Curing
Member
First let me say hello! We are new to the board and I’ll be posting a introduction later, but wanted to post my questions first.
A little insight on my situation;
I’ve been getting into IPO and as I progressed decided to get a dog that could actually take me past a BH. I reached out to a local breeder and she introduced me to a dog that she had just gotten back from some people had had him from 1year up to 2 year.
According to her, he wasn’t doing what they were wanting or something along those lines so they sent him back to her.
She said that before they took him he had a lot of potential, he had nice firm full grips, obedience was coming along, and his temperament was solid.
Though she didn’t breed him, his pedigree is phenomenal as well.
When she got him back, he wouldn’t do anything for her. I obtained him pretty soon after she had gotten him back and we went on trial.
I was only supposed to trial with him for a week so I took him into my training club as soon as I had him and we assessed him. The trainer was extremely judgmental of not only him but the person I got him from (the trainer is a piece of work attitude wise and we have since left the club)
Anyway, he was very shy around everyone but was interested in the tug the first week. He absolutely knew NO obedience commands (or he suppressed any training)
Second week I brought him out again and the trainer told me to hand him off to someone more experienced during bitework, and he ended up shutting down and wouldn’t play.
It was at that point the trainer told me the dog was ruined and didn’t think he’d ever succeed and that I should take him back and get a “real dog”
I thought about this long and hard and ultimately decided to keep him. Yes I wanted to make something of myself in the sport world, but I also who heartedly believed this dog needed me and I was attached.
So overrun of when I first got the dog: he was underweight, had heartworms (being treated), very shy, and completely untrained.
Fast forwarded and I’ve probably have had him 6 months now and he’s completely changed. He’s playful and curious, loves meeting new people (still a bit shy in public), and his training is going great.
I took a very long break from protection sport and decided to solely focus on him and his confidence.
Now Ive decided to get back into it and have found another club who was excited to help me. My only concern is, WILL he ever go back to his former self or is he ruined forever? And will he always be unsure and a bit skittish?
Somethings that he jumps genuinely surprise me because overall his temperament seems pretty solid. He doesn’t react to people or dogs, but will hide at fireworks and unfamiliar things?
He also shuts down if I accidentally get to harsh with him (I own a Shepherd too and sometimes I forget he can’t take harder tones like her) and when he shuts down he doesn’t care about treats and go into avoidance.
I guess my main question is, could he come out of this with time or
Should I just expect him to never be the IPO he was supposed to be?
Also how “sensitive” are Doberman truly. I want make sure I’m not doing anything to force him to shutdown further. I’d feel terrible.
A little insight on my situation;
I’ve been getting into IPO and as I progressed decided to get a dog that could actually take me past a BH. I reached out to a local breeder and she introduced me to a dog that she had just gotten back from some people had had him from 1year up to 2 year.
According to her, he wasn’t doing what they were wanting or something along those lines so they sent him back to her.
She said that before they took him he had a lot of potential, he had nice firm full grips, obedience was coming along, and his temperament was solid.
Though she didn’t breed him, his pedigree is phenomenal as well.
When she got him back, he wouldn’t do anything for her. I obtained him pretty soon after she had gotten him back and we went on trial.
I was only supposed to trial with him for a week so I took him into my training club as soon as I had him and we assessed him. The trainer was extremely judgmental of not only him but the person I got him from (the trainer is a piece of work attitude wise and we have since left the club)
Anyway, he was very shy around everyone but was interested in the tug the first week. He absolutely knew NO obedience commands (or he suppressed any training)
Second week I brought him out again and the trainer told me to hand him off to someone more experienced during bitework, and he ended up shutting down and wouldn’t play.
It was at that point the trainer told me the dog was ruined and didn’t think he’d ever succeed and that I should take him back and get a “real dog”
I thought about this long and hard and ultimately decided to keep him. Yes I wanted to make something of myself in the sport world, but I also who heartedly believed this dog needed me and I was attached.
So overrun of when I first got the dog: he was underweight, had heartworms (being treated), very shy, and completely untrained.
Fast forwarded and I’ve probably have had him 6 months now and he’s completely changed. He’s playful and curious, loves meeting new people (still a bit shy in public), and his training is going great.
I took a very long break from protection sport and decided to solely focus on him and his confidence.
Now Ive decided to get back into it and have found another club who was excited to help me. My only concern is, WILL he ever go back to his former self or is he ruined forever? And will he always be unsure and a bit skittish?
Somethings that he jumps genuinely surprise me because overall his temperament seems pretty solid. He doesn’t react to people or dogs, but will hide at fireworks and unfamiliar things?
He also shuts down if I accidentally get to harsh with him (I own a Shepherd too and sometimes I forget he can’t take harder tones like her) and when he shuts down he doesn’t care about treats and go into avoidance.
I guess my main question is, could he come out of this with time or
Should I just expect him to never be the IPO he was supposed to be?
Also how “sensitive” are Doberman truly. I want make sure I’m not doing anything to force him to shutdown further. I’d feel terrible.