Hi. My new 4 month old GSD arrived yesterday from Atlanta Georgia. I had several conversations with the breeder and saw many pictures of the pup before I purchased him and made it very clear I was looking for a pup with high ball/prey drive for dual purpose police work. He has been with us for two days now and has absolutelty no desire to chase a ball or pull on a rag. The breeder said he has worked him with a rag and ball since he was a few weeks old. Like i said before , I saw pictures of him biting the rag, so I know he had done it before. Am I expecting too much from our new addition right now? Shouldnt he be interested in the ball and rag too some extent? He is very active and seems to fit right in. He loves running in the yard with my kids and is very social. He has solid nerves as well. He loves to explore new areas and wants to be included in everything. Now, I havent put any pressure on him. I have taken him outside one on one for a few minutes each time. He just looks at me or wonders around checking things out. Any ideas?!

Hi David,

While I have no experience with raising working puppies, the one thing that stands out to me is that you've only had this dog for a day or two. Some puppies take a little while to adjust. Whne I brought my most recent pup home, he was an angel for the first week...and then he came out of his shell.

I suspect that drive will start to come out when he's more relaxed and feeling at home...whether that's tonight, tomorrow, in a week...etc.

My pup came home at 4.5 months and it took her about a month to come out of her shell...she's now a firecracker!

Thanks for your comments. I had a couple of my law enforcement buddies come over today and look at him. They all said send him back. Each one of their dogs showed the ball/prey drive when played with immediately. Their opinion was the breeder didnt work the pup and the pictures were for show to sell. Nice mess Im here.

I'd contact the breeder and just let him know. I'd still give the puppy a chance to settle in though. Have some patience for him. He has just been separated from his litter and is in a whole new enviorment with whole different people. If after a reasonable time he still shows no drive, talk to the breeder again.

I don't know your breeder, so I can only tell you things from my perspective.

Give the pup a chance. Every puppy is different and adjusts at their own pace. At 4 months old, your pup may very likely be beginning teething as well. this can play a huge role in drive for some pups, even if they haven't just been uprooted from their familiar surroundings. You say he's social and has good nerves, so I would take a more patient attitude if I had received a pup like this.

I have had pups play immediately and then others take a while to settle in.

I compare it to a grade school kid being shipped off away from home for the first time. Your pup is a youngster, give him a break.

As a breeder, nothing upsets me more than a puppy customer who contacts me a day or two after obtaining their new addition worried about drive. I especially get upset when I find out they are involving 3rd parties for advice and making assumptions based on that advice.

If I had sent this pup to you I would want it back, I just don't have a lot of patience for unrealistic expectations of pups.

You mention your puppy is running around playing with your kids? Why should your pup look to you for playing ball or tug, kids are WAY more fun for most puppies.

You may want to purchase a couple of our puppy videos and set him up differently at your home. You might be really surprised at how controlling his environment while he settles in works to build his drives.

 Quote: Cindy Easton Rhodes

set him up differently at your home. You might be really surprised at how controlling his environment while he settles in works to build his drives.

That sounds interesting..

Can you expand more please?

Thank you cindy. I had the pleasure of trading emails with Ed tonight and he said the same thing. I will be purchasing the videos as soon as I return home in the morning from work. Ed gave me good sound advice and I will put it to good use. I apologize up front if I upset you with my comment. Im new to the working dog experience and have learned that its going to take a great deal of learning and patience. I also contacted the breeder and has been very receptive and extremely willing to help me at any time day or night if i need to ask a question or have a concern. Like I said in my intial post, he does have solid nerves and all the qualities a working puppy needs , he just isnt showing the drive. Lesson learned cindy!!! Thanks for setting me straight.

Cindy,

Just wanted to let you know I told the breeder I would ask for other view points regarding this matter in an attempt to better educate myself. He was pleased with my attempt to inform him and extremely pleased I looked to Ed and this site for help.

Thanks to all of you who tried to help.

Any one want to give me some good advice on how to settle him down in the crate at night. I know its only been a few days, but he will go all night tearing at the crate and barking.