Dutch Shepherd Forum

How long did it take you to have your dogs love and attention? I’m feeding (working) her for every every bit of kibble, tether her to me through out the day when we aren’t training, of course I let her off to explore every now and then once work is done. I know it’s a patient game, just curious with this breed. My previous GSD was about 6-8 months before I had her attention, trust and affection.

Sadie is 9 so I dont remember. Plus her attention was really more on THalie since sadie was a rescue and was taken away from her mother. Maybe someone else who recently had a pup will chime in. But I would not worry too much or go by time, just do what you are doing with your pup and it will all come together. Its like having the first kid, watching what they are doing and having a timeline , by the second you could care less.

My first pup (different breed) imprinted immediately, which is how I ended up with him. I didn’t realize Henry had imprinted on me until he was about 8 months old and we went for a swim lesson and our trainer said I needed to get in because he was focused on me and looking to me for guidance. He was almost 4 months when I rescued him.

That is something you want to balance, Sadie was way too bonded to thalie, she could not do anything alone. You want to balance that bond, they should be independent but look to you for instructions. Good training will help with that.

We got Zoey at 9 weeks old. She seemed to be unsure of us for the first day or two and then immediately began following us around. We didn’t even put a leash on her for a while because she wouldn’t stray away from us. I used to walk from our old apartment to the grocery store that connected to the parking lot maybe .5 a mile away and then just walk right in the store and get my things and she would just follow me everywhere. It was the cutest thing. I mean I would just walk and every few seconds look back and she’d be right there just following me.

I don’t think you need to tether her to you it’s good to let them explore. Soon you’ll notice she’ll want to be in whatever room you’re in etc.
I think what you’re doing is good. If she’s interested in her food just see if you can get her to target your hand and just lure her into basic positions. this video shows a pretty good demonstration of what I’m talking about.

The more you interact with her through food and toys etc the more she will bond with you.

really good video, he shows different pups and quiet vs more animated, plus it was fun to just watch puppies

We also have our older dog tripper. She loved being around him too and trip loves being around us (Especially when we allowed him to be on the couch still). But tripper helped tromendously as much as he probably didn’t enjoy her biting on his face and everything. But she would take puppy naps with us all the time. I think there’s something to say about one animal trusting another animal to be around it while it sleeps too. It’s something people don’t think about but that’s when an animal is most vulnerable. I would say just continue to engage with her as much as possible. Engagement engagement engagement. Can’t say it enough. And just for fun here’s some photos of Zoey with us as a pup.

Dutchringgirl wrote: ↑Sun Oct 21, 2018 3:41 pm really good video, he shows different pups and quiet vs more animated, plus it was fun to just watch puppies

Yea I like that guy haha he has other videos of all the puppies biting his carthart onesie and just walking around with them all attached to him. It’s quite entertaining

I can't speak to puppyhood exactly, but I'll tell ya my experience with Endeavor. I got her at a spastic 15 months old. She had zero issues adjusting to taking my lead- WE WORKED A LOT, FROM THE MOMENT SHE WAS DROPPED OFF. As everyone else has said, work to encourage engagement, and it will come.
Also, it's an ongoing task. When I have complications that prevent me from training for a few days, En becomes more self fulfilling in her mindset

I don’t remember when Rogue bonded exactly. She was pretty independent when I got her at 8 weeks old. It happened naturally. I agree with Lisa, happens
like with children. I worried about when it would happen with my daughter, I adopted her. In a natural time, it happened. Maybe that’s why I didn’t think about it with Rogue.

So an update, after many training "dates", walks and just overall interaction. She has given up a small amount of her independence and has chosen me to be her protector and likewise. It took about 3 and 1/2 weeks for her to really come around. Now wherever I go, she naturally follows. I let her off-leash, sure she explores a bit, but the slightest inkling that I'm moving or leaving and she is there. She also enjoys laying on the bed with me now and is beginning to really trust coming to me when called. What I mean by trusting me is, and I'm not sure others went through this or not. But she is/was about as wary of me as she was strangers at first when called she would just sit back and observe me. If I tried to close in on her, she would retreat back. Now when called with some enthusiasm, she comes running with tail wagging and jumps right into "I love dad lets have fun mode". Truly a beautiful feeling.