Here’s the background – bought a 2.5 y/o GSD SchH1 from Austria in April. (He’s now closes to 3) My first dog – admittedly a lot to get started with – but he’s mine and I’m determined to make up the learning curve.

Dog seems to be a dream from a schutzhund perspective – has huge prey & food drive, great conformation, powerful (bit a jute a brand new jute in half during one drive training session), awesome drive and power in protection (have only worked him twice during a seminar but he left everyone present with jaws on the ground – even people in the sport for 10 years or more&hellip, is tracking well (could be doing better on the articles but we’re working on them) and looks like a Lipizzaner stallion when he fooses. Everyone at the local club loves him to say the least and to top it of he is a V rated showline dog that puts the working class dogs to shame (not my words, the words a of a working line owner). Around the house he is awesome: minds well, doesn’t show any dominance issues towards me or wife (well – wife had to establish rank with some basic obedience for a few days after he first came home – he occasionally was ‘herding’ her – but no issues since first week&hellip No dog aggression, in home obedience is prefect, everything is peachy – except his over the top prey drive for toys (NOT actual prey, like cats, which he cares less about) which makes training HAIRY for me as a new handler.

The first issue is that he only outs a toy when he thinks he’s getting it back. That has lead to an endless stream of trickery (and he’s a fast learner – so I’m running out of tricks) on my part to try to get the toys after exercise/play (can’t leave them with dog, he destroys them in minutes) and has led to a nightmare as far as toy motivated obedience. His rock solid recall in every other respect is deteriorating as he doesn’t want to bring the toy back because he thinks he’s going to lose it.

Second issue is that trying to use a jute as motivation for obedience is down right dangerous due to his jumping and snatching and I can’t imagine safely playing with a ball string combo – without loosing a finger or two. I understand that SChH isn’t for the feint of heart – but this dog is big (95lbs), tall (nose is about 3 inches from armpit when foosing (I’m 5’8&rsquo and QUICK! As far as I see it the easiest thing is to eliminate the problem and use the food (remember he’s got great food drive) as motivation. The problem is now that we’ve got basic foosing down with the food – how in the heck am I going to train the send away, jumps, wall, etc without toys? From what I see for the motivational training of the advanced obedience exercise you can’t train them without a ball/string combo.

I’m looking for the least compulsive method (even if it takes months) possible to get the toys back and do not want to hit, hang, or shock the dog – unless there are no other options. I’m also looking for the best way to teach him that he’s gonna get it back. The recall issue is going to be addressed with a long line.

I’m looking for options advice on how to deal with the problems – please don’t advise me to join a club – I’m already in one and frankly no one else has had to deal with such a drivey dog before – most people need to BUILD drive not deal with too much. The dog has HUGE potential and I’m the one holding him back. I’m new to the sport (and dog handling) and am very reluctant to use any more compulsion than a prong without exhausting all other options/methods first.

For what it is worth I’ve been told that that the issue is one of dominance/respect (the jumping/lunging for jute and the failure to out it) and have been advise to address the issue with dominance remedies. I personally (while admitting I could be wrong) do not think he is a dominant dog – just one with more drive then I can effectively manage at my present level. I’m very concerned about damaging an otherwise very good handler/dog relationship with severe methods (the ones normally reserved for dealing with a dominate dog) without being 100% certain they are necessary.

Thanks for any advice,

-Calvin

Fun problem to have if you ask me. I would start with Ed's "building drive focus and grip", I know you don't need to build more drive but the video will show you things that just can't be explained well in print. Remember that drive is just one component what you are really after is control and focus out of the dog. I would also look at Ivan Balabanov's "The Game"(I am probably misspelling his name) this compliments Ed's video pretty well and gives you another perspective, Ivan goes into detail about building trust with the dog. This will help with the out.

At 2.5 yrs you have gotten a mature dog and it will take some time for you to fully bond with the dog, possibly up to a year before you both fully trust eachother. It sounds like you've gotten a great dog. Have fun with him.

Man, I want to tell you how little a problem this is. Thing is I can't really feel bad for you. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I think you have a really good dog. I would definately recommend an Ivan tape as well. Too bad you settled for Shutzhund <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I can only imagine the bruising that would go on if you were in ring!

Calvin,
My kind of dog!With this dog: Always be fair.Don't take from him without giving something in return. Don't give anything without getting something in return (ever). Keep him in good condition, these dogs know that they control the game as long as they posess the object of the game. If they are tired they are more prone to hold the object and not release it. Don't create issues over trivial matters. If your in a poor mood, don't work with him. Loosing your temper with this type of dog over releasing something could get you hurt over time. And just remember DRIVE, if its there you can take some out. If its not there you can never put more in.Have fun!
RD