Looking for a specific pairing/line

[elisabeth_00117]

Cliff - your puppy sounds exactly what I like. I do however, like the higher energy for sport. Being a new handler who doesn't know a whole lot just yet - the higher energy and drive makes it easier on me!

[elisabeth_00117]

Originally Posted by elisabeth_00117

Cliff - VERY interesting.

I was going to write more but it was very late and I was very tired.

What I noticed (and what other people who are more experienced than me pointed out) about my Zefra (she is only Czech on the bottom) is that she starts out in prey but the moment the decoy (or any threat) raises a hand at her in a threatening manner, she is all business. As she matures, I can start to see the difference (with the help of my trainers) between a prey move/bark and a defensive one (please remember I am just starting to learn!). She can switch back and forth if the threat retreats, so does she. Very interesting to see her be able to switch back and forth.

She is great with heights, flooring and noise. We did have an issue at the SV show with the gun shot going off - but, granted (and I know everyone says this) she had NEVER reacted like that before to one - and she has been around gun shot A LOT (hunting with my Dad, at training, etc.). She has no problem going through small tunnels, spaces or climbing on things, etc.

She is also super social with people - almost to a fault, but this is getting better. She will actually wait now for them to invite her over for a hello. She would stretch her neck out so far and wiggle her whole body if someone even glanced at her before.. lol. Going from a people reactive dog to a dog who wants to be everyone's best friend - I will take the latter.. lol.

Zefra is also extremely biddable and has AMAZING handler focus. I never really "taught" her that but I definitely did enforce/capitalize on it! It doesn't matter what is going on around her, who is around, what is around, I have her undivided attention at all times - even without asking.. lol. We will be at the park, kids, dogs, bikes, birds, squirrels, etc. all around us and she will stand there staring at me waiting for me to give her a command. She has also been known to go into fronts and fuss just to get my attention - focus never wavering. From what people here know about Stark, my male - you can probably imagine how delighted I am over this part of her.

One thing that she does have a harder time doing is settling in the house though. Even with sufficient exercise both mental and physical she will not settle as nicely as Stark. If your up, she is up, if the cat is up, she is up, she does get up and down and grab a toy. She will entertain herself, but has a hard time settling unless told too. She doesn't get into trouble or mess with anything in the house, but can not really "settle" herself for more than a 1/2 hour at a time. It doesn't bother me too much since Stark is such a couch potato.

Thought I would clarify this for people.

The issue was her not cowering or retreating in any manner.

When the gun went off near her, she pushed forward and barked. I have a video of this as well and would be very interested in hearing thoughts on her reaction. I never brought it up before or showed it but would be interested in hearing thoughts. I would also be interested in knowing 'where' the reaction came from.

[onyx'girl]

Is she use to having whip cracking during protection work? Maybe not with her session but with other dogs that she can hear while they are training? Exciting noises even if the dog isn't doing the session themselves.
Gunshots remind Karlo of the whip, and use to ramp him up some, but now he just looks towards the noise and carries on with heeling.

[elisabeth_00117]

Oh yes, and this is what we attributed this too.

For the SV show we were on the property where she has done protection work, next to the blind and we had just seen and spoken too the decoy who has given her a good few sessions before... lol. Plus she was in heat and ampt up already... LOL.

The whip sound does get her a little worked up for sure! We have JUST now got her to a point where we crack it and she can remain in a sit/down until told to react.. lol.