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...In a typical walk, I'll stop a couple times for a minute to let her sniff/pee if she wants, then it's back to walking. .....A schedule? As for the time of day, I've done mine at all times, in the early morning, late morning, afternoon, early/late evening, whenever it fits into my schedule. I doubt you will be able to go too far for your dog. I think you'll get tired before your dog will. You start walking him a lot, you'll be able to tell. Since your husband is reluctant to help, I think you could at least get him to do short walks, at his convenience. No training sessions, just grab the leash and go 'til he gets back home.

This all sounds great to me. I too am a big fan of Cesar Millan and his seminars and National Geographic show -- if Shari is interested, she'll find several threads here with the "search" function and the name Cesar Millan...........

We don't need to add more here, I'd say, since we've pretty much praised his work with pet dogs to the skies here, in past threads!<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I let my dogs stop and have sniffing/marking/peeing breaks, ON MY TERMS. Please remember, Shari, if you are still in keeping-the-dog mode: You lead the dog, not vice versa. You decide where and how you walk and where and when he may be released from the heel position.

As far as how early to get up.......... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> I don't know! How early do you need to get up to get a good walk in before the dog is left at home?

I'm betting that the excited running at you and other bursts of unrestrained zipping around will be much easier to control when you have him on a good schedule of structured activity. (A tired, well-exercised dog is a happy -- and "good" -- dog.)

Which video do you have? I didn't catch that. For a pet, I would want the Leerburg "Basic Dog Obedience" and the "Your Puppy 8 Weeks to 8 Months" videos. There may be another one I am forgetting. But whichever of those two you have not studied -- I'd get it.

I hope you don't mind if I add this: Please commit to the dog or not.....now. You are still saying "if I keep him," and "I hope to...". But my own feeling is that if you are going to "give him back," then do it. A halfhearted attempt to make your husband happy, followed by giving up a puppy who has come to consider you his pack and your home his home............just seems much worse to me than finding him a new home right now with people who have the time and will commit to the training and exercise he needs. This is said for the dog's sake -- not as an attack on you.

Generally, a tired dog is a well behaved dog. I have 3 dogs and have even considered buying one of those "Jog-a-dog" treadmills, but it's better for all of us if I actually get out there with them and spend 30 minutes a couple times a day playing/walking with them.

1. A dog that runs and jumps on you needs to learn some manners. My dogs all know "the look" and wouldn't dare do something like that without permission. But they also know that when I instigate it, they can play rough. When I've had enough, it's like a switch... I just turn them off. That comes from being a pack leader. I already knew the basics, but I learned quite a few things from Ed's article on the subject and would highly recommend you read (or reread) Ground Work for establishing yourself as a pack leader. Once you have clearly established yourself as the pack leader, they will... follow your lead. You play rough. He plays rough. When you've had enough, he will know it's time to back off.
2. I had a 100 pound yellow lab puppy come charging at me (across the street) because his owner couldn't restrain him with a prong collar just the other day. I tend to think that being the pack leader, once again, is the key to solving that sort of problem. At 6 months old, you need to be careful not to over correct him, but if you can't restrain him, a pinch collar used properly will give you the control you need. They are not at all inhumane IF USED PROPERLY. If a pinch collar still doesn't do the trick, e-collars work exceptionally well in my opinion, but once again, you have a young dog so you need to be careful that you're not over-correcting. I have e-collars on all three of my dogs for the majority of the day. They've made life a lot easier. I would not advise a choke collar. As many people will tell you, they can be harmful to the muscles in a dog's neck, but more importantly (IMO), they are far less effective. A determined dog will ignore his slowly diminishing oxygen supply if properly motivated. But a quick snap of a pinch collar can be anywhere from a little uncomfortable, to very painful. You have the ability to give an appropriate correction without needing to be strong enough to hold on to the leash until the dog has trouble breathing (as with a choke collar).
3. No idea... I'm about 1100 miles to the south east of you.
4. The dog will adjust to your schedule. At that age, dogs thrive on a predictable routine so whatever schedule is comfortable for you will be easier to maintain and therefore, more successful. If you've walked for a moderate pace for 20 minutes, your dog will most likely have expended enough energy to be a little better behaved once he gets home. But if after a couple days, he still seems a bit too hyper/anxious/rambunctious/destructive/etc. take it up a notch. I walk my dogs (all 3 at the same time!) about 5 times a week for half an hour or so. After 20 minutes or so of good behavior (healing, acting appropriately with strangers, sitting when I stop, etc.) I give them another 10 minutes or so of "free time" to walk circles around me, sniff, mark, etc.
5. Yes... at his age, positive reinforcement should be your primary training method. And many short training sessions during the day work better than a single, long training session. Most people are shocked at how little time it actually takes.
6. I haven't gotten any of the leerburg tapes so I can't advise you there but he obviously knows his stuff.

