Older Rescues and obedience?

[Silver_wlf]

Hello!!

We've been approved for a rescued dobe and I'm wondering if anyone has any insight they can offer about older dogs and obedience training? I'm currently competing Rally with my rescued lab - but he was a puppy when we got him. I would like to get into CKC Trials eventually.

I'm wondering if it's more difficult to start training with older dogs?

Any information or insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much!
Stef

[Renee750il]

Stef, I've always found the older rescues to be much easier than pups! They just seem to understand and are very eager to please the people who share their hearts and homes.

Puppies are wonderful, but truthfully, if it were just myself to consider, I might never have another puppy - just rescue adult dogs.

[Silver_wlf]

Renee,

Thanks so much!! We won't be getting a puppy. (That was enough fun the first time around! *smile*) The youngest they have is 10 months. They have a couple 4-5 year olds that sound really good - I was just worried that it may be tough to train them.

Thanks for replying!

[poodlesmom]

At the obed. school we go to over the years I have seen many older rescues come in who had absolutely no training. The majority of them have done wonderful. It is as Renee says, they just seem to want to please sooooo much. I have noticed tho with a few of them that after doing great for the first 3-4 mos. they seem to realize that they are really in their "forever" home and they may start to "test the waters" but generally go back to being super once they realize they aren't going to get away with it. :)

[CreatureTeacher]

I only ever rescue dogs, and they're frequently 5 years or older. I actually find rescues to be easier to train, because they don't take your affection for granted. Rescued dogs have been places where happy-home dogs never go, and it seems to grant them a wisdom they wouldn't otherwise have.

[RedHotDobe]

As someone who owns a rescued Doberman, I will say he is a piece of work. :) Generally Dobes are very willing to please their owners, but they can be stubborn, and he is just that. I'm not sure I've heard of anyone ever having luck stopping a Dobe from pulling on a walk without using the heal command. They just have places to go and people to, err... scare off! My crazy boy actually felt the need to try and attack a car last week. Aaahh, RMS, if only I had gotten his brain in the mail as promised. :)

[Renee750il]

Lol, RedHot - we usually get the dog we need to teach us something. ;)

[gaddylovesdogs]

Two of my dogs were rescued at two years of age (the other was rescued as a puppy). They were very easy to train. They just want to please me so much!! Of course, this probably does have something to do with their breeds, too. One is a Border Collie mix and the other is a Lab--two very much "family" dogs.

[RedHotDobe]

LOL Renee! I think the only thing Duke is trying to teach me is that obedience has no place in a dog's life. That and he should be the official test-taster for all meals, snacks, and anything else remotely related to food. :rolleyes:

[Renee750il]

It sounds like Duke might be related to Shiva - she's my Zen puppy. She teaches me to focus on the moment; helps me with Zen. :D

[Silver_wlf]

Do you find it's significantly more work to have two than one? Everything I've read says to spend time with each individually. Does this mean 2 separate walks - or can we walk together in the morning and then have separate time in the evenings?

Thanks so much!

[Renee750il]

By all means, walk together in the morning and have some separate times later in the day. That sounds like a great way to do it.

Truthfully, except for some of the times when I have two giant puppies wrestling all over the teeny tiny living room, or both clamoring for my attention (translation - climbing all over me) :rolleyes: two dogs are easier than one. Of course, having Bimmer makes having a third dog great, since he's the one who makes everyone mind! :)

[Silver_wlf]

Hi all!!

We adopted a 9 month old Doberbabie Easter weekend... His name is Tux and he's wonderful!! Wes (my lab-x) and him play SO well together!!

We started obedience last Wednesday and he was wonderful! Thanks again for all your help!

[Nick`o`shea]

As someone who owns a rescued Doberman, I will say he is a piece of work. :) Generally Dobes are very willing to please their owners, but they can be stubborn, and he is just that. I'm not sure I've heard of anyone ever having luck stopping a Dobe from pulling on a walk without using the heal command. They just have places to go and people to, err... scare off! My crazy boy actually felt the need to try and attack a car last week. Aaahh, RMS, if only I had gotten his brain in the mail as promised. :)

Having 3 Rescue Dobes myself, I so agree with your outlook. Although constantly changing pace on walks (with comands, walk, faster, stop etc) did get them to walk correctly, with or without a lead (leash).