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Are you the proud owner of a German Shepherd puppy? If so, you just added a beautiful new addition to your family!
Few other dog breeds have the grace, intelligence and athleticism of the German Shepherd.No wonder they were bred and trained for military and police action since the First World War.
Most likely, you are not interested in training your German Shepherd puppy for the military.you just want a nice obedient and loyal dog for you.
But how do you know where to start?What Makes German Shepherds Different From Other Shepherds large breed? With so much information, how do you know where to get the best puppy training advice?
In this all-inclusive guide, we’ll reveal everything you need to know How to Train a German Shepherd.
Learn about German Shepherds
Before you understand the basics of training German Shepherd, you first need to know about the breed.
One thing that might draw you into this breed is its majestic beauty. While German Shepherds are beautiful animals, their value goes far beyond their looks.
German Shepherd Ranking one of the top three The smartest dog breed.
What does this mean in the real world? This means that most German Shepherds learn new commands in less than five repetitions. They also obey the first order 95% of the time or better!
No wonder German Shepherd Heights seen as a watchdog. They are also the breed of choice for K9 police forces and search and rescue operations.A trained shepherd’s nose at least 10,000 times stronger than a human nose. It can even tell the difference between identical twins!
What does all this mean for you and your new puppy? In short, your German Shepherd is a very intelligent animal that needs regular mental stimulation. And because they were bred as working dogs, they thrive in environments that allow for plenty of exercise.
See also: 10 Best Interactive Dog Toys for Large Dogs
You need to make sure your shepherd gets enough physical and mental exercise to keep him happy.If his energy doesn’t have a proper outlet, he may become bored, irritable, or even Provocation.
In short, training your German Shepherd puppy takes time, effort and patience. However, the results will be worth it!
How to Train a German Shepherd
Now that you know more about the breed, let’s discuss how to train a German Shepherd puppy.
Training a shepherd is a win-win situation. The dog wants to be busy, and training keeps him busy. result? You get an obedient and polite dog, and your dog gets the stimulation he craves.
How do you achieve this perfect balance? The key is to build trust.
The first part of any training program is to show your dog that you are a good leader. Your goal should be to gain your dog’s trust and get him to turn to you for guidance, not claiming you are an “alpha.”
How to build an environment of trust? Be sure to use the following:
- Single, clear command
- non-threatening body language
- firm and calm tone
- Consistency in all aspects of training
- Rewards for good behavior (praise, pat, hospitality)
By establishing himself as a benevolent “leader,” your puppy will learn to rely on your guidance.
One of the most important aspects of earning a dog’s trust is Be consistent with your training. If he is allowed to sleep in bed one night but not the next, he can quickly become confused and frustrated.
Different families have different rules for begging, licking and jumping on furniture. It doesn’t matter what you decide is acceptable in your own house.
The key is to be consistent in what you do and what you don’t allow.
positive reinforcement
Much of the traditional training theory revolves around harsh intimidation techniques.These include shock collarchokes, aggressive dominance, and “showing the dog who’s the boss”.
Of course, every owner needs to decide for himself how to train his dog. However, we can confidently say that an aggressive and dominant training method is not the best way to train a German Shepherd.
Obedience is something you deserve, not a requirement. This is due to continuous training and positive reinforcement, not fear strategies.
Reward your puppy with praise or treats when he does something right, and you’ll motivate him to repeat the action in the future. On the other hand, yelling or physical punishment can scare your dog and tell him he can’t trust you.
See also: 5 Best Dog Training Treats
German Shepherd Training
Here are some important things for you do not want want to do:
- Don’t expect your puppy to magically know what “no” means.
- Don’t expect your puppy to know commands you haven’t taught him.
- Don’t nag your dog by constantly repeating commands. The only thing you can teach him is to ignore you.
- Don’t yell at your dog. Raising the voice will never improve the situation.
- Do not restrict or punish your dog for behaviors you did not train him.
- Do not isolate your dog. He needs social interaction.
- Don’t reward bad behavior. Ignore them and focus on positive reinforcement.
- Don’t blame your dog. You are the coach!
related: The 5 Best Collars for German Shepherds
Crate Train Your German Shepherd
The word “crate” sounds scary, even cruel, to some dog owners. But think about it.
Where do wild dogs live? in the den. What do domestic dogs often do? They find comfortable shelter for themselves, such as under a table or bed.
Your puppy instinctively longs for a place where he feels safe. When used properly, crates are the perfect solution. It provides your dog a small and safe environment where he can rest and sleep.
