Comments on: Building Toy or Ball Drive http://www.germanshepherd-breed.org German Shepherd Breed Information Sun, 05 Sep 2010 22:35:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: lack of 'oomph' - Pet Forums Community http://www.germanshepherd-breed.org/building-toy-or-ball-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-334 lack of 'oomph' - Pet Forums Community Thu, 01 Apr 2010 08:21:20 +0000 http://1254228052#comment-334 [...] Playing with Prey Drive: The Key to Attitude and Enthusiasm in Performance Dogs - The Dog Athlete Building Toy or Ball Drive | German Shepherd Breed __________________ It's not easy for a monkey to think like a [...] [...] Playing with Prey Drive: The Key to Attitude and Enthusiasm in Performance Dogs – The Dog Athlete Building Toy or Ball Drive | German Shepherd Breed __________________ It's not easy for a monkey to think like a [...]

]]> By: Christine Joyce http://www.germanshepherd-breed.org/building-toy-or-ball-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-320 Christine Joyce Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:54:15 +0000 http://1254228052#comment-320 Hi, Really liked the article. My hubby & I just got a 2 yr old male GSD. He has been obedience trained in German, which is fine I can learn the commands. He doesn't seem to be interested in playing at all, except for in the snow with snowballs. Which is fine however the snow is melting. We picked him up Wed, 2/17/10, he is very quiet. The woman we got him from said he played with balls but I can't seem to get him interested. We took him to our Vet and he has a double infection in both ears. He just got all his shots. There is another problem, he gets upset when I call him and pees a little like he's afraid. We don't want him to be afraid of us and have been speaking to him gently but sometimes he cowers a little and this has me a little upset because I sincerely can't think of anything I've done to scare or upset him. He's a sweetheart and loves to be petted, he already has run of the house as he has proven he won't go inside. He lets us know he has to go out. I know this is not just about playing although I really want him to be happy. This is his forever home how do I get him to relax an enjoy it? He is good with adults, children and other dogs and we wanted to train him for a therapy dog which I think he would be great at. First I want him to be happy here. Can you help us? Hi,

Really liked the article. My hubby & I just got a 2 yr old male GSD. He has been obedience trained in German, which is fine I can learn the commands. He doesn’t seem to be interested in playing at all, except for in the snow with snowballs. Which is fine however the snow is melting. We picked him up Wed, 2/17/10, he is very quiet. The woman we got him from said he played with balls but I can’t seem to get him interested. We took him to our Vet and he has a double infection in both ears. He just got all his shots. There is another problem, he gets upset when I call him and pees a little like he’s afraid. We don’t want him to be afraid of us and have been speaking to him gently but sometimes he cowers a little and this has me a little upset because I sincerely can’t think of anything I’ve done to scare or upset him. He’s a sweetheart and loves to be petted, he already has run of the house as he has proven he won’t go inside. He lets us know he has to go out. I know this is not just about playing although I really want him to be happy. This is his forever home how do I get him to relax an enjoy it? He is good with adults, children and other dogs and we wanted to train him for a therapy dog which I think he would be great at. First I want him to be happy here. Can you help us?

]]> By: William http://www.germanshepherd-breed.org/building-toy-or-ball-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-158 William Sun, 21 Dec 2008 03:20:26 +0000 http://1254228052#comment-158 Hi, I have a German Sheppard puppy that turned 12 weeks old. Both the sire and dame are imports and carry a Sch II title. The puppy is a female and is already showing good signs of toy drive using a ball on a string. The hopes for this dog are to train her for a dual purpose later as she gets older, to replace my female Malinois. Is there anything more you could recommend for me to do building her drives more toward the working dog area. Hi, I have a German Sheppard puppy that turned 12 weeks old. Both the sire and dame are imports and carry a Sch II title. The puppy is a female and is already showing good signs of toy drive using a ball on a string. The hopes for this dog are to train her for a dual purpose later as she gets older, to replace my female Malinois. Is there anything more you could recommend for me to do building her drives more toward the working dog area.

]]> By: Martin http://www.germanshepherd-breed.org/building-toy-or-ball-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-154 Martin Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:26:49 +0000 http://1254228052#comment-154 Hello Chong, Best thing to do is end quick, and put him away in his kennel. This will build anticipation for the next training session. Also will let him "think" about what was happening. Hello Chong,

Best thing to do is end quick, and put him away in his kennel. This will build anticipation for the next training session. Also will let him “think” about what was happening.

]]> By: Chong http://www.germanshepherd-breed.org/building-toy-or-ball-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-137 Chong Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:13:41 +0000 http://1254228052#comment-137 Hi there, nice article... What do you do (to the dog) next if you put him at high drive stage? We stop the game during the high peak and I don't think we just end the "game" like that. Any addon to this? Thanks for sharing. Hi there, nice article… What do you do (to the dog) next if you put him at high drive stage? We stop the game during the high peak and I don’t think we just end the “game” like that. Any addon to this? Thanks for sharing.

]]> By: Martin http://www.germanshepherd-breed.org/building-toy-or-ball-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-135 Martin Sun, 14 Sep 2008 07:28:31 +0000 http://1254228052#comment-135 Hello Dave, I have a few questions to better assess your situation: <blockquote> How old is your dog? Is it male or female? Has he/she any foundation in obedience training? Any advanced training? </blockquote> Some dogs just don't have the high drive needed for service work, but to see if yours does, you simply need to find what will "turn on the switch" for him. If you make the bite tug his ONLY reward for a NILIF lifestyle, that may get his interest, as it will be the only source of "play/reward" he'll get. NILIF stands for "Nothing In Life Is Free" - meaning for every need he has, such as drinking, eating, etc., you make him "work" for it using obedience commands. Make him "sit" before he eats. Make him "down" before he drinks, etc. Making him "work" doing obedience before getting what he wants will elevate you as the pack leader, as well as get him thinking that he needs the work, or no play,eat,etc... And once he does this, the only reward you should give is the tug. So with the questions answered, we can go from there! HTH, Martin Hello Dave,

I have a few questions to better assess your situation:

How old is your dog?
Is it male or female?
Has he/she any foundation in obedience training?
Any advanced training?

Some dogs just don’t have the high drive needed for service work, but to see if yours does, you simply need to find what will “turn on the switch” for him. If you make the bite tug his ONLY reward for a NILIF lifestyle, that may get his interest, as it will be the only source of “play/reward” he’ll get.

NILIF stands for “Nothing In Life Is Free” – meaning for every need he has, such as drinking, eating, etc., you make him “work” for it using obedience commands. Make him “sit” before he eats. Make him “down” before he drinks, etc. Making him “work” doing obedience before getting what he wants will elevate you as the pack leader, as well as get him thinking that he needs the work, or no play,eat,etc…

And once he does this, the only reward you should give is the tug.

So with the questions answered, we can go from there!

HTH,

Martin

]]> By: dave hernandez http://www.germanshepherd-breed.org/building-toy-or-ball-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-134 dave hernandez Sat, 13 Sep 2008 23:46:53 +0000 http://1254228052#comment-134 Hi, that article was great and it really helps me understand why my GSD has a low drive. I'm a Police Officer in Florida and I have been offered the Canine Handler position if I can build my dogs drive.. I've tried congs, balls, hoses. I'm just getting kinda discouraged. Can you help?? Hi, that article was great and it really helps me understand why my GSD has a low drive. I’m a Police Officer in Florida and I have been offered the Canine Handler position if I can build my dogs drive.. I’ve tried congs, balls, hoses. I’m just getting kinda discouraged. Can you help??

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