How To Train A German Shepherd Puppy To Come
- Start in a fenced-in yard or, if thats not available, another room in your house.
- Hold your arms straight out to the sides, so youre shaped like a T. As you move your arms into position, say the command Come.
- When your puppy obeys, reward him with a treat and a pat on the head.
Its good to incorporate the arm gesture with this command, in case your dog is far away from you. Even if hes down the street and cant hear your command, hell be able to see it from a distance.
Teaching The Stay Step
Have your pup in their collar and 6-foot walking leash. Begin indoors in a quiet area free from distractions.;
Increase the stay time your dog is in the stay position beginning with 5 seconds and working up to one minute or more. Dont rush them to hold their stay, though.
Next, work on extending the distance between you and your dog while in the stay. Take a few steps back each time you train.
Your goal is to reach the end of your leash while your pup stays in place.;
This could take many sessions over weeks or months.
Introducing Your German Shepherd To New People
German Shepherds are known for their fierce loyalty to their humans. While this is an incredible quality in a family dog, it can be quite dangerous when this trait is not controlled.
Making sure that your dog is well behaved around new people is one of the most important steps in the socialization process. Some ways to appropriately introduce your Shepherd to new people include:
- Invite family and friends over.
- Get them use to people ringing your doorbell.
- Take them to other houses.
- Take them to public settings.;
- Stop and talk to people on your walks with your dog.
- Ask others to interact with your dog on walks .
If there are any specific settings or people you would like them to interact with, make sure to introduce them to your dog as early as possible.;
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Training Your German Shepherd Puppy Young: Its Easy And Possible
When it comes to dog training, the rule of thumb is that they are trained young. This does not imply that adult dogs cannot be trained; it simply means that the success philosophy of bending the tree while still young applies.
In fact, the German Shepherd Dog Club of America indicates that the first 2-6 months are important in laying the foundation for a German Shepherd puppy to integrate into the family.
What all this means is that when you bring your German Shepherd puppy home at eight weeks , the dog has most likely interacted with few realities and is fresh enough to learn and follow the rules of a new home.;
The truth that young puppies learn easily has been scientifically proven. A study with 8-week-old puppies found that they easily learned to open a puzzle box motivated with food and retained the skill. Surprisingly, these puppies learned the skill better from a conspecific than they did from their own mother.;
Other studies have also proven that its significant to train puppies instead of older dogs for future behavior. In this study, puppies who attended a command and socialization training class for one hour daily in six months showed better behavior towards strangers than adult dogs attending the same classes.
Apart from the age factor, other breed-specific reasons make training a German Shepherd puppy easy and possible. Here are 3 of those reasons:
No Sharp Biting: Train Your German Shepherd Puppy To Bite Without Hurting
Biting is part of being a dog, especially among puppies. Older dogs may refrain from biting because they have been trained to. Whats more, unless its intended to hurt, biting is an important part of playing and of being a guard or police dog, which is common among German Shepherds but these dogs are trained to catch without maiming.;
So, rather than talk of training puppies not to bite, lets talk of training them to bite without hurting. Heres an excellent short video on acquired bite inhibition which gives useful information on why puppies bite, why we should not try to stop it, and how to train puppies to a soft, non-maiming bite:
Contrary to the widespread idea that we should yelp like a puppy and quickly withdraw our hand or clothing when a puppy bites, the best way to teach your German Shepherd puppy that his bite hurts is to cry like the human that you are. That sends the message that your pups bite hurts humans.;If you watch the video, you will see what I mean.
So, when your puppy bites, cry OUCH hard enough and leave your hand in his mouth until they let go. Thats a sign they are beginning to understand not to bite you. Do the same when they bite your clothing and other parts of the body like ears or hair. While doing this training, let your dog differentiate between a bite that hurts and one that is soft and part of playing.;
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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.
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.
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How To Make A German Shepherd Sit
Its quite easy to make your dog listen to you if you have the patience you need. German Shepherds are known for their intelligence so it would be really easy to make your pet know what you want. In a matter of a few weeks, you would find your German Shepherd knowing just when you want it to sit.
Start with finding suitable treats. Dog biscuits or even a meal of bowl can be used. You can the dog tied or someone else holding the leash.
If you have time you should cook your own dog treats. In so many ways, cooking your own dog treats is a lot healthier than buying. You know exactly what kind of ingredients that you put into.
But sometimes, we are too busy to cook our own dog treats. In that case, you can buy ready-made dog treats. As a general rule, when you are looking to buy dog treats, you should always check the ingredients contained. If you are unsure about specific ingredients, open your browser and Google the ingredients.
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!
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Tip : Listen And Observe
Dogs have their own way of communicating and will be especially communicative when they need to go potty. ;
If you observe them carefully, youll notice certain signals they give you to signal their need to go out. ;Some dogs might whine while others paw at the door.
Listen to your dogs signals and youll have a better chance at potty training successfully.
