How important is imprinting puppies at an early age? Do you start imprinting on all three phases? How do you orgnaize your time do you rotate your training schedule not to be repeditive.
I saw the videos Alison Voore put in one of her post. http://www.malinois.com/otvitosha/puppies.htm I would like to hear from everyone there opinion on the imprinting Ivan was putting his pups through. I was amazed at the drive his pups showed.

I believe that it is one of the main differences between backyard and pro breeders. It is so much nicer to own a puppy that has been worked with in this way. check out Fontain D'or Malinois and see all the stuff they do. It is alot of work I'll tell you that much!

some will argue that very early imprinting doesnt really matter if the breeding is good, but either way the mals on these sites show s lot of drive. also check an amazing german shepherd puppy on the tiekerhook site, its listed under ultra, she is 12 weeks in the video. i doubt that imprinting from 8 to 12 weeks would be disputed by as many people, however some trainers believe that you should just let the dog grow up and if they show interest and 'drive' in work when they are a year or so old then you should let them work...

i heard someone call the very early imprinting "hard wiring" and i think that there was a post on here awhile back with a link in it describing what they did, try a search for hard wiring.

>>some will argue that very early imprinting doesnt really matter if the breeding is good,

***Travis, if that was true then socialization, exposure etc...wouldn't matter....

***If one were to follow that philosohpy, then one could literally make a 'boo boo' and hit an 8 week old pup over the head a few times with a clatter stick and it should still persevere with no 'after effects'...because it's genetics are good...????? And so called 'sensitivity or fear periods' wouldn't exist....

I don't think so. Again JMHO.

i think you misunderstood me, i totally believe in all types of socialization and imprinting of puppies. dont get me confused with other people i was refering to in my post, i am for all types of environmental stress early on in a puppy's life.thanks.

Brigita, I saw the 5 week old puppy imprinting video on http://www.fd-malinois.com/. I was wondering how often you work their drives. I have a little demon named Donut, he 6 weeks today. He will tug on rag or anything in front of him.

I'm new at this and was wondering how often should be done. I have keep tug work to about 2 minutes he's not bothered by the clatterstick. I let him win when he counters with a deep bite. So far he doesn't have to rebite often. He bites first, shakes, pulls and then tries to grab. I have had work him with a rag on concrete, tile, carpet and grass.

Since, you are involved in KNPV, FR, Sch ring could you offer any suggestion. On how often, I should work with him. Things that I may add for distractions. I'd like to introduce him to a mini sleeve what would be the best way? I understand about socializing a puppy to people and environment. He has already figured out the doggie door will go out to poop and come back in by himself with me carefully watching. He will climb anything without having to bribe with food.

Tracy, it sounds like you're already doing a great job imprinting your pup! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> The important KEY here is to never 'exhaust' their drive levels in anything...be it retrieving, rag/puppysleeve work, focus etc...Tap into them daily...but keep them short. Quality and not quantity here.

Always cease a game and leave them 'wanting more' and not wanting to quit...

It's better to do a couple minutes 2 or 3 times a day than to do one session that's 10 min...way too long for a pup IMO.

I've also done MR and BR and there are many aspects of those programs which I think are very important for imprinting...the environmental stimuli...Again we don't 'bombard' puppies with all sorts of new stimuli at the same time...but will introduce a couple at a time gradually...things like pop cans, plastic jugs with rocks in them, streamers, kid pools with water, slippery surfaces, tarps, clatter stick, gunshots (at a distance), planks, 'A' frame that's 'spread out'...again everything is modified and kept relative to the puppies age...also prey work ie., rag; or fun retrieves and recalls being done with other people (neutral) nearby...and exposure to cars, kids, bikes, strangers, etc...But always make sure that common sense prevails and remember that you're working with a pup.

If the pup is with you in the house (vs a kennel); take advantage of periods during your days/evenings to work on focus or fun retrieves down your hallway lol etc--take advantage of this when you can...When you see the pup offering you a desired behavior or attention...do stuff with him/her then. At this age, we don't schedule a formal training session as one would with an older dog...ie., pups sleep a lot and may have energy at different times from one day to the next...So go 'with the pup'. And also keep everything a GAME...Keep it PREY. Imprinting means exposure and introduction of new things to your pup...Imprinting is not about creating stress on this young a pup.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

Good Luck!

Tracy,
Of course if you were one of the lucky ones like I who got their hands on a Fontaine pup, then you'd be lucky, and wouldn't have to imprint, because they are shipped at 8weeks ready for their first Ring trial right out the box!! LOL

Thanks, Brigita.

You gave me some great ideas about environmental stress like kiddy pool, streamers and household plastic items filled with rocks. It has been difficult, getting use to a puppy with his sleep cycle and energy cycles. Especially when 4 am, seems to be his most energetic time and my most comatose.

Chris, I've seen the videos you posted of your pup and she is impressive. I hope I can get similar results over the next 5 to 6 weeks.

Tracy

Thanks for the compliment tracy. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />