Whats the earliest you should introduce a puppy, a decoy? We have a female GSD she is about 5 months old, spunky and confident works well on the tug great prey drive. Is this too young to introduce her to the helper/decoy? My trainer/ helper thinks she ready.
In my opinion it depends on the quality of the helper/decoy who is available and the time and cost it takes to get there. Bernard Flinks' videos should be enough to get you to the 8 month/1-year or older stage if you follow them and are a good trainer. By the time you are finished the dog should be ready for the helper.
However, I don't consider myself to be a great trainer so I took my pup at a younger age. I also had a helper that I considered to be excellent with younger dogs and pups. I don't think that is true of many trainers/helpers - in fact, I believe that many would be detrimental to a young dog's development. Finally, I am working toward a French Ring Brevet this fall before turning to Schutzhund (if I can get my obedience up to speed) and it was important to socialize the pup to the "clatter stick" and to get him used to leg and suit bites at a young age - those may not be considerations for you.
My dog has been working with the helper since he was 12 wks old. As David said, I've been the post and we've graduated from rags, to jute rolls, etc, and he had his first bite on a sleeve 2 weeks ago. We've been doing a bark and hold since he was 4 1/2- 5 months old. ALL motivational training with a excellent TD/Helper.
Old dog you are really move that puppy alone, blind search and bark and hold. Good job at 5 months.
You both think light tug work with the decoy and prey work might be ok for a 5 month old pup. Will do, I just had to check my trainers ideas with some back reference these guys are kinda anti-GSD so I got to watch them. Everybody here are going with bigger dogs. That they won't start them this soon, so I had to check.
I'll take your advice and do so light tug and prey work with her, with me on lead.
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