help training a working gsd - suggestions please

any helps tops appreciated!!
she needs constant stimulation too.
anyone recommend things i should do - shes 8mth and not old enough for agility or flyball.

In what way is she working? Have you considered working trials and doing tracking? Tracking uses an incredible amount of mental energy and will wear out a dog far quicker than just exercise.
Becky

sorry - (typing whilst feeding teh baby!)
I mean she is bred from working pedigree GSD stock as opposed to show gsds, shes a completly different type of dog than im used to as been brought up with show bred GSDs, how do you start tracking etc.. any tips or help appreciated! she has so much energy its untrue and is on the go constantly. thinnk something like that would be good for her but i have never done it before!

I agree that the best thing may be to teach her to use her nose, so tracking, searching for articles etc would be excellent. Not sure how mobile you are as you have a baby etc so, I'd suggest perhaps trying to get hold of Roy Hunter's "Nosework for Fun" as a start, also, if you find yourself getting into it, Glen Johnson's Tracker Dog.

Meanwhile you can perhaps chuck some of her food into the garden for her to search for, and use stuffed kongs to give her something to chew which can help to relax dogs.

Clicker training can also tire dogs out mentally

You will need to think of the balance over time of using mental and physical exercise, the physical one is good, but will also make her fitter! <g>

What part of the UK are you in?

Wys
x

cheers - i live in Halifax!

Ive tried teh clicker traiining and shes like " er no thanks" although admittedly i have not done it before.

I'll have look for he books and try them thanks loads!!

Is it schuschund training (sp!) i might see if i can do that!

It sounded fun getting a working GSD rather than a show dog but i am sure she seems harder to train, or maybe that she needs to be switch on more!!

thanks
xxx

If she wasn't interested in clicker training, you may have been doing it wrong

Many working type dogs are now trained with clicker as it works their brains so much

I'd personally avoid Schutzhund as very often groups will use electric collars or prong collars although I know some use kinder training methods (which work just as well, or better, it's just that some people are stuck in a very traditional approach).

Working trials is what you need -however, again clubs vary as to what methods they use. Also, working trials is not for the faint hearted - you do have to be very dedicated to the training. It may not be a bad idea to get the training understanding under your belt and then not necessarily train for trials, but just use the training for your own fun and enjoyment with your dog.

However, if you fancy lots of training you may love trials

There is a very good training group in Yorkshire - I'll find their details and get back to you if you like

Wys
x

I'd get yourself down the nearest training school if I were you, preferably one with knowldge of working GSD's and have a long hard think about if you are going to have enough time to train this pup to use its full potential. Otherwise you will have a nightmare on your hands.

Specialist GSD club Huddersfield BAGSD they wil train for the BH test which your dog must pass before starting Schutzhund & they will not use pinch or electric collars

Specialist Schutzhund club White Rose Schutzhund Club

When you say working GSD do you mean obedience/working trials/schutzhund/security ?

Here we go:

http://www.dogfriendlytraining.co.uk/

They do the lot and are used to working dogs

I'm not that brilliant with the old geography, but even if you aren't able to get to see them regularly, ie weekly, do go to some of the events and/or training days as you will learn a fair bit just doing that

Hth!

Wys
x

Suzanne, for now while she is still young, you could hide objects around the house and garden. Start off easy - letting her see the general area of the 'hide' probably in the house to start with til she gets the idea, working up to showing her the object you are going to hide, getting her wound up and then hiding it in the garden somewhere. My GSD would not give in searching until he had found the toy. Once he spent 40 minutes before he succeeded and I only have a small garden! (though I hid it well!!) Searching tires dogs out because they have to use their sense of smell and tons of concentration.

Hope you find this useful.