . the out should fulfill the dogs motivations. that is to say .. for example one of my dogs loved to bite , another love to cgase. so i tap into that idividual and communicate " if you out then you get to bite [ use a second tug] again ", or" if you out then you get to chase again" . so by the time the communicationand behavior is esrablished my pups can't wait to out . as a mayyer of fact they learn in the right context to offer the behavior . e.g my dogs later will out as to guard abd wait for an escape to apprehend and bit the helper again . in summery your post adresses idfferent topics. BTW i am very concearned about your words in regards to his age and his civil begavior --work with a professional /experienced person . sounds like something is very amiss ..

If our dog is really only 5 months as a trainer I would be concerned about several things.... 1) a 5 month old pup should not really be showing "strong civil, agressive drive" (of course that is objective) If he is, I would say the dog does not have the greatest nerve, he is being worked incorrectly, or you have a whole lot of dog on your hands. 2) Does your trainer not know how to train the out( should be only introducing it at this age) or are you trying to do things your way outside of your trainer? 3) A 5 month old pup, especially one being trained in bitework, should not be "too obedient" 4) If you have a dog showing aggression (whatever that aggression is based upon) and you have family memebers afraid of him. You have some serious problems ahead. 5) If a five month old puppy was trying to dominate and competing with his Dam I would think Momma would be putting him in his place. If your dog is this dominant (again quite objective) and showing agression, and your family members are scared of him, you have huge problems ahead. I hope there are not children here. I have a pretty damn strong 6 month old puppy. He is starting to show signs of agression and dominance but not nearly to the degree you are describing. Suggestions.... 1) Listen to Zdog, he is on point here with the out. This is exactly what you should be doing. 2) Do a ton of positive motivation training. If you don't have a ball or hotdog in your hand, don't do obedience. Compultion always lowers confidence, esp at this age. 3) excercise "passive dominance" over your dog. Examples of passive dominance are... A) make your dog sit or down before you feed them. B) Make your dog wait before comming out of their crate or kennel. C) Do not let your dog go in or out doorways before you. D) Make the dog wait before he gets in or out of the car. Good Luck P.S. Don't jump on the Dog Whisperer dingaling's bandwagon. The guy is an idiot and pack rank order is not the end all be all to dog training. If some people try to pull his crap with a real dominant dog they are likley to get hurt.

Thank you guys for all your suggestions.. I think I have to follow a suggestion to OUT the guy for a WHOLE YEAR 'until it sticks to his mind...your concerns about the pup chasing my family and kids is TRUE and I'm trying to correct it... its play for him and not agression.. the thing is the pup is Macho for his age and my kids simply Run... so what the dog does is chase the PREY... It's good that he responds to challenges like the slap stick and the puppy sleeve... and is getting serious... He thinks its a game and will grab to win... but like I said he is still young @ 5 months... NEED TO STICK with OBEDIENCE first... Thanks Guys...