Where to start?

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mavdog
Just Whelped
Posts: 15
Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2013 8:26 am
Tell us about yourself: We rescued our dog Maverick (5 months old) from a local lab and retriever rescue. He has the most unique brindle coloring and looks like a GSD or DS mix. We live in San Diego and love being outdoors with our new little buddy. They told us he is Aussie mix but he really doesn't look like one. We are looking for information and a place to learn about our possible DS.

Where to start?

Post by mavdog »

Hey guys I feel like I am posting to much stuff all at once... I am in need of some advice on where to start with training that is appropriate for shepherds. My wife and I do not live on a farm but we have a dog with a strong herding and tracking drive. We live next to lots of hiking and open areas. Preferable something that isn't expensive(free) would be great. He is really smart and has taken well to sit, stay, come, lie down, and is fully house broken. He is 5 months old. Thank you!

:DScool:
Megan, Tommy, and Maverick
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LyonsFamily
Training Dog
Posts: 947
Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2012 3:08 am
Tell us about yourself: Odin 5 years
Elli 5 years
Location: Michigan
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Re: Where to start?

Post by LyonsFamily »

What are you looking for? something to exercise your dog or give it a job? For a family companion, basic obedience is all you need for training, and the dog just needs to be active, nothing structured is required.

If you already have basic obedience down, you could print off Rally-O cards from UKC or AKC and arrange a small course in your yard to go through routine. You can set up a few agility obstacles to play around with too; there are plenty of free instructions online for those. They don't have to be regulation just to play around and have fun.

There's a new sport call Treibball and it involved a giant workout (swiss) ball and a soccer goal. The dog learns to herd the ball into the goal and then you build your way up to different balls. The balls are like $10 at menards or walmart and you can make a goal out of 2 cones or logs.

You can also work on tracking by laying a scent to find something. Odin loves to play hide and seek with us. You could also work on nosework stuff like finding a certain scent or item that you hide.

Of course, hiking, fetch, and swimming are all free.
Stephanie
'Odin' NV PTA Odin of Another Kingdom RL1
'Elli' Drawing Our Own Constellations RL1 CGC CGCA
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Dutchringgirl
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 5692
Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 3:05 pm
Tell us about yourself: I am a mom of 6 life forces - 2 kids and 3 dogs 1 hamster. I live in Ct. I have trained Ringsport and Agility and have 2 DS, one 15 and 7 and a Basset Hound Cookie who is 2
Location: Ct, USA

Re: Where to start?

Post by Dutchringgirl »

if he is only 5 months, what you are doing now is great, you dont want to push his little body too much.
Lisa, Thalie CGC & Sadie, Cookie the Basset, CT
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