I have a 12 week old gs bitch, i am due next week ,to go to ringcraft,,i want to also do the good citizen scheme and try my hand at flyball?
would all this be to much to learn for my girl,all at once or should i do it in stages?
general obedience, then ringcraft, flyball, etc
i have no idea on what is best, or is my aim to high?
regards sam

Ringcraft then obedience the fly ball

Rigcraft is the easiest to train & means when you start obedience your dog will already have some basic control & with flyball you definitely need the control

I would suggest a different collar for ringcraft & obedience so that my dogs learn one collar means one set of behaviour & one something different I don't think collars are allowed at all in flyball(need the hips x raying before doing any physical training like fly ball agility etc)

JMHO of course from over 40 years of owning GSDs

there is a similar question on a post titled "can I do both"

You can teach a pup to do lots of different things. You could start ringcraft & also obedience, then you will soon be able to progress to starting your CGC. Then maybe flyball is something you could consider when your pup is older & has a good level of understanding & basic obedience.

I've done obedience & showing with dogs & it's great! As long as you're prepared to put the work in, your dog will learn & you'll be able to appreciate the benefits.  :)

Enjoy your training.

You can't do flyball till shes 18mths.

There fore I would say do obedience and ringcraft together but use different leads and collers.

Do not start flyball till your dog has learnt basic obedience after 18 mths!

Rox

Obedience, ringcraft, obedience, obedience then when she is old enough and you have had her hips scored have a go at flyball.  (Then obedience again).

you can learn the basics of flyball before 18 months dogs have to be 18 months before the compete,
and all the training can be done on leader as with most things , ringcraft,obedience,agility,flyball.

well its 12 months to start training with most breeds but a gsd is pritty big so id say 15 months. the good citezen is just aload of rubish i would just do comp level obedience

I think the KC Good Citizen scheme is far more appropriate for most people (and dogs) than competitive obedience.
:)

I think saying that the GCT is a load of rubbish is a rather sweeping statement.  The exercises you learn there in general dog control are a precursor to competition obedience which is not for everyone and can be disheartening for some as, unlike the KCGCDT or Working Trials, there are no "qualifying" certificates and you have to win out to progress.

Whilst I would agree that the CGT is not exactly stretching it is a good introduction to the next stage.

the main reason i feel that way is because the kc really dont care about dogs i know a club they are backing that uses electric shock collars and there kc dont care as long as they get there cash every year. the good cit is just way for them to get more money and feel more in control of the dog world. as people say with great power comes great responsability and i think its time the kc actually took responability because they rule the dog world to let crulty to animals be accepted with there backing. The kc could do alot of good if they wanted to without looseing any money simply putting petitions to pass certain laws baning crulety to animals the kc have the power to make an impact on the law and i think they should. they could stop crulety to animals if they wanted but insted they back people being crule to there dogs by allowing these clubs to function

Have you written to them to say how you feel, Dragonusthei? If you don't tell them how will they know?

Besides, the KC run the Obedience competitions as well as the Good Citizen. Why slate one and not the other?
:)

Because people arnt using these crule devices at obedience compertitions, there using them in there kc regestered clubs have you seen how easy it is to get regstered its a joke. they should need to be a senior in one event mimiumum in my opinion

I have emailed them before yes but they dont care

Whatever your views are on the Kennel Club, the KC Good Citizen Scheme is a good idea for pet owners.  You have to have basic control of your dog even for the Bronze level.  You get a nice certificate to show you have passed and as for a money making exercise, it only cost me 50p to have a go.

Competitive obedience is a bit too intense for most pet owners, although I am all for them giving it a try.

Sandra

50p from ur training club the they pay the kc every year to be regestered for the good cit. I think its a good idear as well but i think the fact that some 1 could be taching your dogs by hitting hitting them or using evil devices so they pass the good cit it another point

First you say the Good Citizen is <<just a load of rubish>> then you say <<it is a good idear>>

What do you really think? 

Anyway, nobody is going to teach your dog by hitting them unless you let them!!

If you know a KC registered club, easily verifiable by checking the yearbook, that is openly using these devices I suggest that you write to the KC.  You can do so via their web site or by snail mail.  I would strongly suggest that the KC DO care as it would be very bad PR for them.  Unless they are informed they cannot take action.

You may also raise objections via the local council.

Unfortunately the majority of people will not officially complain through the right channels therefore no action will be taken on the basis of gossip and rumour mongering.  And rightly so!

Therefore if this is a fact I would say put your money where your mouth is and raise your objections.  If the KC does nothing then you have a right to state that they do not care and then you can use their reply (they always reply) and go to the press!

Simple!

Bear in mind it is also the clientele that reinforces this behaviour.  If clients refused to use the devices the club would be unable to continue this policy (if indeed it does).

>> fact that some 1 could be taching your dogs by hitting hitting them or using evil devices so they pass the good cit it another point <<

No one would be doing the above to my dogs I can assure you.

i have emailed them twice my self and i know others who have but the kc decide not reply

sandrah im sure you wouldnt but people who have never owned a dog before and go to a class for the first time think its normal for clubs to be doing this and the club has the kcs backing so it must be doing things right...

Then snailmail them a letter by Recorded Delivery. Put in it the specific names (of clubs and trainers), and dates offences occurred, ideally with copies of witness statements. Naturally keep a copy of everything yourself! (The reason you need to be so specific is to ensure you can't possibly be accused of spreading malicious rumours.) Then, if you get no reply within 28 days, go to the Press.

It is interesting that this topic has come up.  This week a puppy owner went to her local K.C.reg club and was told, and I quote " we believe in discipline here and smacking naughty dogs, not like  _ _ _ _ _ _.  So she went straight home and looked us up in the phone book.  What better recomendation could we have. ;)  Dragonusthei is right, there are some pretty awful things going on at some K.C. clubs and most first time dog owners do not know that there are better ways to do it.  Why should they?  What could be better than a club registered with the Kennel Club if you don't know any different.  I cannot do anything about these places because it would be unethical.  I usually tell people to make sure they tell their vet or whoever sent them there in the first place but to be honest a lot of vets don't see anything wrong in what they are doing.  I once reported a dog training class to the R.S.P.C.A.  What I witnessed made me cry all the way home.  An inspector went and watched the class the following week and said it was fine.
Sally

I went to one club when my dog was a puppy; I explained over the phone that i did not need "teaching" but wanted her to go there for socialisation only which they purported to agree with.

When I went there I was very disappointed at the stone age methods still in use, the trainers were upset that some of the trainees were coming over to me to ask my how I got my little puppy so quiet, responsive and focused and when I saw one of the "trainers" pick up a goldie by its scruff and tell it off I left, but not before explaining why, in civil terms.  Unfortunately strictly speaking it was not "cruel" just stupid; but it DOES encourage new owners to adopt the "behaviour management by punishment" technique which is somewhat less than constructive for the poor dogs!

I think the kc really need to look into this. I to once whent to a class where my dog was far far better than they could belive and the trainers were asking me how i trained them that good. i think clubs like this shouldnt be able to operate if they dont know how to train a dog

There is quite a difference between comepetitive obedience and KCGC tests. Just because a dog can walk nicely to heel in a competition it doesn't mean that it is well behaved in a normal environment. My dog is being obedience trained, and can do most exercises well, but she is still a nightmare on the lead when cars are about.
It would be nice to think that most responsible pet owners, whether first time or not, would realise that such cruel trainers are something that they should stay well clear of?