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How Do You Discipline A German Shepherd

Disciplining Your German Shepherd: The Donts

How to Train German Shepherd to sit and stay

Weve already indicated that discipline does not imply punishment. Rather, it means reinforcing good behavior and deterring unbecoming behavior. In other words, you should not punish your German Shepherd.

Punishment here implies what not to do. Here are five donts when it comes to disciplining your German Shepherd:

Taking Apart The Good From The Bad

When the dog is born it does not know what is good or bad. It doesnt know what is acceptable or not. It doesnt know how to communicate what it wants or the behavior it should adopt.

It will be from the first minutes of its life, and throughout it, when it will learn the notion of good and evil .

A German Shepherd that follows a normal process lives the first two or three months of life with its mother.

It will be the dog and its siblings who will teach it some of the canine language, hygiene , the concept of rank and not biting.

If we take the trouble to observe the mother with her pups, we will see that when everything is fine, she does not say anything, but when it is not so, she moves them, grunts and places them in a submissive position.

All this will make the dog understand the concept of good and evil in its learning.

Then,

Effective Ways To Discipline A Gsd Pup

There are many opposing beliefs about the best ways to train and discipline dogs. While some believe that the best training methods involve punishing bad behaviors, research suggests that reward-based training methods are actually the most effective.

Additionally, behavioral issues can be addressed through redirection and behavior-specific training.

Here are the most critical parts of fostering good manners in a young German Shepherd:

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Tip #: Socialize Your German Shepherd Puppy

The most important German Shepherd puppy training tip is socialization. Right after you take your puppy to the vet for his first set of shots, enroll him/her in a puppy training or puppy socialization class. Some vets will tell you to keep the pooch inside until the full set of vaccines is completed. Unfortunately, if you do keep your pooch safe inside until he is 4-6 months of age, his socialization period will have closed forever and your chance to raise a friendly and confident dog drops significantly!That said, it is ultimately your decision whether you want to take the risk to take him outside or not. Most large US cities do not have too many disease problems and taking your puppy to a class where the trainer checks that every puppy has had the first set of shots is mostly safe. However, if you leave in a rural area, make sure there is not an outbreak of a disease that can affect your pooch.

Of all the German Shepherd puppy training tips, I suggest you really think this one through. As a dog trainer, I recommend you find a safe puppy socialization class because this developmental period is critical to prevent behavior problems in the future. Apart from that, you also need to socialize your puppy daily on your own, this link will explain the process and give you a list of things to check as you go!

Why Did I Get Rid Of My German Shepherd

How To Discipline A German Shepherd Puppy: Full Guide ...

The guy was actually going to get rid of him after a serious incident and was ready to hand him over to another family because he felt that his dog had tasted blood and that was the end of him as a good dog.

If your German Shepherd Dog pulls on the leash and gets what he wants then he will continue to do it and it will get worse.

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How To Get A German Shepherd Puppy To Stop Biting

You have to remember that it isnt as simple as taking your puppy to a class once or twice a week and then hoping for the best.

It requires constant effort on your part. You will need to consistently work with your dog to reinforce what you learn at obedience class and continue working with your puppy after completing the training course.

If you dont, your puppy is likely to backslide and stop listening to your commands.

That is why getting a good pet training course that you can continually reference is a fantastic idea.

Training A German Shepherd Puppy At 8 To 12 Weeks Old Yes You Can

A GSD pup of 8 to 12 weeks of age or older still needs positive reinforcement for the best behavior changes. Disciplining your GSD should not involve hitting, kicking, slapping, intimidation, or yelling. But you can and SHOULD start training a German Shepherd puppy when they first arrive home with you.

Do you want your German Shepherd puppy to stop their unwanted, bad behavior and turn into the sweet angel you want them to be?

Then follow these easy disciplining and training tips thatll keep your relationship with your dog strong, while still overcoming bad behavior. You can easily learn how to train a German Shepherd puppy if you work smarter

Not harder!

Also Check: Why Are German Shepherds The Only Police Dogs

How To Stop A German Shepherd Puppy From Biting

Adrienne is a certified dog trainer and former veterinarian assistant who partners with some of the best veterinarians worldwide.

Is your German Shepherd puppy’s biting driving you nuts?

If you are blessed with a German Shepherd puppy, you may at times feel at your wits’ end when it comes to those constant nipping behaviors. Don’t feel badyou are not alone. This breed is indeed notorious for nipping, and those sharp puppy teeth hurt! If your arms are covered with bruises, scratches and teeth marks, you surely are upset about it and are looking for a way to decrease the nipping and finally allow those wounds to heal.

Week 2 Training Your German Shepherd Puppy

At What Age Will Your German Shepherd First Get Aggressive
Socialisation exercises to do this week Training to do this week Husbandry Tasks to do this week
Fireworks
  • Load up your hand with treats, and pop them close to your puppys nose.
  • Starting with easy areas like their backs and sides, lightly brush through their coat.
  • As youre brushing away, feed them their treats through your fingers.
  • TIPS

    If your puppy is very nibbly when youre feeding them treats , stuff up a Kong and use that instead.

