How I Stopped Line Pulling And Aggression After Failing With Even The Simplest Dog Training Advice
When I first got my GSD, I was super excited. For the longest time, I had been dreaming of owning and training a German Shepherd and the dream was about to come through. Things turned out differently though. As she was growing up, I started having real problems.
House-breaking was tough, but I got there in the end. What I couldnt solve was her constant barking and fighting with other dogs. And her pulling on the line. So living with her became a constant struggle:
- Going for a walk meant sore hands and trying to evade other dog owners.
- Having people over meant I had to leash her outside to be able to have any reasonable conversation.
- I had to be constantly on the lookout because she would viciously attack any dog wed meet.
I tried a lot of advice and went to a lot of training sessions, but the problems kept coming back. I wondered whether to keep her because this was not what I signed up for. I read all the well-known books Training the German Shepherd Dog and How To Raise The Perfect Dog .
But it only made more aggressive! There was something missing.
Tthen I discovered something so important it changed my view on dog training forever.
Once I started using my own little trick, and some additional information from The German Shepherd Handbook, things really turned around.
Now, I know there is a ton of advice on dog training around. So there might be other ways to accomplish your goal.
How Smart Are German Shepherds
A lot of people from the US and Canada are interested in how smart dogs are.
According to the findings of a recent language development test the average dog has the mental abilities of a 2-year-old. In terms of ranking, the top three are Border collies, Poodles, and then German shepherds.
But when it comes to training, German Shepherds are considered to be the best. Police and special forces use them almost exclusively.
Border Collies and Poodles might be more intelligent, but they are not as trainable as GSDs.
Con: German Shepherds Need A Lot Of Attention
Smart dogs get bored quickly. Their mind needs to be stimulated on a near-constant basis so that they dont become destructive. In addition to needing mind stimulation, German Shepherds have a lot of energy. They need to spend a lot of time expending it, whether on walks or running around with other dogs.
German Shepherds need at least two hours of exercise every day. Take it on walks but be sure to include some outdoor off-lease time, whether it be in a backyard or at a dog park. If you dont have time to exercise your German Shepherd, have a friend or hire a dog walker to help out.
Instead of trying to get your dogs activity done all at once, try spreading out walks and exercise throughout the day to keep your pup engaged and satisfied. If you love long walks and spending time outside, especially with your dog, dont see it as a disadvantage. Instead, view it as an opportunity to have a walking buddy every day!
Recommended Reading: Do Dutch Shepherds Shed A Lot
Are German Shepherds Dangerous
Due to their history as service and guard dogs, German Shepherds have an unfair reputation as being dangerous or aggressive. Whilst the breed can be very vocal and protective, they are not known to be aggressive by nature and are in fact loving and gentle dogs who crave companionship. Aggression is generally a behavioural issue that will arise if your dog is left alone too often, becomes bored, is not exercised enough or is improperly trained. When looking for a German Shepherd puppy, its important to see the puppy with its mother and within the litter to get a good idea of its temperament and the behaviour that your dog may inherit.
They Get Bored Easily
Despite their drive and eagerness to please, youll need to exert a lot of effort in keeping them engaged. Apart from mental and physical stimulation, you must provide enough motivation for them to learn and listen. Their tendency to tire of things easily might also mean youll need to change toys and treats more often.
Also Check: Can German Shepherds Eat Ham
Children And Other Pets
If they’re well-trained and have had plenty of exposure to kids, especially as a puppy, a German Shepherd is a great companion for children. In fact, some say they’re a cross between a babysitter and a cop, both gentle with, and protective of, the children in their family.
This is a big dog, though, capable of mistakenly bumping a toddler or small child. True to their reserved nature, they’re not tail-wagging friendly with kids they don’t know, but they’re generally trustworthy.
The German Shepherd can also live peacefully with other dogs and pets, as long as they’re taught to do so from puppyhood. Introducing an adult German Shepherd to a household with other pets can be more difficult if the dog isn’t used to getting along with other dogs or cats. You may need to hire a professional trainer to help, or get advice from the rescue organization if that’s where you acquired the adult German Shepherd.
German Shepherd Vs Pitbull Temperament
Both breeds have some similarities and some differences when it comes to their temperament. They are both extremely intelligent and hard working dogs. GSDs are known for their smarts and ability to train. Pits excel in performance type events because of their intelligent nature. Both of these breeds are also confident and strong.
The main difference between their temperament is their attitude towards strangers. GSDs make excellent guard dogs because of their wariness around strangers. Pits on the other hand are friendly with everyone including strangers. Because of this, American Pitbull Terriers arent a top choice for guard dog.
GSDs are also full of energy compared to the Pit which has a moderate amount of energy. It doesnt take as much to keep them happy.
Read Also: Who Would Win In A Fight German Shepherd Or Pitbull
Don’t Miss: Long Hair Black German Shepherd
German Shepherd Iq Test How Smart Is Your German Shepherd
Researching for how intelligent is your German Shepherd? The German Shepherd IQ test can help you figure out how intelligent they are in addition to their trainability and problem solving potentials. Listed below are some basic activities you can complete with your German Shepherd to examine their IQ. A scoring process is also applied so you can identify where your German Shepherd sits on the pet dog IQ scale.
