I will try to keep it short. I have been keeping up with the litter and am having trouble deciding. I helped my friend do the selection test last weekend and have been around the pups somewhat since they were whelped. I have a "safety pup" picked out, he is nicely balanced.
One of the other two seems to be the "dominant pup" according to the test on the Bite Training pups Dvd, but he wanders around and is very independent. He latches on the pants and plays well with towel and ball. But when he gets it, he often wanders. He seems to have his own agenda. He likes to go dig or investigate things and is always curious. He is friendly when handled, but always ready to go and do on his own. Is he likely to get more people oriented when he gets away from the litter and learns his environment better??
The other one is nice in everyway except one. Prey drive. He will retrieve and play tug some, but not as much as the other pups. He is possesive of the prey item when he gets it and plays rough with the other pups. He doesn't bite the pants legs when you let them out and walk around. He stays at your feet when you walk and looks up at your face. He seems to be the more thinking pup of litter. He has prey drive, it just seems that we have to put more movement into the prey item to interest him than with the other pups and i don't think he cranks up as much as the others. Should this be a problem for bringing prey out as he grows. I am just wondering if it is in there like with the rest of the litter and he just reacts to things differently for whatever reason, or if it is just low prey drive and i should leave him out of my choices.
As I said, I have a "safety" that is well rounded, but the other two are the more "dominant" pups of the litter in behaviour. Which is what i thought the Bite Training for Pups dvd says you want.
Thanks for any help.
Larry
If those were my only choices, I'd skip number 2. Prey drive is typically there or it isn't. Just one of those genetic things. It can be brought out and developed, but maybe not as much as you hope, depending on what you're wanting to do with the pup. For schutzhund, I'd take the first over the 2nd.
If you're not keen on the sports aspect of things I'd go with #2...like was mentioned, the independence of the first one would make him a bit more difficult. If you're not that interested in having an uber prey drive dog I think you can build it up somewhat. I once found a native pup in a dump back at home, tried to play with her with rags, wouldn't bite it much, but after being patient with her at 5 months old she was playing with the tug, over mouthy, ball crazy, and would hold on to the tug like a pitbull on a tire. I could actually lift her up and she would bite on. (WHILE SHE WAS TEETHING). And this is a native, primitive pup with short legs.
I agree ob would be harder with the first one, but I'd rather have the drive there to work with. 2nd one would be too much of a gamble for me to wait and see if it "shows up" someday. I'd still prob. pass on both though.
Thanks all.
The pups are 8 weeks. I will be getting it on Monday, they turn 9 weeks on Tuesday. I am not sure if I am going to do Sport or just personal protection. The closest sport club is 2 hours away, but I will probably be moving closer to some in a year or so. I would like to do sport if I can.
The gamble on the 2nd ones drive is what bugs me about him. But wow he is fiesty and great in every way but what he is showing in prey. I am going to go see them again today and see if there is any change.
I kinda figured that about the first one being stuborn on obedience. I my girlfriend has an American Bulldog that she got 5 years ago as an adult rescue. It had NO obedience and I did the training. I understand hardheaded and that is one of the reasons I am getting a GSD. I don't mind the stuborness as much as some folks and it can really be frustrating, but he is so confident and has such a nice bite and carry. Oh well, we are going to a trial in FL this weekend to watch. That will give me more time to consider all this. Any more input is very welcome. I will check this again when I get back, before I get the puppy.
Thanks everyone.
Larry
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