Looking for some direction with a 7 mo. GSD and here is a quick brief background. I currently handle a dual-purpose GSD for the past 7 years, current K-9 has developed Degenerative Myleopathy
(spinal disease) - hoping this pup will be a valid replacement - if for nothing else narcotica and tracking.

I have this 7 mo old GSD - located him and brought home @ 3 mos. old. Passed every puppy selection test that I have found. Will chase down anything thrown, will pick up item up & strut around with it. Still working on his "come" - not a big worry at this point - trying to make the entire process FUN for him.

My question is: after he picks up the thrown item and starts running around, he gets distracted by other smells and runs off to them. Since never raising a puppy for a working dog - is this part of the puppy exploring all the new items he comes in contact with. Should I just shrug it off. As far as when the item is thrown again - he 100% intent on chasing and hunting down the object until found.

Should I just be patient and let the child grow out of him and just keep working on building the focus and drive?

Thanks......Mark

Mark, I my opinion the puppy being possessive of his retrieve article is not a bad thing his distraction could be the training situation. Retrieving is fine but having a more directed approach to the drive building process often means setting your dog up for success while doing the best you can to eliminate failures. Put the puppy on a long line make the training very short and exciting.

Since your dog is showing good start on his drive the last thing you want to do is over work the drive. Stop playing when the dog’s drive to play is the highest. But I also suggest you start teaching the dog how his actions affect the movement of his gifty. I feel this can be best accomplished in a controlled environment, where the dog has few options but to be engaged in the game.

Ball-on-the-Wall game is a good one for new narc pups. If you don’t remember how to do this, I will post it.

I would start putting obedience on the puppy if you have not started but work an obedience program separately until the dog is reliably trained and consistent so to avoid conflict with your scent training goals and games.

I went digging in the archives and found this which describes to a "t" what is going on with my 6 month old working lines pup.....Target is SAR and I was trying to build drive (and have a good play activitiy for excercise) with "two ball" with me in the center but it is not "clicking" like it did with my other dog -- but he was a natural retriever and she is definitely not and she will strut around the yard with it and I swear she drops in in nearly inacessible places (under the middle of the trampoline, way up under the deck which is a stash area for her, etc).

If I throw the ball exactly in the opposite direction when she drops the first one, she has gone off on another adventure and dropped the ball somewhere else by the time I get to the first ball. IF I shorten the distance she just looks at me and runs off (I dont chase her...) so I am thinking we may need to do this on lead....but dont want to kill the motivation.

So I don't have plans to do bitwork per schuzthund but do want her to play tug and fetch as play and tension relievers.....

Advice -- ball on a wall? What is that?