6 German Shepherd Dog-Training Tips

James Livingood has been a dog sitter for several years. He has written
numerous articles and a book about the topic because he loves dogs.

German Shepherds are intelligent, loyal, and highly trainable if worked with
carefully.

adamkontor via Pixabay; Canva

Some dog breeds are more difficult to train than others.
One example of a trainable yet sometimes challenging breed is the German Shepherd.
This breed tends to bond more closely with one individual instead of a group of individuals.
In addition, puppies can be prone to play biting.
This can lead to a lot of problems once the puppy grows up into a full-fledged dog.

Here are some tips to help you train your German Shepherd.

6 Tips for Training Your German Shepherd

It’s important to train your German Shepherd carefully at a young age. They
are a highly intelligent but sometimes willful breed, so laying a solid
foundation is a must. Here are six tips to keep in mind during the training
process.

1. Provide a Daily Outlet for Your Dog’s Energy

German Shepherds have a lot of energy that needs to be worked through. The
biggest thing you can do to help them behave is to give them a productive
outlet for their energy. This can include walks, slow bike rides, and other
adventures.

2. Follow Through on Commands

Many dog owners will issue a command to their dog, then abandon the effort
when the dog doesn’t comply. That doesn’t reinforce positive behavior, and it
only reinforces that you should be ignored. Giving a simple command and
following it through helps put gravity to each command. If you require the dog
to “come here,” then you need to stand there for as long as it takes. When
they finally listen, you can give them praise and adoration. Be careful not to
overuse commands, as you will be required to follow through on each one. That
can mean a lot of time and patience when new commands are being trained.

3. Don’t Reward Bad Behaviors

Chewing on items may be cute as a puppy, but don’t reward your dog for doing
so. Bad behaviors need to be rooted out when the dog is young, so they do not
escalate when the dog reaches maturity. In addition, having a dog jump up may
be cute, but can be a huge pain when the dog weighs a lot more. The best route
is to set ground rules for the life of the dog, not just for puppy stages.

4. Don’t Blame the Dog

Dogs love to please humans, but they simply do not have our level of
intellect. It’s up to each and every dog owner to show their canine how to
operate in the human world. That means that if a dog has a bad quirk, it’s up
to the owner to find a way to help them through that quirk or to re-direct
that quirk to a positive experience. For example, if a dog loves to chew,
getting them the proper toys to chew may go a long way.

5. Stop Interacting When They Misbehave

If a dog is pulling on a leash, the best way to stop them from doing that is
to stop moving. That means they will have to wait patiently to move again.
Simply put, if there is tension on the leash, stop moving. In addition, if
they are jumping up on people, have the person turn their body away from the
dog. The best way to train good behavior is sometimes to not reward bad
behavior.

6. Adapt (Because They Will!)

German Shepherds are smart dogs and will adapt over time. They may learn that
barking when about to be fed speeds things up. If they start doing bad things,
again, the best thing to do is to not reward their bad behavior. Instead, wait
until the barking stops, and then you can set down the food. Figuring out your
dog’s odd quirks can help you in figuring out how to better train your dog.

German Shepherd puppies go through four developmental stages by the time
they’re about 70 weeks old.

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Developmental Stages of German Shepherd Puppies

Puppies grow into dogs, but it doesn’t happen overnight. Below, the breed’s
four main stages of development are described in some detail.

Stage 1: Newborn/Neonatal (0–2 Weeks)

German Shepherds are considered newborns for up to two weeks. During that time
they are blind, deaf, and have no teeth. They require their mother to provide
help. Their mother not only provides food, but also licks the newborns clean.
Most of their time is spent sleeping during this phase. The average litter
size is around eight newborns, but can be as many as 15!

Stage 2: Transition (2–4 Weeks)

In this stage, their eyes being to open and they grunt softly. They also stand
during this time and can even play with their littermates. They are still
drinking milk from their mother during this time.

Stage 3: Social Stage (4–8 weeks)

During this third stage, puppies are weaned off their mother’s milk. They
begin to eat soft and mushy food. In addition, they are more playful with
their littermates and start to have their teeth grow. Puppies also being to
bond with others. However, if a scary event happens during this time, they may
create a fear response.

Stage 4: Humans (60+ days old)

It’s at this point that trainers come in and help the dog become accustomed to
the human world. This might mean additional socialization, puppy classes,
regular walks, and more. Puppies will get to meet their new human families and
learn what is/isn’t a toy. From now until they are one year old can be the
most important in their life. An owner who is consistent and willing to work
can build a fantastic bond. Once that bond is created, they will have an
amazing dog for many years to come!

Because German Shepherds are so intelligent and trainable, they are often
employed as working dogs by military and law enforcement.

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Interesting Facts About German Shepherds

In the book, The Intelligence of Dogs , the breed is listed as the third most intelligent dog, behind Border Collies and Poodles.
German Shepherds are purpose-driven dogs and need a regular outlet for their energy.
They can become over-protective of their family/bonded “pack,” which can lead to strong territorial instincts.
While most associate the breed with police dogs, they were also used as messenger dogs and guard dogs during World War II.
German Shepherds may scare more easily than other types of dogs, but they are superior when displaying defensive behavior.
Shows such as Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart elevated the breed’s notoriety and made them more popular as household pets.
Most German Shepherds used by police are renowned for their scent work, ability to detect explosives and narcotics, and aid in search and rescue efforts.

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It
is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription,
or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional.
Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a
veterinarian immediately.

Comments

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