Hi everyone. I am new to the board. My family recently lost our 6 year old GSD to GDV - twisting of stomach. We were heartsick and devastated. We decided to get another GSD and have a deposit for a pup that we will be picking up in January. I came across the Leerburg site and have been so impressed. When we got our first boy I had 2,3 and 4 year old boys so we raised puppy and boys together. He had enough obedience for our needs. With this pup I have more time to devote to training and want to be sure I do this right. I have already gotten the Puppy DVD and the Basic
Obedience. I wanted to be sure I was prepared with information and familiar enough with the techniques so I could start things right. I also have ordered bite training, focus drive and grip along with the leashes, etc. I want to train in protection as this pup is from German working lines with medium-high drive parents. My question is timing of training. I see pup can start sit,down and come immediately with motivation. The DVD also recommends to start place command at 8 weeks too. Bite imprinting is also ok at this stage. At what age should I start stay,heel and other commands? I don't want to overwork or overload. I am new to this training and am trying to be as informed as possible. I really want to do this right. I am familiarizing myself with the raw diet and trying to gather as much together now as possible - any advice would be appreciated. I would like to even look into schutzhund but there don't seem to be any clubs in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. Sorry this is so long - I have been lurking for a few weeks and just got my ok to be on the board. Thanks for any advice!

For me, I don't over do my obedience when they are very young if my goal is to do great protection work, then as he gets older and starts the protection phase you can add more and more obedience.I have been involved in Schutzhund for almost 7 years now.I have a 3year old(male, titled) and a 2year old(female,titled) and a 11 month old (all working line)For my 11 month old I have the positioning done and the recall and the sit.I am not working too much on the heeling yet .I like that during his bite work and he just now started on the sleeve , we were sacking him for a bit for conditioning prior.But right now he does not care if I am next to him while we work him on the sleeve he is confident.I have seen young dogs with so much obedience done on them too soon that during the bite work they are handler conscience and they might look back too much at their handler while they are doing a hold and bark. ,I like a dog that will do the protection work with tons of confidence and be ok by himself.Now I know some dog it makes no difference how much obedienc ethey've had but that's not most cases.I have seen in the nationals dogs that will look for their handler after running to a blind and doing a hold and bark and after a few barks ,stop and turn their heads for their handler.I don't want my dog to look around for me when he does his bite work(i hope that makes sense to you) I am not good at writing.I think doing the basic is good but you don't want to over do it when he's very young.Use a lot of positive motivation too., plus it depends on your dogs drives. Right now for me , my young dog's long down is secure, his sit, his recall.That is all I need for now.That's the way I do it.Good luck with your puppy once you get him! Ps also I am talking about the kind of obedience you want in a trial, basics are good when they are young Yes, but the more experience obedience comes gradually.

Thanks for the advice. Since this is new to me I am cautious about what I need to do. As you said, I need to see what kind of drive the pup will have. I am picking up on the training terms little by little and am so happy I found this board to assist with questions. I don't want to take all the heart out of the dog by doing too much too soon and I want to enjoy having him around. I had already put a deposit on this litter before I found the Leerburg site but I feel comfortable with the communication (and other research) I have received from this breeder. Thank you again for your input and I hope to hear from anyone else with advice.

Welcome to the forum, Katherine.

One of the good bits of info Ed Frawley gave me was not to overdo the training at first (I had told him I started the "sit" and bite work day after I got the pup ) because the pup needs to readjust to being in a new home/place "with as little stress as possible". He also warned that the "pup sleeps 15 to 16 hours a day so let him do that".

Although the pup reacted fine to "sit" and loved the bitework, as Ed said in one of his videos, just cause a pup can do something, doesn't mean he should do it. I can see that the readjustment period is of great importance for the bonding that needs to happen so the pup feels secure and loved in his new home. So I backed off and just let him explore us and his new home, and played casually with him until it looked like it was time to start some basics.

Ed, if I've not been clear enough, please correct.

Since we are driving from the west central coast of Florida up to WV and back to get our pup (was afraid to fly him)I think we will all need time to adjust before any "training" is initiated. I am so excited about getting him - our house, even though it is home to a huge Maine Coon cat, seems empty without a dog. The cat and Scout had been raised together (were brought home a month apart) and they were the best of friends. The cat now lies in the dog's places and I think he misses his friend. I understand what you said about just because the pup can do something doesn't mean he should. I want to do the best by him and I want him to be a well-adjusted, willing dog. I will keep chekcing in and letting you all know how things are going once we get him. I appreciate having this forum for questions and advice since I don't want to keep bugging Mr.Frawley even though he has been quick to repsond and very approachable on-line.