My husband and I are planning on getting a Mal puppy, and we intend to do Mondioring with him/her. My husband work all day, so we were thinking he could feed the working puppy and train him/her twice a day (before and after work) and I could exercise him/her by taking him/her for walks during the day with our other 3 pet dogs.
If we do that, will the working dog learn my husband is the handler? Do we have a chance at doing this right? Or should we wait until my husband retires do get a working puppy?
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
Posts: 31571
Loc: North-Central coast of California
Offline
Hi, Daniela, and welcome,
Lots of folks will give you good answers on this, but I wanted to make sure you saw this, if you have had only pet dogs (" I could exercise him/her by taking him/her for walks during the day with our other 3 pet dogs"):
steve strom Webboard User Reg: 03-17-2006
Posts: 4203
Loc:
Offline
I think so. I do all the formal training with ours, and my wife just plays with them here and there. I do take them to work more then I leave them home, but I think they adapt to your schedule.
Anne Jones Webboard User Reg: 04-29-2004
Posts: 3825
Loc: Northeast
Offline
Mals are not generally good dogs for owners new to working line dogs.
This will be a 4th dog in the house & you have no experience with working dogs? Sounds like you might be biting a lot more off then you can chew with the addition of a mal puppy to the household.
I have very high drive GSDs & I train with pups 5-6 times a day. That plus all the trips everywhere for socialization & playing & exercise. It's a lot of work to do it right. I, like Steve, have taken pups to work regularly also.
Owning working dogs is a lifestyle.....not a casual or week end sport.
Just some food for thought....think of standing out in the pouring rain(maybe for several day in a row....several times a day) working your dog....because he HAS to be worked. Not just a quick stroll around the block. Most working dogs need several hours of work a day. Slackers need not apply.
It certainly can be done but how and by who is something only you can decide on. Tons of commitment or lifestyle as Anne put it. It goes way beyond being house pets with a working line dog that hast the "it" to make a good competition level dog. Even a club level dog. They are also dogs that NEED lots of individual attention/work away from the other dogs if you want any sort of serious training from them. If not they will happily destroy your house.
Brian Couse Webboard User Reg: 04-23-2012
Posts: 97
Loc: New York
Offline
I have not owned a true high drive working dog, but I have owned low, medium, and high drive GSD's over the last 20 years while working a 9-5 job. Regardless of the day I had, or the weather outside, I knew my day had just begun when I got home in the evening.
Reg: 07-27-2009
Posts: 1421
Loc: Southern California
Offline
It can be done. I don't think there will be too big of a problem, but I don't really like my working dogs to be the family pet. Don't get me wrong, they're pets and are spoiled as all hell, and my boyfriend will feed sometimes. We might even play with her together. But no one trains her but me and no one gives her commands but me.
If possible, I'd stick the pup in a crate in the car and take breaks at work to let him/her out during the day, assuming A). It's not hot out and B). No one will break into your car with windows down and steal it and/or your puppy.
We had a thread in 2012, long and detailed, with a lot of people who own Mals describing what life is like with a working Mal.
Does anyone remember where that is? I can't find it.
I was looking for it the other day. I know I posted something on that thread and tried to find it by going back through things I posted but still couldn't find it. I remember it was a great thread and it convinced me to seriously rethink getting a high drive dog.
When purchasing any product from Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. it is understood
that any and all products sold by Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. are sold in Dunn
County Wisconsin, USA. Any and all legal action taken against Leerburg Enterprises,
Inc. concerning the purchase or use of these products must take place in Dunn
County, Wisconsin. If customers do not agree with this policy they should not
purchase Leerburg Ent. Inc. products.
Dog Training is never without risk of injury. Do not use any of the products
sold by Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. without consulting a local professional.
The training methods shown in the Leerburg Ent. Inc. DVD’s are meant
to be used with a local instructor or trainer. Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. cannot
be held responsible for accidents or injuries to humans and/or animals.
Copyright 2010 Leerburg® Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. All photos and content on leerburg.com are part of a registered copyright owned by Leerburg Enterprise, Inc.
By accessing any information within Leerburg.com, you agree to abide by the
Leerburg.com Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Can I train a working puppy while working 9-5?
Top
Previous Topic
Index
Next Topic
.jpg)
.jpg)