The Ultimate Guide To German Shepherd Obedience Training
If youre looking for advice on German Shepherd obedience training then this is the most important page youre ever going to read.
Because while obedience training is often thought of as a quick and easy way to get your dog to obey, its important to be aware of the pitfalls of getting it wrong!;
Now, the problem with this particular breed is that they value hierarchy and the pecking order above all else. Making it potentially tricky when it comes to establishing yourself as the pack leader.
Worse still, if they are not effectively kept in check. They can be prone to becoming bad-tempered and ill-disciplined.
Especially when their training is erratic or unsatisfactory.
You need to understand that German Shepherds require much more exercise and engagement than most other dogs. And limiting this can often spell disaster if you dont give them out outlet to release their boundless energy.
However, if you can learn to successfully manage this extra demand. They can be a delight to train and develop.
Now, before we get into the dos and dont of obedience training, first a quick heads up.
While obedience training comes with its fair share of benefits, the real magic happens when you learn how to teach your German Shepherd how to remain calm and in control of their emotion.
Pair this with the critical element of learning how to establish yourself as the pack leader, and youve got the ultimate recipe for a well, behaved obedient dog that follows your every command.
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Make Peace With Lack Of Sleep
You will need to sacrifice some sleep for a while.; We can’t expect our pups to keep it in’ for longer than they can.;
If accidents are happening at night, you should take your pup out more often.
Accidents will happen, but the more your pup has potty accidents in her personal space, the more comfortable she’ll become doing it.; You really want to avoid this at all costs.
Does your puppy need a comfy, new bed? ;Check out the best dog beds for German Shepherds.
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!
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Crate Training: Train Your German Shepherd Puppy To Consider A Crate Its Space
Crate training is an essential element of house training, but it also comes with benefits for your dogs safety, and comfort when traveling. The best dog crates will give your pet enough room to stand, sit, turn, and lie down comfortably on his side with paws outstretched.
There shouldnt be too much room for an 8-week-old puppy, but you might, however, want to buy a crate that your puppy can grow with for a couple of years, like the ones with adjustable dividers.;A size 48 is best for German Shepherds.
When purchasing a crate for your puppy, you might go for the standard metal model with either a single or double door. My favorite is the MidWest Homes for Pets iCrate from Amazon as its strong and sturdy and ideal for large breed dogs. I like the double door one as it gives you more options where you can place it in your home, and this one has a carrying handle which makes it easy to move around.
Travel kennels like this Petmate Ultra Vari Kennel are also hardy when you are on the move with your dog, and this one even meets the cargo specifications for airlines.
Here are five key things you should practice when crate-training your German Shepherd puppy:
If this has you wondering how long can you leave a GSD in a crate, I wrote this helpful article which contains tips on exactly what you should leave in your dogs crate.
Finding A Puppy Who Is The Best Fit For You
Finding a good, ethical breeder is one of the most important ways to ensure you are getting off to the right start in obtaining the puppy who will be the best fit for you and your household. Breeders observe their puppies personalities and drives and can match the right puppy to the right individual or family.
You may also wish to acquire a puppy from one of the breed-rescue organizations listed in the AKC Rescue Network; currently, over 40 GSD rescues are listed, a testament to the popularity of this magnificent breed. If you choose this route, be sure to discuss with the breed rescue organization your needs and what you are looking for in a puppy; they should also be able to help you find the puppy whose temperament and personality will be the best match for you.
Nadia Adams of Oher Tannen German Shepherd Dogs has been a GSD breeder for 15 years and comments, A well-bred German Shepherd Dog is highly intelligent, thriving on praise and wanting to please the owner. This combination makes them very trainable, which is one of the most appealing qualities of the breed.
This breeds high level of intelligence and strong willingness to work mean your GSD must receive consistent and ongoing training from an early age. A bored GSD is a destructive GSD. That said, states Adams, the sky is the limit, if the owner ca devote a good amount of quality time to the dog, especially during the critical first year of life.
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What Can I Do To Stop My German Shepherd Puppy From Biting
Because biting is normal canine behavior and GSDs are a breed that is more prone to it, the goal here is to inhibit the bite, not completely stop it.
At the end of your training, your GSD should have achieved that lovely soft mouth.
Below are the dos and donts to keep in mind when training your GSD puppy in bite inhibition.
Go To The Pub You Deserve It
;Ah, the highlight of the week.
Going for a walk on a Sunday with a special stop at the pub for lunch is definitely one of the favourite things dog owners like to practice during these first weeks with their new puppy. Wonder why.
We know you might be a little worried for how things are going to work out, but theres no need to. Heres how were going to make sure these visits are relaxing for everyone involved:
How to do it
TIPS
Your settle mat is your puppys safe space so let them relax and be undisturbed. Might be difficult with all the cooing pub visitors, so try to sit in a quiet area and aim to go at a non-peak hour for now. Either way, dont be afraid to ask people to let him be! As long as youre nice about it, you wont get dirty looks.
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