See also: The Ultimate Guide to Training a Puppy at Night
The crate is also a valuable tool in the demolition process. Because the dog wants to keep his sleeping area clean, he is reluctant to go to the bathroom in his crate.
The crate also gives you (the owner) a break when you need it. After all, you can’t supervise your puppy 24 hours a day. So a crate is the perfect place to protect your dog when you need to leave the house or do other things.
One important note: Never use crates as a form of punishment. This is your dog’s safe haven, so don’t take it away from him!
With that said, let’s outline how to train a German Shepherd:
- Choose a crate that’s big enough for your puppy to be big enough for him to reach adulthood. He should be able to lie down, stand, turn and stretch without touching the sides or ceiling.
- Create a cozy environment by placing a blanket, dog bed, or favorite toy inside the crate. At first, you may want to use treats to encourage your puppy into the crate. He will soon learn that this is a safe place.
- Close the door and leave him in the crate for about 10 minutes. If he whines or cries, sit next to the crate and talk softly to calm him down.
- After 10 minutes, let him out and reward him with a meal. After an hour or two, repeat the process, this time leaving him in the crate for 20 minutes.
- Gradually increase his time inside the crate, working up to an hour at a time. When your puppy is very young, his small bladder can’t stand being in a cage for too long. As a rule of thumb, add one to your puppy’s age in months. For example, if your puppy is two months old, he should be in the cage for no more than three hours at a time.
See also: The 5 Best Crates for Large Dogs
Dismantle your German Shepherd
burglary Go hand in hand with crate training.
Once you have released the puppy from the crate, you should take him to the yard or designated urination area. There’s a good chance he’ll do his thing right away, since he’s unlikely to pee or poop in the crate.
You should also take your puppy to the bathroom within 10 minutes of eating or drinking.
German Shepherds are very intelligent and get used to this habit very quickly. Soon they’ll adopt the schedule themselves, perhaps reminding you by whining or scratching the door that they need to get out.
Once you reach this stage, you have successfully broken your puppy!
See also: Are German Shepherds Good for Children?
Basic Commands Every Puppy Should Learn
have many different dog commands You might want to teach your German Shepherd.
For now, though, let’s start with the three most basic commands.
#1 – How to Train a German Shepherd to Sit
- Find a quiet place without distractions.
- Face your puppy and let him smell the treats in your hand. Don’t feed him just yet; you’re just getting his attention.
- Holds the snack high above his nose. Say “sit down” in a clear, affirming voice as you move your arms into place.
- The goal is to get your dog to hold his head up, look at the treat, and then move to a sitting position naturally. Once he does, reward him with hospitality and plenty of praise.
Continue this process until your puppy follows commands without error. Gradually replace snacks with praise, as too many snacks can lead to unwanted weight gain!
#2 – How to Train a German Shepherd to Stay
- Put a treat in his bed, crate, or wherever you want him to stay.
- Sit him down while he eats. Reward obedience with praise or other means.
- Take a step back and give the order to “stay”. If he listens, reward him. If he moves, patiently bring him back and try again.
- Every time you tell him to stay, take another step back. Your goal should be to take 10 steps back without him getting close to you.
Repeat these steps until your puppy understands what is required of him. A great way to introduce this is to put his bed in the living room and let him stay there while you watch TV.
#3 – How to Train a German Shepherd to Come
- Start with a fenced yard or, if you don’t have one, another room in your home.
- Extend your arms out to the sides so that you are shaped like a “T”. Say the command “come” as you move your arm into place.
- When your puppy obeys, reward him with a pat on the head.
It’s best to combine arm gestures with this command in case your dog is far away from you. Even if he’s on the street and can’t hear your commands, he can see from a distance.
Discourage unwelcome behavior
The easiest way to stop bad behavior is to ignore them.
At first glance, this may seem counterintuitive. But think of it this way: Most unwelcome behavior is your dog’s way of getting your attention. If you ignore this behavior, the dog won’t get the reward it seeks (your attention).
Let’s say your puppy jumps at you every time you enter the house. Instead of reaching out and petting him (rewarding the behavior), turn your back on him and walk into another room. Once all four of his paws are on the ground, then say hello to him.
You can use this process to break almost any unwanted behavior in your puppy.
Final Thoughts on Training Your German Shepherd
German Shepherds are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world due to their many outstanding qualities.In fact, there are over 3.5 million Which is only in the US!
As a responsible owner, you want your puppy to grow up to be a loyal, well-behaved family member. By following these tips for training a German Shepherd puppy, that’s exactly what you’ll get!
For more tips and advice, peruse our full collection training and behavior post.
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