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    What Should I Do When I First Get A German Shepherd Puppy

    • Take your dog home, walk them around, and get them used to the house they will be living in
    • Give them a safe space, such as a crate or kennel with plenty of food and blankets
    • Start their potty training immediately
    • Teach them some easy commands, followed by plenty of rewards, in order to build up trust

    How To Teach Your German Shepherd Puppy To Not Bark

    German Shepherds are known for liking the sound of their own voice. It makes a lot of sense though, its essentially because they want to guard and alert people for danger. What can they do, they just love you?

    They also find barking self reinforcing, so once they start they can really rather enjoy it. While barking is a very natural and normal behaviour for dogs, it can be annoying for humans its not quite like music, is it.

    Heres how you get them to stop barking:

    First, find out why they are barking. Dogs can bark for a variety of reasons, but usually, its one of the following:

    • Territorial reasons: Alerting you to a threat. Cant blame them, they just want to make sure no one comes and gets you.
    • Fear or Anxiety: Barking or whining makes your puppy feel good and is often self soothing. Kind of when you sing in the shower.
    • Attention: A German Shepherd bark is loud and hard to ignore. Again, like your shower-singing habits.
    • Excitement: This happens most often when playing, theyre just letting you know how happy they are!
    • At other dogs: Theres always time for a chat. Who knows what theyre really saying, it can really be anything from Where did your owner get your lead? to Your breath is disgusting, please stay away.
    • Boredom: Barking makes dogs feel good when theyre bored. Strange, but true.

    Although these are all good reasons to bark, barking can become a problem in the human world. Heres a couple steps to follow to help you out on this:

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    They Were Bred For Looks Rather Than Temperament

    It’s unfortunate that nowadays there are more and more cases of German Shepherds bred poorly. I am no longer surprised to see enormous German Shepherds, much taller than the standard warrants.

    Often, I see many relinquished to shelters because they were bred poorly, with the breeders focusing more on looks than temperament.

    This would certainly really be a disappointment for Max von Stephanitz if he was still alive as he worked so hard to get that versatile, well-tempered perfect German Shepherd specimen.

    German shepherd bite inhibition

    Training Questions And Answers

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    Hi My dogs name is knight and the problems I’m facing with knight is when we our on walks he will constantly bark at people and dogs. I had an accident with knight when he was six months old I was using a long training lead he run off I went after him and got my foot caught in the training lead I fell hit my head and was knocked out and ended up in hospital. Meanwhile this left my daughters having to take knight home while I was at the hospital. Since then all he does is bark I would say aggressively at people other dogs due to coronavirus I have not been able to socialize him .Before all lockdowns when he was a pup I used to have my daughters friends over to stay and he was fine no problems. And now I’m just stuck I don’t know what to do .

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    How To Stop German Shepherd Puppy Nipping And Biting

    • Move your hand calmly and slowly from your puppy.
    • Show them what they can chew, instead, such as their favorite chew toy.
    • Have plenty safe chew toys to grab nearby to give your pup when they get wild and decide to bite you.
    • Dont participate in rough play using your hands, as this encourages nipping and biting.
    • Always use toys that your puppy can chew and bite to play with pick from this list of German Shepherd Chew Toys to Prevent Boredom so you have a safe puppy toy that can take their bites.

    This teaches your pup you dont like biting and nipping while offering them a positive alternative.

    During play, work on the signal easy when your pup plays too rough. When they stop biting or nipping reward them with verbal praise and pets.

    If they are still too rough, use a toy to show them whats acceptable to bite or remove yourself from playing for a few minutes. Return later to try playing with your pup again and repeat the procedure.

    Read this information for more helpful tips to stop your German Shepherd puppy from biting and nipping you.

    Start Training From Day 1 While Welcoming Your German Shepherd Puppy

    You should start slow training as soon as you bring your puppy home, you should have some rules to live by and adhere to.

    Shepherd dogs are one of the smartest dogs on the planet and quickly learn what we expect from them.

    The best way to learn how to train a German Shepherd puppy at home is to first work on our own behavior.

    You need to show them that any wrong behavior in our home is not acceptable. This means we have to be consistent when responding to their behavior.

    If we are not consistent, it can confuse our puppy, making it harder to prevent bad behavior.

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    What Is Trick Training And Why Your Dog Needs It

    After you have established engagement in training and your German Shepherd has the basics under the belt. You should consider stepping things up with trick training.

    Trick training will boost your dogs confidence. It is also a great motivator and builds a strong bond between owner and dog.

    Trick training will stimulate and challenge your German Shepherd. Remember, a German Shepherd has the capacity and intelligence to do just about any trick you can imagine.

