German Shepherd Puppy 8 Weeks

How To Train A German Shepherd Puppy The Ultimate Guide

Fully Qualified COAPE Behaviourist and Registered Training Instructor with The Animal Behaviour and Training Council

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Welcome to the German Shepherd Club! Word has it youve picked up your new puppy and now youre looking for information on German Shepherd training? Well youve come to the right place, were going to teach all you need to know about how to train a German Shepherd Puppy

German Shepherds are special because theyre such hard workers! Theyre even in the working dog group, says something doesnt it? It means theyre quick to learn and easy to train, theyll relish being in a partnership with someone and enjoy clear loving guidance. Theyre known for their loyalty and bravery but are also actually super sensitive awww.

German Shepherd Puppy Training: Stop The Biting

Socialization is hard work, bite-inhibition is even harder! But it is one of the best things you can ever teach your pup. Dogs have really strong jaws and can learn to apply just the right amount of pressure with it.

Bite inhibition teaches your canine friend how to properly apply force with his/her mouth without harming anyone. Adult dogs that have had this kind of training can get into fights and defend themselves without drawing blood.

This is so important to avoid any type of dog-human or dog-dog bite accidents.

German Shepherd puppy dogs have sharp teeth for a reason:

to learn how to use their mouth properly.

Teach your puppy to bite without hurting!

To teach your pooch not to hurt human skin you will need to yelp like a puppy every time you feel teeth in contact with your skin. Engage in puppy play and Yelp when you feel teeth. Your pup will most likely stop in surprise. As soon as he has stopped, wait 5-10 seconds and resume play. Repeat as many times as needed.

• Start with those bites that really hurt or scratch. If you yelp every time you feel teeth, your puppy will think it is how you play. It may take a few weeks for you to notice that your pup is not hurting as much…only then, start yelping for the next level bites, those that bother. Progressively teach your pup to play without hurting you. This make take a couple of months!

• Never punish your puppy for play-biting, this can lead to aggression or your puppy fearing “hands” near his face.

German Shepherd Feeding Guide For Seniors

You will need to modify your German Shepherds diet when he changes from adult life stage to senior. Older German Shepherds have lower energy needs.

They will begin to have less physical activity and move slower, and so they will require fewer calories each day. You should increase in fiber amount in their diet because digestion tends to slow down in seniors

There are some commercially sold dog foods that are already adjusted for seniors. If you prepare your own dog food, you will need to reduce the calories primarily through the carbs.

Senior German Shepherds still require proper nutrition, especially for their bones and joints.

When it comes to treats, senior dogs should have healthy ones like whole-food treats such as apple slices or carrots.

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Week 5 Training Your German Shepherd Puppy

Week 5 already, what quirks have you spotted in your German Shepherd?

Were going to be taking the lead walking and recall training outside youll be grateful for the harness you taught your German Shepherd puppy to wear for this bit. If you think this training is as easy as a walk in the park, think again. For the time being, its all about training a puppy to learn how to walk properly and how to react to whats going on around them.

For socialisation, start working on items that are vital to your lifestyle this week, such as if you have a horse and want your puppy to be comfortable with horses, or if you enjoy sailing, having them near water will be important to you. Getting your puppy exposed to new experiences early on can help them accept them much more easily.

What Does This Have To Do With How I Train My German Shepherd

Its a fair question actually. A dog is a dog is a dog right? But knowing the context and breed characteristics might help you train your German Shepherd puppy better and understand why they do certain things the way they do.

Here are a couple things to keep in mind:

PRO TIP: If your German Shepherd puppy switches off or starts acting silly they may resort to doing what they know best nipping or barking. Shift to some play, let them have some downtime and revisit training later we want training to be associated with fun, and not something they begin to dread.

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Week Old German Shepherd Diarrhea

If your brand new puppy has an upset stomach despite your best efforts, dont worry too much its normal for puppies to have diarrhea within the first few days of arriving at their new homes.

The stress of such a drastic life change can manifest in different ways, and an upset stomach is a pretty common reaction.

You can give your pup a better chance of having a settled stomach by keeping her on the food she was eating before you brought her home, and feeding on a consistent schedule.

Diarrhea can also be a sign of an underlying issue besides stress, however, and severe diarrhea can be life-threatening if left untreated.

