John Lister Webboard User Reg: 11-12-2002
Posts: 189
Loc: VA, USA
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I have read a couple training books that talk about when to play with your GSD. The books state that if the dog brings you a ball and ask to play that you should say no and not play. The books state to play only when you want to and are not being ask by your dog.
I am a new trainer and find this hard to beleive because all of the talk about pray drive and trying to harness the GSD's pray drive.
I am trying to train my dog to be able to compete in Shultzhund.
I am a new trainer and have no doubt that I am not going to be very good at this.
Here's what I do and why I do it, others opinions may vary. When Gromit brings me a toy and is "pushy" about play, I take it from him, put the toy aside, and put him on a down for a minute or two. This establishes my control over the situation and I get to continue what I am doing until I reach a time when I can take a break. I then call him to me and play with him. I do the same thing when he is pushy about getting pet. (He pulls the old 'snout under the elbow trick' while I'm typing)
My reasoning in this is that I don't want him to ever view me as 'working for him'. My relationship with him is as a benevolent dictator, not a partner or plaything. I'm also fortunate that Gromit , although a relatively hard dog is not overly dominant, nor is he particularly interested in trying to take over my position as leader. Ed picked a great dog for me!
I might have a slightly different answer if we're talking about an adult but if a youngster/pup tried to engage me in play, you can bet I'd be up and playing! Two things I like about a dog soliciting play - he thinks I'm fun to be with, that I am his playmate, and also I want him to know that his behavior can be the trigger for good things to happen. If he brings me his toy and I not only refuse to interact with him but I take the toy away, you can guess how long it will be before he decides that bringing things to me is not in his best interest. The only time I would refuse to play unless it was MY idea is if it were a very dominant dog, but most of us only THINK we have that, when in fact we do not.
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