Is it worth it?

[pjosh6]

Hey everyone i am in a delimma... My family lives in Colorado and we have a 9 month old male german shepperd... he is starting his behavior problems... jumping the fence and tearing up baby stuff, etc...... We have a toddler right now and are expecting another in march. I work alot and am always out of town, and my wife doesnt have all the time to work and deal with him either.. There are a few trainers here in Colorado that offer boarding and training..Does anyone have any opinions on this? We just dont have enough time to do a daily training where we go and be a part of it.. My main question is it worth it to take him to one of these 30 day training places and let them work on him??

[Riley3696]

I may get shot for this but IMO you should have thought about this before you brought him into your home. That being said I personally don't care for those types of places. you don't have any idea how they are going to treat your pup. Your dog will learn to listen to someone els and not you the owner. Is there a place where you and your dog can go to to get training together? It realy sounds like you and your pup need some training.

[onyx'girl]

I would rather have the trainer work with the handler and the dog, not just the dog. I think your poor dog is left up to his own devices for entertainment, and it will only get worse when the new baby comes if something doesn't change. Please give him more time or find him a home that has time to work with him. It is the only fair thing for everyone. Set him up to succeed, it isn't his fault that he is behaving badly. Not trying to be harsh, because I know how stressful it is with young babies/toddlers. Especially if your work schedule is already taking its toll on family time.

[msvette2u]

If this is an outdoor only dog he'll never get over these behaviors without intensive work and making him a full-fledged part of your family.
If not neutered, please do so, maybe enlisting the help of a good rescue, and look at finding him another home.
And yes, I'll probably get shot too.

[doggiedad]

1>>>> where did you get your German Shepperd???
a kennel would help with the fence jumping
and tearing up things.

2>>>> no matter what you have you have to
work with your dog daily and several times a day.

3>>>> if you send your dog away for training
you still have to work with him.

4>>>> i don't think a 30 day course is going to do much.
do you and your wife have time for a dog in general??
maybe you should send your dog away and have him
completely/fully trained.

Originally Posted by pjosh6

1>>>> My family lives in Colorado and we have a 9 month old male german shepperd... he is starting his behavior problems... jumping the fence and tearing up baby stuff, etc......

2>>>> We have a toddler right now and are expecting another in march. I work alot and am always out of town, and my wife doesnt have all the time to work and deal with him either..

3>>> There are a few trainers here in Colorado that offer boarding and training..Does anyone have any opinions on this?

4>>>>We just dont have enough time to do a daily training where we go and be a part of it.. My main question is it worth it to take him to one of these 30 day training places and let them work on him??

[Jack's Dad]

I'm going to sound like a broken record but I don't believe GSD'S belong with babies unless there is the time and commitment to insure they are safe. The dog also needs to have come with good nerves to begin with. Many people have raised children with GSD's but you have to put in the time and the training. It doesn't sound to me like there is going to be the time available.

[zyppi]

I think you could manage with the right trainer to show you how to work with him.

Basic manners just need a consistent approach.

I would not send him off for training since no one will work miracles in such a short period of time.

Good luck.

[pjosh6]

thanks for the replies. We do have another dog which is a female boxer that we have worked with prior which behaves awesome. Our GSD stays in the house with us and uses a doggy door to go in/out as he pleases. We do take him on walks and try to work him when we can, we just need help with the initial foundation on him. I honestly think he will be a great dog once we get out of this puppy stage. When we leave for the day or to run errands, he goes into his kennel. Also at night he goes in kennel. One problem is our fence at this rental home is only 48" tall and he kinda steps over this with ease. We have thought about getting the fence raised, to help keep him in the yard.

[msvette2u]

I don't see how training will keep him in the yard, that's a supervision or construction problem.

Run hot wire (we use a small solar panel for power) around the top of the fence, and maybe a strand at the bottom, nose height. He'll quit going over it in a hurry. It has not failed to work for our escape artists.

[Emoore]

No, a board and train place will teach him to respond to basic commands like sit, down and stay. It will not teach him to not jump the fence or tear up baby stuff.

I also have a nine month old pup and so far we've had one day like that (see my thread where I'm trying to give him away free lol). That day I was too busy to exercise and work with him like I should. He got bored and entertained himself. Every other day I actively engage him, work with him, and exercise him (we usually walk 4 miles a day, plus fetch). That's what these dogs need to become well behaved family members.

It sounds like you're not going to have time for your dog for many years. Please find him a home that will. If you don't have time to spend 30 or 45 minutes doing daily training, you don't have time for a dog.