I feel silly writing this question...I think I may know the answer already. I have had my pup now for 36 hours. I plan on doing SchH with him. My pup had very good prey drive at the breeders even with different people and different envoirments. Now he seems only half way interested in playing with most anything I've tried.

I think this may be because he's in a new hom with so many new things. Am I right? I am so hopeful of this dog that I may be just over-reacting to this. Should I give his some down time to adjust? Boy do I feel like a moron...I deal with other people's pet pups all the time but don't really know what to expect out of this working line dog.

Thanks,
Jamie

My say:
Play play play!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Did you read the articles by Ed on the SchH puppy?

probably would be best if you read some info first before you get too far. i've found in the little training i have done it is hard to teach myself and the dog at the same time. search for some sch stuff on the forum

Yeah, just let him settle down, bond with him, let him enjoy things at his own pace. Don't leave toys around for him, play with him after he's been crated a while in a quiet room, just the two of you, nothing else exciting happening. This is what has been advised to me before.

Hi, I am new to this board, but here goes.. We now have a 11 week old GS pup who is from working lines, mom is agility titled dad is bomb detection. I am interested in search and rescue. I have no clue how to start, we have taught her to play hide and seek and everytime she finds
us I give her a treat and praise her and she hides and we seek her. Its adorable. She is a very loving pup and she watches me all the time and comes when I say come, or when I leave the area of the yard she follows me. How do I start training her for search and rescue? How do I know she has that ability? I live near Dallas Texas and was wondering if anyone knew of someone in this area that could help us.
Thanks
Julie

Thank you everyone and especially Kristine! I knew I was over-reacting about this. Funny thin is that after I posted my question I got him out of his crate and we had our best session since he was at the breeder's house. Wasn't as driven as I've seen him but difinately better. Tomorrow I will start teaching him the basics of waiting at doors and maybe sit or something.

It's a crap shoot with a puppy. You have to see what he/she turns into. Just continue good foundation training.
Good luck.

Pat

Don't go crazy over the obedience. In fact, unless it's motivational obedience, I wouldn't do it. Let the pup be a pup, jump all over you, play, etc.

I agree...puppies are definitely a crapshoot. Good puppies turn out bad, some bad puppies turn out good. It's crazy and stressful. Makes me not want to ever get a working puppy again. Too bad that's also the only way I want to go.

Kristine, You hit the nail on the head <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> After my last working GSD passed away I said that's IT I'm getting an adult dog or something that lives forever like a <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> schipperke....now here I am, once again with working line GSD puppy! As frustrating as they can be, there's nothing quite like them.

Give it time, your pup is probably just getting used to the new environment etc. Sometimes pups just need time to settle in.

This past fall I got another ACD, a puppy that is a nephew to my working ACD. He was 7.5 weeks old when I got him and I made a "deal with the devil" so to speak in purchasing him since parents did not have their hips, ears, and eyes tested. I *really* wanted this line and this was the only way I was going to get it.

Long story short, I saw the pups at 5 and 7.5 weeks and had my friend do the final evaluation and took home my pick. After getting home, I was *sure* that the pup was deaf. Gunfire did not bother this pup. Fire alarms did not even get a reaction out of him. Happiest moment in my life was about 4 days after I got him home, someone crashed their car into my house and it startled him <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Had him BAER tested a few weeks later at our nationals - perfect bi-lateral hearing <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Luckily for me he also DNA'd clear of PRA so my only hurdle now is that his hips and elbows check out!

Moral of the story, is don't get too worried right off the bat.