Teach Your Dog To Bark On Command
Encourage your dog to bark at the approach of any stranger. A dog that barks at a stranger can be more effective than a dog that responds to an attack command but does not bark.
Some dogs are not good at learning this command. I have a Pit Bull that I trained to bark at the word âurubuâ since she gets excited and barks at them on the beach. Now, when I want her to bark, I just say the word urubu.
Take note of what your dog does naturally and sometimes he will respond.
Barking comes naturally to many dogs, but you may need to teach your dog to stop barking when given a command. When he has barked once or twice, you can tell him to sit and then order him to stop. If he does not stop, order the dog down. It is very difficult for a dog to bark when he is on the ground.
Important Note: If your dog will not bark on command and does not even bark at strangers, he is not a good choice for a protection dog.
Can A German Shepherd Be A Good Dog
There are a number of reasons which may contribute to a German Shepherd being aggressive. And we can all agree that an aggressive German Shepherd is not good for anyone, including the dog. In this article, we will take a look at the causes of aggression in a German Shepherd, as well as how you can do your best to avoid or prevent it.
Reasons Your German Shepherd Attacks Other Dogs
Its terrifying when your German Shepherd shows aggression towards other dogs or worse
Attacked your other dog and could have seriously hurt them!
Watching them fight leaves you confused and bewildered.
But, I want you to feel confident that youre doing what you can to prevent another disturbing scene of dog aggression.
Here is how you can keep your German Shepherd from aggression towards other dogs and why they might be attacking other dogs in the first place.
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At What Age Do German Shepherds Become Protective
It is a natural instinct with most GSDs. The pups until age of 6 months are playful bundle of fur. However, just like a human toddler, soon they develop a strong feeling about their identity and territory, and a deep association with home, family and the household pets of whom they become fiercely protective.
Training Helps In Building A Stronger Relationship
When you invest in training your German Shepherd dog, then that can have a lot of benefits for you and the dog.
One mutual benefit of training is that it can help you develop a relatively stronger bond with your canine friend.
It bound a well-trained dog to be more loyal and understanding towards its owners.
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Work With An Animal Behavior Therapist
For people that may have complex psychological issues, a therapist can help to unravel the ball of yarn, so to speak. The same applies with your dog.
You may be surprised at what a professional dog behavior expert may be able to accomplish with your dog and you together.
So if you feel that your dog is aggressive, take a step back and do not get frustrated. Go through the proper channels, speak with your veterinarian, and speak with a behaviorist.
Chances are there will be a hopeful future.
Use Rewards To Increase Positive Behaviors Around Other Dogs
Another option you want to use is to train your German Shepherd to enjoy being around other dogs more by using positive reinforcement training and counter-conditioning.
Counter conditioning teaches your German Shepherd that it will receive good things when other dogs are around it.
Basically, youre training your dog to like other dogs through rewards. You might think that training your Shepherd this way would reinforce bad behavior, but counter-conditioning creates a powerful positive connection with other dogs.
This strong association outweighs their bad behavior.
Whenever your dog is around other dogs they might show aggression to, offer them small bits of cooked bacon or the Ferrari of training treats
Set aside special treats that you only give your dog when other dogs are nearby so your German Shepherd makes a strong connection between the treat and giving you their attention.
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How To Train A German Shepard To Attack
What are you going to do when someone is going to attack you? Fight or flight? But if you are a German Shepard owner, you can train him to attack a person command. That great, huh? Training a German Shepard to an attack is time-consuming and you need more patience when compared to basic training. in this article, we are going to discuss how to train your dog to attack person on command?
Even though this article is specific for German Shepard, you can try these tips for any dog breed. The DNAs of every German Shepard are programmed to protect its owner.
How Does An Aggressive German Shepherd Behave
An aggressive GSD is coming from an entirely different place psychologically than a dominant one. While dominant behavior is exhibited by a dog to show everyone whos boss, the root of almost all aggression is fear.
So when a GSD displays aggressive behavior, it is not trying to show that hes the boss, although it may appear that way.
Instead, there is either a primal instinct or learned fear from a past experience that is traumatizing the dog and causing it to lash out with aggression.
Types of aggression
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Will An Untrained Dog Protect Its Owner
Answer: It highly depends on the individual case. Compared with the untrained dogs, trained dogs tend to protect their owners if attacked. But it doesnt necessarily meant that a normal family pet dog would do nothing when a break-in happens. Some of family dogs would also try their best to defend their owners.
