Establishing a strong relationship. Spending time with each other. There are countless reasons to start training a German shepherd. They are known as loving and protective dogs. Plus, German shepherds are famous for being highly trainable. They not only have extraordinary learning capabilities, but they’re also eager to learn.
In addition to that, you’ll also find it entertaining just as dogs enjoy being trained by you, their owner. Be it training an older German shepherd or German shepherd puppy training, it would still be fun. However, just as usual with anything you should do with your dog, some things should be considered when training a German shepherd, such as moderation and awareness.
Today we’ll talk about the benefits of training a German shepherd, German shepherd training tips, and more in this blog post. There’s no better way to understand how to train a German shepherd than to learn about its benefits.
Why Bother Training a German Shepherd?
Dogs cannot speak our language, but they can interact with us if given proper training. Training a German shepherd also has the potential to open a world of possibilities.
Here we look at the most significant benefits of learning how to train a German shepherd to erase any doubts in your mind.
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How To Train A German Shepherd
German Shepherd training is a very important part of any German Shepherd’s life. A well-trained dog can be a great joy to own and even more fun to train. Here are some important tips to remember:
Teach the “down” command early on and use it often. One of the most important commands, this is a good way to calm your dog during times of stress or anxiety.
Once your German Shepherd can do the “come” command, teach him the “stay” and “wait” commands as well. This will build his trust in you and make it easier for him to learn other things later on.
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German Shepherd Communication Training
German shepherd communication training helps build a stronger bond between the dog and his master. The shepherd has an innate desire to protect his master; this natural trait can be strengthened through training. German shepherds are among the most intelligent breeds of dogs making them easy to train; however, their size makes it important that owners start commands early in life or they will lose control over the dog.
Socializing with people is a great way to tame dogs, but training a German shepherd is the key to effective communication.
If successful, you’ll save yourself from the trouble of spending too much time trying to converse with your German shepherd.
Not to mention that there could be several situations where time will be of the essence. So you will benefit from training a German shepherd.
German Shepherd Obedience Training Issues
German Shepherd Obedience Training is not always easy, because some issues may come up which will make training your dog harder. However, the reward for you and your pet when finished should be well worth it! In this section, I will discuss a variety of different problems that can arise during German Shepherd Obedience Training. There is a separate guide on obedience training at the bottom of this section, be sure to check it out.
- Incorrect Timing When Giving Commands: If you give a command at the wrong time it could throw off your entire training session. For example, if you tell your dog to lay down when they’re barking or whining, they’re going to think that bark and whine = lay down. The best way to avoid this problem is by training them in short sessions so that they don’t get tired out and start acting up.
- The Dog is Just Acting Out: In some cases, the dog might only be misbehaving because they are bored, so be sure to give them enough exercise throughout the day. If you think this is not the case, it might be because your training sessions are too long which will prompt your dog to stop listening to you to simply end their training session. Make sure you keep your training sessions relatively short for them to have a positive effect on both you and your pet’s mental well-being!
- Your Dog Gets Distracted Too Easily: Obedience Training takes a lot of patience from everyone involved, and it’s especially difficult if the dog gets distracted too easily during training. Try as much as possible to keep your sessions short and simple to build up their trust that they will eventually learn what you want them to do!
- Your Dog is Repetitive: Obedience Training is also something that needs creativity and patience from everyone involved. For example, if your dog is doing the same thing over and over again – such as always sitting at the door before going out – then try using a different command for them so that you can expand on your German Shepherd Obedience Training.
- Obedience Training Gives You an Excuse To Use “Bad” Words: No one likes when a dog barks in an obtrusive way, but sometimes when they do so it simply means that they want to play. Obedience Training can give you an excuse to use bad words with your pet for this particular reason, but also keep in mind that you don’t want them to start associating these words with negative things!
- Obedience Training is Not Necessarily Fun: Obedience Training makes the experience more fun for everyone involved, and in most cases, it’s a blast to work through tough problems with your animal companion. However, the effort that goes into Obedience Training might make some people feel as though training their German Shepherd Obedience Training is not necessary even though obedience from all animals is incredibly important. Obedience Training is always necessary for animals, but it can be tough to do which sometimes means that people end up not doing Obedience Training with their pets because they don’t have the time or patience for it.
- Obedience Training Never Stops: Obedience training will continue throughout your entire life with your pet, so it’s best to know what you are getting yourself into before committing to Obedience Training! This Training occurs daily, and in some cases, it could take upwards of thirty minutes just to complete one session! Training should be something that everyone involved enjoys doing because you want your dog – and yourself – excited about learning new things!
