Working Dog as companion

[flyballmom]

Judi, as usual, you are so right! A sense of humor is a MUST!!

Originally Posted by Judi W

If you have a sense of humor and truly enjoy all that piss and viniger, enjoy the pup all around and that means in the home as well as on the field.

[Diane Heller-Vaccaro]

I've always believed in companionship first and the rest will follow. My big concern of course, are the cats. The breeder says try to avoid the word "No" and use toys to distract, but I've seen this puppy and puppies like him in the past and it doesn't take them long to realize that old toy will be there anytime, but a moving foot or a cat's tail that's something I have to have now.

It's so exciting starting a puppy from the beginning.

[Judi W]

Humm, do you think the cats have a sense of humor? Probably not huh.

[Miabella]

Originally Posted by Judi W

Humm, do you think the cats have a sense of humor? Probably not huh.

Actually, you'd be surprised. One of my cats baits the dog into chasing her. For example, a few days ago Ilsa was stretched out asleep halfway under the coffee table. The cat jumped on top of the coffee table, and spent several moments looking at the dog and contemplating her next move. The cat then proceeded to jump on the dog's head and take off. You can imagine what happened to the coffee table.

[Diane Heller-Vaccaro]

My cats definately have a sense of humor and a very individual one at that. Like dogs, when you have more than 2 you really see a range of personalities and order, who eats, who sleeps where and when and the strange times they choose to play, which is when I will most likely crate Asa.

I've always used the leash under the couch for a puppy, a bed and his favorite toys and when the cats started to play he learned eventually it did him no good to try and join in because he was restrained, is this not a good idea when trying to develop a puppy for schutzhund.

[sherri]

Are the cats used to dogs already?? If so it should not be that big of an adjustment for them. My Schutzhund dogs get along very well with cats, and even the 5 week old kittens that we have. I think you will find that it won't be that hard to make life together a lot of fun.

[Mattweiser]

Originally Posted by Diane Heller

I've always used the leash under the couch for a puppy, a bed and his favorite toys and when the cats started to play he learned eventually it did him no good to try and join in because he was restrained, is this not a good idea when trying to develop a puppy for schutzhund.

Why is that? which part is not a good idea? the leash, the restraining, or the lack of ability to attack the cats?

[BostonRott]

If a dog is going to be "ruined" for the work by the word "no," I think you haven't started out with very much working potential in the first place!!!

A working prospect needs the same guidelines and guidance that any other puppy needs. Puppies without rules and structure are a PITA, and are NOT necessarily better working prospects.