The Key Commands In Training Your German Shepherd Puppy
Most dogs will need obedience training in basic and advanced skills. But obedience training levels can be further broken down to basic, intermediate, advanced, and behavior correction.
Heres Zak again on how to teach your new puppy 3 easy things his name, and the commands, SIT! and DOWN! This particular video has over 13 million views!
A German Shepherd puppy will be initiated in the basic obedience training, but it doesnt hurt to know what the other levels of obedience training entail.
- Basic obedience training is usually done on a leash and involves the very first commands that your German Shepherd pup should learn.
- Intermediate obedience training entails the removal of the leash to teach the same basic commands.
- Advanced obedience training involves teaching obedience commands to your German Shepherd puppy at a higher level and in situations that may include distractions and the effort for greater concentration.
- Behavior correction obedience training is meant for dogs with behavior problems that the owner may sometimes find hard to correct . For example, if your dog is biting other than during normal puppy teething, check out this article on how to discipline a German Shepherd for biting.
Your German Shepherd puppy will need training in the following 15 and other basic commands:
Watch How To Teach The First Basic Things To Your Pup
What Do I Need To Train My German Shepherd Puppy
It might look like a long list. Its not really just the basics.
We recommend investing in the following equipment to train your puppy
- A treat pouch
- A soft collar
- A harness: One that doesnt pull or tighten when its on your puppy and they walk.
- A 2 meter training lead
- A piece of non-slip vet bed or a soft mat
- Treats: The more smelly, the better. Weve written more about treats here.
- Two identical toys: Great for swaps
- A soft grooming brush
- A crate and playpen: Optional, but pretty handy if you ask us.
Youll also need to practice a couple of other things on your behalf such as:
- Patience: Put into perspective, puppies are only toddlers in human years. It might take them a while to get the gist of everything youre teaching them.
- Persistence: The puppy training journey becomes a lot less of a labyrinth when you are consistent with your training practices.
- Time to practice: In line with being persistent allowing time to practice their training everyday is key for a bright, trained puppy.
When Do German Shepherd Puppies Start To Eat Dog Food
- The Dog Food Advisor has selected the 12 brands below because they meet safe calcium levels and other nutritional needs of adult German shepherds and where noted shepherd puppies, too. 2 Keep in mind, German shepherd puppies dont stop growing and arent ready to eat adult dog food until they reach 12 to 24 months of age. 3
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German Shepherd Puppy Training Guide
German Shepherd puppy training will be the most fun you have ever had! Now that youve got yourself your very own GSD puppy do not waste any time and start training right away. The sooner you start, the better.
German Shepherd dog puppies are very smart and as they grow they become loyal canine friends. However, it is your job to properly socialize and train them.
If you are reading this it’s because you are: 1- getting ready for your new puppy or 2- already dealing with the joys and pains of owning your very own German Shepherd puppy dog!
Don’t despair, if you are feeling overwhelmed with a fur ball bouncing with infinite energy and don’t know what to do…read along. Here you will find what you MUST do during weeks 8-12 of puppy-hood to prevent behavior problems in the future, as well as training tips to make your life a little easier during this period of time.
You will also find step-by-step tutorials to teach basic commands and start your pooch in his life long learning adventure.
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How Long Does It Take To Potty Train A German Shepherd Puppy
There is no definite answer to how long itll take to potty train a German Shepherd puppy. This will be different for each dog, and thus there is no way to tell exactly how long it will take. It can take as little as a few weeks or as long as a year. Ultimately, it depends on the training method you use, how much time you can dedicate to training, how soon you start the training, and your pups history or previous experiences.
That said, if you feel like youre not making progress after trying out several methods and training techniques, then it is best to consult with your vet or animal behaviorist.
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When To Start Training German Shepherd Puppy: The Basics
When I got my first German Shepherd, I was thrilled because of all the fun and exercise thatll happen! But with fun and exercise, it also means a lot of care and training to prevent aggression and misbehavior. Thats why I also had to learn how to train my German Shepherd properly.
But have you wondered about when to start training German Shepherd exactly? Sure, you dont have to train them once theyre born, but it should still be early enough for them to still follow and be conditioned.
So read on to learn more about training your German Shepherd puppy now.
Praise Immediately When Your Puppy Eliminates In The Right Place
After your German Shepherd puppy eliminates in the right place, you will want to reward them immediately so that they know what they did was correct. When your puppy goes potty correctly, let them know with a phrase like good job! or yes. You can also encourage them verbally by saying things like thats right or youre such a good boy.
If you are training your puppy using a bell, be sure to ring it and then reward them immediately so that the association between ringing the bell and getting rewarded is strong.
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German Shepherd Training Age Sacramento Dog Training
In fact, German shepherd training should involve obedience classes because these dogs need to be trained properly from an early age. The first months of the German Shepherd Training Age > >
According to TrainYourGsd.com, German Shepherds begin testing the boundaries of authority at 10 to 12 months old. In a year, a GSD has almost reached his final At What Age Will Your GSD Dog First Get Aggressive
Start Advanced Command Training
Its also a good time to concentrate on your dogs advanced training. To train your 6-month old German Shepherd puppy, start with two commands that will be most useful. LEAVE IT! is a command that tells your dog to let go of whatever hes chowing down on. This will come in handy if he grabs something he shouldnt, and its a great method to teach discipline.
The second command I recommend you train your dog is the WAIT! command. As previously stated, you will be exercising your German Shepherd much more frequently from now on. The wait command might assist you in catching up if your pet is running too far ahead of you!
You can teach these commands or tricks in any order from six months onwards until your German Shepherd is a well-trained adult.
