Socialising a GSD puppy

[Moobli]

I think I just didn't expect to have a 50kg puppy for so many years. I had hoped to do a bit of obedience but that is a non starter.
He is now at nearly 21 months how I would expect a 9 month old pup to be, almost.
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I have a friend who competes in obedience and working trials and she has always had bitches. Her last working line bitch is her dream dog. She went back to the same breeder as she was so happy with her bitch but got a male pup from slightly different lines. She was really disheartened with how slow maturing he’s been. She said for months she thought he was the ideal pet dog but wasn’t the high drive working prospect she’d expected, so was a little disappointed to say the least.
She emailed me just the other day to say how he’s finally starting to switch on and engage in training so she’s thrilled. I think it’s a combination of a slow maturing individual and the fact that many dogs seem to be slower off the mark than bitches when it comes to work and training.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I know of a very good female who didn't switch on until she was two. She's had a few litters now and I'm forever telling people to be patient. However for older hands and people who want to get on up the ladder quickly, waiting for two years to see what you have or not isnt ideal, so I can see both sides of the coin.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I think you’re misunderstanding tbh. The author DOES take her pups out and about all over but works hard on engagement with them so she becomes their focus rather than the rest of the environment, other people, dogs etc.

No, I DID understand what she was saying but what she was describing that her friend does is not what I would call socialisation, it is over-stimulation. That poor pup must be completely confused.

 

[paddy555]

Paddy was the stud imported from a low country? It's pretty easy to see the other litters on Champdogs if it's the one I'm thinking of. He's a mix of working and show lines so high drive but with a lack of concentration and highly strung wouldn't surprise me too much, especially when bred back to a mostly show line female. Apologies if I have the wrong one as it was a while ago. PM if you prefer or if you want me to run through anything training-wise.
A lot of lines are late maturing, so I wouldn't get too disheartened.

will pm you the sire's name. He may be the one you are thinking of.

 

[Clodagh]

I do think I should take mine out more, generally, when the kids were younger they did all the school runs and so on, which helped. Luvkily we have a busy life here on the farm so most of the things they needs to encounter for her life happen on the spot.
I specifically do not want my dogs being friendly to strangers, at best I want them to bark then sit quietly when at home, when out and about ( days shooting) I want them to pretedn there is no one else there. I suppose we all do what we need for our own circumstances.