I moved this from rottweilers forum hope thats OK
Hi, this is my first post after a lot of reading on this site and having gotten fifteen of the Leerburg videos and several books. I wish I had found these resources when I first got my mastiffs.
My questions are about my rottweiler puppy I have. I had spent alot of time reserching working lines as I am wanting to work her in schutzhund.I got a good vibe from the breeder, Bob.
and much to my releif I got her from a kennel mentioned in a thread I read.
1, The puppy is very high energy and increadbly prey driven. I am worried that always redirecting her from my pant legs or shoes while walking is going to be reinforcing this method of her engaging me, Oh ya did I mention the bite training puppies dvd, she dosent nip any more, good full and painful holds that treats, steak, chicken don't stop, but pulling out the toy gets her attention every time.

2 basicly how can I make food more effective( I do have power of food and marker training dvd's).
Keeping her engaged is easy if I want to play, but she is pretty strong willed (dominant female of 14 pups) and even if I streach out meal times the toy always wins over food( the out is tough with her as she wants to posess and won,t trade for food, but I am watching the power of playing tug and its coming along)

3 I have read alot about the other puppies that are bitters and how they out grow it, and I want to develop the right drives for sport, but her biting can and does draw blood, am I going to have to just accept being a toy for a bit longer and redirect redirect redirect or should I be curbing certin things? I have her on a harness on her leash and try holding her away from my pants but think it just builds her want

I thank any advise and comments in advance

You're incredibly lucky! I wish I had 15 Leerburg DVD's!!!!

How old is this pup?

I guess that age would be helpful, she is 11 and a half weeks old

Welcome to the forum Dave.

Did you miss all the posts on 11 1/2 wk. old working line puppies being land sharks and hard as heck to live with?? LOL! (asked very good naturedly!)

Redirect, redirect, redirect, and wear thick, old pants and heavy gloves and always have tugs, rags, etc... in your pockets to stuff in her little mouth. It IS a hard stage to live through and deal with, but before you know it you'll be looking back and wondering how she grew up so fast.

I assure you, a few folks will probably respond with "send her to me"... sounds like you got a good working line pup.

I have read alot of the posts and just want to be sure I am on the right track, hoping for an easy answer. I don't really have any experience in training, other than my three and a half year old mastiff females which are a very forgiving and lazy breed, so I'm still in shock as to how much energy and drive this pup has.

I do understand Dave, and promise you that when you begin working / training that pup for Schutzhund, you are going to find that drive and energy will make her highly motivated and trainable! It is just a pain in the butt right now!

Which videos do you have?

I am looking foward to later training, as what we have established like sit, eye contact, maners ect. was easy to teach her. as for videos I see them as necessary for this training, although a few were for breeding, I have been able to impliment alot of the knowledge with my mastiffs, and am happy to start this little "land shark" on the right start in our home, the dvd #'s are 108 113 115 117 118 120 127 211 219 220 221 301 302 308 318. I do plan on getting more as it is always easier to do things right than fix later, any videos that I should get soon ?

 Quote: Dave Owen

she is pretty strong willed (dominant female of 14 pups)

Don't.

Don't fall into this trap.

If you start thinking of her as being a certain type of dog, you're going to filter everything through that lens. And if you're wrong, it'll come back to bite you in the butt down the road.

Focus on teaching her what behaviors are desirable, fun and lead to good things, and don't worry about what type of dog she is or what her behaviors are motivated by.

She's far too young for that sort of thinking, and will be for quite some time to come.

 Quote: Dave Owen

2 basicly how can I make food more effective( I do have power of food and marker training dvd's).
Keeping her engaged is easy if I want to play, but she is pretty strong willed (dominant female of 14 pups) and even if I streach out meal times the toy always wins over food( the out is tough with her as she wants to posess and won,t trade for food, but I am watching the power of playing tug and its coming along)

She may not be very food motivated yet. Or ever. Every dog is different, and you have to cater to their differences. If toys work, use toys.

If she won't trade the tug for food, then trade tug for tug.