Do German Shepherds Turn On Their Owners
Although German Shepherds have the ability to attack, it doesnt make them more likely to turn on their owners.
In fact, German Shepherds are the second most intelligent dog breed making them highly trainable, attentive, and responsive to their owners command. This makes it even more unlikely that a GSD would turn on their owner as theyre focused on obeying them.
The truth is that a well-treated, trained, and loved German Shepherd will be as soppy and friendly as any other breed out there.
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Why Does My German Shepherd Growl At People
So, if you ever have someone come around, even someone you know or think you trust, and your GSD goes crazy with barking and growling at that person, its usually because your dog can sense something bad that we cant. Trust your dog! How much is a purebred German Shepherd puppy without papers worth?
How To Train A German Shepherd To Be A Guard Dog
German Shepherds will usually take to being a guard dog naturally. It’s important to train them to be obedient. Learn how here.Many dogs are natural watch dogs their bark is sufficient to alert their owner to something unusual, and the alarm they set up is a deterrent. In addition, dogs who will fight if their owner is genuinely attacked do not have to be made aggressive to do so. Training a dog specifically to be a guard dog is hazardous and potentially creates a liability for you. Misguided attempts to make a dog aggressive through abuse will only backfire because the dog will not be loyal to someone who treats them harshly, and if the dog wrongly bites someone you will be at fault. Never train dogs who are basically fearful or out of control. Such dogs may not respond appropriately in non-threatening situations.
A German shepherd dog should not be selected to receive training as a guard dog unless the dog is basically friendly, stable and clear-headed, and has been well-socialized.
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Walk your German shepherd dog on a leash around the perimeter of your property regularly to identify your territorial boundaries. Do not allow your dog to bark at people who are outside your property. Do not allow your dog to chase people under any circumstances.
TIPS & WARNINGS
THINGS NEEDED
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What Is The Importance Of Socializing Your Dog
Many individuals assume that a guard or attack dog should be wary of all people. This isnt the case at all. A good guard dog needs to be properly socialized starting at a young age.
The last thing you need is for your German Shepherd to consider everyone a threat. This can make it difficult for you to go on walks and will also increase the chances of your dog accidentally attacking an innocent person.
From the moment your puppy is brought home, they should be introduced to people of all shapes and sizes, wearing all types of clothes. Once your pup has been fully vaccinated, it can begin to meet other dogs and animals.
Myth #2 Are German Shepherds Friendly With Kids
This myth, like myth number 1, is likely the result of many years of popular culture portraying the German Shepherd as a scary dog.
Size may also be a factor in this myth as well, being that German Shepherds are large dogs, and can be a bit overwhelming for a tiny child.
The size of a German Shepherd combined with toddlers may be another factor in creating the myth that German Shepherds are not good with kids.
Strong, big dogs can easily knock over a tiny child, causing crying and tears.
Fact: German Shepherds are consistently scored as one of the most popularfamily breeds by the American Kennel Club. This high ranking has much to dowith their temperament as a loyal and kind family dog.
Like any other breed of dog, however, you need to be a responsible dog owner when you mix kids and German Shepherd pups.
German Shepherds benefit from good socialization, and lots of training when you add them to a family with young kids.
Likewise, its important to teach your kiddos safe behavior around all dogs, to avoid unintentional negative interactions.
If your kids are older, a great way to mix kids and dogs is to have your children assist with training your German Shepherd.
Because GSDs are highly intelligent, theythrive with training and focus, and including your kids will help your GermanShepherd acclimate to your whole family.
A well socialized and trained German Shepherd makes a great companion for kids.
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How To Train A German Shepherd To Attack On Command
Are German Shepherds Dangerous Important Considerations
Are German Shepherds dangerous?
Well, theres no definite answer as it will vary from dog to dog. But a German Shepherd can most definitely be dangerous.
It will depend primarily on how the dog was raised. For example, if a German Shepherd was trained to be aggressive, or raised abusively, then it will most probably grow to be dangerous. On the other hand, German Shepherds that grow up in calm environments will generally grow to be kind and loving. Note, however, that even well-raised GSDs can get aggressive and dangerous when they get overprotective of their loved ones.
