When ever I read about schutzund type training it's always starting with the dog being a puppy. I'm just curious, would it be possible to take a mature pet dog and begin schutzund training? Obviously not with hopes of achieving greatness, but just as a fun activity.
Anne Vaini Webboard User Reg: 07-14-2005
Posts: 775
Loc: Wisconsin
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Marta,
I believe it is possible (I'd bet people on this board have done it), but problems that a person will probably find are:
a) dogs that have the drive "squished" out of them and
b) dogs that have an inhibited bite and
c) poor grips in dogs that have been taught to play "fetch" or "2-ball".
Basically the things a person would want to develop in a protetion sport prospect are not generally things that are encouraged in pets. Yes, a lot of high-drive dogs go to shelters, but then well-meaning staff and volunteers have to squish the drive out of the dog to save its life. I'm working with a foster dog now that is high-drive. He was only trained one thing at the shelter and it is very difficult to get him past it. He was trained to drop a toy and back up and stay. When he is high in drive he backs up and freezes.
Particularly dobermans and doberman mixes would be more difficult if they were not taught to focus and were not desnsitized to touch.
Do you think it would be possible to raise a puppy as a pet, do normal obedience and lets say agility, and still keep a window of possibility open to get into schutzhund later on in that dog's life? What would you be doing with that dog to accomplish that?
The reason I'm asking is because I plan on getting a dog in the near future as a companion. At this point I don't think I would be getting into sch with the dog. I still don't feel I know enough about it and I'm still on the fence if I want to get into it. Not to mention I don't think I would be able to dedicate adequate amounts of time to the training at this point in my life.
Anne Vaini Webboard User Reg: 07-14-2005
Posts: 775
Loc: Wisconsin
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Marta,
The way to do that would be to go ahead and get Ed's Building Drive Focus and Grip DVD. You would create the foundation for drive-motivated obedience and the foundation for bitework. You would leave options open so you could choose whether to pursue bitework or to only use tug toys as rewards in training.
You might enjoy working towards tracking and/or obedience SchH titles without doing protection.
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Teaching an old dog new tricks
#108429 - 06/17/2006 01:59 PM 
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