I have a 2 year old female GSD that I have written to this forum for training suggestions before, because of lack of attention. It was suggested that lack of maturity my have been a problem for her, however, I think it's more than that as another 6 or 7 mo have gone by with no improvement. She seems to be hyper-vigilant to her surroundings needing to see what's going on around her all the time. If she's in a room she would need to be in a corner so she could see everything that is going on - only then can she relax a little. This has made training more than a little challenging. I take her with me just about every place I can but she just can't relax. I don't believe this is something that she will outgrow so just looking for suggestions for training since I would like to do some competitive work with her. Currently working on her her FO through SDA which is similar to a BH in Schutzhund. Any suggestions on how to work with a "nervy" dog? She learns quickly but seems unable (or unwilling) to give me her full attention. An example of what she will do when in public is refuse to sit facing forward if there is someone behind us - she's very wary and has to "watch em". Perhaps competive work is not for her but since I can't just go and get another dog I would like to try and work this out. Thanks to anyone that might have some experience with working with this type of dog.

Barbara

Having worked with several "nervy" dogs, I have to say that protection training (if I am remembering the SDA right) is not something I would have chosen for any of them.

FO is Family Obedience, as I recall? Kind of a pre-title?

Tell us what you know about (or how much you done of) marker training.

Maybe not everyone will agree, but IMO, this dog is only 2, and you have the dog's lifetime for competition of another kind (if indeed competition is in the cards). I'd probably stop and regroup, working on the dog's confidence and especially on her focus/bonding with you, outside of a competition setting.

eta
I think the protection-sports experts will see this and add better comments.

Edited by Connie Sutherland (12/06/2010 04:27 PM)
Edit reason: eta

You say she needs to be in a corner in order to see everything going on. It sounds to me like she needs her back to the wall because of stress.
Being "very wary and has to watch em" is often another sign of stress.
The dog needs a ton of neutral exposure (Non reactive to her) in order to build her confidence. With people you know and trust, then she needs to learn that interaction means good things.
I agree 100% with Connie about protection training not being for this dog. The FO should be ok if the dog can handle it.
I will admit that "nervy" dogs are something I don't like to/can't handle/have the patience to work with but Connie is fantastic at it.
I will also add that many "protection trainers" actually think this type of dog is what they want to work with. It can usually be "taught" to bite easily but it's all out of stress and you don't want to live with that.

I'm not planning on doing protection training with her as I agree, her temperment doesn't lend itself to that sport. I like the FO because it's very basic and she already knows the routine.

The majority of her training has been using markers and I have all of Michael Ellis's DVD's. She does well with markers but I have never been able to get good engagement or attention from her. I might add here that I'm not new to training but I have not experienced a dog like her before.

Connie - in your experience with this type of dog, what activites have you found work for them. I have taken her to herding classes and would like to try tracking but have no tracking experience myself. I don't mean to sound like I'm in a hurry with her and yes I do have her lifetime to work on all of this but I'm 62 and don't have a lot of time myself before I run out of steam lol. (She was to be my last competition dog.) I have backed off on doing formal training and have just been training using play - nothing serious.

Thank you for your responses
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Barbara

Hi Barbara,

Could she be over stimulated? What is her schedule like? My first suggestion would be to schedule her day and make sure there is ample opportunity to rest especially after a training session. IMO dogs are more relaxed when they know what to expect.

Taking her everywhere is great but you want to make sure she is comfortable in one setting before adding another. For the moment work on having her being relaxed in a setting before beginning any training.

Training adds stress so if she's not relaxed when you begin I can see why it would be difficult for her to focus.

Have you considered agility? The physical out put is a great way to blow off steam and it's tough to worry about where people are when you are flying pass them with your partner at your side. It is a great confidence builder.

Some of my finest moments with my dog are when I let go of my vision of him and realize the dog I have is so much more than the fantasy dog in my mind.

Well except for right now....the fantasy dog does not have to relieve himself when the temps fall below 40 .

Hi Sheila
Thank you for your input.

I will try and structure her day a little more and see how that goes. I have 5 other dogs so we have to be pretty structured because they have to be separated and rotated.

She loves to go places and gets really excited about going. If we go someplace where she gets stressed then she stays in the car. She is wary of strangers so when people ask if they can pet her I just tell them she is working. If she chooses to approach and say hi to someone I will allow interaction.

I've quit training at the park but we still go there for play and exercise. She's comfortable at the park but is still easily distracted.

I've thought about agility but the only place in this area that teaches it has been full for over a year - no new students so have been looking further away for classes. I have some agility equipment that we sometimes take to the park just for fun.

She may be wound up tighter than a spring sometimes and may not be the dog I had hoped she'd be but she's smart, sweet, funny, and I'm totally amazed at her humor. Regardless of what we do or don't do, at the end of the day she's still my buddy that sleeps on the foot of my bed. I know there is a job out there for her -we just have to find it.