Dutch Shepherd Forum

Ditto what Kira states

It does depend. With just getting uses to surroundings, Ill just hang out with them and let them take it in then just see what they do. Like the feathers, Sadie was afraid of everything, leaves, snake skin, she even barked at the chrome water shut off valve behind the sink in my little bathroom off the kitchen.

When she barked at stuff and showed a fear but curiosity, I would go over to her and watch it with her, when she nosed it and saw it was fine, she got a happy dance.

It is situational but I find the less you fuss but give positive reinforcement, the better it is and the less chance of mixed signals or the wrong signal

Thank you very much all of you. We finished the BO and now we started agility. On the first training Corine was a totally different dog. Too playful and with a lot of energy I hope she will continue like this. Now I m thinking to start running with her but I don't know how much km is good for a dog. Any suggestions? Also now she is becoming very protective with my home if there is any stranger out she starts barking to the door. Every day she makes me more and more happy

Start up slow, always warm up and warm down, and work from there. I personally like starting on softer surfaces than concrete but I'm in a part of the US where running on trails isn't an option without a long drive. I started with a a five minute warm up brisk walk so H could eliminate, then started running for 30 seconds to a minute, brisk walk for a few minutes, running again, and building up the time running from there. Part of that was for me the novice runner to get into the flow, the other was so H could learn that when we were running we were not stopping to mark, to sniff, to wander - that he had to stay in a heel by me while running. But when we were walking he was free to eliminate (because it will happen) and cool a bit.

Now, is interval training more beneficial to the dog? No idea just. Just how I had to work up to running distances and H was along for the ride. H was, however, always willing to keep running, so if you're an accomplished runner I would stay start off small... like 0.25km (I'm really underestimating here) or whatever she can do without getting overly exhausted, heat exhausted, or collapsing, (watch her tongue - if it comes alllll the way out, is super wide, and bright red, time to stop) and build up slowly every few days. I did read somewhere that dogs should do long distance runs every day as it was bad for their joints, especially on concrete, but I'm not sure of the scientific standing of that idea - if it was opinion or actually founded on research. If you can find evidence stating otherwise I would go for it.

In my mind it was totally different. I was thinking to start for sure with warm up and calm down. But for the first day 250m after two times of running maybe 500 and it goes more and more. Maybe its better to build the endurance like this (I build mine like this, that's why this is my opinion off course I don't know if its correct or no). Do you believe that maybe the running will make her more energetic in her life in general or no? I m waiting for the weather to be a bit cooler here in Greece cause I believe that both of us will die if we started this period. Your advice about when to stop the running for the dog is very useful. I have never do running with a dog so its a good start all this.

I would say do start off with whatever she can handle and stop when she's tired. She may prove us both wrong and want to run for 5km. As for the "correct" way, I think it really depends on what she can handle and what you can handle too, and as long as you're warming up and cooling down and taking breaks if needed it should be okay. As for more energy it will increase endurance, but not sure about energy level. Could be the heat now is making her less energetic, I know humidity does a number on my dude as well as heat.

I've never been to Greece but if your weather is like TX (hot and humid) waiting to cool down would be best. Or running in the early morning/evening. Try to do so when the temp is below 90F... So... Under about 32C? That sound right? My conversion may be off. The cooler the better - pavement/brick gets very hot very quickly and burned pads becomes a worry as well as heat stroke. If you're working in warmer temps I also like to take a cool wet towel and run it under the belly/groin after cool down, or lay it on tile. Some days I don't but on hotter or more humid days I lessen the distance and do a cool down in shade/with water nearby to help offset any heat reactions. Also small amount of water until she's cool - I was always told they're more likely to twist their stomach if they drink large quantities after a run, don't know if it's true but I take precaution with it.

i was in greece a few weeks ago and i can say be *extremely* careful about the dog overheating, id run strictly at dusk/night until it gets a bit closer to winter as youd already planned (depending on where you are in greece of course)

Owned-By-Hendrix wrote: I was always told they're more likely to twist their stomach if they drink large quantities after a run,

I operate with the understanding that large quantities of water, period, is a potential for bloat--and the potential is significantly increased before or after exertion. (Nor do I feed after exercise or exercise before feeding.)

After some months of living with that girl I'm here to update this post.

