Dutch Shepherd Forum

Xena and I went to our first puppy class tonight. Um, no one else showed up (the others can't start till next week, so we pushed it back a week) BUT on the up side the instructor is very knowledgeable about Dutch Shepherds and is quite used to training working breeds (she used to train police dogs). Xena did great, and I learned quite a bit!

I feel very confident that she can help see me through this puppyhood!

yeah!!!!

Great news. Feel bad for your instructor cause I have been that person! But glad you are learning modern skills from traditional trainers!!

Christie, What does "Modern skills" mean?

She kept asking me what Xena's JOB was going to be... I realized that I was thinking , "hanging out with us when we work, and not eating the chickens (or rabbits till slaughter) and guarding the house when we are gone".... But my heart was saying..."I have ALWAYS wanted to do Search and Rescue!! I want to do THAT with her!"

so i said it out loud.

And do you know what she said??? "That would be a great use of her working ability! I know the lady that is in charge of SAR in this area and I will introduce you." (!!!!!!)

I am so excited. ha!

ha ha, how cool is that!!!

Sounds like a great instructor!

Maybe you could go meet up with her and watch some of the SAR training.

Our local SAR group organizes public tracking seminars once a month in a park. People come out and for a donation to the team learn how to track, many come back every month with practice in between and continue to progress. You get to hang out with the whole SAR team and their dogs, chat, and learn about training.

Choochi wrote:Maybe you could go meet up with her and watch some of the SAR training.

Our local SAR group organizes public tracking seminars once a month in a park. People come out and for a donation to the team learn how to track, many come back every month with practice in between and continue to progress. You get to hang out with the whole SAR team and their dogs, chat, and learn about training.

That is great ! I wish someone did that around here!

sounds good! I used to train SAR, it's really great teamwork, dogs love it! And I loved the "hiding up in a tree" part of it

Oh, I would love it if someone local did seminars or if some kind soul would take me under their wings for a bit.
As it is, I am trying to make up tracking exercises while I do the on line required courses.... We will see, she is very agile and would do great with agility (on our walks, if she sees a rock wall she jumps up and runs the top of it (without my asking, it just makes her happy). But I really would like to try this SAR.

Any ideas on what I can do to start my girl properly?