RealityBites

Wanted to add that I have found out that the litter that the rescue's dad came from, all went to working homes, in fact only one is still here in Australia, the majority are overseas as police and protection dogs and the breeder had several pups returned to her as they were too full on for most homes. But that's what these working dogs are SUPPOSED to be like!! So good on her for staying true to the breed I say!

always had GSD's, wanted something different and bought a dobe pup. Should have done more research into lines as he is a very soft dog, not very strong nerves but he's all show lines. The older dobe is a rescue but comes from working lines. He is so FULL of drive I am banging my head against a wall with him at the moment. I think he's too much dog for me at this point in MY handling and training skills, but will be bringing him up to K9 in October for lessons so we'll see how we go. If I was going to get another one, I would buy a pup from the kennel that the rescue came from FOR SURE!!! And I would not get anything other than a Doberman now, which surprises me as I loved the shepherds, but the dobes are just unreal, and just love their people so much it's fantastic!

If a dog is shaking a toy like that when playing with it, he can also be trying to 'reactivate' it as well. I.e it has gone 'dead' and he shakes it to try and get some more reaction out of it. If training in drive and the dog is shaking the toy like that when he 'captures' it, it could mean he is not getting enough drive satisfaction from the game and he's trying to make the toy more 'alive' if that makes sense?If my dobes do that when we are training, I make sure they get a really good tug game before they get the toy released, and they very rarely shake it like that when they get it. It's interesting!

I of course am very biased twowards the dobes as well, my older male would definately send me in first in the matter of security, unless it was something that looked like fun! He went straight through a glass window a few weeks ago to get to me when I was at my parents. I'm not sure it that's stupid or smart but he leant against it several times first, then just backed up, did a runner with his head down and came straight through the glass! Leapt through it as it was breaking around him and came over to me tail wagging, saying 'Did you SEE that?? THAT was awesome!!!!' The pup became impossible to play chasey with at a young age as he would end up laying in wait for you instead of chasing. He'd figure out which way you were going to go and cut ahead of you to wait. Then there was the time he was chasing me round and round the coffee table, stopped and leapt straight over it to get to me. Definately a very intelligent breed. Not the most trainable (Intelligence and trainabilty do NOT mean the same thing!) but they are definately smart.

Why does everyone always go off topic when these subjects come up???? I beleive the original post was an inquiry about the laws here in regards to the use of the E-Collars, not what everyone's personal feelings about them are...............

Yeah, completely Off Topic, but I did wonder at the increase of kids with HDD and ADD and every other letter that describes rude and ignorant behaviour, right after parents were not allowed to smack them anymore................ :p

Hmmm I purely positive trained (food rewards) a yorkshire terrier and a pomeranian. They sat, dropped, came when called, rolled over and were housetrained. They also danced and spun and 'prayed' for food! HOWEVER when I was out walking them off leash, they did not ignite terror into other people if they ran over to say hello, or wanted to 'talk' to the other SWF's on our way. Unfortunately with my OTHER dogs (German Shepherds and now Dobermanns) People DO get a little nervous if they see them rushing over to say hello, or play with their dogs (even tho the yorkie had the nastiest temperement of any dog I've owned so far!) So my training has been a mix of positive and correction as I canot allow them to do the same things, oh say, a poodle and maybe a labrador can do! AGAIN people's misconceptions of a breed, so it is MY responsibility to ensure that my dogs are trained to a much higher level than I would have worried about for a pom or a yorkie (Or a poodle or lab) as I do not want to give anyone an excuse to ban another dog just because it is bigger than 30 cms at the shoulder! If I have to use a prong or an e collar to ensure total obeidence at all times AS WELL as using food treats and a toy as rewards, then so be it! I would much rather have a very well behaved Doberman at my side with an e collar on that I KNOW will be compliant when out and about, than a dog that is purely motivational trained that may or may not come back depending on how hungry it is, and goes and scares small children or other dogs trying to say hello, and have a complaint over my head because my dog is a large breed! Sheesh I am such an irresponsible dog owner!

Well this is kind of off topic but because I started this thread because I was curious if others views of 'good nerves' were what I thought they were so I could assess my new dog, I wanted to update on him! We started some bite work with him today, and WOW!! I could physically not hold onto him he was so excited (And I am not a small girl, I am just under 6 foot and 70 odd kgs -not telling how many odd ) And as soon as he could bite, he was very fast and deep with great hold. The trainer I was working with actually used the word "phenomonal!" I know what kennel I am going back to for my next puppy.......................

My god!! What IS the world coming too??!! Hmmm maybe if they asked half a dozen police dogs to come out and show what their training is like under a whole heap of circumstances compared to what the average pet owner's dog is like under the same circumstances, then then RSPCA can decide which one poses more of a danger to the public and which one is better trained! The rspca are idiots.

Maybe it's the reaction to a loud noise that makes the difference? Because any dog should still REACT to a loud noise yes? Otherwise it IS deaf!! But my puppy will duck his tail and spin around as if in fright, wheras the older dog will turn and immedietely investigate, even if he jumps, or is initially startled. The puppy will dart for cover until the coast is classified 'clear' ;)

Well done guys!! They were fantastic pix!! And there's a piccy of my beautiful boy Lane and my little rat bag dobe puppy on there too!

Ok, so to clarify, Good nerves would be a fast recovery from an alarming or loud situation, and the ability to cope with new environments without undue stress or nervousness from the dog? My pup is going through his fear period and everything scares him at the moment! Vaccum Cleaners, mops, cats, kids, cars etc! So am just working on keeping him quiet for the next month or two as he has been accustomed to all these things before. The older Dobe tho seems to have no fear of anything! Because hubby and I have split up and I am back with mum and dad (Only temporarily I hope!) they are both in a new environment, new routine etc. The older Dobe has had no problems whatsoever, came into the patio, leapt on top of mum and dads BBQ, from there to the outdoor able, etc investigating (Yes this dog has no manners! It's know how to sit and that's pretty much it really!) But I was amazed at how nothing seems to phase him, loud noises don't worry him he is straight into everything. The pup hangs behind me, worries if something makes a noise, freaks out when the front gate scrapes open etc etc. The older Dobe is going to be fantastic, assuming I can train him before he kills himself He has NO recall at all, if he's in the backyard, let alone out, and he escaped out mum and dads yard last night (He hurled himslef against fence because I was out the front and he actually popped the bolts straight out of fence!) Thank god I have been building drive with him because he ran straight out, across the street and down the road, and this boy can MOVE. I just called him and swung his toy around in the air, and he came straight back, leapt up and latched onto it and I could grab him! So assuming we both survive the experience, I think I will have a pretty good dog at the end of it! I have found out that this new dog is a relation to Flame's Daddy's girl Flame!! So if you read this Flame's Daddy, PM me and I'll send you some pictures!!