I recently got the "Basic Obedience" video. And I have had for some time now the "8 Weeks" video.

During the eight weeks video, we were taught the technique of using food to teach the pups the various commands.

Much to my dismay when I saw the "Basic Obedience" video, Ed said that he discontinues the used of food 2 - 3 days after he is certain the dog understands the command.

However, the tape also says that you should not correct the dog using the techiques in the video until 5 months.

(Now I'm being serious here) Um .. my pups understood the commands since they were 11 weeks old. And I have never corrected them. I've been using food all this time!?!

So the question is, if the rule is to correct when you are certain the dog knows a commmand, do you do so if they are under 5 months. Which rule takes precedent? Age? Or Understanding?

What, if anything should a person do if their pup understands the commands but is under 5 months old? Should they discontinue food and use praise? Correct? Or just continue with food?

Please clarify.
Thanks!
David C

David at five months old I would not use any type of physical correction. I haven't seen this tape but a correction at this age could set you back in your training.

Everything you do with your pup at this age should be positive. That does not mean th epup should not be corrected. Use verbal corrections.

Others with more knowledge may have better advice.

Enjoy these precious moments with your pup and remember the corrections will be coming sooner then you think.

I agree with Butch. What are your training goals David? If you are training for Schutzhund, the drive, focus, & grip video is the one to start with, considering he has good prey drive. 5 months is probably old enough to begin focus work.

David - the Basic Dog obedi9ence video is for pet owners not sport people. Two different worms. The goal of the pet trainer is to ghet the dog to mind. Most pet owners are not interested in learning any more than they have to about dog training - they want to have a dog that gets along with their family, does what its told to do and is not real wild in the house. Applying the training for a pet dog to a sport dog does not work.

I am working on a video on how to raise a working dog. The differences will be expolained there.

Ed
Could you give a quick preview of that tape. I have the same question. I have the puppy tape, the basic obedience and Training Drive Focus and grip. I want to raise a shutzhund dog. What parts or techniques should I use for obedience. Especially the come? Should I use the information and just eliminate the corrections?

I don't have a lot of time, its not really rocket science though. Just coimmon sense stuff:

i.e NO ONE touches m y puppies. No one pets the puppies, no one plays with my puppies

The Pups do not play with other dogs - the don;t come in contact with other dogs - certainly NEVER in a dog park setting and certainly never allowed to run unsuperviced with other dogs

The drive-focus and grip work is ues

Only corrections until 8 or 9 months is for not coming when called and not OUTING when told to OUT.

Use prey if the dog has prey - use food if the dog likes food. Use both where it fits

The dog can live in the house in a crate but 95% of the interactio in done outdoors.

Socialize the snot out of the dog - teach it to climb on things as a pup - use food.

Etc
etc
etc
etc
etc

Will this be out before this coming xmas?

Ed,
What is the goal of you not letting anyone else play with or pet your working prospect pups? And why no other contact with dogs? I understand the risk of a pup becoming dog aggressive from a single bad experience. Is it simply so that the pup learns that all postive reinforcement only comes from you? How do you "socialize the snot" out of a pup while limiting its interactions with other people and dogs so much? Also, why 95% of the interaction with the pup outdoors?

It will not be out by xmas. I am redoing my video on puppies 8 weeks to 8 months and the video on basic dog obedience.

Chip - socializing a working dog is not about introducing the pup to people and other animals. Its about introducing your dog to different enviornments. The dog can be around a million people, they just dont touch the dog. It can be around other dogs - it just does not intereat with them.

The time spent with your dog needs to be constructive time. This happens outside where you can socialize the dog work the dog in drive etc etc etc. The dog can have free time in the house but very short periods. Allowing a pup too much time in the house only sets yourself up to have to correct him - why would you want to do that?

Any other questions are going to have to wait until the video comes out