If your puppy is vomiting, has bloody diarrhea, seems unusually lethargic, or is refusing to eat or drink, then its time to call the vet.

Is A German Shepherd Is Right For You

Before answering this question, it is imperative to check if parenting any German Shepherd is right for you to begin with. This breed is a very demanding one. It requires plentiful exercise to remain physically and mentally healthy. Without adequate playtime and activity, dogs of this breed can become destructive.

So the question here is, do you have the facilities required to give your German shepherd this level of exercise? Do you have a yard, a park or a lawn near you where you can exercise your dog? Do you have the time to take them out on frequent walks? German Shepherds are usually suitable for people who engage in high-intensity sports such as running and bicycling. Will you be able to engage in such activities for the benefit of your dog as well as you?

Similarly, German Shepherds are highly sociable animals and thrive in interactive environments. They need other dogs or people around them most of the time. Does your daily routine allow you to be near your dog for long periods of time?

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Diet For An 8 Week Old German Shepherd Puppy

Puppies need to feed on quality pet food. Worth to note, continue feeding your puppy on a diet she was accustomed to.

If you want to change the type of diet, do it in phases.

Why?

An inconsistent diet and diet plan on a puppys tummy is harmful. Your puppy may start to diarrhea or even develop other unprecedented stomach complications.

Dont feed your puppy all at once. Do it in phases. Instead of one wholesome meal, let your puppy feed-in portions four times a day.

Plus:Best dog foods for German Shepherd puppies.

Use The Food Lure Method

All dogs love a great treat take advantage of this when training your pup. The food lure trick means that you use sufficiently appealing pieces of food to motivate your dog to follow specific commands and actions. For example, you can get your pup to sit by waving a bit of food above its nose slowly. Once down, you can move the food back up to get your dog to follow the stand command. For each task your pup accomplishes, you can reward it with the treat.

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Introducing Your Puppy To A New Home Environment

Before bringing your newly adopted puppy home, it is essential for you to puppy-proof your home! Go down on all fours and check for sharp objects, hazardous materials, or any other dangerous substance that your puppy might end up chewing or swallowing.

Cover your electrical outlets as well. Stock your home with food that your puppy has been eating while under the breeder’s care. Keep an adequate amount of food and water, water bowls, treats, and grooming tools such as brushes, shampoos for puppies and nail clippers. Cleaning detergent for stains and smells will also come in handy in case of any accidents.

German Shepherds, being extremely active, will tend to run across your halls, and in such cases, an accident or two are bound to happen. In such cases, it would be a good idea to restrict your dog’s movements to areas that can be cleaned easily. Furthermore, German Shepherds have sharp claws and can ruin expensive hardwood floors, so it would be wise to keep them away from such flooring.

As mentioned previously, your puppy will be nervous during the first few days. Frequent bathroom breaks will be a necessity for your pup, and thus, keep an area designated just for this purpose. Also, let your dog run around the house and acquaint itself with its surroundings. If your dog is chewing or biting furniture in a puppy-proofed home, you could offer a toy as a distraction.

Principles Of German Shepherd Puppy Training

The purpose of any dog training is to have behavioral skills picked and maintained. As in human training, a good dog trainer is one who bears in mind that the trainee learns better when treated right, with utmost patience, and with consistent regard to the dogs feelings. I explain these training requirements in 10 key principles of successful German Shepherd puppy training.

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How Much Bigger Will My German Shepherd Get

There are a few ways to gauge how much bigger a German Shepherd will get.

First, check your puppy’s age. If your GSD is younger than two years old, they definitely have room to keep growing!

Another way to tell if your pup still has a lot of growing to do is their paw size. Do their paws look large compared to their legs and body? This is a classic adolescent feature of a dog, and means your pup is likely still growing!

If you bought your German Shepherd from a breeder, they should be able to give you a specific, estimated weight based on your puppys parents and past litters. Most of the time, a dog will not grow bigger than its larger parents.

Can I Walk My 2 Month Old German Shepherd

Yes, you can walk your puppy in the backyard or any other fenced space after it is vaccinated. Though remember that your little doggy cannot go on long walks yet, so never make its walks too long. 10-15 minutes 4 times per day is pretty enough. Another thing to consider is that it cannot follow you yet, so try to avoid going for walks in the open spaces and streets, or your pup can get lost.

