Michelle wrote in part:

"The dog apparently LOVES me".

"Apparently" being the operative term. I look at this as more of a one night stand.

Michelle,
Steve and Steven and Amber have told you truths. You should pay attention.
What are you going to do the first time that dog comes back up the leash at you with the full intent of tearing you a new one? It's not a maybe. It's when.
If the dog is as advertized, it's a sure 100% no lose bet. The dog will come back at you knowing exactly what he wants to do, and it's not to say pretty please. He'll want your arm, your leg, your shoulder, your face, anything he can get in his mouth. If he's hectic, he'll shred anything he's got in his mouth. If he's a calm no nonsense dog he'll just bite until bones break and then try and rip it off.
Pick your own poison Michelle, but if I were you I'd sick to working with my nice GSD.

If my dog isn't learning, I doing something wrong.
Randy

You know Michelle, I'm a little surprised that experienced Schutzhund people would try to convince you to take this dog.

 Quote: steve strom

You know Michelle, I'm a little surprised that experienced Schutzhund people would try to convince you to take this dog.

I was a little put off by that one, too, Steve.

What is wrong with your shepherd? Does he have *no* drive or is it something else? Perhaps its me but only 2 months experience in going to a club with a 4-6 month old puppy doesn't seem like a whole lot of time to give the dog a chance - or to have the knowledge to wash a dog out. I would be leery to take the evaluation of that puppy by this club's members if they are the same people encouraging a novice to take a handler aggressive mali on....

What are your goals at this time? Again, it might just be me but unless you are looking to be on the podium with your first SchH dog, a good training director and helper can help you learn the ropes of the sport with lesser dog. Heck, I learned the ropes with an ACD and let me tell you training an ACD is definately not sunshine and roses for the most part ;-)

If it was me, I would use the GSD you have now to learn with and perhaps in a year or two when you have experience under your belt, then consider getting another dog. In my personal opinion, it is not beneficial to have an over the top dog as your first SchH dog. If an experienced handler is having issues with a dog, you are likely to find heartbreak as an unexperienced handler.

Let's be honest and cut the Bambi complex stuff since dogs don't "love" us in the fashion that we as humans define the term. This Mali might behave better with you right now but as others have said, he is likely to change his tune when you change from the person he hangs out with to the person who thinks she has the right to tell him what to do. I am guessing a whole different side will come out then....

Good luck in whatever you decide.

The more I see this thread, to be honest, the more irritated I get.
The club that is encouraging this whole thing should be disbanded. If they are promoting a new handler to take a dog like this, I can only imagine what the training is like.

Nothing really against you Michelle, but I would think you would know better than to even entertain this idea. I have went back and read some of your posts, and you have had some issues with your current pup, so I am wondering what makes you think you could handle a dog of this caliber?

This is the kind of dog that I would see Ed, Will, Cindy, Roni or Kevin working with and then finding and appropriate handler for him. I cannot begin to entertain a thought like you are thinking.
Not a dog I would consider in my home due to family members and grandkids. Plus, I kind of already have one of these dogs.





Edited by Carol Boche (04/30/2008 10:44 AM)
Edit reason: adding some names I forgot to add

Dear Michelle;
Roni here, on Steve's account. I AM APPALLED AT THE NERVE OF THE SCHUTZHUND CLUB AND THE OWNER OF THIS DOG!!!!!!
This makes me so angry. They are trying to take advantage of you and this is an accident waiting to happen. I can go into great detail concerning behavior modification and how to handle this situation. Bottom line is YOU CANNOT TAKE THIS DOG AND PROVIDE WHAT HE NEEDS, socially and emotionally because of your inexperience, not YOUR DESIRE OR DRIVE.
Michelle, I am offering you a free evaluation of your current dog
and would gladly help you find another dog if you desire. Not a problem., Please feel free to contact me via pm. I am in Las Vegas for a seminar but am availble to you.
I love my dog sport and I am very upset that experienced people
in this schutzhund club would act so irresponsibly.
Roni

This dog should only go to an very experienced handler - end of story.

Thanks for the feed back. Needed to hear it.
I have heard unfavorable things about the club but chaulked it up to know one can please everyone. I believe I saw Cindy's name as a charter member and they have been extremely nice to me. I am just always a doubting Thomas, especially when overtly complimented.

The owner of the dog has an extremely shor temper and I am as laid back as a rock. My husband watched us work one night and attributes our relationship to my energy. Like what was said I will be challenged and I am not ready.

The huge negative is timeing. We have one more very promising horse and have commited to a lot of traveling this summer. I have always traveled with the dogs but it is a lot of down time for them.

My husbands huge worry is liability but is letting me work my way to the correct desision.

The one hook the dog has is I wonder if it is just the wrong owner, not wrong dog. I am calling his trainer and vet to get more feedback on the dog.

Things I like is he is fast athletic smart and nervy.

My shepherd not only lacks drive but has elbow problems already at 6 mnths. This might require surgery which again would make this a difficult time for a new dog.

I am working towards turning him down. Just difficult at times not to want to give it a try.

I do not like the trial period idea as I do not want to bounce the boy around. The commitment is for life.

Carol
Curious what post you read that I had issues with my dogs? Other than health which is a huge time and money worry. Behavior is steller. Quin has his CGC and was starting sheep herding when his elbow problem started AGAIN.
Ava has more titles than would be believed but is moving with my brother to Hudson, WI.

I have never had a working dog but my husband has had a PPD. I am not trying to say I am qualified, just wondering what posts you are refering to.

Roni
What an AWESOME offer. It excites me and might give me the strength to wait. VERY VERY kind.