This is not easy to explain properly, but here goes. Since Grimm was a puppy, he has had extreme issues with impatience. This really stands out. Examples: As a pup, he learned he could dig through snow.. but when a frozen puddle of ice refused to budge under his digging paws, he threw a tantrum. A tree root refused to be pulled from the earth? Tantrum! He wants his food to come faster? He used to yammer "Yuu! Yuu! Yuu! Yuu!" and the biggest issue, he would love to meet all dogs on walks but cannot.. the impatience to start a party has him wanting to bark and lunge.

He is much better with ALL of these things at age 21 months. Daily wait-for-release training intergrated into our daily living, having him sit-wait-give-focus, then get a release word before he comes through all doorways, gets his foodbowl set down, gets waterbowl, toys, treats, etc has helped. Excersise has helped. Maturity has begun to help. Amazingly, being switched to an all raw diet has also helped. But, the underlying impatience is still an undercurrent.

What helps with this (aside from the calm 0 good stuf training that we incorperate into daily living)? What about TTouch? Bach flower? Does maturity help with this? He is in rampant teenagerhood at 21 months (he is Czech lines and slow to mature-- just this month he decided to mark on walks).

Any ideas and tips besides what I am doing? Surprisingly, he isn't an especially dominant dog. Pushy? A bit. He just wants everything right now. He respects me, my space, obeys commands amazingly well for a teenager, is generally attentive even though distractable at his age. The problems we face tend to stem from his "Oh my God I gotta do that/ have that NOW!" urges. Impatience, even with the NILIF and focus = good stuff training, has been an undercurrent since babyhood for this dog. Does maturity help?

How much daily structured exercise and short upbeat marker sessions does the dog get?

Sounds more like a lack of self control than anything else. Yes it does get better with maturity but training them to realize that self control and restraint=good stuff faster also helps.

Connie-- tons. I forgot to mention that. Several hours walking/free running in a nature preserve daily along with walks and ball playing, several very short toy or food reward training sessions daily.

Again, the sit-wait-give focus = release command for good stuff is part of our daily living and has been.

He is much improved due to the physical and mental outlets, and having to wait + give focus to get stuff. I just wondered if TTouch might also help? He is my first dog I got as a puppy, so.. am hoping maturity will help too!

Patti, it sounds like you're doing great!

Most people would have gotten frustrated with such an intense dog.

It sounds like perhaps this dog would like more of a challenge to funnel all of that energy into.

Given that you ARE in the land of Schutzhund... that might be a nice outlet for your on-the-go, high energy dog.
It also sounds like you would make a fantastic handler.

Is that something you'd be willing to consider with Grimm, because it sounds like he'd thoroughly enjoy it.

One of the things to look for when selecting a working dog, is intensity and determination. Sounds like Grimm has it in SPADES!

Alyssa, thank you for the input. My gosh-- who is that dog in your sig line photo?? STUNNING deep sable with intense eyebrow-wrinklies! Noshin' on a jumbo RMB.

Actually, the weird thing-- Grimm is actually just a medium energy dog (thank God!) who settles very nicely in the house. You're right, he is a bit intense for me when he wants something right-this-minute-now. I am a disabled handler, sport isn't an option. But yes, I may have to find a club who has someone in it who's "thinking beyond the sport," though, who may be willing to help me work with Grimm better. He cannot watch other dogs getting fired up for any reason--protection work, whatever-- because he feeds on the energy of anyone/any dog who is excited, and gets excited too. (He has done much better with this as he is getting older, but I can't risk losing control of him with my disabilities) Mismatch? Sort of, but we are happy together, he has his outlets. If I can find a club who's emphasis is not strictly competition, I may find some help with him.

Thanks for the encouragement. Time to see about getting a TTouch DVD. I'll try anything to give him more of a sense of peace in his life.

Sounds like a nice working dog to me. As Alyssa said, he needs more outlet for his energy. Not just walks and playing ball, but something that can let him act out.

I used to handle dogs for people that didn't have the strength to hold the line themselves for whatever reason, and they handled the dog in obedience. Just have to find the right trainer that will accomodate. Usually private trainers rather than clubs. Don't know about Germany.

Lyka used to throw those tantrums as a pup. She still does from time to time. Its a trait I value I just ignore it, or use it to my advantage.

Patti: I am encouraged when I read your post, my Cody is just like that and he is 11 months old now. I sometimes feel like he is just too immature to be learning different skills, but I just keep pressing on and training. One thing I will say about him is once he gets it, he is spot on with anything I teach him.
Love to hear the activities you do with him and if anyone has some suggestions for impatience let me know.
I make Cody wait for things and it is almost too much for him (ha) He thinks that anyway. He is a bundle of energy and ready to go at any minute. When I let him out of his crate int he morning, he doesn't walk or trot out, he bounds out and begins to play and run around and that is how he is all day. I did teach him the "no play rest" command, because he never stops. The whole time he is looking at me with sad eyes but obeys. Maybe doing some things like that might help your eager beaver too. I don't know, just sharing. May God bless you.
One thing I can say with Cody there is never a dull moment. From chasing lizards outside (and any thing else that moves, even flies) to running as fast as he can all around our house (we have over 1/2 an acre, to doing every command and then adding a jump to the end, he is really a blast! I bet your pup is too!
God bless you

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...or use it to my advantage.

If I'm interpreting this correctly, "Impatience" is a great thing, Patti.

Every dog chooses the most direct path to achieving a rewarding stimulus. The faster they wanna get there, the more crisply they'll respond to whatever it is they think they need to do to make it happen; be it throwing themselves into a "down", or darting to your side for a heel. "Patient" dogs will take there time. Bo-ring.

Jump neck deep into marker training and you'll see. You'll see.

Grimm is just barely medium energy, he is no fireball. And with three solid hours free in a nature preserve running and walking, plus walks, plus ball playing-- it is actually a bit much.. he is tired at home. He honestly is a boneless blob in the house the rest of the day.

Mike, yes, a private trainer who can "be my hands" is exactly what I need! A few weeks with a trainer handling Grimm around other dogs, and he will learn he can't initiate a party with other dogs RIGHT NOW.. but must wait and do what is asked. To be thruthful, we are doing good with this now.. but the undercurrent of impatience shows when we pass another dog "I wanna play with that dog NOW.. I can't? Oh man.. oh man..!!" The problem is MUCH better-- but you are right Mike, a private trainer being my hands would help lots too.

Sharon, hang in there! How about increasing your dog's excersise with buying two rubber-ball-on-rubber-string type toys? Get a 2 - ball retrieval game going until his tongue hangs to his knees. My Grimm is not at all high energy.. and I do this daily. But your dog sounds high energy. This can be better for Cody than learing to lay down and chill when he needs to burn it off. I also have Grimm wait and give focus, waiting for my release command (with the crate door standing open) before he is allowed to barrel out of his crate.

Yep, he is a workingline dog, but my dog doesn't have tons of energy. Just wants what he wants NOW. C'mon, maturity.