Your Dog Is Not A Person Your Dog Is A Reflection Of You
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
How To Pick A German Shepherd Puppy
How are you supposed to know which dog to choose from? They are all going to be adorable. How can you tell which one will grow up to be the type of dog that you were looking for?
If you are not prepared to deal with it, trying to avoid getting a dog that has undergone trauma. Signs of trauma, like anxiety, distance, or antisocial behavior can be indicators of this. If there is any suspicious behavior from the breeder or anything that gives you cause to question the way that they care for their dogs, then you should not hesitate to seek a different breeder.
Make sure that the puppy you are choosing has just as much energy as their peers. Make sure that it is relatively easy for you to develop a connection with the dog before purchasing it. If he does not approach you or does not seem interested in developing a connection, they may have experienced trauma, or they may simply not like you. Some dogs simply don’t enjoy affection, and in many cases, this does not change when they become adults.
However, you must consider all aspects. If you are looking for a dog that will primarily be guarding your house or business, and we’ll be spending ample time alone, then perhaps it is wise to choose a dog that fares well on its own.
When Can I Take My German Shepherd Puppy For A Walk
You should start walking your German Shepherd puppy at 8 weeks of age. Begin with only 10 minutes of continuous walking at a slow and relaxed pace. Add on 5 minutes of walking for each month your pup is old. If they show signs of tiring, such as lying down, lagging, or continually stopping, then end the walk.
Also Check: German Shepherd Vs Pitbull
Week 6 Training Your German Shepherd Puppy
| Socialisation exercises to do this week | Training to do this week | Husbandry Tasks to do this week |
| Tick 3 things off your personal checklist | Following on walks |
- Have a treat pouch ready full of yummy treats.
- Make sure your puppy is relaxed, and not over excited.
How to do it
Easy peasy.
TIPS
· Looking inside your puppys mouth is quite difficult to handle for them so youll need to get them used to it slowly.
· If they struggle at all go back a step and stay there for a while. Work at touching around your puppys muzzle and chin before you go back to trying to check the inside of their mouth.
How To Raise Your German Shepherd Puppy To Be A Wonderful Citizen
There are few dogs that are as intelligent as the German Shepherd. They also learn fast, are loyal, beautiful and wonderful dogs to own. German Shepherd puppies will melt your heart if you’re lucky enough to have one. If you’re one of the many who are looking for German Shepherd puppies for sale, congratulations on what is going to become one of the best decisions that you’ve made. You’re about to find your best friend. One thing that you should keep in mind is the fact that the cute little puppy that you are bringing home will be growing into a smart, large, powerful dog. It’s important that this dog learns how to become a good family member, a great neighbor, and a wonderful citizen. If you’re wondering how you can accomplish all this, keep reading. You’re going to get some great tips on teaching your dog. Before we get to that, however, keep in mind that a reputable breeder is an essential place to start. The breeder will love your dog almost as much as you do and will have given it excellent care in its first few weeks of life.
Training
If your puppy is old enough to come home with you, he or she is old enough to begin training. Your breeder would not have taken it away from the mother if it were old enough. Start training now, from the minute you pull up to the house.
It’s Easier to Keep Bad Habits from Forming, Than to Break Them
Be a Good Leader
Exercise the Mind and the Body
Don’t Miss: Can German Shepherds Eat Eggs
Where To Get A German Shepherd Puppy
Never buy a German Shepherd puppy from a pet store or from an Internet site that will ship a pup to you without asking you any questions beyond “Check or charge?” These puppies come from puppy mills. They will not only be sickly, but they will have missed a major learning period for basic training and will be harder to train and more uncontrollable.
The best German Shepherd puppies come from breeders, animal shelters, or rescuers. German Shepherds are most often abandoned when they are six months old and past the cute stage.
Essential German Shepherd Puppy Training Tips
So you are eagerly awaiting the arrival of your new German Shepherd puppy or perhaps youve just welcomed him or her into your household as your newest best friend and family member.
While all you may want to do is play with your puppy for hours on end, there is much work to be done if you want your puppy to grow into the capable and intelligent dog that he has all the potential in the world to be. But this requires you to do your part.
Properly training a GSD puppy is essential. Not only will doing so work to ensure that your puppy listens to you, doesnt pick up destructive habits, and is just an overall good dog it will also ensure that your GSD will not present a danger to other people and animals. This is your responsibility, and you should not take it lightly.
In this article, we will give you some really helpful tips and instructions to make this happen. It is work, but its the kind of work that you will love doing, and it will serve both you and your GSD well for a lifetime to come.
Also Check: Shepadoodle Hypoallergenic
Are German Shepherd Puppies Vocal
German Shepherd dogs are adorable, driven, and energetic companions.
They are also quite vocal.
Other tests revealed that some German Shepherds can even make sounds as loud as 106 decibels.
Their vocalizations are not limited to barks they also howl, whine, moan, and make other strange sounds.
Read on to a few tips to induce this type of behavior in your GSD.
Tips For Socializing Your Pup
One of the first things that you will want to do with your dog is socialize it. The best way to do this is to introduce it to all manner of people and dogs as early as possible. You will want it to get to know people of different sizes, ethnic backgrounds, and ages, so that it becomes familiar with these types of people as soon as possible.
It’s also important to get your dog to bond with other types of animals. One of the best ways to do this is to enroll your puppy in a training school. This will not only help your dog get to know other dogs, but it will help them become properly trained.
