I had previous puppy buyer with a 6 month old GRF on the west coast contact me about some SAR questions. I'm an upland and hunt test person without much experience in training for SAR. She had a few questions so I'd appreciate any help I can offer her.
See her comments below. I reminded her that she needs to work at the dogs pace. 6 Months old is all. Don't over train or burn her out. Find something that drives her and use that as a training tool. I'm wondering about her discipline and obedience techniques??? She's trained one other SAR dog so I think she knows what she's doing. Her pup has the breeding but I also reminded her that her mother didn't really take off until she was about 10-12 months. Her father is a AFTC titled dog. Any help would be welcomed.
"I work with her almost every morning and evening. We have had her training off and on leash since she was little. But recently her off-leash behavior can only be described as ADD. I am having the worst time trying to get her to concentrate on ME when she is off leash. I am going back to basics again to bring her up to the off-leash point again. I am also starting some private lessons with a trainer to see if we can pinpoint where the issues are. Is it me? Is it her? etc...
I also don't see a definitive food or toy drive. This is really important for a SAR dog.
She totally enjoys retrieving the ball and playing with her tug toys with us, but can leave either if something more "interesting" grabs her attention. The same with working for food rewards.
Re: treats, I have tried roast beef, steak, chicken breast, ham, hot dogs, commercial treats, and dog foods. she responds basically the same to all of them. She likes them, and will work for them while on-leash and do what is asked for them, but she's not "driven" by them, and will blow the treat off to do other things she wants to do while off-leash."
Thank you for your help.
See her comments below. I reminded her that she needs to work at the dogs pace. 6 Months old is all. Don't over train or burn her out. Find something that drives her and use that as a training tool. I'm wondering about her discipline and obedience techniques??? She's trained one other SAR dog so I think she knows what she's doing. Her pup has the breeding but I also reminded her that her mother didn't really take off until she was about 10-12 months. Her father is a AFTC titled dog. Any help would be welcomed.
"I work with her almost every morning and evening. We have had her training off and on leash since she was little. But recently her off-leash behavior can only be described as ADD. I am having the worst time trying to get her to concentrate on ME when she is off leash. I am going back to basics again to bring her up to the off-leash point again. I am also starting some private lessons with a trainer to see if we can pinpoint where the issues are. Is it me? Is it her? etc...
I also don't see a definitive food or toy drive. This is really important for a SAR dog.
She totally enjoys retrieving the ball and playing with her tug toys with us, but can leave either if something more "interesting" grabs her attention. The same with working for food rewards.
Re: treats, I have tried roast beef, steak, chicken breast, ham, hot dogs, commercial treats, and dog foods. she responds basically the same to all of them. She likes them, and will work for them while on-leash and do what is asked for them, but she's not "driven" by them, and will blow the treat off to do other things she wants to do while off-leash."
Thank you for your help.