[Diamond Dog]

Originally posted by Teddyi
Thank you Diamond Dog for your answers to my many long-winded questions. :)


******No problem. Remember also that people may not be so nice to you at first at this club. but once they see you are serious and commited they will warm up very quickly. This is very common. Unfortunate but common. But if you stay with it, you will see first hand how many people drop out, so you really cant hold it against them******


From what I could tell, this club doesn't seem to have a puppy area for puppies to socialize in. I will keep my pup with me and crate him when he seems tired.


***Thats fine. but do any other puppies come to the club? Maybe you can talk to your trainer and see if you can go to the section of the field and let them play and interact together. Myabe in one of those big playpen things for dogs, or maybe on leash. You want as much interaction as possible. Not only with dogs but other people. Just clear it with your club because their may be safety issues. Always follow your club rules and ask if you are unsure about something. Don't assume things are OK, no matter how benign it seems in your minds. Its also not a problem keeping them in a crate and letting them watch through a crate if you dont have any other option******



I am only working on basic puppy type OB work with food/praise rewards and motivators. No compulsion at this point.

I have the Flinks video and have been trying to follow it when working with my puppy. I am concerned about making mistakes and creating bite problems, but from what I have heard and read so far it seems that building drive is up to me until my puppy has gotten to the age where he can start training seriously (15 to 18 months?).


*****One of the biggest pet peeves of trainers is that inexperienced people try and do things on their own then come back and the trainer has to fix it. I have did Schutzhund for 2 years with my bitch 7 years ago and another 2 years with my boy and I still think of myself as inexperienced. even though I bough the Flinks tape, I still went over it with my trainer. I would never do a video alone and without doing it in front of someone qualified the first few times. Your trainer may even think the Flinks video is crap. I doubt it, but its a possibility. You want to be "in line" with your trainer as he is the one you will work with. If you guys disagree that much (at some point) then find another trainer. but try and do what your trainers asks of you. No more, no less.*****

As for the toys in the yard, are all puppies intended for Schutzhund work not allowed to play with any other toys? Does this mean only work with the bite tube, tugs and rag work? Or are there certain toys and chews that are acceptable?

****What I told you was the opinion of only ONE trainer. He could be right or wrong. But he is my trainer and for now I train there so I will follow his advice. It also depends how seriously you want to go into Schutzhund. Some Sch dogs are not allowed to roam freely with other dogs at home and are kenneled and crated for specific periods of time. You may need this for a Sch III. I almost didnt do Sch. with my current boy because he is a pet first and foremost and I know that things I do and let him get away with are hampering my Sch efforts. But my goal is not a Sch III or points so I made the decision to do it. But still there are a lot of things I don't do (ie no toys whenever he wants, no bites at ALL when he was teething, I tug and play with him a specific way, i don't let him get away with things I would let a pet get away with, etc). Ask your trainer his opinion of playing with your dog at home and what he recommends. Tell him what I said and ask him what he thinks about all of it*******


Thank you for the encouragement.

****No problem. We need more people doing SchI would strongly recommend going to a trial. You will see what a SchI routine entails and how it takes months if not years. You will know pretty quickly if you can do it or not. its really involved and the progress you make is slow. Good luck.

Also, take my advice with a grain of salt. I really am inexperienced. There are much more experienced people on this board (I wish some of them would post on this topic) and in your club. Talk to them as well.*****