I soon will be getting a GSD pup which I intend to train and use for SAR work. I am receiving conflicting information as to how the dog should be raised on a day to day basis.

Cindy,

I am soon, be getting a GSD pup which I intend to train and use for SAR work. I am receiving conflicting information as to how the dog should be raised on a day to day basis.

People who have a large number of dogs, ie. (far too many to keep them all in the house) say that after the initial socialization process, I should kennel my dog, taking him out 3-4 times a day to train and play, followed my an hour or so in the house, to learn indoor manners. I'm told that this makes makes the dog all fired up and ready to work, as he knows that his time with you is limited. I'm also told that the relationship between a dog raised as a true working dog and not as the family pet is a far better relationship and these people insist that this is how they would/ and I should raise the dog, even if they had only one dog.

The flip side of this coin, I'm told, is that the dog should always be at my side 24/7 if possible, to develop the handler/dog bond, learn how to read each other and be an inseparable team, etc...

I have a 3 year old GSD raised as a household pet, and regardless of how much time I spend outdoors training and playing with her she would rather be inside, watching television and is just plain LAZY!

I would like, very much, to not end up with a pair of bookends.

Can you offer some guidance, here?

Sincerely,
C. M.