I'm new to this forum (just posted my first question earlier today), but I have a 14 month old GSD. I'm trying to do my best to follow Ed's ground work program. Rocky has been crated 24 hours/day for about a week, so I started letting him out on a leash in the house for short periods of time. But he's been whining more about being in the crate, so I'm wondering if I let him have in-house leash privileges too soon. I usually take him on 3 to 4 walks a day anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes a walk. Yesterday I caved and played tug with him a bit just to tire him out as I think he's getting antsy in the crate.

Does anyone have advice for how to balance the ground work program with giving your young dog enough exercise as to not get bored and whiny? What is the best way to know when your dog deserves in-house leash privileges, and how many hours a day should I start out with?

Thanks,
Tina

For starters...I would give him a stuffed kong, bully stick or something like that to keep him busy in the crate.

Ground work can be for days, a week, weeks... kinda depends on the dog, dogs age & your training knowledge etc. I would give the dogs lots of walks....I don't know if this is a showline or working line dog....but if it is a working line dog....I think that walking for only 1 1/2 hours a day is especially not very much out of 24 hours for a 14 month old WL dog. It's not even enough for a lower drive dog of most breeds. You are talking 22 1/2 hours in a crate! That is WAY too much.

I would spend multiple times a day of 15 min training. At least an hour walk in the am & pm & a few other walks during the day of at least 30 min. This is in addition to training time.

I would suggest tethering the dog to you in the house for maybe 30 minutes at a time a few times a day & see how that goes. Dog needs to follow you if you get up & go to the kitchen the bathroom, to do laundry etc, etc. He is to lay down next to you if you are sitting & get up when you do. If that seems to go well for a few days or week or so then you might start to give him a little free time with you on a line in the house. Never out of your sight. And gradually increase over time. It's hard to put an exact time frame on any of this. But he sould not be allowed loose in the house even with a line until he has proven that he isn't going to get into trouble, potty in the house, eat anything etc. If you can't keep your eyes on him totally, he goes into the crate.

I would also start to play with him in addition to the walks & training. You want to build a relationship with him. Playing is a great way to do this. And just hanging out together in the yard or sitting on a park bench etc.

Just some suggestions. Good luck with your new dog. Do you have someone that you are training with? They may have some additonal suggestions.

Thanks for the advice. I rescued him, so I really don't know if he's a working line dog or not. I will try to give him more walks during the day when I can, but I guess that part of the social isolation/ground work stuff was unclear. I'm starting with a new trainer on Wed that specializes in German Shepherds, so hopefully she will be able to give me ideas as well.

Basically, when he's on a leash in the house, he is calm and has no problem (after a bit of training) waiting for me at doors, etc. He never had a huge problem with that stuff before we started groundwork. The main problem is that he complains about being in the crate when I leave him (I'm not convinced it's so much separation anxiety as much as him just being unhappy that I'm leaving). And since he is a new pup for me, I thought generally establishing pack structure is a good thing.

The main thing is, judging his behavior on leash makes me think he deserves to be out. But his increased whining at being put back in the crate when it's time to be crated makes me think more time in phase 1 is a good thing. Just trying to figure out how to balance the two.

So you are basically saying about 1 hour or so a day training + a few hour long walks during the day? I will try to accomodate, but that will be hard until I can get him set up with a dog walker. I'm having a friend watch him during the day right now until his new heavier duty crate comes in.

I thing is that NEVER let him out of his crate while he is crying of whining....that just tells him that if he does more or longer you will let him out. A BIG NO NO. Wait until he is quiet for a couple of minutes before letting him out. Mark the quiet & then take him out.

All I can tell you is that my dogs (adult WL GSDs) require at least 2 hours of RUNNING, an additional hour of OB trianing & multiple hours (4-5)just out playing in the yard a day with me to keep them sane & livable in the house with me. I also have a tread mill for when the ground condsitions or weather is bad enough that they can't run outside.

If you have lower drive dog you can get away with a bit less, but they still need 2-3 walks a day & alot of time out of the crate. You can't leave a dog in a crate 22 hours a day...it is just not acceptasble no matter what the breed.

Some dogs need more & some less of the ground work. Basically depends on the dog. If you have a very biddable dog that gets the rules quickly & is not challenging you in any way, like being food or toy possessive(resource guarding) being pushy in any way etc....you can most likely be a bit easier on the dog. That does not mean just let the dog run around the house. I would still tether him to you & then eventually go to a leash in the house...until such time as you as sure he can be trusted. This could be a number of weeks. Depends on the dog.