My 4 month old working on fetch

mchcthrn · 12-30-2012, 07:39 PM

4 Month Old German Shepherd - YouTube

This is us at the park this morning, my first GSD and I LOVE him!!!

Although, I will say, I've been surprised at how much work this breed is - you think you are up for the challenge, but the actual day in and day out of a young GSD is intense! We do 1 hour at the park every day, plus potty walks, and training every night. This is all in addition to group classes, vet visits, etc. It makes me wonder how people who work full-time jobs can even own these dogs! I love every minute of it, but I can see how people easily get in over their heads! I also love reading all of these forum posts, they are super helpful in making me feel not so alone!

**jocoyn** · 12-30-2012, 07:51 PM

Looks like he is doing quite well!

Be careful with the long line. I don't see you making the mistake that I made which wound up with the line around my ankle when I threw the ball for a friend's trailing dog.

Darned fibula. 5" plate and several screws later it works but will never be the same (mine, not the dog's)

mchcthrn · 12-30-2012, 07:55 PM

Great point! I wish I didn't have to use it, but unfortunately I live in the city and the only open spaces are all near roads. Even though so far he is very attentive and we work on recalls a LOT, I like having the extra safety measure. I do find myself constantly stopping him and pulling it out from under his body over and over. I wonder if the dogs ever trip on them and hurting themselves? I like this line because it is very lightweight and easy to see, but maybe a heavier line wouldn't tangle as much?

sit,stay · 12-30-2012, 09:41 PM

What a refreshing video! It is great to see a puppy owner so engaged.
Sheilah

onyx'girl · 12-30-2012, 09:53 PM

great job with teasing him up and making him focus first before you send him! He looks like a totally biddable pup so it is easy to work with him.

I don't like lines either...just because I'm such a clutz..& and my dogs have never needed them. I threw a ball not that long ago and the tracking line ripped back/wrapped around me, my dog dragged me to the ball. Of course we had visitors at the club that day(and this was during tracking, not even the 'high drive' state!)
What are your plans w/ future training goals?

mchcthrn · 12-30-2012, 10:10 PM

Thank you for the encouragement! I'll definitely be more careful around the long line after reading these posts!

I am having a lot of fun with him and looking to do something more advanced with him; although, I haven't fully been able to decide yet. I feel like yesterday he was eight weeks! Now he is nearing 5 months and I still have no idea. I've been thinking about Schutzhund, SAR, or Obedience... Any opinions?

sit,stay · 12-30-2012, 10:51 PM

Well, I am totally biased towards my own interests, but so far herding and tracking have been so much fun for me and my dog that I am surprised they aren't illegal. I enjoy agility, too.
Sheilah

mchcthrn · 12-30-2012, 11:03 PM

Lol! Herding is definitely something I should look into...

**jocoyn** · 12-31-2012, 12:02 AM

Well you are doing good!

You know, I have not done but would consider a bungee thing - my friend gave me one but it was not useful for tracking because it dulled the communication but she used it when she backtied her dog to break the shock....I think....but it may help either one of you absorb a sudden jolt on the line, is heavier than the regular line and may be less likely to tangle, and may help prevent injuries..it was much heavier than the bungee you buy at the store with hooks. Just me thinking that way....I had the advantage of some areas to play fetch safely without a line when Beau was a pup.

I found out I was not the first person who had a broken ankle from a tracking line accident; they are more common than you would think.

TKO · 04-05-2013, 02:24 AM

Hi mchcthrn

I noticed that your GSD is from von Haus Weisenbaker. We are also first time buyers and learning as much as possible and have been speaking with them about buying a puppy (just to make sure they are in DC). Their prices are very high but she says they also have the best program in the country and provides number of guarantees. How was your experience with them? Would you get a puppy from them again?
thx.

12-30-2012, 07:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
jocoyn Zombie Queen Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 11,875	Looks like he is doing quite well! Be careful with the long line. I don't see you making the mistake that I made which wound up with the line around my ankle when I threw the ball for a friend's trailing dog. Darned fibula. 5" plate and several screws later it works but will never be the same (mine, not the dog's) __________________ Nancy www.scsarda.org Beau -NAPWDA Certified Cadaver Dog Waiting at the Bridge (italics=GSDs) (hemangiosarcoma=blue):Grim , Cyra, Toby, Rainbow, Linus, Oscar, Arlo & Waggles

12-30-2012, 07:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
mchcthrn New Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 22	Great point! I wish I didn't have to use it, but unfortunately I live in the city and the only open spaces are all near roads. Even though so far he is very attentive and we work on recalls a LOT, I like having the extra safety measure. I do find myself constantly stopping him and pulling it out from under his body over and over. I wonder if the dogs ever trip on them and hurting themselves? I like this line because it is very lightweight and easy to see, but maybe a heavier line wouldn't tangle as much? __________________ -- Michelle Iry, mixed breed, CGC Max, GSD

12-30-2012, 09:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 21,196	great job with teasing him up and making him focus first before you send him! He looks like a totally biddable pup so it is easy to work with him. I don't like lines either...just because I'm such a clutz..& and my dogs have never needed them. I threw a ball not that long ago and the tracking line ripped back/wrapped around me, my dog dragged me to the ball. Of course we had visitors at the club that day(and this was during tracking, not even the 'high drive' state!) What are your plans w/ future training goals? __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

12-30-2012, 10:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
mchcthrn New Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 22	Thank you for the encouragement! I'll definitely be more careful around the long line after reading these posts! I am having a lot of fun with him and looking to do something more advanced with him; although, I haven't fully been able to decide yet. I feel like yesterday he was eight weeks! Now he is nearing 5 months and I still have no idea. I've been thinking about Schutzhund, SAR, or Obedience... Any opinions? __________________ -- Michelle Iry, mixed breed, CGC Max, GSD

12-30-2012, 11:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
mchcthrn New Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 22	Lol! Herding is definitely something I should look into... __________________ -- Michelle Iry, mixed breed, CGC Max, GSD

12-30-2012, 09:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
sit,stay Knighted Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,657	What a refreshing video! It is great to see a puppy owner so engaged. Sheilah

12-30-2012, 10:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
sit,stay Knighted Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,657	Well, I am totally biased towards my own interests, but so far herding and tracking have been so much fun for me and my dog that I am surprised they aren't illegal. I enjoy agility, too. Sheilah

12-31-2012, 12:02 AM	#9 (permalink)
jocoyn Zombie Queen Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 11,875	Well you are doing good! You know, I have not done but would consider a bungee thing - my friend gave me one but it was not useful for tracking because it dulled the communication but she used it when she backtied her dog to break the shock....I think....but it may help either one of you absorb a sudden jolt on the line, is heavier than the regular line and may be less likely to tangle, and may help prevent injuries..it was much heavier than the bungee you buy at the store with hooks. Just me thinking that way....I had the advantage of some areas to play fetch safely without a line when Beau was a pup. I found out I was not the first person who had a broken ankle from a tracking line accident; they are more common than you would think. __________________ Nancy www.scsarda.org Beau -NAPWDA Certified Cadaver Dog Waiting at the Bridge (italics=GSDs) (hemangiosarcoma=blue):Grim , Cyra, Toby, Rainbow, Linus, Oscar, Arlo & Waggles

04-05-2013, 02:24 AM	#10 (permalink)
TKO New Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 1	Hi mchcthrn I noticed that your GSD is from von Haus Weisenbaker. We are also first time buyers and learning as much as possible and have been speaking with them about buying a puppy (just to make sure they are in DC). Their prices are very high but she says they also have the best program in the country and provides number of guarantees. How was your experience with them? Would you get a puppy from them again? thx.

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