Picking the right sport for me and puppy

[Sitz&Platz]

I spoke to the Schutzhund trainer at our facility briefly to get a glimpse of what I would like to do with Dexter. We're finishing the puppy class in March, then I would like to move on to CGC classes. After that, I should be able to decide on what I would like to do next, but I really don't have a clue. The trainer basically said that we can get started right away, if I wanted to.

I hope that someone can point me in the right direction. Dexter is very smart and learns tricks/commands easily. He goes coockoo over his ball and loves to retrieve. He loves to play tug and knows out even when he gets worked up. He's also not easily scared of people, objects, noise and very confident. So far he's great with people, kids and other dogs, but he's also 16 weeks old.

We are working on focus, sometimes when he's had enough, he just lays down. I know he's not too tired, because when I pull out the ball, he magically reenergizes. He gets bored easily and has to be challenged with new things constantly.

I know the engagement/focus part is mostly my fault, it's hard to stay happy and perky at all times during training, that falls into the owner improvement category.

I'm looking for a fun thing to do with him that keeps him busy and his brain occupied. There are so many options, that I just don't know what to pick.

My question is, how do you pick the right sport to match your dog's abilities and personality? What are some prerequisites for each sport, when it comes to certain traits, energy levels, etc?

I know that some Schutzhund people say not to correct puppies from what I've read, but that's not going to happen. Dexter is very head strong, and if I don't correct him, I will be the one sleeping in the crate soon. Can a well mannered pet excel in Schutzhund?

Sorry, so many questions, but I do feel that I would like to do something challenging with him, but I just don't know what.

[Sitz&Platz]

Bumping this thread. Our trainer asked me about my plans for Dexter today, and I told her that we will continue on and enroll him for the CGC, but that I still didn't know what to do after that. She suggested that he would make an excellent therapy dog, given his temperament and demeanor. That was the one thing I really never thought about.

Can anybody guide me in the right direction in regards to therapy dogs, as I know absolutely nothing about it? He's finishing his puppy Star class next week, and we're starting CGC classes the following weekend. Anything we do, would be after that.

If that's the route we choose to go, are there things I should start doing now with him to prepare him? What makes a good therapy dog anyway?

[Castlemaid]

I think you should try SchH with him if you are interested. He sounds like he has the drive and confidence. Don't worry if he will excel or not at this stage, just try it out, have fun, and learn. When we raise a dog for SchH, we don't correct them too much, because we don't want to squash their drives, or affect their confidence. But if you have a drivey dog with lots of self-confidence, a few corrections here and there won't hurt their developement. Bottom line is that he is your dog, YOU have to live with him, not the trainer. Use common sense in raising Dexter.

As for his focus, sounds pretty normal for a 16 month old. At that age, it's not like he'll be able to stay focused and engaged for a whole hour, so don't kick yourself if he gets tired and disengages after a while.

Aim for about 10 minutes of focused work with Dexter, and pat yourself on the back for getting that out of him. Stop before he gets tired.

Gryff's attention span was pretty short up until he was three years old! He does come from slow-maturing lines, so for him, the initial short attention span was normal and not an indication of his limitations or my training ability (well, okay, maybe my training ability did have something to do with it, LOL).

I also raised another pup a few years ago that at six months, could give me a solid half hour of uninterrupted focus and eye-contact heeling, so it does depends on the dog.

Now with Schutzund and Therapy dog, you might run into some problems. A Schutzhund puppy is allowed to be a little free and crazy, but you need excruciatingly good and proper behaviour from a therapy dog. Some therapy dog organizations won't allow dogs that have had bite training. A Therapy dog normally has to be a year old or older to be allowed into a therapy program, so you have a bit of a wait for that, but as your trainer said, you can start SchH training now.

If I were you, I'd start the SchH training now, and when Dexter is older and more mature and calmer, check into the therapy work. In either case, what you can do to prepare Dexter for any venue you may be interested in, is to socialize him to the hilt, and expose him to as many new situations that you can think of.

[Sitz&Platz]

Thank you, Lucia. This is really helpful. Is there a good link where I can actually learn more about Schutzhund in detail? I went to the official website, but it's a bit overwhelming for a total newbie. I'm brand new to any dog sports, my other dogs are/were only titled in face kissing and good behavior - by me. :-)

I wouldn't mind not doing the bite work part, I'm just not sure about all the different components and how to start. As for tracking, I don't even know how to teach that, as Dexter can't even track his ball by himself. :-)

I've tried reading through the different Schutzhund threads, but it's really all a foreign language for me. Where can I find Schutzhund for dummies?

Thanks for the therapy dog info, I think you made some very good points.

[Castlemaid]

Schutzhund (Now officially called IPO):

Answers to some common questions:

Frequently Asked Questions

A more detailed, but easy to follow article.

(Schutzhund Training, by Wildhaus Kennels )

Schutzhund doesn't just teach you how to train your dog, bu teaches you a LOT about YOUR dog and dogs in general. With that in mind, this article is quite the eye-opener, and in my opinion, should be required reading for all GSD owners:

(Elements of Temperament, by Joy Tiz )

Work with your trainer - he will start you on the basics you need to know for tracking, developing drives, and continued work on focused heeling. People get all excited about starting and want to rush out and rush through the basic steps so their pups can advance faster - but DON'T! Foundation work is slow and frustrating at times, but take your time, don't rush, have someone show you what you need to do, and move forward one step at a time. The training is complex and covers three disciplines, and if you mess up the foundation work, you will really regret it later on.

[codmaster]

Originally Posted by Castlemaid

Schutzhund (Now officially called IPO):

Answers to some common questions:

Frequently Asked Questions

A more detailed, but easy to follow article.

(Schutzhund Training, by Wildhaus Kennels )

Schutzhund doesn't just teach you how to train your dog, bu teaches you a LOT about YOUR dog and dogs in general. With that in mind, this article is quite the eye-opener, and in my opinion, should be required reading for all GSD owners:

(Elements of Temperament, by Joy Tiz )

Work with your trainer - he will start you on the basics you need to know for tracking, developing drives, and continued work on focused heeling. People get all excited about starting and want to rush out and rush through the basic steps so their pups can advance faster - but DON'T! Foundation work is slow and frustrating at times, but take your time, don't rush, have someone show you what you need to do, and move forward one step at a time. The training is complex and covers three disciplines, and if you mess up the foundation work, you will really regret it later on.

THANKS - The Wildhaus explanation of ScH is the best one that I have ever seen!

[Sitz&Platz]

I agree! Thanks for the great links.

[Castlemaid]

Hey, look what one of the forum members just posted! You would think it was specifically to answer your questions!

IPObservations Episode 1: The Elegance of IPO

[Sitz&Platz]

Yes, I just watched it. Thanks, Lucia! Amazing!