Nature VS Nurture/Tino's Evaluation PT 1 - Page 8

I think the dog needs to be evaluated for SchH.  I don't really care for the evaluation that we were given!

Just my opinion though.

Vickie

www.PowerHausKennels.com

THe evaluation was by someone that teachs obedience classes. She is not a professional trainer. She teachs basic obedience. She has many years doin it and is more experienced than I am, that is why I went to her.

Therese,
You were heading in the right dirrection. And I commend you for that.  But, I think sometimes the obedience teachers are just that.....teachers. And there is nothing wrong with that, we need those people!  There is a whole different criteria (in my opinion) for evaluations for Schutzhund. Like I said before....some really good Schutzhund dogs are not necessarily good pets. Some Schutzhund dogs can be hard, a little on the edge of nervyness (sometimes I wonder if nervyness equates good defense drive...I don't know......just my thinking) have good defense drive and also good agression. Those particular qualities are not something a person would look for in an obedience dog either or probably not a family pet either. You might want a touch of them in a Schutzhund dog however, and they should be balanced with (again in my opinion) other drives such as pack drive, hunt drive, and prey and play drive.

MY .02 though!

Vickie

www.PowerHausKennels.com

 4 Pckkk      your talking to the walls>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Hi Shandra

There are several things here, firstly the nature / nurture.  Even the best bred friendliest, calmest, boldest dog will not do well unless it is socialised.  Socialising a dog with a poor temperament will help but not be the whole answer, he will still be anxious in a strange situation.

I am not sure where in the world you are but it is clear that you don't understand your dog.  I would suggest you find a trainer who is very knowledgeable and specialises in clicker training, which is based on positive reinforcement rather than negative punishment.  If you are in the USA search for Karen Pryor's web site.  If you live else where you still may find links from this site to your location.

Learning About Dog website in the UK has some great information and I think a dvd about dog aggression but this is not a problem you should be tackling yourself.   Although I am not active in GSD's now I had a kennels training and working GSDs in security at one time.  I am now more interested in the Good Citizen Dog scheme.  Whatever you do please do not let anyone reactive aggressively towards your dog as this will escalate the problem for you, even if the 'trainer' can handle him.

Jo

 AMEN BROTHER: ONE MORE TIME!

I think LMH is the one who needs an "evaluation". 

LMH-  First of all what bridge did you just climb out of???  Funny I've never noticed your presence.  Then again I only pay attention to those that make sense.  Obviously you haven't done YOUR homework because I could give a rats ass that you did not agree with me and I'm definately not on the ass kissin' list nor was I trying to "intimidate" you; please that would be insulting MY intelligence considering a boil on my ass would annoy me more than your outragous pot shots.  And yes I most definately did rely on a rescue to place a dog I felt was not to be trusted in an environment that would not be good for him or safe for someone's family.  THAT was "handling my responsibility" not trying to pass my problem off to some other poor soul and have to read in the paper that this dog ate their kid, chewed gramma's face off at the Thanksgiving table or got loose and left the mailman shredded to pieces.  If the rescue person who was experienced with the breed was not willing to take the dog he would have gone to the gas chamber.  If this same dog would have bit my kid instead of me that day then guess what....he'd of never made it there cause I would have taken him out myself.

I never claimed to be the "expert" and that is EXACTLY why I advised Shandra to get this dog out of her home.  She probably knows even less than I do when it comes to handling a dog with these types of issues and I know I myself could not "fix" this dog.  When people here with more years under their belt than I am alive are telling you that they themselves would not take this dog and could not "fix" him then I must not be so wrong.  The only thing that's good for a laugh right about now is you because you have no logic or sense of reality.  This is not a "training" problem that you can just send the dog off to someone and they'll correct it; it very well may be a genetic problem or merely environmental upbringing of the dog as a pup.  You can't turn the clock back and do a "retake".  He is what he is and if you think you can prove everyone wrong and fix him then shut your pie hole and go do it.  Til then the dog is worthless and so are your comments.

You guys should get off Shandra's ass!  I think she has a solution worked out!  She came here for help and some blunt honesty has been handed out and I think she gets what you are saying to her!  The dog has a pedigree full of pretty hard dogs too, but no one takes that into consideration! 

Vickie

www.PowerHausKennels.com

Powerhouse-  I think with all the focus on the dogs reaction to Shandra's son and the discussion on his behavior no one even thought to ask about the pedigree, or maybe they did and I missed that part?? 

Whatever she decides to do in the end to solve the problem is a decission she has to be able to live with regardless if the outcome is good or bad.  I just think if she had a different dog she and her son would enjoy sharing their life and home with a GSD.  When you have a dog that doesn't fit well into your lifestyle or family it tends to stress everyone out because now the dog is a pain in the ass rather than a joy to have with you.  I think Shandra already pretty much knew what she needed to do or should do but came to the board in hopes of hearing something different because she is attached to the dog.  There's nothing wrong with that IF she lived alone or out in the middle of nowhere then I'd say give it some time and try to work it out.  But my concern is no one really knows enough about this dog including Shandra to be able to say without a doubt he's not a danger.  Not even the breeder was honest or cooperative so that right there leads me to believe the dog was just dumped on her because she was none the wiser and the breeder was one less dog.  I myself would have taken the dog right back to the breeder regardless if they wanted him or not.  Why should it be her problem now to solve when they knew all along this dog was a problem for someone in her position???

Nope, no one asked!  He has a pedigree chock full of tough hard dogs!  They are all TOP DDR dogs!

Vickie

www.PowerHausKennels.com