The primary purpose of training a German shepherd is to instill in their obedience. It will also give you, the owner, peace of mind that they won’t do anything hasty when you’re not around.
Running outside when not told. Not listening to your calls. These are just two of the many behavioral problems that can be solved through our German shepherd obedience training guide.
Understanding
Spending time training a German shepherd will serve as a great way to develop a stronger bond between you and your dog.
It will help you achieve a better understanding of their behavior. For example, you’ll be able to know why they do something out of the ordinary.
It’s important to prioritize this with German shepherd puppy training so you can understand the pooch better while they’re still young. Take note, however, that in German shepherd training, age isn’t everything.
Teaching a German Shepherd Who’s the Alpha
German shepherds are bred to be family dogs. They are intelligent and loyal, but sometimes they can be too dominant.
It’s important to do this with German shepherd puppy training. If not, they may be like this throughout their lifetime.
Having a mindset of a leader will push German shepherds to display poor behavior. That’s why it’s important to prevent such a mindset from developing.
There are many ways to establish who’s the real alpha between you and the dog, and here are some of the best German shepherd training tips:
- Introduce the Alpha: If you are living with a family or at least a group of people, you should ensure that there’s one that is truly the master of the German shepherd. You should then start showing your German shepherd who’s the alpha.
- Practice the 3 C’s: You must be consistent with your behavior, Calm when making decisions, and be Confident that are in control.
- Don’t Be the Entertainer: Remember to avoid giving too much attention to your dog. Rather, they should be the ones looking for attention.
- Meal Time: It is common knowledge to animals that the one eating first is the leader. Sure, you might’ve been used to not letting your dog wait until they can eat, but that’s exactly how the leader is treated. With that said, you must at least eat first before letting your dog dig in.
- Assign a Task: German shepherds are working dogs. NOT working will give them the mindset that they are superior, especially when they can see that you’re the one working for them.
- Set Rules: Finally, you must set the boundaries for a German shepherd such as no barking, biting, and more. But that’s not all. You should also decide on a punishment for every violation that your German shepherd makes.
Even when training an older German shepherd, you must show that you’re superior. If you’re able to establish who’s the alpha, you can easily do the same when you bring a new dog to the pack.
Training a German Shepherd Positive Interaction
The best way to promote positive interaction and socialization is by bringing a new dog to the pack.
Many problems may arise when German shepherds interact with others such as a territorial dispute, aggressive behaviors, and more.
With that said, it’s imperative to follow the following German shepherd training tips strictly to avoid potential drawbacks:
- Never leave the two dogs unattended as it may lead to violence that may result in injuries, especially for the new dog.
- Just like any other habit, the best German shepherd training tip is to take it slowly and calmly.
- Vaccinate both the dogs so there may be no chances of infection.
- Familiarize both dogs with the scent of the other so they may not act aggressively later on.
- It is best to introduce both of them in a location where they’ve never been before. This is to avoid their mindset of their territory getting threatened.
- Include the new dog when training an older German shepherd.
German shepherds are energetic. The best way to conserve YOUR energy is to allow them to play with a dog as energetic as them.
Additionally, training an older German shepherd will tend to become less exciting due to less activity. Having another dog to stimulate their very existence will prove to help them become more energetic.
With that said, you must understand that you won’t always be there for your German shepherd.
Training a German Shepherd to be Independent
For many dog owners, investing when training a German shepherd seems to be no problem. Some may say it makes a German shepherd dependent on you, but sometimes it’s the opposite.
Take a look at two of the things an owner should do while training a German shepherd that will help the dog become independent.
Getting a Crate for Your German Shepherd
This type of training is more applicable to a German shepherd puppy. Training them by caging is often seen as a harsh decision, but it’s an act of consideration for the following reasons:
- A German shepherd achieves privacy and security while it gives you peace of mind.
- You can easily control their bowels while they develop a stronger sense of urgency to handle them.
- Instead of isolating them in a secluded place, they will avoid loneliness by being grounded in their small safe place.
Having a spot assigned to them will also help with training an older German shepherd since they can easily rest when needed.
German Shepherd Puppy Potty Training
Potty training isn’t just about learning how to train a German shepherd to sit. There’s more to it than that.
With this kind of German shepherd training, age is an important factor in how you’ll approach potty training.
German shepherds puppies are less tolerant with their bladder and are therefore more likely to wet the house. They only become more condoning when they grow older
You don’t have to wait for them to grow old. An owner must responsibly speed up the process by learning how to train a German shepherd puppy to handle its bowels.
- As puppies are yet to mature their digestive system, it’s only right for the owner to control their diet so they may not go overboard with their ingestion of food and water. This will solve the problem of too much bowel movement.
