Delmarva German Shepherd Dog Club

06/07/2026

BUILDING RETRIEVE DRIVE AT HOME 🐾

When puppy owners pick up their new retriever, we encourage them to focus on two things:

Teaching respectful behaviors.

Building retrieve drive.

The obedience can come later.

Our goal isn’t just teaching a puppy to retrieve. It’s teaching them to WANT to retrieve.

Use a long lead to help create success.

When they bring it back, celebrate. Get down at their level, pet them, praise them, and let them enjoy the moment.

Don’t immediately take the object away. They worked hard for it.

Keep sessions short and always leave them wanting one more retrieve.

A simple guideline: age in months = maximum retrieves per session.

If retrieve drive slows down between 4–6 months of age, teething may be the reason.

One of the most important things to remember:

The last retrieve is often the most important retrieve.

If the last thing they remember is, “That was fun!” they’ll be excited to do it again.

Leave them wanting one more retrieve. 🐾

06/07/2026

We get e-mails from folks who have 6-9 month old puppies that are "now out of control." When you dig deeper into the conversion, you find that they have either NEVER done their homework on the breed or done any type of basic training.

The dog isn't too stupid to train.
It isn't being difficult.
It isn't too much pet.

With all of the different training venues out there surely you could find something to meet your needs and budget. You brought the pet into your world, YOU FAILED the breeder and the pet with your lack of pet responsibility.

06/07/2026

Not sure the logic of some FB dog trainers but every other word is profanity. To me when you do that, you lack intelligence to carry real serious conversations concerning dog training. Don't get me wrong, I can sit with the best of sailors, however the less you "need" to us profanity, the smarter you look here!

06/07/2026

With Belgian Malinois Life – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

06/07/2026

Two waves of rain this morning and things now seem to be clearing up. At 6 AM, saying we are HAVING TRAINING. If your smart phone says otherwise for Harrington, post it...see everyone at 9 AM.

06/06/2026

When you collect the dog, the incoming energy MUST be carried to one side or the other. If not, you stand a good chance of jamming the dog, breaking teeth, or damaging the neck. Where the head goes, the rest of the body must follow.

Lauren Dennison working her GSD, Malus with Howard Gaines.

06/06/2026

06/05/2026

Martial arts people don't go out and pick fights to see if their training and work is valid. Why then would you ask your dog to bite someone just to see if its training is any good?

Training is done in any venue so that it becomes a nonthinking response to an attack issue. It becomes second nature. Just like you cover your nose before you sneeze...

Now take that trained dog and go out in public venues, get the results you have trained to do. Confident, safe, and secure dog walk where others become reactive and are out of control. Your dog is a reflection of your work Grasshopper!

Martin Carver and Belgian Malinois, Aramis