Hello everyone, my first time here.

I have done schutzhund and had Shepherds for over 15 years, have had dogs for over 20.

I recenlty picked up an 8 month old Mal. He was left from a litter with his 2 sisters. When I saw him at the kennel, he was great, friendly and lots of drive, and very mouthy,

At my house all was cool, after a few days I find out that he was just seperated from his sisters at 7 months old, and had no socialazation. Other than the kennel kids cleaning and feeding, and romping with his sister, he had no other experiences.

At my house he has tones of drive, in public he is a perfect gentleman, does not show an fear or stress, he is just flat.

I have been doing the drive building at my house, and in public he goes flat. After I return home from the training feild, he has tons of drive in my house, non at the feild.

I am not going to compete with this guy, just want to do some training for the fun of it.

Any ideas on how to get his drive up away from the house ??

Thanx for any suggestions.

Dennis

Time and patience.

I would do ALL of my "Fun" training away from the house, to build that positive association.

Time and Patience...the Trainers Mantra.

Thanx for the reply. I have beend doing the Drive Building in my yard and once a day and then do it away from my yard, hoping the association stays with him. He is ok away from home, just a little flat as he is concerned with certain noises and things.

I also take him to thru town and just sit at certain areas and let him absorb the surroundings and get some of the exposure he did not get at the young age. Kind of treating him like a 8 week old instead of a 8 month old.

His drive and intensity is highest right after he eats, gets very wound up after a meal. Bad time to train with a full belly.

I am working on keeping him calm after eating and then 2 hours later bring out the drive. I have not trained a dog for almost 6 years, as I had all my Shepherds at their senior years and have all passed but one female who is 10.

Then getting a Mal after training all my Sheps for all those years, I feel like I am starting all over again.

The sensitivity of the Mal is unbelievable, all training is with a flat collar and he learns extremly fast and I have only had to use voice corrections...what a new world for me.

Thanx for your reply, as a newbie to this board I am very appreciative !!!