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.
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.
Tip #: Teach Your German Shepherd Puppy To Use His Mouth Properly
You may have noticed that your German Shepherd puppy likes to chew on your shoes, toys, boxes, carpets, pillows, your handswell, pretty much everything! Before you loose your mind let me tell you that this is normal puppy behavior. At this age dogs explore everything with their mouths and even though annoying, it is a great time to teach your pet what is appropriate for his mouth as well as how to soften the bite. The reason German Shepherd dog puppies have sharp teeth is because they are capable of learning how much pressure to apply when biting different things. This is good news! It means you can actually teach your pooch that when biting human skin they need to be absolutely soft and tender. To train a German Shepherd puppy to do this follow this link!
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Grooming: Do German Shepherds Shed A Lot Are They Easy To Groom
About shedding….
I have good news and bad news.
The good news is that German Shepherds have only one shedding period a year.
The bad news is…. their shedding period lasts for 365 days. In other words, German Shepherds shed constantly.
How is this different from most breeds?
Most breeds shed a few hairs here and there throughout the year. But the vast bulk of their shedding occurs only twice a year for three weeks in the spring as their thicker winter coat switches over to a cooler summer coat, and for three weeks in the fall as the summer coat switches over to a winter coat.
Not German Shepherds. They shed a TON during those spring and fall coat-switching seasons. Plus they shed moderately the rest of the year.
So year-round, you’ll find hair on your clothing, on your carpets, and under your refrigerator. Frequent vaccuming will become a way of life.
You might be wondering, “How can a shorthaired dog shed so much?” The answer is that German Shepherds have a double coat. They have a short outer coat , plus a woolly undercoat . Breeds with a double coat always shed more than breeds who simply have an outer coat but no undercoat.
German Shepherds come in a long coat, as well as a short coat. Both coats shed heavily.
Now, about grooming….
How much grooming is required depends on whether a German Shepherd is shorthaired or longhaired.
Longhaired dogs need trimming
Along with brushing and combing, longhaired German Shepherds need trimming every few months.
How Sociable Are German Shepherds
Are they friendly with strangers?
Most German Shepherds are reserved with strangers. As the breed’s national club says, a good German Shepherd has:
“a certain aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships. The dog must be approachable, quietly standing its ground and showing confidence and willingness to meet overtures without itself making them.”
As you might imagine, this can be a fine line to walk. Without proper guidance from the owner, a German Shepherd’s natural aloofness can morph over the line to suspiciousness, distrust, and even aggression or fearfulness.
When you own an aloof breed, you need to socialize the dog thoroughly. This means a careful program of teaching him to pay attention to you and mind you in the presence of other people and other dogs. He doesn’t have to like them, but he must accept them.
One thing I should mention: many German Shepherds who bark and lunge at strangers or other dogs aren’t being either protective or aggressive. Rather, this kind of reactivity can be the dog’s attempt to hide his own insecurities behind a blustering facade.
There are also legal liabilities to consider when you acquire a German Shepherd. For example, your homeowner insurance policy might be cancelled or the rates hiked, because people are often quicker to sue if a “guard dog breed” does anything even remotely questionable.
Are German Shepherds good with children?
Are German Shepherds good with other pets?
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Why Won’t My Dog Come When I Call Him
Have you ever trained your dog to come when called, and then when you call him, he completely ignores you? You are not alone! There are many reasons why your pup is not responding to your command.
- More training is needed. Your dog might not be ready to be off the leash in wide, open spaces and needs more systematic training. Go back to the basics and try again.
- Competing reinforcers. Your dog might be perfectly well-trained to come to you when you call him, but other creatures & people can win in the competition for your dogs attention. It is important for you to know your dog, and that includes knowing when you need to leave the leash on.
- No reinforcement. When you call your dog and he comes to you, it is important to reward him. No reinforcement leads your dog to not wanting to come to you. You can use a food treat or plenty of praise.
- Not understanding the dogs needs. Sometimes your dog will not come when called because you are rushing him. He may need to run, sniff around a bit, or search longer for a good bathroom break spot.
Puppies expect to be “paid” for good behavior. Praise in a happy voice and small treats are the best form of reward for good behavior.
Start by teaching your puppy his/her name. By 4 months, they should know sit, down, come, go out, and wait/stay. Be consistent & patient and reward good behavior. Training for a few minutes several times a day is better than a longer training session.
How To Do Clicker Training For German Shepherds
Clicker training is a popular reward-based training method. Its a great option for German Shepherd owners because its direct. The dog wants to please their owner, and is a simple way of letting your dog know what you want so you can instantly reward them once they comply.
If youre interested in clicker training your dog, the good news is that you only need one thing: a clicker. A clicker is a small plastic device with a button makes a distinctive clicking noise when you press it.
There are tons of different clickers on the market, and they all pretty much do the same thing. The brand and model you choose will be based largely on personal preference. The difference is mostly in the sound: some are loud, while others make a softer clicking noise.
Youll want to find a clicker that you wont lose, and that is comfortable to use. Some, such as the Downtown Pet Supply clicker, come with a bracelet so you can wear the clicker around your wrist during training sessions.
Others, such as the Starmark Pro-training clicker, have a keyring and can easily be attached to your house keys, which is particularly useful if youre using the clicker to help with potty training. Its also great to be able to train on-the-go.
Whatever clicker you choose, the methodology is much more important than the hardware involved. When clicker training your dog the most important thing is consistency.
Heres a simplified step-by-step guide to clicker training:
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Teaching Your German Shepherd Puppy To Lay Down
Handy for when youre watching telly and they wont stop blocking the screen.
