Put up or shut up (callin ya'll out) - Page 6

I have not trained dogs for anyone else (except my neighbor and son) for many many years.  I have never titled a dog in AKC titles nor Schutzhund titles.  Here is what I have done.

I was in the infantry in the Marines, and I re-enlisted for a change of MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) being given to me as a reenlistment incentive.  I chose being a dog trainer/handler.  I was trained by the military at an Air Force base in Texas.  After training, I was transferred to a Marine base in North Carolina, where I was assigned to a MP (military police) unjit as a dog handler/trainer.  Most of our assignments and training, was geared towards drug detection.  At the time ( late70's ), that was the big thing.  Mostly marijuana.  Of course we also had bomb, guard, riot control and other duties, but mostly drug detection.  When bus loads of marines would come into the base gates, we would bring them out and have the dogs check them and then check the empty bus, for illegal drugs.  We would periodically check barracks and vehicles on base when the Marines were off doing whatever.  During training excersizes, after I had graduated the training of myself, I was usually the helper.  The person that wore the sleeve and took the bite.  My superiors said that I had the ability to "exude fear", but at the same time show the ability to keep a clear head and do the correct thing at the correct time.  We many times used hidden sleeves, to make it more realistic.  I participated in the training of too many dogs to mention.  I could tell you names but it would not make a difference as the names were just "Sarge", Duke" or similar things.

After my North Carolina duties were done, I was transferred to I&I Staff in Cleveland, Ohio, where I no longer had dog training duties, but trained members of the local Marine Reserve Unit in general Marine stuff.  There were thirteen of us active duty Marines training approximately 250 reservists.  My duties at that time were more infantry oriented.  In 1979, I was getting out in a few months and my replacement had already arrived, so I was just showing him the job,but basically not needed.  My Commander said that the Navy had asked if I would like to teach for them JEST (Jungle Environment Survival Training) for my last few months.  I said okay and received an interservice transfer to the Navy.  I never really felt like a Sailor though.  Have always considered myself as a Marine first and formost.  Anyway, after I was completely discharge from the military, I needed a job and went to work for American K9 in the Cleveland area, and trained dogs for clients.  PPD, Guard dogs, and just general obedience training.  Sometimes we had to fix problem dogs, such as barkers and destroyers.  There are a lot of them out there and I would rather train obedience or PPD than those "problem" dogs.  They are a pain because you are not there with the dog very much.  You have to teach the owners what to do to stop the "problem".

I have since changed my mind about bite training, as most of you know, and although it does have its place in the dog world, I would never train a PPD again.  The dogs can make a mistake but the human owners most likely WILL make a mistake.

Lest I be lambasted for including so much that did not have to do with dogs, I was just illustrating that there have been gaps in my dog training stints, due to military and other commitments.  I have not even mentioned my sporatic interaction with the Police Departments K9 unit, while I worked hand in hand with them during narcotics investigations..

Additionally, I left out that when I was hired by American K9, I had to attend and complete their training program at the American K9 Training Center in Nashville, Tennessee, which I did.  I am a certified Professional Dog Trainer through them, whatever that is worth.

I would be the first to say that my methods are old school and not in line with most current outlooks on dog training.  Reward is the most prevalent method used today.  We used that, but also used the choke collar corrections most of all, and that is frowned upon nowadays.

I have read many books and methods on dog training, everthing from the Kohler method to the Monks of New Skeet methods.  As with anyone who trains dogs, I would use something that appeals to me, from several different methods, to train a dog, and not just what one person states is the "correct" way.

I would be interested to know from someone who is currently a helper, whether the pinching on the flank or the ear is still used to "bring a dog up", in the early stages of attack training?

Okay, "talking to much now".

From time to time depending on the dog and training. (flanking)  never heard about the ear - that is new to me

Ebonezer vom haus Darengo - BH, SchH1, SchH2 HOT

Apollo von Nimbus - training for BH and SchH1

Flicka von Nimbus - training for BH and SchH1

Castlebrooks Ace vom Eikelberg - training for BH and SchH1

as well as many others in training.

Just for interest's sake, I am in this alone while working 50+ hours a week at an outside job.  I do everything myself. Unfortunately I had to go 4 years without a trainer and am now back into it gung ho with an excellent private trainer.  There have been many comments on this board about people like me as well as me who have untitled dogs. But this should not be confused with the desire and time TO title dogs. Those who have never titled a dog may scoff at that, but anyone who has TITLED THEIR OWN DOG knows the extreme amount of time and effort it takes. So different from those who just send their dogs away for titling! Even if I had the money to send my dog away for titling, I would not  EVER do it. The quality time and bonding with your dog as well as learning yourself , in addition to knowing what your dog has and does not have are much more valuable than a quick slapping on of titles by someone else. The dog is better trained HOT as well as the handler is better trained. HOT training is totally worth it in the end and MUCH more valuable. I sure wish I could do the dogs fulltime!!!!!

Debby

ebinezer052899@yahoo.com

Wow, this could really be a walk down memory lane for the last 20+ years...too many dogs to remember exactly without getting out copies of scorebooks, etc.

In Schutzhund,

BH-multiple

SchH1-multiple

SchH2-several

SchH3-numerous

FH-two

Showed dogs at all levels:

Local/Regional/National competitor in DVG and USA working dog events

Placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in Regional Events

Showed Local/Regional/National level in USA conformation events

Kkl1-two     Kkl2-three

Police Dogs

Patrol-four

Narcotics detection only-three

Evidence search-two

AKC/SKC

CD-two     CGC-one

Finished Show Champions-2

Best of Breed (Brace)-2

I should have the Sport's Medal in Gold for USA and the equivalent in DVG but I never submitted the documentation...<sigh>

I haven't done as much as I had hoped to.  I put a BH and a CGC on my female 3 years ago.  I did train in PPD - it was more of a local thing and not nationally recognized like PSA or SchH.  I would have loved to have continued with SchH but I failed miserably training her in tracking.  Now, she has a myrid of health problems and her training days are behind us.  She's 6 years old now and is from West German working lines/show lines.

I did put a CGC on my male but that's it.  He has elbow dysplasia so I never really pursued anything else with him.  He's from Czech and West German working lines.

Does anyone notice the people posting to this thread are not the "everyday" posters?

Don't be bashful people, if you worked hard to achieve it, let it be known

Thanks, Shelley!  I checked out your site and it is very nice and very impressive.

Jim

2 females(from 8 weeks of age) to Sch1 of which 1 showed at the Regional Level and will continue to be titled and hopefully getting a qualifying score for Nationals. 1 Female to Breed Survey and Confirmation ( V KKL1).

9+ years Protection/Obedience

7+ years in or around Schutzhund

Breeder of GSD's

Bout all I can come up with.

I did notice that

thought maybe they were too busy training/titling to post?

Any hoot I am enjoying see all the hard work that everyone has done even if it is a CGC it took time to train