Hi folks!
I have somewhat of a dilemma here and not quite sure what to do/think. Could use some guidance. This is going to be a long one and "may" require long answers.
I have been looking for a local trainer to help/assist with the training in addition to studying leerburg’s information, videos, and using them as a guide. Kind of like an adjunct to our puppy’s training regimen. He is now 16 weeks old and I have found a local Shutzhund trainer. Name withheld. Apparently he is fairly well known and has trained many champions. Although this is what HE says and when I spoke to another Shutzhund trainer who I know for a fact has won many championships says he's just a handler and hasn't seen him compete.
I spoke with him Monday in regards to helping with the training of our 16 week old Doberman male – Kaiser. He wanted to meet me and Kaiser, so we went to the Shutzhund field to meet with him. He performed a very quick evaluation of Kaiser and determined that he needed more socialization and neutralization in regards to people and places. This was determined by having Kaiser approach him while he was using a tug to solicit prey behavior. When this happened Kaiser decided that he would rather not engage and move away from him.
He commented that he would have liked to see Kaiser get out of the car as if he had been there before and engage in play. Since he didn’t, he recommended that Kaiser attend one of his classes, 8 weeks, 2 days a week every other week for socialization and neutralization. I asked if I should attend and he said No, the idea is to build confidence in Kaiser when you are not there. He will have a more difficult time of building confidence if you are there. He needs to do this without you. It’s a full day at a “doggy day care” facility and he also mentioned that he would have him away from the other dogs and work with him one on one by developing situations for him to overcome to raise his confidence.
On one note, what he says sounds reasonable - sort of except for the part where I should not be there, yet on the other I find it difficult to believe that a 16 week old puppy that has been used to playing/training only with me, would enthusiastically jump out of a car and begin playing/bite work with a total stranger.
Also, Kaiser will be neutered this Friday. We have no intention of breeding, we also have a 10.5 year old female lab in the house as well and do not want puppies, or Kaiser marking in the house. He seemed disturbed that we would neuter our dog and turned and walked away.
Overall I believe that Kaiser is just being a puppy and learning from each of his "adventures". As he gets older he will have more confidence because of the exposure that he is getting and that he is maturing. Is that wrong or is the trainer correct that at this age he should be super confident? Another thing I think about is why would I want Kaiser to engage in play/bite work with someone else without being told it's "ok'. In my mind, he acted appropriately in that regard although he could have just stood there rather than backing away (that I attribute to age).
Can you please comment on these events and provide some insight. I want to make sure I do the right thing by Kaiser. My aspirations are to do PPD and Shutzhund with him. Now, I'm not interested in having him attain titles as much as I am interested in doing the work so that we can both have fun with each other - if something comes out of that then it's a bonus but certainly not the focus or goal.
Other than taking Kaiser pretty much everywhere I go and continuing to do the puppy bite work, what else can be done to increase his confidence ? Am I completely off-base and worried about nothing with the trainer? What do you recommend my course of action should be? I'm thinking that I should just continue what I am/have been doing and continue to train as the videos and articles and forum members state. When he is older, say 6-7 months then I can begin thinking about approaching another trainer to assist with Kaiser's development in obedience, the pursuit or PPD and Shutzhund.
Sorry if that was long winded but there is much going on in my head that needs to come out so that you have a fuller understanding of the situation and where I am coming from so that you can comment properly.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and respond.
No, I am not an alien!
Need guidance with something trainer has said...
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I'm sure more experienced people can weigh in.
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