[plumseverywhere]

Murphy and I have the learning bug 
Feeling a bit lost now our 6 week 'sheep safe' course is over and wondering what to do next? we could work our way through the Good Citizen scheme (is that what its called?) and then agility? what do you all think? He's nearly a year old so maybe too early for jumps etc.

We have reached the stage where goat milking goes as follows....Murphy and I fill feed bucket in barn, walk up to goat paddock. He sits and waits at gate until all 4 goats are tied with their feed.  I invite him in and he slowly trots to the milking stand where his bowl is standing. Warm, fresh goats milk into bowl - he drinks that while I finish milking.
All goats are let off with the command 'leave' and he looks away as they run off. IF he tries to chase I break this with a 'distant sit' and he watches me intently waiting for next command. Next command 'out' he runs through the Murphy sized gap in the gate and then sits waiting for me to come out and lock up. Off we go together.
I'm wondering if we could have a sheep dog in the making 
Not bad for a Heinz 57 really 

[jaykay]

Wow, I'm impressed  Do you want to come and train Daisy?

I think he's a bit young for jumps yet, they say their bones aren't fully finished til gone a year old and that too much work before then can damage them.

The Good Citizen scheme sounds good 

[plumseverywhere]

So perhaps wait till 18 months or so for agility? Yes, will do Good Citizen scheme next then, there's a place a mile up the road that does it so makes sense. Have been driving an hour and a half each week for sheep safe so will make a nice change to not lose half a day each weekend!
Just milked the goat now and s*ds law he took chase of a goatling but...performed a fantastic distance sit when commanded and with my arm high up. He won't do a 'come' when in chase but sits perfectly and the trainers taught us in such a unique way as each dog is different I guess. Its what works for each. Loving this dog ownership lark! so much fun 

[little blue]

might sound abit daft but ... as well as the good citizen and sheep safe, be sure to socialise him in places you go less often - in the town, city, festivals etc,
So he's an "all round" dog, not phased by new things, or busy places.

(grandmother + eggs?!_  )

[Bionic]

Loving this dog ownership lark! so much fun 

Plums, I think you have hit the nail right on the head there. You are loving it so the dog is loving it too.
Well done to both of you 

[shygirl]

the good citizen is a good thing. keeps you focussed. what about trick training? our club does it and its low stress on young bodies. its amazing what they can do when you break it down into easy steps.ie shut the door, bark on command etc.
agree with socialisation, our pup comes everywhere with us if possible, buses, trains, caravans etc. he still gets spooked by things like walking sticks but is otherwise really confident.

[plumseverywhere]

Thanks Little Blue  Will try to do as much as possible.  He comes to school run each afternoon and has got to the stage where he doesnt' want to greet every adult, child and pony or dog he encounters (that took some time though!!) Today he is off to a music festival in Liverpool with OH and last month came to a music festival in Worcester. He will come to market with me once a month hopefully but I need him to be a bit calmer or my tressle table will fly off with him - how soon do you think he'll become much calmer? he's still quite puppyish with people around that he doesnt' know.

[Mammyshaz]

Any training class with good citizen scheme is a great start. There is much to learn within quite a busy hall so learning to keep his attention is the hard thing. Everybody else is in the same boat so you have a good laugh at the naughty antics from week to week. One dog will be mr perfect one week and a battle to get just to sit the next  it's great fun, a way to meet other dog minded people and your own dog gets a full hour of your attention and treats. They are exhausted with concentrating by the end so you get a few hours peace as a bonus 
 I would also start agility now. Large breeds are still growing at this stage but Murphy is a little chap so should just about be done in the main growing areas. The jumps stay very low to start anyway and it is about commands and control rather than the size of the jump at this stage 
To be honest if you think how much young dogs bounce around on front and back legs, a controlled jump is going to be less damaging as long as not overstretched. My GSDs have learned the jump command as soon as they start popping  over low obstacles while out on walks.

[plumseverywhere]

He's sort of medium I guess, he's more Samoyed than terrier size and character wise, he stands about mid thigh on me and I'm average height. I'd like to get him started on something again, we've got a thirst to learn 
I loved what you said about how dogs differ each week!! that was exactly how our last course went, it was mainly Murphy being naughty tbh but then he was the only youngster 
Is there a proper word for the jump command? do you say "jump"? I've been using 'over' when he leaps the small gate by the feed barn. He sits, waits and then I say it and he jumps (fairly well organised  )  I can't imagine him every weaving throug poles!  I love watching that on tv and as for the see saw thingy, that will freak him out. Oh and how fit does the human need to be?! that could be an issue 

[Mammyshaz]

He will be fine for jumping if he is nearly a year. You can use any command you like for any exercise. Try to keep them sharp and clear and differing in sound to other commands so there is no confusion. I use 'over' with a high pitch on the 'o' bit   

When I first started Working trials with my GSD pup it took a few weeks to sit and write commands that differed from each other as there are lots of exercises involved in working trials. Laughable now but I was worried I'd muck things up with my first dog.  One man I knew used the command 'zulu' as he had grandkids and didn't want them accidentally shouting the commonly used command ' stop him! ' which would reprimand a 'criminal' or, in the grandkids' case,  each other 

Quite a few regular training clubs do agility classes as well. Ours do taster days for beginners but it is more to gain interest to people not attending the obedience club ( good citizen ).  You get to know about the local fun shows and fun nights. We have a fun Christmas night with games such as fetch the sausage ( how many actually bring them back in one piece or at all  )

Go on Plums, find yourself one, Murphy will love you forever for it  and you'll not regret it!

[shygirl]

I need him to be a bit calmer or my tressle table will fly off with him - how soon do you think he'll become much calmer? he's still quite puppyish with people around that he doesnt' know.

my gsd is is just starting to calm down and shes 10 this year. 

[doganjo]

He will be fine for jumping if he is nearly a year.
Quite a few regular training clubs do agility classes as well.
Go on Plums, find yourself one, Murphy will love you forever for it  and you'll not regret it!

Registered Agility clubs do not allow jumping till 18 months, but he will be able to do any of the other disciplines - A-frame, weave, tunnel, seesaw, catwalk, and they will put the jump poles to the ground or lowest point till he is old enough..  It is great fun.  The KCGC classes can be attended at the same time, but basic focus and obedience is all that is needed for agility and you already have that.  There are four stages of KCGC - Puppy, Bronze, Silver and Gold - all are explained on the KC website.http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/dogtraining

He can be registered with the KC on the  Activity Register http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/3440 and take part in agility and other competitions, just not shows or Field trials.

[Mammyshaz]

You cannot partake in competition until 18 month with agility or any trials but the training is done long before then. By 18 months the GSDs are jumping 9ft long jump, 3ft clear jump and 6ft straight up and down door type jump in competition. They have been practicing long before the 18 months to perfect it for competition  and there are some pretty big GSDs taking part 

[robate55]

Hi If there is a club near you there is a new sport called RallyO. This has come from America. There are points with an instruction sign where you perform a behaviour, then move to the next point. The behaviour can be simple like right turn, or more complex like stop sit your dog then down him or spiral round cones. It is not a precise as cmpetitive obedience & looks like a coming sport. I am probably about to take it up with my spaniels.
 
Rose