    Just check out this video:

    Lets look at three of the most important obedience skills you should teach your German Shepherd straight off the bat:

    Without these three skills, youll struggle to train your German Shepherd. Master these and the skys the limit

    Avoid Physical Punishment And Abuse

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    Research shows that physically punishing your dog can increase aggression in your dog.

    Never do physical abuse on dog to correct unwanted behavior. Not only will this punishment hurt your puppy, it will also destroy your relationship and cause anxiety.

    Disciplining a German Shepherd puppy or dog does not mean using force, threatening or harassing them.

    This means setting expectations that they understand and being consistent.

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    Additional Idea: Keep It Fun

    This is no lesser points of excellent pet training. Make sure you take pleasure in interacting. You make errors, the canine makes mistakes, but the most essential thing is that you go through this process together. Not whatever is enjoyable, and not everything is easy. However as long as you keep good spirits, you avoid a dismaying environment during the training sessions. Encourage and reward your pet dog, but benefit yourself too. Ultimately, all your effort will be rewarded, and you will be an unwinded duo, filled with fun and understanding.

    Do Puppies Think Youre Their Mom

    So, yes, a puppy can definitely think of you as his mother that is, his provider and protector and develop as strong an emotional bond with you as if you were blood-related. Your puppy will also quickly learn to pick you out among strangers, both by sight and through his powerful sense of smell.

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    A Strong Intelligent Breed

    The German Shepherd breed is an intelligent, athletic, and strong breed. This is why they are used as police dogs, bomb detection, guard dogs, therapy dogs and family pets.

    This is a strong breed both physically and mentally. The problems start when owners do not recognize these traits and they land up with a mixed up, aggressive German Shepherd.

    Start training early to avoid aggressive behavior

    Your Dog Is Not A Person Your Dog Is A Reflection Of You

    How Do You Train A German Shepherd Puppy

    Your Dog is a Reflection of You!

    As humans, we personify everything we love including our beloved dogs. And in my opinion, there’s nothing wrong with that.

    As long as we remember that our dogs operate on instincts. And our emotions affect those instincts.

    For example

    There’s this Staffie names Apollo that has hydrotherapy on the same day as Charley.

    Now, Apollo and Charley hate each other. None of us are sure why though!

    So, a few weeks ago Charley was at her weekly hydrotherapy session when Apollo strolled past her massage mat.

    The moment I saw him I tensed up. And within a split second Charley, who has just had hip surgery, jumped up on all fours and started barking madly.

    She’s never had a problem with any of the other dogs around there. Even the owners 2 Jack Russell’s hang around her with no problems.

    Both myself and the therapist never saw it coming. But looking back now, I should have known

    Charley was reacting to her instincts.

    But

    My emotions played a big role in her final reaction. Charley was responding to me, but the results were not positive. Because I was tense and worried.

    You may be wondering what you can do to encourage your GSD to respond to you in a positive way.

    This brings us to the next golden rule

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    So What Really Is The Best Way To Train A German Shepherd Puppy

    The best way to train your German Shepherd is by following a fun, engaging program that teaches not only the basics but covers problem behaviors, too.

    The best way of training a German Shepherd puppy is not only by using positive reward-based techniques but also by incorporating fun games that work your breeds super intelligence in a productive way.

    Sound difficult?

    Its not, because you can learn how to train a German Shepherd puppy easily with this inexpensive online Brain Training for Dogs Obedience and Games Program from the comfort of your home. It teaches you how to get your pup to learn positive behaviors.

    Training German Shepherd puppies is fun when you know how and use the best program from the start.

    Dont make the mistake of missing out on early German Shepherd training

    Or youll regret it later when your GSD is larger, more powerful, and wont listen to you!

    My Puppy Barks At People Who Come To My House

    I really dont want him to do that. How do I stop him from barking at strangers?

    Barking is natural for dogs. They are doing their job by alerting their family that someone is coming. Its unreasonable to expect that a puppy will never bark. The key is that he should learn to stop barking once you have identified the issue and taken charge.

    Acknowledge that theyve done something wonderful and then take a leadership role so the puppy can relax. Here are some specific steps you should take:

    • As soon as puppy starts to bark, approach him to investigate what he sees.
    • Tell him hes a good boy and ask him to sit.
    • Praise him for the sit and answer the door.
    • If puppy continues to bark, say all done and give him work to do and reward him for the work.
    • In the future, the all done will come in handy to stop barking in many situations.

    No matter where you live, owning a dog is a long-term emotional and financial commitment and it’s important to take your neighbors into consideration.

    The AKC offers owners the following tips:

    • Train Your Dog – Puppies need to be properly socialized and trained.
    • Pick Up After Your Puppy – ALWAYS carry a plastic “baggy” to pick up any waste, then dispose of it properly.
    • Exercise – Puppies need regular exercise or they may become destructive. Take your puppy for walks or throw a ball in the back yard for a few minutes.
    • Prevent Nuisance Barking – Don’t let your puppy annoy your neighbors. Training and exercise can reduce barking.

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