How to do it
TIPS
· When you hold the treat, think about positioning your hand as if you were throwing a ball underarm it will make your puppys nose go over the top of your hand rather than trying to sniff underneath it, which will make them want to bend down
· If your puppy starts to go a bit frog like , try the same exercise but have them start in a stand position youre looking for them to fold back, almost looking like a sphinx!
What Can You Expect From Obedience Training
- German Shepherd is a dog born with a strong-willed nature. On the other side of the coin, they born with several nuisance behaviors such as barking, chewing and jumping on people. Obedience training can help correct all of those nuisance behaviors.
- You will deepen a relationship with your dog.
- You will nurture a great dog that will become an invaluable member of your family. He will watch, protect and guard all of your familys members without expecting anything in return.
Now, you have learned all the benefits that you can get from obedience training, this brings us to the next question when is the best time to start training your dog?
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Start With Simple Commands
A common mistake among German Shepherd owners is skipping the basics and trying to achieve difficult commands right off the bat.
However, effective attack training should always begin with simple commands. Remember, baby steps and little milestones will help you teach your dog more advanced commands easier when the time comes.
So, never skip basic commands such as stay, sit, and stop. In fact, its crucial that your dog knows the stop command since itll come handy later on.
Why You Need To Be Alpha And How To Do So
German Shepherd dogs are highly intelligent and social creatures. Their trainability, sense of loyalty, and astounding cleverness make this breed an excellent choice for families who want to compete in a variety of dog sports such as obedience or agility competitions.
This intelligence and sense of dominance mean that they may be difficult to handle for an inexperienced owner. For this reason, German Shepherds, despite their popularity, are not recommended for first-time dog owners or owners who dont have experience with guardian breeds.
Teaching your German Shepherd that you are the leader of the pack, the alpha, is extremely important. This will ensure that your dog will look to you for guidance rather than taking matters into their own paws. An untrained, dominant German Shepherd is a disaster waiting to happen.
There are a few ways that you can let your German Shepherd pup know who the boss is. While training is extremely effective, there are some even more subtle ways.
- Only feed your dog once youve eaten.
- Dont let your dog go through doorways before you.
- Set boundaries such as not allowing them in the room when you are eating.
- Speak in a firm voice.
- Dont let disobedience fly. If your puppy ignores a command, get their attention and insist that they listen to you.
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The Fundamental Of Punishment
Punishment is the opposite of a reward. You need punishment as much as a reward to train your puppy. It is a way for us to communicate with our puppies that we dont like their actions and we expect them to correct that behavior.
When your puppy does something that you dont like, bring him to his isolation room and leave him there for two minutes. The isolation room is a quiet place where no one around, for example, your ex-kitchen, backyard or cellar.
Why Is German Shepherd Training Important
It is critical to train a German Shepherd because their sheer size and strength can result in disastrous situations if they dont know how to behave properly. However, avoiding hospitalization or lawsuits isnt the only benefit of training a GSD.
Here are some of the most crucial reasons why you need to take the time and make the effort to train your German Shepherd:
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How To Obedience Train A German Shepherd
German Shepherds are an elite breed, known for their strength, intelligence, discipline, courage, and obedience. And all of those traits make them invaluable candidates of K-9 Police Dog.
Now, you might be asking, how difficult it is to train German Shepherd? It is not an easy task, but if you can tame German Shepherds strong-willed nature, then you will find the best companion that will always guard and protect you with his life.
Best German Shepherd Puppy Training Tips
The top 10 German Shepherd puppy training tips are here to help you raise a smart, confident and friendly canine friend. To train a German Shepherd puppy dog you must be consistent, kind and clear.
German Shepherd dog puppies are divinely cute and for a reason! Just like babies are cute, puppies will win your heart even after destroying your favorite pair of shoes or that expensive carpet! Dont let me alarm you thoughPositive training methods are the most practical and efficient to use. Making sure you use them will start you on the right side of training and pave the road for you to get an obedient dog.
The good news is that you do not need any special equipment to have an obedient GSD puppy. All you need is love and treats. Lets get started with the best German Shepherd puppy training tips!
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Best Method To Train An Older Gsd Positive Reinforcement
If you adopted your German Shepherd at a later stage in his life, you might not know what sort of training or obedience experience he has previously had, if any. Some dogs have had little or no training, while others might have endured more abusive homes and be frightened and unsure of how to behave in a new environment.
Whether you have owned the dog since a puppy and are just getting in late on the training game, or you rescued an older dog, positive reinforcement is the best method for training a German Shepherd.
Positive reinforcement is when you repeatedly reward your dog when he responds to something you want him to do. That way,he will likely repeat the behavior as he knows he will get something that he likes, such as a tasty treat.
Find out what sort of treats your dog enjoys, as long as they are healthy, and use them as rewards when he obeys a command or performs the desired action. You can check out my favorite healthy treats here.
If your GSD is less interested in treats or struggles with weight issues, you can try small pieces of lean meat or even some fruits or vegetables.
Other rewards for obedience can include giving your dog his treasured toy, a short spell of his favorite play, or even periods of affection if your dog just loves to cuddle! Positive reinforcement serves to build a better relationship between you and your German Shepherd.
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Letting Your German Shepherd Puppy Explore The Garden
Besides the gnomes and questionable garden furniture you may have, letting your puppy explore your own garden is a great and safe way to start showing them the sounds, lights and wonders of the outside world.
When theyre outdoors, theyll be able to experience what wind, and rain and sunshine feels like, as well as get familiar with walking on different surfaces.
PRO TIP: Gardens are the perfect toilet areas for puppies. Teach your puppy where the toilet area is in your garden, by rewarding them when they go for a pee or a poo, and also by rewarding them simply for being outside just so they get fully on board that its a fun place to be.
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