Hello. I have two 7 month GSD male and female litter mates we got them at 4 months. I have been putting off engaging in this forum because of the Lerrburgs opinion on raising litter mates. I did not come across this website until after we got them and getting rid of one or the other would be very upopular around here.I didn't figure I should ask for advice when I am unwilling to follow the basic advice Don't do it" regarding raising litter mates. I have always trained by yanking and cranking in the past and I simply don't want to do that anymore. I have been a convert to the marker training system since the first time I heard Michael Ellis lecture on this website. I have the power of marker,food and tug DVDs. forthe last month or so i have been working on engagement using food. Easy,the male is all over it, LeeLoo the female has been playing hard to get. they seem to be the exact dogs which Ed commented on in the marker training video. One an idiot could and is training the other makes the idiot work every minute. I live in a very small town in S.Eastern Montana and there simply is not anywhere I can go for help or advice on marker training around here that I am awhere of. So here I am commited to this system and if I have a stern talking to comming my way then so be it.

Thanks, Tim Richards

Cute puppy names!

Raising littermates is hard, but not completely impossible. Are you trying to train them at the same time?

Ohhhhhhh Tiiiiimmmmmmm.........YUUUUUUUUOOOOO. I outta @3%!!. Is that stern enough for ya?

Wecome to the forum Tim. Congrats on making the decision to use marker training! It IS easy to feel like an idiot at times even with a system this "simple"... Michael Ellis makes it look like everyone can move, lure and reward that fluently.

Okay, so you have two dogs you bought at the same time before learning why this might be a bad idea, and probably wouldn't do it again now that you understand the challenges, right? I bought a beautiful German showline dog before finding LB, but wouldn't buy another showline dog now that I know what I know. I love him like crazy and am doing my best with him. Really isn't much more that can be said is there?

What specific questions can we help you with? Is it that one dog is taking to marker training easier than the other? More info. And pics of your pups when you get a chance.

 Quote: steve strom

Ohhhhhhh Tiiiiimmmmmmm.........YUUUUUUUUOOOOO. I outta @3%!!. Is that stern enough for ya?

I think it was a little weak. Needed a few more "o's". Work on that next time, Steve, okay?

 Quote: Tim Richards

One an idiot could and is training

That's my kind of dog! Send him my way if you need to.

Welcome, Tim. You'll be forgive for taking home littermates. Someday.

I was expecting the worst and got the best thanks for the understanding and humor. I walk, feed and train them separetly. they also do not sleep together. they are together 2-3 hours at atime during the day. I think Easy is starting to pressure Leeloo so I am probably going to keep them apart when we are gone for the next several months and see what happens. Yes I do have a few questions. without using leash corrections how can i take them for walks to environments were they are distracted? I do not have the temperment to let a dog drag me down the street. I purchased gentle leaders for them figuring it would allow me to work on engagement out in the community when the time comes. there is a lot of country out here so I am able to take them out and just let them run until they are done with no problem. But i figure they need to get around people as much as possible. Am I on the right track? secondly, I am concerned with my inability to motivate LeeLoo. At 4 months old she would lay down to eat, a very laid back dog. she will engage but is easly distracted and kind of a nervous dog. I watch portions of my training DVDs nightly and try to apply the techniques when i train. Mybe I need to be patient. I just feel a sence of urgency since i started marker training so late.

Thanks, Tim Richards

 Quote: tim richards

Yes I do have a few questions. without using leash corrections how can i take them for walks to environments were they are distracted? I do not have the temperment to let a dog drag me down the street.

I'd start by training a loose-leash walk or casual heel at home where there are no distractions. Marker training will be great for this. Once you get them understanding the place you want them to walk is by your leg, you then take them somewhere with very minor distractions and work on the same behavior. Then you add an environment with more distractions and then more. Baby steps, building their skills and confidence as you go.

The bummer is that it is a process, not an event. It takes time. But, you aren't jerking your dog around. You are building a stronger relationship. You are gaining their respect.

There is another thread at this time titled "Corrections" which is discussing marker training and corrections; give it a check.

Socializing a dog isn't really about getting them comfortable with people; it is more about having them confident in any situation. Take them to lots of different places and expose them to lots of different environments. If your gal is a nervous dog, putting her around people she doesn't know could just make her more so - but that wouldn't mean you don't work toward that, but just very slowly and at distances, etc...

Thankyou Barbara. So drop the gentle leader idea. Patience, Patience, Patience. I have followed some of your comments previously on other threads. Your advise always seems to make a lot of sense. Thanks again for the help and thanks to everyone for the warm welcome. I will be posting pics of my kids as soon as I figure out how.

To post a pic: upload it to a site like photobucket. The picture will be assinted a http code.

copy that code.

In the blue bar above, click on My Stuff and then My Profile. At the bottom of the My Profile page you'll see a signature block. Past the code there.

That should work... unless I've blown the directions.