From: janicki@gblaut.enet.dec.com (Victoria Janicki)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: Question about Schutzhund Training
Date: 23 Nov 92 17:03:56 GMT
Reply-To: janicki@tuxedo.enet.dec.com
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation, Littleton,MA


To: janicki@tuxedo.enet.dec.com
Cc: 
Reply-To: janicki@tuxedo.enet.dec.com
Subject: Re: Question about Schutzhund Training



In article <1992Nov20.204338.29873@netcom.com> you write:

|>In article <1992Nov19.161119.27143@nntpd.lkg.dec.com> 
|>	janicki@tuxedo.enet.dec.com writes:
|>>
|>>In article <rasmussenc.53.0@vaxb.gbus.virginia.edu> you write:
|>>|>
|>>|>Is this true?  Does Shutzhund training mean no obedience training?  I get 
|>>|>the impression she is trying to "let the dog be himself".  Won't she end up
|>>|>with a monster?
|>>
|>>Personally, I believe that every puppy, whether it is destined
|>>for work or not, can and should learn basic manners (through
|>>positive motivation/lure training, without physical corrections).
|>>Doing so will not ruin the dog for Schutzhund training if it is
|>>done well.
|>
|>How many dogs have you titled in Schutzhund?  That's a rhetorical question,
|>for I'm sure the answer is none.
|>
|>Your notions about how dogs should be trained are valid for most pets, but
|>there is a reason for everything in training -- I personally would rather
|>let the dog jump, and I wouldn't want to inhibit that.  You can do as you
|>please.  We'll see who gets better results in a trial.
|>
|>If you're concerns are protecting the furniture, or you have small
|>children, or the like, you probably don't want to share your home with
|>a Schutz Hund.
|>
|>Experience has taught me that it's easier to put restraint into an older
|>dog than drive.
|>-- 
|>+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|>|  Michael Sierchio                          1563 Solano Avenue, Suite 123 |
|>|  kudzu@netcom.com                                Berkeley, CA 94707-2116 |
|>+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|>

Fair question and reasonable response. No I have not titled a dog
in Schutzhund. ( Though I will note I did try but for various reasons
including not having a dog with the right balance of drives I have
not to date.) My partner is working a dog in Schutzhund.

Before attending an Ian Dunbar seminar, I would have also said not to
inhibit a dog at all during the first 12 months. I have since changed
my thinking. I do believe any puppy can be taught basic manners and
still retain good drive. It all depends on how you teach the manners.
If you use physical corrections, then yes you will run the chance of
ruining the dog's drives for later work. If you use positive reinforcement
and repetition, you can actually increase the drive (think about
a dog that does a really good hold and guard - they rev themselves up
with very little stimulation but do not bite). The difference is
that you have an on-off switch. And you don't constantly keep the
dog on "off". A companion dog should mostly
be "off". A working dog needs to be "on" more frequently. It is up to
the owner/trainer to find appropriate situations to do so. For
example, during tug-o-war game (lots of body contact) etc.

Call it one perspective on the training. I know it is not the
common one for Schutzhund training. 

--
Victoria Janicki
Digital Equipment Corporation
Littleton,MA
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