GSD Working Line

Jude13

Morning all, we are really excited as there has been a few unwanted GSD pups here, we always wanted to rehome and not buy and have been discussing getting a GSD for some time.

Anyway I am looking for tips for the following:
1. Is there any GSD training guru to look up and follow on youtube
2. Should I be worried in relation to a working line (they are 14 weeks and there father is a retired police dog here in the UAE)
3. My main concern is barking, as this can be annoying for the neighbors. I have had two dogs growing up, neither barked but that was not due to any training, they were just quiet.

If we are lucky enough to get one she (they are all female the males were sold) will get a jog before work, have company for two hours mid day. Then a run/walk after work as I run after work anyway. Also 3 times a week we have a cleaner who will walk the dog.

VonVix

1. Well, first, what are you looking to train? I have a male GSD and most trainers I have come across on Youtube who use GSDs are awful, poorly educated morons, and I'm trying to be nice about it here.
But there is ONE guy I know of who is fantastic and has videos with his GSD. Sadly he hasn't made new videos in a while: https://www.youtube.com/user/tab289

2. If you're getting a 14 week old puppy, your biggest concern is how well socialised those puppies have been prior to you picking one up, have they seen the world? Met men, women and children of various ages? Met other dogs or animals? Seen buses, cars and other loud vehicles driving along? Heard neighbourhood noises? The critical period is up to 16 weeks of age, but it is argued that a GSDs critical socialisation period ends at roughly 12 weeks.

3. If you exercise your dog well (mentally and physically) and avoid leaving them outside for long periods by themselves without anything to do, they'll either give themselves a job (bark when they hear another dog bark, for example) or try to entertain themselves (barking whenever they see a bird), barking shouldn't be an issue in a well exercised and entertained dog. GSDs are highly intelligent dogs, and highly intelligent dogs get bored without much difficulty.

Don't run/jog with a puppy, especially not on a hard surface until they are at least 18 months old, GSDs don't stop growing technically until they are 2 years old, so jogging with them at an early age can be damaging on their joints. Have the puppies parents been hip scored?

Jude13

Cheers for the reply.
1. Thank you for the link i will look this one up tonight.

2. The dogs are currently been kept in kennels (http://k9centraldubai.com/) as their owners don't want them but are kind enough to pay for lodgings for a few weeks, with two of its siblings and is being played with by other dogs. The staff 'say' they are socializing them. By all accounts its meant to be a nice kennels. They do obedience training and advance training so I will be doing this and progressing as much as we both can.

3. All noted thanks. There will be someone dropping in each day and every second day two people will be in at different times.

I will take it easy on the exercise then. Is walking okay and how much? Also just fooling around chasing a tennis ball etc?

Jude13

On the hip scoring the owner of the mother said they have been but now they are being rehomed / given away I am not sure if I can get this info.

VonVix

Jude13 wrote: »

Cheers for the reply.
1. Thank you for the link i will look this one up tonight.

2. The dogs are currently been kept in kennels (http://k9centraldubai.com/) as their owners don't want them but are kind enough to pay for lodgings for a few weeks, with two of its siblings and is being played with by other dogs. The staff 'say' they are socializing them. By all accounts its meant to be a nice kennels. They do obedience training and advance training so I will be doing this and progressing as much as we both can.

3. All noted thanks. There will be someone dropping in each day and every second day two people will be in at different times.

I will take it easy on the exercise then. Is walking okay and how much? Also just fooling around chasing a tennis ball etc?

I wouldn't touch them when it comes to training based on the info I'm getting on their website alone, the biggest red flag is their website says "We do obedience dog training in Dubai the “Cesar Millan Way”." The general public who knows little to nothing about dog training may lap this up and think "great!" but anyone involved in the industry will tell you that he is one "trainer" to avoid learning from at all costs. Cesar Millan has no formal qualifications when it comes to dog training, growing up with dogs does not make one a qualified dog trainer, nor does watching a guy on TV. I'm sure you could get far better dog trainers in Dubai.

The general rule is 5 minutes for every month of a puppy's age when it comes to walking. Playing ball/generally messing around is fine, puppies are generally good at stopping when they're tired. But on walks they don't have the option to stop most of the time. As they age sometimes they can be a bit nuts when it comes to playing and don't know when to quit, at least that's how it is with my boy. I have to stop playing with him otherwise he'll keep going until he keels over.