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Midday: Snooze And Training In Between

Its typical for your German Shepherd puppy to fall asleep during the day, but the best snooze time for them is in the middle of the day.

Between naps, you can do playtime and training activities to help release energy, encourage physical activity, and develop a strong bond between you and your German Shepherd.

Introducing The Puppy Crate

A crate can be your best friend when it comes to caring for your 8-week-old puppy.

While some people think of crates as cruel, the reality is that with the right training, your puppy will think of her crate as a safe, quiet space where she can go to relax.

If you leave your puppy unsupervised at home, you may come back to find a whole lot of destruction.

Puppies can get into all kinds of trouble on their own, with their natural curiosity and desire to chomp down on just about everything in their path.

A crate can help you keep your German Shepherd puppy and your belongings! safe and sound when you cant be there.

Crate training also can help housetraining go more smoothly, since your puppy wont want to go potty where she sleeps.

But its very important to introduce the crate properly, and never use crate time as a punishment.

Lets look at a schedule now, to help smooth the way through those early days with your new friend

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Know Your Dogs Signals

Keep an eye on your dog and heed the many signals theyre giving you about their emotional state.

Do this well, and youll avoid potential problems later on. Ignoring fear and stress signals will only teach your dog to fear that object.

Fear can cause your dog to become aggressive or suffer from anxiety.

Instead, back off what youre teaching them or leave the object or area that is stressing your dog. Dont punish them for having emotions you dont understand.

Instead, learn to understand your dogs communication early on and react accordingly.

Never, ever try to become the alpha!

This is old-school thinking thats been proven harmful to young dogs.

Instead, learn to become their favorite teacher and speak their language. 99% of dog training is learning to speak your dogs unique language and building your relationship on this.

How To Train An 8 Week Old German Shepherd Puppy: Beginners Guide

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If you have just brought an 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy home, you know that youve just added dog training to your list of daily chores. What you might not know is how easy or challenging your new job will be. Your new German Shepherd is young, and youve never owned a dog before, and even if you have, each puppy is different. So, how do you train an 8-week old German Shepherd Puppy?

To train an 8-week old German Shepherd puppy,initiate him to being gently handled, and teach him his name. Train him early with basic commands using positive reinforcement. Let him know that you are the alpha, be consistent, dont yell or use physical punishment, and discipline at the moment.

There are three golden rules when training an 8-week old German Shepherd:

These three golden rules of dog training summarize the details you will find in this article. Ill tell you why training your German Shepherd puppy young will yield success, the principles you should follow when training your German Shepherd puppy, and the core training areas you should target.

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Week 4 Training Your German Shepherd Puppy

Week 4, its been a whole month since you started training your German Shepherd puppy.

To keep things fresh well introduce some new ideas such as

• Push/Drop/Stick making exercise more difficult
• Time to start teaching loose lead walking
• Meeting another dog
• Grooming sensitive areas this will be an important one to get the hang of as your German Shepherd will shed quite a lot of hair!
• Looking for a Puppy Class this is a fun one.

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Chicken by-product meal, wheat gluten, corn, oat groats, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, chicken fat, brewers rice flour, brown rice, natural flavors, dried plain beet pulp, fish oil, sodium silico aluminate, monocalcium phosphate, vegetable oil, calcium carbonate, pea fiber, potassium chloride, psyllium seed husk, L-lysine, salt, fructooligosaccharides, sodium tripolyphosphate, vitamins , hydrolyzed yeast , choline chloride, taurine, DL-methionine, glucosamine hydrochloride, trace minerals , marigold extract , Yucca schidigera extract, chondroitin sulfate, carotene, rosemary extract, preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid.

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This diet contains 3639 kilocalories of metabolizable energy per kilogram or 331 kilocalories ME per cup on an as fed basis .

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German Shepherds Weight And Growth Chart: The Complete Guide

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German Shepherds weigh anywhere between 66 to 88 pounds for males and between 49 to 71 pounds for females. German Shepherd Dogs large dogs and their weight is justified by their height, which at the shoulder is about 24 to 26 inches for males and 22 to 24 inches for females.

Is your German Shepherd the correct weight and height for their age?

Read on to find out everything you need to know about German Shepherd development, weight, and height!

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