Training

Everyday I receive emails from people looking for training help. I do not concider myself a qualified professional trainer, but I do have some experience in the area. There are so many ways, methods, and sports to train for. Not all GSD's are going to be a schutzhund superstar, and not all of us want that. Schutzhund training is a very involved, high energy sport. There are many ways to train and have fun with your dog, so decide what is right for you and your animal, and GET GOING!! I've decided to try dedicating this page to copying and pasting email discussions I have with people about training issues so that all can benefit. Take what works for you, and throw out the rest. We'll see if this page develops into something or just fades away. I have learned much from Ed Frawley's website, www.leerburg.com He has a huge website filled with advice on all things dog. I have purchased two leerburg dogs over the years, and my latest one, Secret, is quite a character! Whatever your training issue with your dog, keep searching for an answer. If something doesn't work, try something else! Good day, and good training!

A DISCUSSION ABOUT CORRECTING JUMPING UP: Hi Kathie, I'm glad all went well at class. Indeed, handling different dogs will make us better trainers, as they are not all the same. I use a milk carton, much the same philosophy as the noodle. Funny, in practicing schutzhund, to make a dog not afraid of the stick, we will use a piece of foam pipe insulation to simulate a stick coming down at the dog to teach him or her fearlessness over something coming down at him. Two similar practices for two different outcomes. One, the schutzhund one, you put the dog in drive first, get him/her really tugging on the prey item, and bring the "stick" gently down at them until they don't even flinch at it, then over time really get it swinging. Two, teach dog not to jump up, by staying calm as a handler, dog is excited though, and combine all things negative (voice, posture not giving away anything) and bop him to get a different result. The other no jump thing I did with Secret as she is loaded with drive, and I wasn't sure I wanted a negative view on her part to things coming at her overhead (just in case I do decide to do schutzhund with her), I put a prong collar and a tab hanging from it. When she jumps, I can easily grab the tab and correct with a OFF! As she quickly got it but wasn't 100%, I found myself keeping my hands at my waist level when she ran up, putting my hand out, and she would bump my hand. I found if I raised my hand up, like protecting myself from her jump, she would jump up to the hand. So if I kept it at waist level, she would target the hand, to get a PET, not a slap. First the negative reinforcment with the collar, then turned to a positve reinforcement with a pet always ready at waist level.

A DISCUSSION ABOUT FINDING A OBEDIENCE SCHOOL: Hi Ammie, I'm glad to hear Kellie is doing well. The problem I have with "traditional" obedience classes, is they teach through compulsion rather than praise and treats. The whip around in circles in groups jerking on the collar of the dog saying "heel, heel!" I'm sure this is what your vet
was referring to when she said your dog would not benefit from these classes. Karlee HATED classes, as I was training her this way before I learned a kinder, happier, funner way of training. My dogs work joyfully now, eager to work for food and treats. This can still be accomplished in a group setting, for way less than an individual trainer. I believe Janet found a class structured this way out by you all. Can you contact
her to see where she went? When looking for a school, go to watch a class, and see how they teach. You should see lots of food, and praise in classes, with enrollment being small enough to have the trainer, and trainers helpers giving tips and help to everyone involved. People should
be having fun, and dogs learning. Buzz words in advertisements would be like positive motivational training. I love clicker training, but have had feedback from people that in a group setting it's confusing to the dog. I've always done clicker training in private training sessions only.

Making you more appealing than the environment is the key to training your dog. If your dog is chasing a squirl, and you call it to come, it will come because you are it's world that provides it with all the fun and excitement it really needs. Meaning, each time it comes, it gets such fun
play, food, or extreme praise. As the dog gets older, these things become a ingrained habit, so that the dog would NEVER think of not coming, coming
in and of itself becomes the reward for the dog. Each time you call your pup to come, and it doesn't, because what it's doing is more fun and rewarding than you, it learns to NOT come, and if the balance of not coming becomes more heavy than the balance of coming, than you have a problem.
Because the dog is learning that coming is not as valuable as NOT coming. When the pup is small, it's WHOLE world is you, and as it grows the world grows. The trick is to still be the center of the pups universe, teaching it about the world, and delighting in it with her, rather than her learning
on her own. OK, enough preaching about teaching! Any of this helpful?

The rewards of "Hanging in there!":

Hello. My family and I purchased our dog, Buck, from you in June of
2006. About a year ago, I emailed you about some issues we were having
with Buck and our then 8 year old son. I am happy to say that it did
seem to be an adolescent issue with Buck - couldn't quite figure out
where he fit into the pack order.
Buck is a very sweet dog that loves to run! He is still responding
well to his obedience school - loves treats! He is a big dog, about 100
lbs and is very prone to thinking he is the dog in charge. The
obedience school is continuing because he has decided that Bailey, our 7
year old male beagle, cannot be in the yard with him at the same time
without being chased and chewed on. We are working on some predatory
issues, but like I said, he is responding well. We need to keep him on
his toes!
I have attached some pictures of him from the end of last summer. He
has filled out a little since then, and his head seems bigger! He
always draws a reaction from people that meet him.
I am sure you get tons of info from all of your families, so won't keep
you. If you ever want/need more info on him, please just let me know.
Thanks,
Krista

Kelly and Tom say "come train with us!"

Learn the basics of protection work.

Leo's first time on the puppy sleeve.

Django guards Steve.

Good Catch Eric!

Teach your pup a great foundation.

Have fun with your dog.

262-903-1661 kelbygsd@verizon.net