Is the litter registered/come with a pedigree?

Jude13

I read that line after I sent the mail, its been a bit mad since the notice went up that they were available, most are Wadi dogs (local breed). The Kennels and owner say they are pedigree and I can see the dad and the mum, they have sent me pictures. The dad has been in a couple of publications here, but as you know they could just send me any pic.

They are micro-chipped so they are registered with the municipality and that will state the history.

There are many trainers here but quite a few focus on security. I want agility and obedience only. (http://www.uaek9.com/) Like this one, the logo has a GSD about to grab someones arm....

VonVix

Jude13 wrote: »

I read that line after I sent the mail, its been a bit mad since the notice went up that they were available, most are Wadi dogs (local breed). The Kennels and owner say they are pedigree and I can see the dad and the mum, they have sent me pictures. The dad has been in a couple of publications here, but as you know they could just send me any pic.

They are micro-chipped so they are registered with the municipality and that will state the history.

There are many trainers here but quite a few focus on security. I want agility and obedience only. (http://www.uaek9.com/) Like this one, the logo has a GSD about to grab someones arm....

When you look for a dog trainer, you want to be able to see they have qualifications within the industry. Claiming "X years experience working with X breed(s)" means, very, very little, which is all I could see from the website you first posted. This is currently my position (I have quite a bit experience but no qualifications!) however I am working towards it and do try to keep myself up to date with scientifically proven training methods and read up on dog training/behaviour all the time, it's turning into an obsession lol! Eventually I hope to study more and join APDT down the line.

So you *don't* want Schutzhund/security based training? Just obedience/agility only? That would make finding a good trainer MUCH easier.

Jude13

Cheers, I will scour the net and ask around. I am equally nervous and excited.

Also, what qualifications are held to esteem?

While you're here Vix, crate training yes or no and when to put her in?

VonVix

Jude13 wrote: »

Cheers, I will scour the net and ask around. I am equally nervous and excited.

Also, what qualifications are held to esteem?

While you're here Vix, crate training yes or no and when to put her in?

Just don't feel pressured! If you're not happy, don't do it. Don't let a trainer talk you into working with them, ask questions relating to the trainers education when it comes to working with dogs. Not how many years they have worked with dogs or owned dogs, but what areas have they studied, who have they studied with, and so on!

Dog training is very much an unregulated industry in most countries, any Joe Soap can make business cards claiming to be a Top Dog Trainer™ I'm not quite sure what kind of credentials would be recognized in Dubai, but perhaps someone else here would be able to help you with that.
Generally speaking, you would hope that a dog trainer still regularly attends seminars/workshops of other trainers/behaviourists and otherwise seek to continue their education (a good question to ask a dog trainer you are considering is in what ways are they continuing their education, as dog training is something that you are never truly done learning about no matter how good you are with your own dogs ), have a canine first aid certificate, a thorough understanding of dogs and the law (there are most likely courses for this) and other diplomas in canine behaviour, psychology and training.

I recently posted about the pro's of crate training, you can find the post here.

Jude13

Thanks I will have a look at that crate training.

I hope you dont think I am being paranoid but that link you gave me about teaching positive is the estate I live in now in Dubai and the park/lake is right by where I live. I have facebooked the guy

VonVix

Jude13 wrote: »

Thanks I will have a look at that crate training.

I hope you dont think I am being paranoid but that link you gave me about teaching positive is the estate I live in now in Dubai and the park/lake is right by where I live. I have facebooked the guy

The Youtube guy?!? :eek:

Jude13

Yup the youtube guy.

I am shattered, it is every bit like having a baby in the house. the first night she soiled her crate as we didnt get her outside enough and she was anxious. Last night we got up in rotation for every 2 hours. When I went down twice she was asleep so I waited till she woke and brought her out. No issues with soiling or anything.

My OH was crying leaving for work today. I will be back at lunch to play and feed her, our neighbour wanted a dog and is keen to bring her on walks and or play with her during the day so it is handy, that plus the other people dropping in she will be very social.

I am also getting a trainer, ex-british army dog trainer, to come out a few times a week to help me with her. He said he uses a balanced training technique but doesn't use any type of choke collar and was very critical of any harsh techniques the kennel we had initially consulted had recommended.

So I will have a pic up in the pets section soon.