Couple of concerns

[BusyBee]

Hi all sorry this is a bit long, soooo many questions

So Amber came to visit us today! She is a lovely 6yr old GSD and I loved her straight away, she was a bit frantic when she arrived but calmed down after having a nice big poo in my garden lol. I have just a couple of concerns that you might be able to help with!

She has been trained as a show dog, so she has never done any 'heel' work she walked nicely on the massive lead that her owners had her on, but did pull alot when we they to rein her in a bit (she is never walked on a lead, just romps around free in their fields). What sort of problems might I encounter teaching her to heel? considering her age and will it be a long process? I walk long distances sometimes in busy public areas and staying to heel will be quite important. Also she is trained to stand, so doesn't sit either, is this normal for show dogs?. Her recall was pretty good, and she is crate trained

She was a bit nervous/shy of my 3 kids, but exhibited no agression and allowed them to take her toys she didn't bat an eyelid when the youngest tried to climb on her, except running to her mum as soon as she could! Do you think this is fairly normal for a dog that does not live with small children, she has had contact with kids at various shows and has 2 older children that live with her. Her owners are sure that she will love it once she's settled and are not worried.

Other than seeming a bit overwhelmed by everything she was great. She is coming next week as soon as I have got hold of the things we need for her, and her owners have said that they will take her back at anytime if needed. They also assured me that she is an easily trained dog, and will catch on quickly to what we (her new owners) expect.

Thanks

Sally (nearly fingers crossed- mummy to Amber)

(I do have a couple of pics that I'll upload later, once I've worked out how to do it!)

Hi If she's a trained show dog I don't understand that she cannot walk to heel.. or do you mean she doesn't walk on a loose lead? You may have to go back to basics with lead work if she's already a learned behaviour of pulling.

Teaching sit should be easy - though why this wasn't taught is baffling too.

Children - if she was steady around yours then that's a good sign. Sheps don't usually see children as threats unless they've had previous bad experiences.

Why are her present owners wanting to re-home her? Sorry if you've posted this somewhere and I haven't read about it.

[J&J]

I'm no expert on training so this is just my own little view point...

Has she's been trained mainly for the show ring, she is trainable as teaching sit, and heel work is just an extention of this trainin, you may have to use a slight different approach and be slightly more patient that with a younger dog, but it can be done...

I would assume that she stands on command, as long as she will stand still at the kerbside etc when you need her still then this is fine as you teach her the sit command.. As she is a older dog they don't alway natural sit as you take a treat over the head as a pup would.. But an alternitive method is to watch treat on hand, when you see her start to sit then give the command and give her a treat as her bot hits the ground... Jones soon clicked on with this method what I wanted...


The heel work, you probably find that while you speed walk this will be a similar pace or a bit faster than what she would expect to be doing in the ring, you can use this to great advantage...

And at home its a case of just going round the back garden on the lead and using treats to keep her close the slowly expand..

If you feel tht you need to have a little bit more control while in busy area's then a head collar will help...

With Ellie I used a flat lead and head collar, using the head collar only when I needed a bit of extra control, she's now been mainly weened of the head collar, I only use it when I'm going somewhere where it's busy and lots of distraction such as a dog show (more to protect my shoulders than to control Ellie)

It's only really you and hubby who can decided if she will fit into your family, and you can only go on gut instint to how you felt she reacted today with your children...

[BusyBee]

Hi Anni

I have no idea about showing dogs so am only repeating what her present owners have told me, she was shown a few time and comes from 'champion lines'? but she has a kink in her tail and a tooth missing, which apparently loses points?? so they retired her from show with the intention of breeding her. Although happy to mate she has not managed to become pregnant, the vet felt that she was anatomically too small and an attempt was made to stretch her (which sounds horrendous to me!) but it didn't work. So they are retiring her and looking for a loving pet home where she can basically chill out and enjoy the rest of her life.

They are a reputable kennels, and both owners came around to my house today and to have a look at how she was with the kids, and to basically check us out. I have always had dogs as loved family pets so this sort of thing is a bit alien to me, but having looked around the net many show pets are retired/rehomed once they're past their best.

[lauraburns]

We have a few dogs that come to our classes that are show dogs on training! The owners don't want them to sit as they don't want them to sit while in the show ring, they must always be presenting in the ring, so just easier not to teach them to sit! Apparently!!!

Hope it all goes well for you!

[Caryll]

Originally Posted by Anni

Hi Teaching sit should be easy - though why this wasn't taught is baffling too.

They wouldn't want her to sit in the show ring every time they stopped - she would have had to remain standing, preferably in the show stand.

[Stuart]

Hi Sally,

I am pleased that its all going well so far.

Dont believe the old saying that `you cant teach old dogs new tricks`,.. every dog what ever the age [almost ] is teachable

At first I wouldnt bother about the sit, that can come later,.. as long as Amber will stand on command you are in control

I can understand you wanting to stop the pulling though,.. but this sounds as if it could be an easy one to deal with,..if she walks well on the long lead, then all that would be required is for you to start at that point, and slowly shorten the lead,............ I have never done it, but its what I would do

Its great that Amber got on so well with your children, she has indeed got good temperment,... `is it normal to run to her mum`,.. yes, I see nothing wrong there,..your children are new to her, your house was,..so I am guessing she wanted reasurance from mum,... I would guess that would soon change if your home becomes her home

I wish you well with Amber

They wouldn't want her to sit in the show ring every time they stopped - she would have had to remain standing, preferably in the show stand.

How bizarre.. Freak world!

Sally, once she's settled I'm sure she'll be lovely. Training, boundaries and affection - start as you mean to go on with her. And pics please!

[zetstaff]

Awww gethergethergethergether

She sounds adorable + all the things you mention are teeny tiny + can be dealt with

So, Amber's mummy, lets have some pics

xxx

[gloriab]

Originally Posted by zetstaff

Awww gethergethergethergether

She sounds adorable + all the things you mention are teeny tiny + can be dealt with

So, Amber's mummy, lets have some pics

xxx

yes yes yes
get her get her get her gether


whereabouts are you geographically ?

xx