Training for my German Shepherd

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by Pirates Lair on 29 December 2010 - 01:12

Once again, the post said - I got him to help deter people from coming up to my house.

Nothing was said about defending it's territory, and what a "deterrent" is to me, or you or ten other people is another story.

Maybe their idea of of the dog detering people from their house is simply barking. Again, I did not get the impression that we are talking about a PPD/Security or Schutzhund dog here.

There are some people who simply want a nice pet dog that will deter people (in their mind) by simply being present in their yard and or barking. Has anyone given any thought to that?

by Ace952 on 29 December 2010 - 01:12

Good points made by Slam & PL. Now this brings up the issue of dogs working as soon as you get them. Do many feel that they should work the day you get it home? Most well known breeders say it can take 1-3 months before the dog bonds with you. Does that include how the dog should work?

by Pirates Lair on 29 December 2010 - 02:12

For us, when we get a new import in, it stays in a kennel for the first week and gets ignored. Food, water shelter, no work & no commands. Give it time to adjust and crave some attention.

Then it is a little at a time, depending on the dog and it's strength, dogs are individuals. Some can be pushed right away, some can't.

And I believe it takes a minimum of 6 months to acquire a true bond with your new dog, I'm not saying the dog will not work for you. But a true bond takes time, learning about the little quirks each other has (Handler/K9)

JMO

by Don Corleone on 29 December 2010 - 02:12

Yeah, Kim. I don't think a dog that runs and hides is a deterrant. It's a project. I can go to any pound and give a barking dog the job of a deterrant and save his life. Where are you guys reading that anyone is confused?

by Pirates Lair on 29 December 2010 - 02:12

Don -IMO any dog that starts barking at strangers the first week in it's "new environment" is nothing more than a barking dog.

I think the confusion is that people are making their own definition of what a "deterrent is" ??

by Slamdunc on 29 December 2010 - 02:12

A good dog will come out of the "box" and not be afraid of people and run and hide. You can sugar coat everything or you can be straight forward. After a month a dog should not be hiding from people. I have trained "green" police dogs and I have been very active in GSD rescue. I agree it takes about a month to start to see a dogs real personality. A fearful or traumatized dog may take a little longer to bring out of it's shell. PL, as you said this is not a police k9 or a PPD, but essentially a pet. A pet that was acquired to "deter" people from the OP's property. I agree with a lot of your posts, however, I do not see the need to be overly kind and offer any false hope of what this dog will be. As I said before; with the proper bonding, socialization and intense rehab the dog may be a fine pet and a fine "watch dog". If that is the extent of what the OP wants then great. I believe it would be difficult for a novice to achieve this alone. I have rehabilitated dogs like this and they have been wonderful pets and well socialized and adjusted. But it was a labor if love and required a lot of time and dedication. Jim

by Don Corleone on 29 December 2010 - 03:12

Like I said, project.

by Pirates Lair on 29 December 2010 - 03:12

Jim - I don't think I offered any false hope, just advising an inexperienced pet owner to give the dog a chance. What will be will be at the end of the day.

You or I may have/probably written the dog off before it even got to go in a crate to our kennel.

One of the most challenging aspects of selling PPD's is finding out what the person "really wants, expects and is prepared to do/deal with" in owning a professionally trained PPD.

You more than most people, are aware of the fact that people lack communication skills, dealing with their skills or lack thereof on an Internet forum is even more challenging. If I sounded like I was giving false hope then that was my error.

Kim

by VonIsengard on 29 December 2010 - 03:12

Don- a roof is an expensive undertaking I wouldn't take lightly, and so is dumping a dog, and who would do either without a second opinion?

Look at it this way: Maybe I need that new roof because I was not experienced enough to see the house needed a new roof when I bought it and didn't notice there was a problem. But I live in it now, so I do what must be done rather than just sell the house. Should a living animal be treated with less consideration?

by Don Corleone on 29 December 2010 - 03:12

Kelly, that was probably a bad analogy, but I think my point was missed. I would do my research before I deal with people. I understand with contractors we get bids, but with a trainer I would do my research before I would go to someone I didn't trust that is biased and eager to dump a dog on me.

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