Hope that helps a little.

And if you want my opinion... stick it out. A well behaved, happy, loving GSD is a thing of beauty and well worth the effort.

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...it's better for all of us if I actually get out there with them and spend 30 minutes a couple times a day playing/walking with them.

I'm just wondering, based on the number of people who've posted that they take their dog(s) for multiple walks or have multiple training sessions per day, does no one on this board have a 'day job' other than working with the dogs?? And how can *I* achieve this?! LOL

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I'm just wondering, based on the number of people who've posted that they take their dog(s) for multiple walks or have multiple training sessions per day, does no one on this board have a 'day job' other than working with the dogs?? And how can *I* achieve this?! LOL

Kristen,
Well, I am single, have three dogs, and a full-time job. Although I am not setting the world on fire, I'm learning this dog-training stuff, and one day will be out there proving I am at least halfway competant. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

One of my three dogs doesn't count much in the discussion, as she is my old girl....a true couch potato who also has Cushings disease. She's either on her bed inside, or out in the fenced yard sniffing and sunbathing.

I have a 4 year old male Briard who is an amazing dog. We go for a long fast-walk in the morning before I go to work, and do backyard agility and obedience when I get home in the evening (in addition to in-house games). He's been a project, as we ran into some behavior issues (deciding his job was to guard me from all living things)just as we were ready to begin competitive agility, but we are now back on track and working with the simple goal of passing the BH in a year or so. He's my first Briard, and I definitely made some mistakes with him.

Lastly, I have a nine-month old puppy. She comes to work with me every day. She's either in a crate at home, or here at work in the car, so I opt for the latter. I take her out multiple times a day for walks around the building with simple obedience sprinkled in. At lunch, there is a dog park near my office, which is vacant during working hours, where I bring her to work on retrieves, recalls, etc.... I am not a dog-park advocate, but it works out beautifully for us since no one is ever there. One time in the past few months, we had to cut our time short when a woman showed up with two very obnoxious and nasty hounds. Other than that, it's like our own private training grounds.

Sprinkled into the mix are group classes (obed and agility) when they are appropriate (none going on currently), and we are looking to join a local DVG club.

My dogs are all house dogs, and the two Briards at least, also keep each other busy with their (controlled) antics. The old girl watches over it all and on rare occassion decides to teach some manners to the puppy.

In the near future I will be adjusting my schedule to get some morning tracking training in with the two Briards. Life is good, but my friends do think I am nuts indeed.

T

Thanks Connie, I got it

Well, I posted my question and went to bed and I check the thread to see your answer which was great!! And everyone else has answered your reply with really great advice.
All I will say at this point is hang in there and you can do it and that sort of thing. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Great advice from everyone else!! Thanks!!

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I'm just wondering, based on the number of people who've posted that they take their dog(s) for multiple walks or have multiple training sessions per day, does no one on this board have a 'day job' other than working with the dogs?? And how can *I* achieve this?! LOL

I'm lucky enough to have my office in my home, but I do work a "day job." Working at home means that my dogs can get numerous quick walks throughout most days. But when I had my office elsewhere, I did a "power walk," as described by Mike, before leaving for work. I took both dogs for part of the walk, and dropped the Pug back at home after the first "lap," with more fast walking for the shepherd. I came home most days at lunch and let them go out (but it was OK when I couldn't), and right after work was when we had some general training and more walking. Weekends was when new training was introduced, and when I helped with other people's dogs.

So..........it can be done with a "day job." But it sure is great, I admit, working at home and being able to take "dog breaks"! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hi Shari
You are not alone with your problem of Mouthing. My GSD Pup is 7 months old and does the similar to yours, He jumps up and grabs the forearm or clothes. One board member who is helping me with the problem suggest i buy a pinch Collar, which i ordered from leerburg this morning, and i must say the people on here are great in giving advice to us newbies to GSDs and it is much appreciated
My Fred is very intelligent but has this bad habit which must be stopped
Stick at it and i hope like myself you will win the day
By the way Our Pup lives ourside in a Kennel and Run next door to our old 14 year old Border Collie Charlie.
Charlie has lived outside since he was 8 weeks old also our other dog Tiny who lived out doors, and he died and over 16 years old so nearly 30 years of two dogs and one still alive proves they stay healthy and happy out doors
Both Dogs and the dog now gone come in the house in the Mornings for 15 minutes and the same in the evenings one at a time, then they get there treats and go to bed and not one dog ever makes a sound during the night unless they are disturbed by something
Regards
Steve