The following link http://youtube.com/watch?v=JY-NvNJ7qJo is my fourth in the ongoing foundation obedience training of a GSD pup. He is now five months old and this video is the beginning of his in motion exercises and about turns. I am training him for schutzhund so the obedience seen in his videos are couched in that direction. Again this is an uncut training video with narration in an effort to help you understand what I am doing and why. I explain in the video what I thought was good and what I thought was not so good. Moreover it should not be viewed as template in your training, but only viewed as what one trainer did to shape behaviors and the results of that effort. Norman Epstein

I like that extra turn in the about turn. I may be the only one in the world thats never seen that, but it looks like it will help me. Thanks.

Dang Norman...that's some precision treat spitting. I could use a video training me not to continually bounce it off my dog's head.

I agree with Steve, these videos are very helpful and very motivating. Thank you!

Hi Norman
Hes going great, well done and first class
What i like about it is that i am not the only Old Guy training a Pup, and its good to see it

Steve first am glad you found something that can be of help, because that's the reason I posted these videos. Regarding that foot work to aid in a tighter about turn. I came up with that as a bridge to the final phase and that is when you do your about turn do it twice in place. I'm sure I'm not the only one who uses this but I didn't get it from a video or another trainer, I just thought, at the time, it made sense. Obedience is not difficult just think before you act, break down each behavior into many steps and if it doesn't make sense to you it won't to your dog. I have and do use compulsion but only for disobedience after a behavior has been completely shaped and that doesn't mean the dog has done it for 10 times but 50 times without a mistake. That said, sometimes for some dogs compulsion used at the same time for the same behavior, can have the opposite affect and the dog leans away from you at the exact time you want him closer. Why in teaching take that chance.That said many about turn has been successfully taught with compulsion but for me this method is a win win because it has worked for me on three different breeds and types and because it doesn't affect your bond. That is critical for a protection breed. Why? Because you want a finished dog who will not just protect himself and his space but, you. Norman Epstein

Hey Steve I'm not old hell I'm only 20 years of age. It's just I've had a very hard life LOL. Norman Epstein

Hey Steve - I don't know how old you are but I'm 61 and have a 8 month old maniac Dutchie that I'm training. For additional punishment I have a new "pick of the litter" coming in a month. Plus my partner and assistant trainer is my 6 year old son.

Maybe we need to start a over the hill club.

Edited by lee sternberg (02/18/2008 07:39 AM)
Edit reason: added sentance

That was really great. I also have a 5 month old puppy (mixed breed, same size as your GSD) and whenever I try to get him to sit he jumps at me and/or bites my hands and clothing. I wrongly assumed that a 5-month-old does not have the control or discipline to do that level of concentrating, (along with having an inexperienced puppy owner). Right now we are focussing on "drop the sock" but obviously I am not giving my puppy enough credit. Thanks for the eye-opening video, it helped a newbie like me.

Does he focus so much on your face because you are giving him the treats from your mouth? Does he ALWAYS get the treats from your mouth? I am going to look on youtube for other Dap videos.

Thanks Angela and regarding your pup. He is jumping and biting because he is doing everything he knows in order to get your reward. Maybe because he has done that before and got a reward or he is just acting like a 5 month old pup. In any event here is what I would suggest the way to shape a behavior for a animal that has the reasoning ability of a 3-5 year old child who doesn't understand English is put him in front of you and pay no attention to what he is doing and when he gets tired hold the food in front of his nose and push it back and over the dogs head and just before he sits say sit and give him his treat. Soon the dog will come in front of you and sit and you say, good sit not good boy, and give him his treat. Then call him to you and say sit and give him his treat. The same patience and methods for the most part you use as mother you use can use to train a dog. Regarding focus first he follows food then you transfer that to teaching it is the position that gets him his treat no matter where that treat is if he is correct it will appear for him. In the beginning of shaping that behavior (focus) once he knew what got him the treat (focus at my side) all I did was make him wait for longer periods of time until I had him focus in position for 30 seconds. Good luck. Norman Epstein

I saw your other clips. So glad you keep posting. VERY VERY helpful. I love Dap's about turns. So sharp.