I live in the Houston, Texas area, and was wondering who teaches obedience training, in my area. I am going to purchase a male European Doberman puppy, for a working dog, in security. I want to take him as far as he will go in the Schutzhund / IPO training.
Do I take him to some normal, mixed dog obedience training, or is there something special for dobies going into Schutzhund/IPO?
How old should he be, to start obedience training?
Any contact information for a local trainer would be appreciated.
For IPO, there is a USCA club in Houston, if I remember correctly. The club link will be on the USCA website. Of course, if he's coming from a good working line breeder, they will likely have a recommendation on trainers in the area.
I would highly encourage you to buy from a reputable working line breeder who is health testing (thyroid, vWD, holter monitor, echo., hips, elbows...) and currently working their dogs.
Also, if you're looking for security do you mean in your house? Dobermans don't do well on their own usually. You may want to look into a Malanois or a Bouvier.
Lastly, I'm not so sure many of the dogs that do IPO would do well as security outside of the ring. The dogs see it more as a fun game. My puppy currently bites the sleeve but it's DEF. not security lol. Have you considered French ring? That's a little more true to "real life" situations.
Lastly, I'm not so sure many of the dogs that do IPO would do well as security outside of the ring. The dogs see it more as a fun game. My puppy currently bites the sleeve but it's DEF. not security lol. Have you considered French ring? That's a little more true to "real life" situations.
Have not been on here for awhile but... Koreleone is correct. In Schutzhund, bite work should most definitely NOT be seen as a game to the dog.
If it is seen as a game it is reflected in the work and a good judge will shave points significantly. As far as Ring being more "real".. That is debatable.
As far as obedience, motivational training can start at 8 weeks. In our system, which is one of the most successful in North America, the foundation for bite work starts with play/prey drive with a tug. However actual bite work on a helper is introduced very carefully in Defense drive after the dog reaches 12-13 months of age.
When the protection phase is introduced this way, assuming the dog has a good balanced nerve/drive temperament then it will see the work as real. This dog will display the correct drive for the job at hand. Dogs are situational learners to a far greater extent than we probably realize. The Schutzund protection routine is designed for the judge to see all of the working drives and nerves of the dog. This includes aggression, prey drive and defense drive. The properly developed dog under the complete guidance and control of the handler should be able to demonstrate transitions between these drives throughout the routine.
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