puppy training - Page 1

I am in the process of getting an 8 week old puppy the I would eventually like to do schutzhund with. I know everyone has different schedules. But am just looking for ideas on how much time people spend duiring the day training and differnt time lines for different aspects of training.  Thanks ahead for everyones thoughts and ideas. 

Get with a good club and they will guide you.

With a tiny puppy, short sessions throughout the day, make them fun and exciting.

Keep everything very short, just a couple of minutes.  Puppies have very short attention spans.  You can start tracking and imprinting for OB.  If you are new avoid the rag work until you see an expereinced decoy. 

Jim

If you're new to GSD's and/or Training or Pre-Training some of the most important things to remember are to Socialize your puppy...I find too many people think this means for every Tom Dick and Harry putting their hands on my dog/puppy...Socializing means to not only have them around people...different people...kids...everyone...but it doesn't mean for everyone to put their hands on my puppy...You Control the situation...DON'T be afraid to tell people when they ask..."Can I pet your puppy"...NO...and the best line to get out of it is "He/She's in Training"...If you think the people or kids are right to touch/pet my puppy...then DON'T let them...
Introduce your puppy (still socialization) to everything...New types of ground cover...Walk on Concrete...Asphast...Wood...Slippery Floors...Indoors...Outdoors...Walking UP and DOWN steps...
Just think of your puppy as a Blank CD...and it's your job to put EVERYTHING on it...Cause you are....
All of this is a job in itself...but you can play with your puppy...I introduce my puppies to new toys...such as: Tennis Balls...Kongs...Pieces of Garden Hose...I teach my puppies...starting as soon as they go outside (usually around 6 weeks of age) to carry and pick-up everything...Sticks...Pieces of Garden Hose...PVC...Metal...I want to introduce them to as many new things as possible...
I know some others have said if you're not experienced don't play tug-o-war with your puppy...but it's all a learning experience for both of you at this time...Don't be afraid to make mistakes...The best lessons learned are from making mistakes...If you already know how to do something or you just do it naturally then you don't learn anything...but...If you make mistakes...You then work to find out how to do that thing better and better...
The things that I've had problems in teaching my dogs to do...such as the Retrieve...are the things that I've learned the most ways of teaching it...because you're continually trying to find new ways of teaching it...
Playing Tug-o-War:Maybe you can relate to this...As a kid and having dogs...you probably played Tug-o-War with a towel or T-Shirt or something...this is exactly what you're going to do with your puppy...except you have to think that this is a puppy and they have a very soft (baby) mouth...so use soft things to play with...I pick old soft towels to start with...then you can move up to a Burlap Sack...
With little puppies you're doing...Socialization...and Drive-Promotion...All Drive Promotion is is bringing out the natural abilities of your puppy...play with a ball or toy and make them chase it and this will build their inate drives...

~Bob~

qsk9,
Just remember that it's a puppy, not a thing.
There is a great deal to teach a new puppy and a bond to build, trust to be earned.
You should be learning how to do this right now, before you get your new puppy.
Using rewards and positive reinforcement to teach the pup to recognize it's name and come when called is always first for me.
Socializing is all ways important and should be ongoing throughout the dogs life.
This is the best time for crate training, and behavior, good manners and habits.
Prevention and guidance is better than corrections in the beginning.
Play time is learning, learn how to use toys properly.
This is a way to build drives and create good working habits.
Let it be a puppy and don't forget to always give it love, this makes for a better dog than one that's treated as a tool to feed the ego, competition can ruin a relationship if that is your only motivation.

Moons.

P.S.
Avoid gimmicks, gadgets, and miracle supplements.

Thanks for all the great advice, I do have  a question about a puppy biting.  I have hears both that you shoud let your puppy be  apuppy and let me bite, and also you will break there spirit if you scold them when they are youn and they may not take the sleeve when they are older.  Once again thanks for all advice.

This biting falls into the manners category, you decide what's acceptable or not, theres a time and place for everything.
There are many ways to deal with this biting that will not harm a dogs drives or ability to do work.
This also has to do with prevention and guidance.
Proper use of toys in this situation as a diversion from the behavior.