As the time passes she is getting better and better. She start playing with balls only at home and I believe that in some months she will be able to do it outside and then I want to start playing fetch with her. We finished the bo and we started agility where she is going great and I hope that in some months we will take part in our first race. She still afraid when we are out for a walk especially when she heards sounds of fireworks or strange sounds of the cars.

My father wants to buy a male ds cause he believes that it will be good for her. What's your opinions about this?

In general she is the best dog that we could ask for. She plays with other dogs especially when she knows them so I don't believe that she will have problem with other dog in the house.

Later I will post some photos of her and maybe a video from her training in agility.

Here are the new photos of her.

Funny...I was just thinking about you today.

I'm glad she's gotten better with time. She's lucky she has someone (you) willing to work with her and put in the time.

What do you do when she's distracted/bothered by noises? If she's solid in OB, you could try distracting her/put the focus on you by launching into things you know she's solid on. Mark, reward, repeat.

Bringing in a male (or female)...consider your level of skill in training and handling. Not sure where you'd place yourself objectively.

Others with more knowledge about this will surely chime in, but any new dog you bring in will still be a largely unknown draw, even if you know the lines. While good things can happen with two dogs, unpleasant things can happen as well as having twice the work----well, triple the work with DSs.

If she's improving, there's nothing to say bringing in a male (or female) would help her, or help her any quicker along, if that's the only reason for bringing in another dog.

More pics and vids, yes, please!!

Time will continue to help her grow and blossom. It's great she's doing so well! Love the pics!

There are some fireworks/car noises tapes on youtube you can also use to help her. The idea behind these tapes is to start playing them at a really low level and stop before she gets uncomfortable. Generally you either act like nothing is happening, play though it, or just treat every time she hears them remaining calm. Slowly you build up the sound levels and sometimes duration. I use them with H at an insanely high level and do obedience through them, but he's not really worried about noises; they're more of a distraction technique for him. There may be a level that she just is never okay with, which is fine, and you now know that. Then there's just exposure in the real world.

The other dog I would wait on. Yes, it is true that a solid, strong, unafraid dog would help her explore the world as a sort of role model, but that requires the exact right dog and their relationship being solid. That dog would have to have the right personality and no fears/problems/reactivity of his own. For example, H's BFF is a 10 year old GSD. When he gets unsure we send in the GSD to check it out and he follows right behind her because she is not worried. However, she's much older than him, has that sort of "calm and cool" personality, and he's known her since a puppy and I think sorta looks up to her and adores her. At the same time, she picks up his bad habits. So in your case I would think long and hard on if you could handle 2 DS and I would wait for the right match.

Raven wrote:Funny...I was just thinking about you today.

I'm glad she's gotten better with time. She's lucky she has someone (you) willing to work with her and put in the time.

What do you do when she's distracted/bothered by noises? If she's solid in OB, you could try distracting her/put the focus on you by launching into things you know she's solid on. Mark, reward, repeat.

Bringing in a male (or female)...consider your level of skill in training and handling. Not sure where you'd place yourself objectively.

Others with more knowledge about this will surely chime in, but any new dog you bring in will still be a largely unknown draw, even if you know the lines. While good things can happen with two dogs, unpleasant things can happen as well as having twice the work----well, triple the work with DSs.

If she's improving, there's nothing to say bringing in a male (or female) would help her, or help her any quicker along, if that's the only reason for bringing in another dog.

More pics and vids, yes, please!!

Thank you for your answer. Here is another problem when she distracted she doesn't listen to me(her main problem is with the rubbish cars, sorry I don't know the English name of them) . She wants to run away. So then I say to her to stay close with me and I hold her beside me. Then I pass the problem the car and I have her next to me until she is ok. Once I try to tell her to sit until the car passes but the trainer told me that it's not good idea cause this is too stressful for her.

The work of the other dog it's not problem I think. My sister is a bit jealous cause Corinne is stuck to me. So she wants the same from a male dog. And if we buy probably we will start agility or IPO with him.

Owned-By-Hendrix wrote:Time will continue to help her grow and blossom. It's great she's doing so well! Love the pics!

There are some fireworks/car noises tapes on youtube you can also use to help her. The idea behind these tapes is to start playing them at a really low level and stop before she gets uncomfortable. Generally you either act like nothing is happening, play though it, or just treat every time she hears them remaining calm. Slowly you build up the sound levels and sometimes duration. I use them with H at an insanely high level and do obedience through them, but he's not really worried about noises; they're more of a distraction technique for him. There may be a level that she just is never okay with, which is fine, and you now know that. Then there's just exposure in the real world.