Now, while that answer kind of makes German Shepherds look bad, it really just depends on how the dog is raised. So, there are ways to keep a German Shepherd from becoming dangerous.
In this article, well look further into the German Shepherds aggressive tendencies, and what you can do about it.
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Myth #5 Do German Shepherds Bite
This is kind of an odd myth, but one that is out there regardless.
For some reason, German Shepherds have gotten a bad rap as a breed, known for biting.
Perhaps this myth is again fed by the breedsuse in aggressive jobs or maybe their size and imposing stature cause people toassume that they will be biters.
Fact: This is an unfairly earned myth. German Shepherds are not generallyknown to be biters. Biting is a bad habit that is encouraged by poor trainingand poor socialization.
According to the American Kennel Club, German Shepherds account for less than 2 percent of reported dog bites.
In fact, Americas favorite breed, the Labrador Retriever is more likely to bite a person than a German Shepherd. For dogs, biting is a response to fear and a need to defend themselves.
If a German Shepherd bites, its likely there is a reason. Few dogs bite without being provoked.
However, a well socialized and trained dog is more likely to be calm in a greater variety of situations, which can also reduce the risk of biting.
Get Your German Shepherds Attention Before They Have A Chance To Bark At Strangers
Timing is everything, so have your treats readily available to offer your dog.
You are looking to get their attention away from the distraction.
If your dog is so focused on the stranger they cant pay attention to the super tasty treat right in front of their nose, then move away from the stranger because youve surpassed your dogs threshold.
Many times, I have my German Shepherd perform the sit when were coming upon strangers and I think shes about to bark. I take a few feet back from the sidewalk with her and this distracts her to perform another activity, walking away and the sit, while she eats the treats and the stranger walks past.
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Remember that learning a new behavior takes time, especially a self-rewarding behavior like barking. This means your dog may take weeks and weeks of training to curb its desire to bark at strangers.
Keep rewarding them with pea-size pieces of soft treats when outdoors and when they look at you and sit , instead of barking.
Have patience and dont lose your temper.
Eventually, youll be able to have your dog closer and closer to strangers without them barking.
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Dog Aggression And Why Dogs Bite
A major objective of dog breeders over the centuries has been to produce dogs that are more and more aggressive. They have done this to produce dogs that provide for better protection or for entertainment in the form of dog fighting breeds like the pit-bull.
Dog bites can occur for many reasons. Dogs exhibits several types of aggression which results in biting including:
- Dominance Aggression: Usually directed at family members that interact with the dog. This form of aggression is triggered when something is taken from the dog or the the family member pets, holds, pick-ups or disturbs the dog when it is sleeping.
- Defensive Aggression: Can be directed to family member and non-family members and occurs when the dog is afraid and approached too quickly.
- Territorial Aggression: Directed at strangers that approach the home or yard.
- Predatory Aggression: Directed at small and quick moving animals and children.
- Pain Elicited Aggression: Directed to anyone that approaches the bog while it is in pain or injured.
- Punishment Elicited Aggression: Directed at anyone who yells, or hits the dog.
- Redirected Aggression: Directed at any person that approaches the dog when it is in an aggressive state.
Factors To Keep In Mind While Training Your Dog
Teaching a dog takes patience, practice and consistency. Make sure you stick to the routine. It may take time, but you will eventually see the difference and the hard work will pay off.
There are basically two major aspects you need to remember while teaching your dog to not jump. The first one is training and the second one is management. These two factors go hand in hand
Management: This is what will prevent your German Shepherd from jumping on you or any other person. This is a self-rewarding behavior.
Training: Refers to the act when you present your German Shepherd with a certain reward. When your GSD refrains from jumping on anyone whereas, withdrawing the reward when they jump on anyone. So in a way of training is built on management. Remember that for training, behavior and its consequence is the core belief.
A brief explanation:
You might have wondered why German Shepherd gets aggressive when they encounter an unfamiliar person or other dogs.
You bring home a new friend and your canine growls at them.
The simple explanation for this behavior is their territorial nature, or sometimes even protective instincts.
The reason your German Shepherd might jump on your new friend because he thinks of this new person as a danger to his territory, which can include your home and even you.
Aggression in types of dogs:
There are many ways for you to figure out the stance your dog adopts when it gets aggressive. Their body language says a lot.
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