Task 1: Leave a big blanket or towel over the top of your German Shepherds head. This will test your German Shepherds problem solving capabilities.
- 3 points if they figure it out in under 15 seconds
- 2 points if they figure it out in 15-30 seconds
- 1 point if they figure it out in over 30 seconds
Task 2: Put 3 empty containers upside down in a row. While your German Shepherd is looking, put a treat under one of the bowls and distract them for a handful of seconds just before letting them find the snack. This will examine your %%breep%%s learning and absorbing information skills.
- 3 points if they go straight to the right cup
- 2 points if they inspect one empty cup prior to discovering the best cup
- 1 point if they check both the empty cups before finding the best cup
Task 3: Put 3 empty cups upside down in a row. While your German Shepherd is looking, put a reward under one of the cups and distract them for a couple of seconds before letting them discover the treat. This will test your %%breep%%s knowing and maintaining information abilities.
Scoring:
Gsds Are Loving Companions
These are very social dogs who want to spend time with their humans. The more time your dog gets to spend with you, the happier your companion will be. They may exhibit aloofness with strangers rather than immediately adoring everyone they see, but that only makes their love even more special. Plus, these loyal and dedicated guardians and gentle family pets are willing to put their life on the line to protect their loved ones. And you cant ask for a more loving best friend than that.
Recommended Reading: German Shepherd In Heat Diapers
Do German Shepherds Have High Iq
YES! German shepherd dogs possess a high intelligent quotient and are regarded as the 3rd most intelligent dog breed globally.
German shepherds can learn new commands in less than five repetitions and demonstrate a high obedience rate.
They will successfully obey known commands at the first try with a 95% above success rate.
German Shepherd Intelligence Ranking Compared To Other Breeds First Studies Into Dog Intelligence
Our understanding of Canine intelligence has come a long way in the last 30 to 40 years.
There are newer books and studies out now, and the book itself has received some criticism for its limited view of and questionable study data for dog intelligence, but originally published in 1994 , the book The Intelligence of Dogs intended outline the differences in intelligence between different breeds of dogs.
The book identified that there were 3 types of dog intelligence instinctive intelligence, adaptive intelligence, and working and obedience intelligence.
The book then focused in on working and obedience intelligence a dogs ability to learn from humans.
Dog obedience judges were sent requests to provide results of their work with the different dog breeds in understanding new commands.
There were 10 dog breeds listed as the brightest dogs, and these breeds:
Understood new commands in fewer than 5 repetitions.
And obeyed the first command 95% of the time or better
The top 10 dog breeds were:
1. Border Collie
Don’t Miss: Raw Meat For German Shepherd
German Shepherd Dogs And Their Keen Sense Of Smell
German Shepherd Dogs are valued for their sharp sense of smell. Their expertise to identify trace chemicals that are entirely beyond human and complex mechanical detection is well established.
How good is their sense of smell?
Well, a German Shepherds sense of smell is so powerful that with just six months of training, a pair of German Shepherds became 100% accurate in identifying breast cancer . If thats not amazing enough, in 2015, two German shepherds were trained to detect prostate cancer, and they were correct more than 95% of the time 04573-X/abstract” rel=”nofollow”> source).
These accuracy rates are better than modern scientific testing thats currently on the market!
And, while many of us are privileged enough to have access to state-of-the-art hospitals, others are in dire need. So, having a German Shepherd journey to remote villages to warn of medical issues is easier and less expensive than building new hospitals or expensive tests that many cant afford.
Measuring A German Shepherds Intelligence
German Shepherds are the third smartest dogs in the world. But how did we come to this conclusion? Who ranked these dog breeds based on IQ? The list of smartest dog breeds measures just one type of dog IQ: obedience & working intelligence.
This term was coined by canine psychologist, researcher and pHD Stanley Coren. Though this type of dog intelligence is not perfect, it still tells us a lot. In short, obedience and work measures how fast a dog can learn and retain information.
Sure, theres definitely a correlation between the speed of learning commands and intelligence. Even so, this favors breeds that enjoy working, such as the German Shepherd, more than others breeds that are meant for something else.
Don’t Miss: Do German Shepherds Ears Stand Up Naturally
Why Isnt My German Shepherd Smart
Although German Shepherds are a naturally brainy breed, every dog has a different personality and not all Sheps will be geniuses. However, that doesnt mean your dog isnt smart or cant learn. If you have adopted an adult rescue German Shepherd, they may also struggle with training if they did not receive any at a young age, but dont despair!
Any dog can learn at any age, you just have to put in some extra time and effort, be patient, follow good training practices and seek help from a professional if youre struggling.
What Is The Intelligence Of A Poodle
Poodles are the second most intelligent dog on Earth, just behind the Border Collie. In fact, when consistently trained, these dogs can learn and remember 300 or more words. Poodles are also extremely emotionally Intelligent and are especially responsive to human verbal tone, gestures, and body language.
