I am new to this board and am anxious for some ideas from dog trainers here. I have a 2 year old dog (bought as a 4.5 month old pup) that is very shy of people. Initially, when I reported this to the breeder after a few weeks home, he said to go to obedience class, be gentle with her and she would come around. The first class was traumatic to her, but I was so upset about the dog's fear, I took her to another one (much better) and then again and again. Food didn't motivate her as she was just too scared and didn't appear to be "aware" of me at all. I had to teach her by mindless repetitions which is funny as she is very "quick" at home. However, she has come SO FAR (we got our first leg of our CD recently- third place) and I don't know when she will be as good as she can be. I have had to drive into town and work with her, little by little, I couldn't tell you how many hours! I think had I known how to handle her, she may have been even better. I would like to "positively" motivate her, but how is that possible when she is so quiet in public? She is taking treats now when we work (it is difficult with those too as she has EPI). If I turned cartwheels she would not bat an eyelash, however at home, she gets a little too "wild" if I get her excited. Will getting older help her? Any suggestions? She comes from the Kirschental lines and is very intelligent, as well as a natural to tracking. I would like to take her as far in obedience as she will go, although the CD will be a BIG achievement, and tracking titles if she can learn to ignore people standing around watching her. I have been told by so many people to have her put down as a pup, that getting this far has been a huge satisfaction.

Angela

Hi she's your dog you do what you want she will ge better as time goes on but it could be years so you have to ask your self is she worth the time and effort i can only tell you i would have given her back to the breeder right away their are other pup that work fine but with that said if you have grown attached to her i would not breed her she should really be spayed,you dont want to breed that dog at all check you contract your breeder might nhave to give you another pup at the worst have her spayed and get your money back and keep her.

The question was not should I keep the dog! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> The dog was originally purchased for my son to fill in the void left when our old Bouvier died of cancer. We couldn't imagine another bouv then as we were still too sad. He loves his dog unconditionally and I have no problem keeping the animal. I have a farm with a big area to run! I DO now have a new bouv puppy now in order to try to accomplish more than I can with the shepherd. That being said, I still want suggestions on what can make the shepherd BETTER. I will get some titles on her, although I feel as though it will take forever...The breeder offered to replace her when her temperament did not improve, and then when she had EPI diagnosed, he has offered to give me my money back. She was spayed at 6 months-I breed American QH's so do recognize the value of "genetic inheritance" ! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Angela

Bryant,
That may be the longest sentence I've ever read.

Good luck with her. I also have a very shy female GSD with EPI from Kirschental lines, it's taken a long time to build her confidence, and she is still a "work in progress" and will be 8 soon. She is also a ton of fun at home and will get really rambunctious, but outside her little happy place is a very different story.

Can I ask her pedigree - Frankie goes back to Uwe vom Kirschental.

I too know of a nice female from kirschental lines that is to shy to perform,what a crime.

I am going to video my son's dog at home to show to "outsiders" as they all think I am crazy when I say this dog is a Jeckle/Hyde! :rolleyes: Her grandmother was Lyra Vom Kirschental imported from Germany, daughter of Seiger Eiko vom Kirschental. I am not sure without looking, the pedigree of her father, except that there are police lines throughout. Laureen- looks like we have "twins"! Did your dog improve significantly after she turned two?

Angela

Hi Angela - So sorry I am so late in responding.

I adopted Frankie from a GSD rescue in Iowa when she was 5 years old, but I doubt she improved after age 2.

I was able to find out alot about her from her past owners who I found thru her old vet records. On top of her temperament and EPI, she also had HD, spondylosis and arthritis. She was bred a couple times before she landed in rescue and all but one pup died (some on their own and some she killed) except for one that was put down with crippling HD at the age of one. Frankie died in April. We miss her alot.