In your opinion, whats the best way to start?
 

So often on here we read about people saying they are getting a new puppy and want to get into schH or another protection sport. So I thought I would start a thread on some of the best ways you have found to start.

I will lead off by talking about my house hold. I started with a puppy I had just purchased. It has been a long and bumpy road but I have learned a lot along the way. I have learned how to train this dog and I have learned a lot about my dogs strengths and weaknesses. I have also been limited to learning at my dogs pace rather than my own. I have been held back in some experiences such as trials and some handling technique because I have been focused on raising the dog.

Now for my GF to get started I brought in an already titled adult dog. The dog already knows what to do so all my GF has to focus on is enforcing the command, working with the dog and all other handling skills. She missed out on some of the training techniques but is still learning some of it by enforcing the dog or teaching the dog how to work with her. I'm not gonna lie, my GF is already a 100 times better handler than me and I have been at a year longer than her.

So that's my experience. What's yours and what do you think the best way is?

I'm a control freak so I'll start with puppies. I like the feeling of having been responsible for accomplishing everything (I won't say accomplishing everything "alone" because I can't do it without a good club and people to train with). Also I love working with puppies, they are like sponges.

I think when they are puppies the obedience and bonding will make or break what sports can or will be done later. Once you have that obedience and bond, the rest works itself out. I didn't take my dog for an evaluation until she was about 10 months old, but at that point I knew she had a great temperament and a pretty solid obedience., which made me more confident. There is nothing wrong with raising the dog first, so you know how you guys can work together.

There are some people that could greatly benefit from handling an older already titled/trained dog. I think these people are in the minority. You must train dogs to become a good trainer. I have watched many novice people struggle to get their dog's titled. You watch them and think, maybe it would have been easier if they started with a titled dog. If you look really closely, though, often the issue is the dog is not the right one for the handler. Only exception would be little kids. I think they can definitely benefit from learning to handle first and then training their own later.

I am a puppy person. I like working with and training puppies. Like Lies said, they are just big sponges. I have worked some young dogs and mature dogs for other people, but for myself I will always start with puppies.

I completely agree that you learn more by starting with a puppy. The thing with puppies is you are stuck going to the puppies pace and they are easy to mess up. Sometimes I feel starting with an adult is the way to go. Definately easier. As for bonding I don't think that makes any difference. Starting with an adult or a puppy, both will bond.

I think the best way to start is getting in with a good club/group and or a good training mentor that you can work one on one with..

You can also learn some stuff from books and videos..

I like having a good training partner.. Someone who can spot you during ob, someone to bounce ideas off of, etc..

I'd love a good (local to me) training partner! It would be great to have that support. And I think it helps in the progression to trial/title.

Yup, you will make a lot of mistakes wih a puppy, but you learn fom those mistakes.

from a 'noob' who has never done schutzhund/protection..For me, I'd want to start with a puppy, like Lisa said, I tend to want to learn from my mistakes . I also like learning along with my new puppy:)