- To make things more organized, you must set a schedule for the potty time of your puppy. This will then be the basis when potty training a German shepherd.
- You should also consider giving the best training treats for your German shepherd whenever they successfully manage their potty. This will encourage them to put more effort into it.
Being independent is an appealing skill when training a German shepherd. But there’s nothing that can show a dog’s ingenuity more than having their own set of skills.
Training a German Shepherd Essential Skills
German shepherds, just like humans, can develop skills if given some time to learn them. Many of these essential skills are helpful for various tasks.
There might even be a time when a dog will rely on its skills to survive. That’s why it’s important to learn how to train a German shepherd puppy these skills as soon as possible.
The following German shepherd training tips will help you teach your German shepherd essential skills.
- Stay: You must show how critical it is, as well as rewarding, to stay put in a fixed position. Don’t make the mistake of making them run to you once they achieve a fixed position. This might show them that it’s okay to disobey the command “stay”.
- Limit: German shepherds are very energetic, but they must learn that there are things that shouldn’t be done. Teaching them the boundaries of where they can go or what they can do in the house can be very useful to avoid danger.
- Leash: Being able to naturally walk on their leash is an amazing skill in itself. It promotes the obedience and patience of a dog. It would also help you measure their trust, given that they don’t know where you’ll be taking them.
- Come/Follow: German shepherds are naturally good at following their masters. There’s no need to learn how to train a German shepherd since this is much easier with the previous skills.
Consider buying kibbles because these are the best training treats for a German shepherd. Then you can give them when they achieve such feats.
Remember, it’s not to bribe them, but it’s to show them how rewarding it is to learn new skills. It can also be part of your German shepherd obedience training for them. Loyal as they may already be, German shepherds, can take loyalty to another level.
However, remember that these aren’t learned overnight. Rather, it is learned after being practiced day by day, which introduces us to the challenging way of training a German shepherd.
Training a German Shepherd as Schutzhund
Schutzhund translates to “protection dogs”. It can be a way of training a German shepherd that requires the combined effort of the owner and the dog.
German shepherds are guard dogs, in essence, no matter how they were bred. That’s why it’s beneficial for German shepherds, as well as easier for them.
- Self-Control: It helps the German shepherd to learn self-control, helping them maintain their composure even when put in a difficult or startling situation.
- Perceptiveness: Training a German shepherd with Schutzhund will help them distinguish between those who are a threat and those who are not.
- Calmness: German shepherds will have a clear-headed nature as they focus on the task assigned to them.
Critics insist that there can be many drawbacks of this training, such as aggressiveness, but nothing could be further from the truth.
The following are the common misconceptions and the truth behind Schutzhund’s training of German shepherds.
- They attack recklessly: The reality is that those with no training are the ones that tend to attack without considering the consequences.
- They act independently: Schutzhund-trained German shepherds are also said to be able to act without the consent of others. However, those that are truly trained have a set of rules that they were trained to follow.
- They always bite: While German shepherds trained in Schutzhund have greater “biting” strength, they are more aware that they shouldn’t do it recklessly.
Remember that this kind of training is pretty extreme, especially for an owner that isn’t used to training. Plus, it’s not suitable to include in a German shepherd puppy’s training or when training an older German shepherd.
This introduces us to the option of seeking professional help.
Training a German Shepherd With Professional Help
Many people seek the help of professionals when training their dogs. Most of the time, it is because it’s their first time raising a dog. Some of them might also think doubt that German shepherds are easy to train.
While a person can learn about training a German shepherd with this blog post, there’s a difference between having experience in such a task.
But there are other benefits besides the large gap inexperience. The following are just a few of these benefits:
- You’re saving time by assigning the task to a person that can be trusted.
- In the case of training centers, your puppy may also meet other dogs while they’re being trained by professionals.
- You’re avoiding the stress of handling your dog, especially when you’ve got work to do.
The bad news is that your German shepherd puppy might become more fond of the trainer than it is to you. Regardless, it is still a viable option for those that lack the time and energy to do it themselves.
Final Thoughts in Training a German Shepherd
Training a German shepherd can be hard, but it introduces our dogs to a world of possibilities.
It helps a German shepherd improve their communication and obedience. To achieve so, you need some pointers in training a German shepherd.
That’s why this blog post taught you how to train a dominant German shepherd. It also helped you know what to do if you ever bring a new dog to the pack.
You also learned how to promote independence to a German shepherd as well as introduce them to new skills, including those of a guard dog. If all things fail, you still have the option of training a German shepherd with professional help.
In short, you now learned how to raise a German shepherd on your own. You just need to implement these and you’re all good to go.
