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by LoveGSDs on 10 January 2010 - 17:01
I have a question that might be silly but I need to ask it anyway. I have 2 dogs a male who is 15 months old and a female who is 19 months old. Both dogs are in training for SCH both are progressing nicely, they pretty much have the obedience routine down and are working on the Bark and Hold right now. I train the dogs twice a week on the field with a trainer and work 3 or more times at home. Both dogs are house dogs, crate trained and left in the crate over night just to keep them out of trouble. When they are in the yard and running around the house they spend a lot of time rough housing with each other, wrestling, biting, and romping, it’s all in good fun nothing serious just big puppy stuff. I spend a lot of time telling them to stop as they can get on your nerves with all of the jumping and play fighting. In terms of training, focus, and general bonding with me does it make sense to allow them to spend most of the day together jumping around or should I keep them separate from each other most of the time. The reason I ask is the female is not sharp enough for competition but the individual I train with tells me my male has potential for competition. My trainer has been on several world teams and tells me the truth whether or not I like it, so I believe my male dog does have some potential if I don’t screw him up. One of my questions is does the constant correction from me telling them to “Stop Playing” and the focus they place on each other during the rough housing, lead to any issues long term as it relates to focus on the field? I notice when I tell one dog “no” the other dogs stops and looks at me immediately to figure out why it’s being corrected if he or she isn’t doing anything wrong. I ask because I have had lot’s of experience raising very obedient house dogs but I am still learning a ton about SCH and don’t want to confuse my dogs, it bad enough they are stuck learning with me on the field.
Thanks in advance for your insight.
by malshep on 10 January 2010 - 20:01
Always,
Cee
by Jamille on 11 January 2010 - 02:01
Making the shift from a person who previously focused on obedient pets in and around the home and family, to someone
who now want to encourage drive and desire for work, yet still have dogs you can live with can be a challenging shift.
It would require you to get a little more creative.
For instance, if my dogs seems to be restless in the house or rough housing too much for me, I will resist the urge to Yell, at them. Instead, Maybe I get up and grab a toy or some treats and decide to do some obedience for food or toy. Practice a long down with one and work with the other. Or, maybe have them both in front of me , telling them to sit , down, speak, or stand at the same time. The first one to get the reward is the one that gets the task done first.
Maybe , I will put one of the two dogs in an obedient long down. The other might encourage them to play ,but this gives you an opportunity to correct the mistake. Then, free up the dog that is down, and put the other dog on a down now.
I would make sure that I jump in on the fun, and say hey since you two are having so much fun, let try some obedience in a positive and fun way. Usually , after some obedience even if it is for fun, they usually find a bone laying around and settle in .
Maybe , another time when they start getting too carried away in the house, I will tell them to find their " Bones " I make sure I have Big bones ( not rawhide) to keep them occupied. Maybe put peanut butter in them or spread cheese, or nothing.
Maybe , I will call one of the dogs over to me and have them sit or lay down at my feet while I am on the computer. If the other dog keeps trying to play, I just gently push him off and ignore him. When the other dog tires of the boring activity and goes and lays down, I will let the other dog free. Sometimes they just need you to set an example of when I am calm, I expect you to be calm. When , I get up and get excited, then the games are on !!
If , none of the above are working, then I might just put one of them in a crate, and encourage the other to settle down lay at my feet or calm down while, I am doing chores.
More often than not , especially with a young dog, I will let them get by with Murder, just so I don't have to constantly be yelling no. It is one of those things that , If I don't want to yell at them I just put them away for a little while then, pull them out to do constructive, positive , motivational, drive building time. But, once they have gone to trainig enough and we have a training relationship established and they have a desire and understanding about what goes on at training. Then, is when, I start correcting and structuring behaviors at home without feeling like I am going to squash the desire to work
out of them.
Hope some of my input helps 
by LoveGSDs on 11 January 2010 - 06:01
I appreciate your input, the world of SCH and the working dog is remarkably different that just raising a couple of pups. I’ve always had great dogs, people have always complemented me on their behavior, but building and maintaining drive is a whole different ball of wax.
Best regards,
Tom
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