Has anyone had experience in starting an older dog (2-3 years) in Schutzhund (or any other protection sport)? Success or lack of, and why you think that was? Dobermans or any breed, for that matter.

I started both my HOT ScH3 dogs as puppies, never thought about trying an older dog. What do you do different or the same?

Nancy E Christensen
Renejade/since 1974
www.renejade.com

Hi Nancy,

My current bitch is 4 and she didn't start the sport until she was three, so last summer we had our first taste of any bite work.

Flair and I had been training in Obedience, tracking, agility etc...So it is hard to say if she would have been so successful in Sch if she hadn't already been training in so many other venues.

I think the biggest draw back that I have noticed with having started Flair so late in life is that she can sometimes be a little reserved in the bite work due to her extensive obedience. She has gotten so much better, but little things like pulling on the leash was something we had to re-teach to her as being ok to do in protection.

I also started her tracking with a S&R club, so obviously that is not transferring over very well to the stylized Sch tracking that we would prefer from her. For sure, the biggest issues for us will come from her early foundation in tracking and air scenting. That is just too hard to undo so I will just have to accept the lower scores in tracking for this particular dog.

The bite work progressed very fast. She just seemed very natural - has a ton of prey drive and amazing grips. She needed practice mostly in her striking skills. She would bite nice and hard and full though, so things sort of just sped along in this area.

Last weekend, we attempted our first shot at a Sch1 - it went awesome, all except for the tracking LOL We got 61 in tracking but the other phases were great, and I was really happy.

Overall, I would think starting an older dog might be easier than a puppy. At least with Flair, there was never any freaking out about her development. With the new puppy, that was bought with intentions in competing in the sport, I about had a nervous breakdown every time he did something new LOL

I certainly wouldn't trade my experience with Flair for anything. She is totally awesome. Will we ever win a national? No, likely not. But, her first trial was at a regional and we did pretty good, certainly not the worst team there by far so I think we will hold our own in the sport while having a good time. Most importantly, I will be learning as a handler for the next dog!!

Tamara Champagne and Flair
UCD Multi HIT Ch. Trymine Xzotic Flair v Domtom
CDX, CGN, TT, ROMC, VCX, RL1, HIC, BH, TD, RA, Am RN, Am CD, TDI, CGC, WDS TT, OB1, AGNJ

hi Nancy i had a 7 year old rott that i put a one on and taught most of the exercises in about 3 months dumbells in one month. now he did have some basic foundation bite work but i did a complete retrain in obedience different word and what i expected as i realized my healing sucked. when i went to trial i didnt even know the routine for the one until 2 nites before the trial. very nice judge and helper encouraged me to go for it and showed me what the hell i was doing. im happy to report we got a 94 and went on to get his one at 7 years old. so yhea i think it can be done so long as they bite but truth be told im a dobe girl this was a rott that is one of those once in a life time dogs that would die trying to please me. im happy to report he is enjoying the couch at 10 years of age.

on the dog and the training style. You remember Sirius my first Dobermann? He didn't see a decoy until he was two years old.
Two years of no barking no biting is hard to over come. He did manage a BH and an OB1 but never could pass protection. It's possible (probable?) that if I'd started with a less compulsive
training club he might have done much better? If you have a particular older dog in mind, that you are considering starting, than you need to start coming out to one of the local clubs.
Flannchadh is progressing very well at Summitt and Jago did well at
Colorado Canine. I'd suggest visiting either of those clubs and see
which you prefer

Regards
Thomas Barriano
Dubheasa "DoDah" Germania (11/05/99) SchH III IPO III MR Brevet AKC WD III AWD I STP 1 CD WAC TT
Ascomannis Jago (06/20/03)SchH III AKC WD III AWD I TT WAC
Belatucadrus (08/14/05) Dutch Boy TT BH
Flannchadh von der Bavarianburg (05/21/08)CGC

I am in a similar boat. I am going to be starting a 1.5 yr old that has never seen a tug, or bitten anything for that matter and will be curious how fast she takes to it since bitting has been discuraged up until now.

who are you training wendy???
lianne