I have been all over this website for about 3 weeks now and have seen and put into use Ed's basic obedience, watched the dog agression video, and have spent many nights up past my bedtime reading about schutzund and protection in particular. I have watched anything free that I could get my hands on with bernhard flinks and ivan balabanov, which is not much but short video clips.
I have been working with Ferguson with a ball on string for about 2 weeks. He picked up on the game instantly. I actually have trouble ending the exercise because he usually gets the ball as I work him up in drive. Then I have to work him up again and put it away the last time, when I actually manage to outdo him. I do mostly tugging when he gets it, a couple retrieves, and let him enjoy the catch. What I just found out is that I have been outting him way too much. This is one of the many things I am sure I am messing up on by not having had the Flinks video.
So, I just purchased it today. I have four questions for all of you seasoned trainers. I will be very grateful because I am sure you will save me much money and time!
I have been working ferguson on obedience from ed's video. He is proficient with sit and down-stays with moderate distractions (other dogs, throwing a ball, walking around and out of sight briefly, you get the point). He has an quick come that only requires a long leash correction with moderate distraction (he will avoid the subsequent pop followed by the Ferguson-come command). We are working on heel, about 10 steps right now. I hate to write so much but I actually have a funny story about the come that really was the point in which I knew I could expect more from him and still keep things fun...
I was doing the come command like on the video; ie tossing treats out of his reach and then letting him find them. By day two of this his smart "butt" actually learned that he had about enough time to find three pieces before I was going to call out Ferguson-come, then pop. He scampered to find three and hustled right back to me before I gave the command? I was dumbfounded. Variation slapped me right in the face at that point!
Okay back to the questions...
1.) I am utterly confused about the fact that many say obedience work kills drive. I don't do obedience
commands personally while working up his drive, my goal is to build up his confidence. He is 10 months old now by the way.
Should I stop doing separate obedience work with him until I watch the video and have a clearer direction?
2.) This question piggybacks off of question 1.
Is it a problem that I have no clear direction of where we are headed right at this moment? I ultimately want a dog that is obedient in a manner that it stays fun for both of us. I am intrigued by protection work now though. I also understand that I cannot make him into something he is not, at least in a healthy way, and that is the ultimate priority. I am just wondering if bite work is where i want to be headed to, should I be doing different training at this early stage to set him up for success.
3.) A coworker who has had two gsd's progress through sh1 sh2 sh3, has recommended that I take Ferguson for a consult with a handler that does bite work. I have met him and watched him work with her and her dogs on one occasion with protection training.
She believes that the handler will be able to tell very quickly if Ferguson has bite work in him. Is this possible at his age? Economically this would save me a boatload of money and time if he is not interested in this. In my opinion I need to order about 4 more video's and at least two books in schutzhund before I would have enough understanding to make any kind of indication myself. I feel that if I don't at least prepare him for the handler first, how could he be able to tell. If he does have this psychic ability
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, then yes I would be grateful that he can save me time and money, and I can go on a different direction with Ferguson.
4.) I am trying to foster an environment that Ferguson looks to me for fun, play, food, and direction. I want to give him all the experiences that he craves. I already enjoy his progress with obedience and know that he can do more, and wants more. I just can't show him
yet, because I am unsure at this point. What interests me about the bite work is that it looks so controlled, intense and rewarding for both the dog and owner.
Will proper bitework training take the owner-dog bond to a whole different level than just obedience training alone, or is this just an aspect of Schutzhund (merely for competition).
In closing, it is very important that you understand that I am simply craving the relationship and bond that I see people can have with there dog while in drive. I want that kind of focus from him. If bitework is not part of this equation, then I can forgo it. I am having a huge issue of how bitework, drive, and obedience vs focus are all related if at all. I may be derailed in my thinking, but I was intending on using the drive to increase focus and produce sharper and motivate for obedience. Now I am not so sure this is correct thinking.
Thanks to any who can clear all or any of these questions. I will ask no more until I watch the Flinks building drive vid.
Kevin
sorry so long, that is why I actually underlined the questions.