The other dog I would wait on. Yes, it is true that a solid, strong, unafraid dog would help her explore the world as a sort of role model, but that requires the exact right dog and their relationship being solid. That dog would have to have the right personality and no fears/problems/reactivity of his own. For example, H's BFF is a 10 year old GSD. When he gets unsure we send in the GSD to check it out and he follows right behind her because she is not worried. However, she's much older than him, has that sort of "calm and cool" personality, and he's known her since a puppy and I think sorta looks up to her and adores her. At the same time, she picks up his bad habits. So in your case I would think long and hard on if you could handle 2 DS and I would wait for the right match.

Thank you for your time. First of all I have to ask are you Hendrix from Instagram? There is a ds there with this name.
I will try this with the YouTube and actually is great idea cause in the house she is relaxed.
I agree with you about the second dog. I have seen here with the gs of my borther on the walk and she is too comfortable with him.If we decide to buy it must be the opposite of her if not I think that there is no reason to do it.

Yup that's us. I've seen her agility videos - she looks really good!

Just remember to start out super soft and go slow. If she's not worried, I would play with a bit of obedience - looking at you for a second, slowly increasing, etc - make it fun and exciting. Every time you up the sound level, start first by desensitizing then once she seems steady, start again from the beginning with obedience. Keeping expectations low when you introduce obedience will help her build a strong foundation in all sorts of noises.

Owned-By-Hendrix wrote: The other dog I would wait on. Yes, it is true that a solid, strong, unafraid dog would help her explore the world as a sort of role model, but that requires the exact right dog and their relationship being solid. That dog would have to have the right personality and no fears/problems/reactivity of his own. For example, H's BFF is a 10 year old GSD. When he gets unsure we send in the GSD to check it out and he follows right behind her because she is not worried. However, she's much older than him, has that sort of "calm and cool" personality, and he's known her since a puppy and I think sorta looks up to her and adores her. At the same time, she picks up his bad habits. So in your case I would think long and hard on if you could handle 2 DS and I would wait for the right match.

I am going to highly second this. After having sadie so bonded with Thalie, It will take a very specific next dog for me to be able to mesh with Sadie and what she is like and what Sadie needs, not me. Every dog is different and needs different things. Sadie needs a good strong roll model even at 5.

I would not get another Ds. you could get another dog of a different breed. Since you are not working this breed ( unless I missed a post) A second DS with out good solid pure DS experience could make life hell.

If she is still figuring out life. Let her, you be her rock right now.

Lisa, she is very active in agility - and doing really well from what I've seen.

Owned-By-Hendrix wrote:Lisa, she is very active in agility - and doing really well from what I've seen.

who is?

So on the last weekend of February we will run our first race. I m very anxious and excited about this for my girl.

Dutchringgirl wrote:

Owned-By-Hendrix wrote: The other dog I would wait on. Yes, it is true that a solid, strong, unafraid dog would help her explore the world as a sort of role model, but that requires the exact right dog and their relationship being solid. That dog would have to have the right personality and no fears/problems/reactivity of his own. For example, H's BFF is a 10 year old GSD. When he gets unsure we send in the GSD to check it out and he follows right behind her because she is not worried. However, she's much older than him, has that sort of "calm and cool" personality, and he's known her since a puppy and I think sorta looks up to her and adores her. At the same time, she picks up his bad habits. So in your case I would think long and hard on if you could handle 2 DS and I would wait for the right match.

I am going to highly second this. After having sadie so bonded with Thalie, It will take a very specific next dog for me to be able to mesh with Sadie and what she is like and what Sadie needs, not me. Every dog is different and needs different things. Sadie needs a good strong roll model even at 5.

I would not get another Ds. you could get another dog of a different breed. Since you are not working this breed ( unless I missed a post) A second DS with out good solid pure DS experience could make life hell.

If she is still figuring out life. Let her, you be her rock right now.[/q


I spoke also with the trainer of bo about this. He told me the same with all of you. So i changed the mind of my father and we will not take another dog. Actually i didnt want also cause i believe is very hard for me with my times of work to work with two dogs. Also my trainer told me that if i ever want a dog again i have to think first for which reason i want for example a sport or just company so i can find what is the best breed for this reason.

Oh Lisa I thought you said you thought he wasn't working her. Maybe I drank too much whiskey tonight...

Let us know how she does! I'm sure you're both very excited!