Recommended Reading: Kitten And German Shepherd
The History Of German Shepherds
As his name suggests, the German Shepherd originated in Germany, where he was created in the nineteenth century primarily by Captain Max von Stephanitz, who wanted to develop a dog that could be used for military and police work. The result was a dog that encompassed striking good looks, intelligence and versatility.
The adaptable and attractive dogs soon drew the attention of dog lovers in other countries. While Rin Tin Tin is the most famous of the early German Shepherds, he was not the first to come to the United States. One is known to have been brought to the U.S. in 1906, and the American Kennel Club registered a German Shepherd in 1912. The following year, people interested in the breed formed the German Shepherd Dog Club of America.
World War I put a dent in the breeds burgeoning popularity because the dogs were associated with the enemy. German Shepherds braved artillery fire, land mines and tanks to supply German soldiers in the trenches with deliveries of food and other necessities.
After the war, movies featuring Rin Tin Tin and fellow German Shepherd Strongheart brought the breed back into favor. American audiences loved them. For a time, the German Shepherd was the most popular breed in the United States.
These days, the breeds star is rising again. Current AKC rankings place him second only to the Labrador Retriever.
Does Intelligence Affect Temperament
Intelligence is absolutely a marker that affects a dogs temperament. The German Shepherds ability to learn and obey make it a well-behaved dog, as long as its well-trained. The breeds instinctive intelligence of loyalty and protection makes it the ideal dog to have around in a sticky situation.
According to the German Shepherd Dog Club of America, the breeds personality is marked by the following traits:
- Direct and fearless, not hostile
- Self-confident
- Eager and alert
The German Shepherds outstanding loyalty makes it a dog you want on your side. In 2016, Haus, a 2-year-old German Shepherd, won the Exemplary Companion Award for Canine Excellence. Haus was bitten three times by a rattlesnake from which he was protecting his 7-year-old human companion. His inspiring protective instincts saved the girl.
You May Like: Best Deshedder For German Shepherd
What Colors Do German Shepherds Come In
The most common colors are black and tan, black and red, black and cream, or black and silver. These colors cover the dog in one of these three patterns:
- Saddleback the black overlays the dog’s back and sides . The rest of the dog is tan, red, cream, or silver. Usually there’s some black on the face, as well.
- Blanketback the black extends further down the shoulders and hips.
- Bicolor like a Doberman or Rottweiler, which is mostly black with small tan/red/cream markings specifically confined to the head, chest, and legs. Honestly I don’t know why this pattern is called bicolor, which simply means two colors. As we’ve just seen, the other two patterns also have just two colors.
Another common color is sable, which is an overall shade of gray, golden, or red, with black-tipped hairs that create a “dusted with black” effect.
A less common, but perfectly acceptable, color is solid black.
“Faulty” colors
Then there are two controversial colors: blue and liver:
- Blue German Shepherds have inherited a color-modifying gene that changes their black pigment to smoky gray. Many blue dogs look as though they’ve been dusted with flour.
- Liver German Shepherds have inherited a color-modifying gene that changes their black pigment to brown .
Blue and liver are considered serious faults by the official German Shepherd clubs and breeders who show their dogs in the conformation ring. But you can still register these dogs and compete with them in activities such as obedience and agility.
Gsds Are Incredibly Smart
If youre a German Shepherd owner, you have a strong suspicion your dog might actually be smarter than you are. After all, what cant your dog do? These dogs are known for their intelligence and many can learn a new behavior in only a few repetitions. In addition, they have a legendary desire to cooperate and work with us, a trait many see as a wish to please their humans. No wonder this breed excels at so many activities and is a top Obedience competitor. Because German Shepherds are one of the brightest breeds, be sure to be consistent, use positive reinforcement-based methods, provide plenty of mentally stimulating toys, and play brain-challenging games.
Also Check: German Shepherd Line Drawing
How Smart Are German Shepherds Compared To Humans
Every dog is different, just like us, and there are several kinds of intelligence. So, it is hard to rank somebodys intelligence as a whole, whether theyre human or otherwise, let alone compare with other species.
That said, we know that humans and German Shepherds make great working companions in the most high-pressure situations so we must be a pretty good match!
Test 4 Functional Treasure Hunting
This test is one of my favorites but is not possible in all homes. If you have a bed or a table that your German Shepherds head cannot fit underneath but his front limbs can, you can conduct it. But in the absence of such a structure, this test is difficult. But heres how you do it:
- Stand next to a low-elevation furniture item.
- Instruct your dog to come over.
- Once he is nearby, take a treat and place it under the furniture item.
- Track how long it takes for the dog to get his treat.
Score: If the dog reaches under the furniture with his paw only and gets the treat in under a minute, give him 6 points. Give him 4 if he reaches with his paw, but it takes over a minute. If the dog tries to reach with his head, give him 3 points, and only 1 if he gives up.
Note: This test works only if the furniture is too low for the dog to get under with his head/mouth. This test is nullified if he reaches underneath with his mouth and gets the treat.
You May Like: German Shepherd Nickname