First Club Visit

MD in SC · 08-16-2011, 08:20 PM

Well we picked up our new baby this week and would like to get her socialized ASAP in the local club. I am curious if anyone has some questions I should ask, or things I should look for? I believe this is a newer club, but I'm not marking that against them at all. I just want to make sure that if my intention/goals is to have a great Schutzhund dog, I start on the right path. I am by all means a beginner (never have taken a dog to schutzhund training) and would like to hear from some of the more experienced folks. I have posted a link to the club below if you want to look at it.

Charleston Working Dog Club | Facebook

Home Page

Thanks in advanced for any help anyone may be able to provide.

-Mike

**JakodaCD OA** · 08-17-2011, 07:29 AM

moving to schutzhund section

W.Oliver · 08-17-2011, 07:56 AM

People & Methods are the basics to me......

Do you like the people, and do they like you?
Are they helpful, and willing to invest time in you?
Most important, do you agree with their training methods?

Specific to me....I always have to be sure the folks around me can tolerate my sense of humor! My fellow club members have to be of solid nerve with very high thresholds to put up with me!!!!!

Taking a bag with bagels and cream cheese never hurts.

bocron · 08-17-2011, 08:40 AM

Just go with your gut. All clubs will have a slightly different philosophy, the goal is to find one whose philosophy makes you comfortable with the training and excited about the possibilities.
We have people come to our club from different clubs because they like our philosophy. We have also lost members to other clubs for the exact same reason, so it's a matter of finding what fits for you. We want all of our club dogs to be social with each other (within reason) and family members. Some clubs tell members that they need to crate their dog all day unless training or working in some manner. Some clubs only want members who want to compete at the highest level, etc. Hopefully there are multiple clubs in your area that you can check out.
As to the club you linked to, the TD Frans is who imported one of the males we have here. While I have never trained with him personally, his demos of the dogs on video that we were looking at were very well done and the training was solid. Just throwing that out there as an aside.

Annette

MD in SC · 08-17-2011, 04:06 PM

Unfortunately its the only club within a reasonable distance. Are there things to look for specifically?

Fast · 08-17-2011, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MD in SC

Unfortunately its the only club within a reasonable distance. Are there things to look for specifically?

It's like finding a spouse. You will see all of the obvious flaws. The rest is about how you feel about them. You weigh it all out and make up your mind. But remember 60% of marriages end with divorce.

onyx'girl · 08-17-2011, 09:04 PM

I think you need to look at the dogs, and not the people...sometimes they will tell you more than what you hear from the handler end.
From my limited experience, watching the dogs who've been training with a group will tell me about the type training they've had and whether or not I want my dog to show the same. Of course all dogs are individual, but you can usually tell if they are worked in all prey or some pressure has been applied, the foundation that was set in the bitework, etc. Pressure is good, IMO, dogs have to learn to work thru it and that brings power/confidence. But it can backfire if the dog is not mentally mature to deal with it.
The sessions for your pup's out time will be short and sweet, so going for socializing will be minimum(but as Annette posted all clubs are different...most of the ones I've been to don't want pups out for too long, even if they are just on a line sitting with their owner). Though it's all good, you'll learn so much just observing!
And Wayne's suggestion is a good one...we go to his club to visit now and then and the food is never disappointing!

SchHGSD · 08-17-2011, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fast

It's like finding a spouse. You will see all of the obvious flaws. The rest is about how you feel about them. You weigh it all out and make up your mind. But remember 60% of marriages end with divorce.

Isn't this the truth, in regards to clubs. I've been in some horrible ones, and some good ones. And I think marriage is EASIER to stick with, than a schutzhund club sometimes.

OP, if you're uncomfortable, run. If you enjoy it, and are happy with how the dogs look, then stick around. Most clubs have a probation period anyways, where they feel YOU out as much as you feel them out.

This is the website of the TD http://www.fransslaman.com/

MD in SC · 08-18-2011, 05:24 PM

Other than a leash, water, and a thirst for knowledge is there anything else I need to take with us?

SchHGSD · 08-18-2011, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MD in SC

Other than a leash, water, and a thirst for knowledge is there anything else I need to take with us?