You May Like: German Shepherd Training Techniques
Raising A German Shepherd Puppy
German Shepherd puppies are supernaturally charming. These fun-loving pups need proper care, love, and positive training so they become well-behaved dogs. Lack of proper training and guidance can make them large, mean animals.
A German Shepherd isnt just a magnificent companion to have in the house yet an awesome alert, as he is prepared to bark at any indication of risk. In any case, German Shepherd pups should be trained with a responsible person.
You need to make sure your dog knows its place in the pack and sees you as the pack leader. On the off chance that the dog considers himself to be the pack leader, behavioral issues, like savagery can become an integral factor.
Other factors that play a key role in the upbringing of a perfect German Shepherd are:
When To Seek Professional Help
Seek the help of a professional trainer the moment you begin to notice problems with biting or barking. You want to make sure any sign of aggression towards the dog’s family is stopped right away. Dogs are pack animals by nature, and you must make sure your dog knows its place in the pack and sees you as the pack leader. If the dog sees himself as the pack leader, behavior problems such as violence can come into play.
Don’t Miss: When Does A German Shepherd Reach Full Size
Give Your Dog Responsibilities
German Shepherds thrive best when theyre pre-occupied and able to use their unique physical and abilities. In fact, if you give your GSD some household chores, youll find that theyre happier and better behaved.
Apart from having a happy helper at home, giving your dog a job also gives you plenty of opportunities to train and reward them for their positive behaviors.
Tip #: Train Your German Shepherd Puppy To Ask For Permission
Dog commands and fun and useful and you can probably find hundreds to teach your GSD. This one though – Ask for permission– is technically not a command, because you will not ask your canine to do it every time, instead you want to teach him to do it on his own every time the occasion requires it. For example, wouldnt it be great if your puppy would look at you for approval before running after another dog or kid? Take time to do this with your puppy, it will be worth it!
This is another one of the most important German Shepherd puppy training tips because a dog that asks for permission is an obedient and safe dog.
You May Like: How To Train A German Shepherd To Attack
Training A German Shepherd Puppy
When Should I Start Training My German Shepherd Puppy
Training your German Shepherd should start as soon as you take them home. If youre getting your puppy from a breeder, this would be around 8 to 12 weeks old.
As puppies, German Shepherds are very impressionable. They learn rather quickly and have not yet picked up bad behaviors that can disrupt training.
Potty training will be a breeze and they can learn basic obedience very quickly. Additionally, they will learn to respect your leadership right away.
Don’t Miss: German Shepherd Hot Weather
Training Goal #: Socialization
Puppies of all breeds have a critical socialization window that closes at 12 to 16 weeks of life, and your GSD puppy is no exception. In fact, for GSDs, who by nature are protective guardians, socialization is extra important so that your puppy learns which strangers are friendly and not a threat.
GSDs are very observant, and your puppy will pick up on your cues and reactions around new people and new situations. During this critical period, having exposure to many different kinds of people in non-threatening situations will help your puppy be confident among friendly strangers rather than fearful or aggressive. And even during times of social and physical distancing, you can still socialize your puppy safely.
Proper socialization cannot be overemphasized for this breed as Adams notes, The foundation for most training is confidence. It is critical that the GSD puppy is well socialized from an early age onward. Safely exposing the puppy to new sights, sounds, and smells is absolutely critical for development. Good socialization translates to confidence.
Certified dog trainer and CGC evaluator Jacqui Foster, CPDT-KA, echoes this sentiment: I tend to lean more towards developing self-confidence in the puppy. For this I recommend short, fun, three-minute games that engage the puppy with the owner as well as in noises, weird and uneven surfaces, family members, etc., throughout the day. A confident puppy is a happy puppy.
Harness Fitting For A German Shepherd Puppy
The days for going on walks arent that far away! To prepare for the big day, getting used to wearing a harness will make your puppys transition to the outdoors much smoother.
Heres how to prepare:
- Pick a comfortable harness for them. A padded one that doesnt squeeze them tight will be brilliant.
- Adjust the harness roughly to the size of your puppy. If youre hesitating, its generally better that it fits too big rather than too tight.
How to do it
PRO TIP: Dont adjust the harness while theyre wearing itit will probably make them feel like its a dodgy piece of armoury. It if needs adjusting, take it off and resize before trying it on again.
Don’t Miss: Is My German Shepherd Too Skinny
German Shepherds Are Sloppy Family Members
Create a set routine and schedule and stick to it to avoid accidents and train your puppy faster.
Say hello to your new sloppy family member
Your German Shepherd!
They not only shed everywhere, but also dump water out when drinking, spill their food and
Have total disrespect for your carpets!
As a first time German Shepherd owner, heres your crash course in house training your new dog:
- Take your puppy out every 2 to 3 hours and especially first thing in the morning, after eating, after play or exercise, and right before their bedtime.
- Puppies, like a toddler, will have accidents because they dont have full control of their bladders at first.
- You must have them in a secure area or watch them all the time to avoid any accidents.
- Dont yell or push their face into the mess!
- Its your fault for not watching your dog, reading their body cues, or sticking to a routine.
Theres so much to know about house training your new family member that youll be surprised what you dont know after you read the full guide to potty training your German Shepherd.
No matter what you will clean up some kind of bodily function when owning a German Shepherd. So, do yourself a favor and stock up on pet stain and odor remover!