Take a crate. You're not going to want your puppy out all the time on leash with you. It is a bit better for the puppy to wait, then come out and do stuff, then go back, then come out again.

Builds more intensity than a puppy sitting out all day in the sun watching every dog work.

I'd bring treats, also. Cut up hot dog would be perfect.

08-16-2011, 08:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
MD in SC Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 29	First Club Visit Well we picked up our new baby this week and would like to get her socialized ASAP in the local club. I am curious if anyone has some questions I should ask, or things I should look for? I believe this is a newer club, but I'm not marking that against them at all. I just want to make sure that if my intention/goals is to have a great Schutzhund dog, I start on the right path. I am by all means a beginner (never have taken a dog to schutzhund training) and would like to hear from some of the more experienced folks. I have posted a link to the club below if you want to look at it. Charleston Working Dog Club \| Facebook Home Page Thanks in advanced for any help anyone may be able to provide. -Mike

08-17-2011, 07:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
JakodaCD OA Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Location: Old Lyme, CT USA Posts: 14,237	moving to schutzhund section __________________ Diane Danger Danger vom Kleinen Hain aka Masi "Angel" Jakoda's Bewitchen Sami CD OA OAJ OAC NGC OJC RS-O GS-N JS-O TT HIC CGC "Angel" Steinwald's Four x Four CGC HIC TT Harmonyhill's Hy Jynx NA NAJ NAC NJC RS-N JS-N HIC Jakoda's Jagged Edge

08-17-2011, 07:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
W.Oliver Elite Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Farmington Hills, Michigan Posts: 1,436	People & Methods are the basics to me...... Do you like the people, and do they like you? Are they helpful, and willing to invest time in you? Most important, do you agree with their training methods? Specific to me....I always have to be sure the folks around me can tolerate my sense of humor! My fellow club members have to be of solid nerve with very high thresholds to put up with me!!!!! Taking a bag with bagels and cream cheese never hurts. __________________ India vom Wildhaus CGC Dayna von Royale BH FO CGC Therapy Dogs, Inc. Liberty Working Dog Club

08-17-2011, 08:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
bocron Elite Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Milton, Georgia Posts: 1,461	Just go with your gut. All clubs will have a slightly different philosophy, the goal is to find one whose philosophy makes you comfortable with the training and excited about the possibilities. We have people come to our club from different clubs because they like our philosophy. We have also lost members to other clubs for the exact same reason, so it's a matter of finding what fits for you. We want all of our club dogs to be social with each other (within reason) and family members. Some clubs tell members that they need to crate their dog all day unless training or working in some manner. Some clubs only want members who want to compete at the highest level, etc. Hopefully there are multiple clubs in your area that you can check out. As to the club you linked to, the TD Frans is who imported one of the males we have here. While I have never trained with him personally, his demos of the dogs on video that we were looking at were very well done and the training was solid. Just throwing that out there as an aside. Annette __________________ Annette Holbrook www.coppercreekdvg.com- All Breed Schutzhund Club Home of Umarek von Hugelblick, my good luck charm!

08-17-2011, 09:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,611	I think you need to look at the dogs, and not the people...sometimes they will tell you more than what you hear from the handler end. From my limited experience, watching the dogs who've been training with a group will tell me about the type training they've had and whether or not I want my dog to show the same. Of course all dogs are individual, but you can usually tell if they are worked in all prey or some pressure has been applied, the foundation that was set in the bitework, etc. Pressure is good, IMO, dogs have to learn to work thru it and that brings power/confidence. But it can backfire if the dog is not mentally mature to deal with it. The sessions for your pup's out time will be short and sweet, so going for socializing will be minimum(but as Annette posted all clubs are different...most of the ones I've been to don't want pups out for too long, even if they are just on a line sitting with their owner). Though it's all good, you'll learn so much just observing! And Wayne's suggestion is a good one...we go to his club to visit now and then and the food is never disappointing! __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo Last edited by onyx'girl; 08-17-2011 at 09:08 PM.

08-17-2011, 04:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
MD in SC Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 29	Unfortunately its the only club within a reasonable distance. Are there things to look for specifically?

08-18-2011, 05:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
MD in SC Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 29	Other than a leash, water, and a thirst for knowledge is there anything else I need to take with us?

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