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How Long Will I Have To Train My German Shepherd Daily
Be prepared to train your German Shepherd for at least 10 to 15 minutes a day. You should practice basic obedience training, but also include fun training games to keep them interested in their training and engaged with you.
Youll want to break up the 10 to 15 minutes throughout the day to make sure your German Shepherd doesnt get bored of the same routine commands.
Aim for five three-minute sessions daily in the beginning, as a minimum.
There are exceptions to this rule since your GSD is a working breed and some GSDs will enjoy training for longer. But start with no more than a few minutes in a short session and gradually build onto each individual session longer times.
During each session work on just one or two commands so that your dog learns the right way to perform the command. You can add in another command they know if theyre struggling to pay attention and keep the session positive and interesting.
Ready to start using games during your German Shepherd training?
Then youll enjoy these fun German Shepherd games for obedience training to help your dog stay active, alert, and ready for their daily sessions.
Teach Your German Shepherd Puppy To Leave It When Out Walking
Leave it tells your dog that whatever he is checking out is off limits. This command is useful if you are out for a walk and the dog sees something on the side of the road that he wants to investigate, such as a dead animal, and you want him to ignore it.
Teach your dog to leave it during your day-to-day interactions. In the above example, if your dog tries to sniff at the dead animal, say, Leave it! in a stern voice. Immediately praise your dog when he ignores it.
You can also add come as a second command, to gather your dog back to you.
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Activate Anchors Start Recall Training
In weeks 8-11, you established anchors for some of your puppys positive behaviors. These included a clicker, whistle, clap, or saying a specific word to show your German Shepherd is doing a good job, generally followed by a well-deserved treat. Now is the time to see whether the anchors work!
You used to whistle when your GSD approached you now, you must whistle for him to start his run. You are training your 3-month-old German Shepherd puppy to associate the whistles sound as your cue for him to run towards you. This is the foundation of his recall training.
Theres no need to be disappointed if this doesnt work right away. Its a never-ending task to teach good recall. I didnt observe a significant improvement in my German Shepherds recall until she was about 12 months old. Dont try to force the dog, as this will confuse him.
If your German Shepherd isnt responding when you activate the triggers, keep re-establishing the anchors and try again after a few days.
Training Starts With Leadership
Dogs are social animals, meaning they are happiest when they know who is in charge and where they fit in. If you want your puppy training to be smooth sailing, you must be a strong leader and set a good example. This is easier said than done, but a list of tips and pitfalls to avoid from the German Shepherd Dog Club of America could get you pointed in the right direction. The list of dos and donts includes:
- Do: Be happy and friendly every time your puppy comes over to you.
- Dont: Repeat commands. If telling doesnt work, go back to showing.
- Do: Always reward good behavior with plenty of praise.
- Dont: Yell at your dog. Patience leads to reward, but anger leads to frustration.
- Do: Be consistent. Your puppy must know what is expected, and that should not change.
- Dont: Reward undesirable behavior no matter how cute your puppy looks.
- Do: Give your dog a chance to burn off some energy every day.
- Dont: Give up on your puppy. The breakthrough could be just ahead.
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How Do I Stop My German Shepherd Puppy From Peeing In The House
To stop your German Shepherd puppy from peeing in the house, you need a positive attitude, a strict routine of potty runs outside, and to have your puppy accustomed to both the crate and the leash.
What sometimes throws a wrench in the works is not your GSDs intelligence or stubbornness, but rather that they can be single event learners. This means that a negative experience during the wrong stage of their development can lead to them learning entirely the wrong lesson all together.
For example, a puppy going through a natural fear period, might have one bad experience which could set the whole process back by days or even weeks.
This is not the end of the world. Patience and routine can heal all.
What Age Should You Start Training A German Shepherd Puppy
around eight weeks
At four months, your German Shepherd puppy will weight somewhere between 28.5-39.5 lbs. Thats pretty big! Its about half of the adult weight your dog will eventually reach. Large growth spurts will take place between 2-5 months, so keep a close eye on your puppys weight during this period especially.
Subsequently, How can you tell how big a German Shepherd will get?
The full adult size of your GSD will depend in large part on the genetic background of its parents. Adult males should range between 24-26 at the shoulder blade, females from 22-24. Males within the standard may weigh anywhere from 75-90 lbs. depending on their bloodlines.
Also, How much do German shepherds grow after 6 months?
A six-month-old German Shepherd puppy will be quite large as many German Shepherds undergo massive growth spurts between two to five months old. A male German Shepherd at six months will weigh 53 pounds on average, whereas a female at the same age will weigh about 46 pounds.
What is the best age to start training a German shepherd?
5 to 6 months old
Last Review : 18 days ago.
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How Much Exercise Does A Senior German Shepherd Need
As your German Shepherd ages, they wont need as much exercise as they once did. Its important to monitor how much they are getting and to make sure they arent overdoing it.
If you use the PitPat app, well set an age appropriate exercise goal for your dog that decreases as they age. You can also set your own goals manually in case they have higher or lower exercise needs.
How To Train An 11 Month Old German Shepherd
Your doggos first birthday is coming up in a month! Take advantage of this opportunity to teach your 11-month-old German Shepherd to GO AHEAD! You tell your dog to stay ahead of you, which is the polar opposite of WAIT! This is also used in agility tournaments to command your dog to go ahead of you.
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How To Train A German Shepherd Puppy The Ultimate Guide
Fully Qualified COAPE Behaviourist and Registered Training Instructor with The Animal Behaviour and Training Council
In this article:
So you have your new German Shepherd puppy at home, we see.
Glad to hear theyre doing well puppy eyes shining bright, and tail that doesnt seem to stop wagging.
Weve also heard they have gained a special liking for your living room carpet as the perfect place to go for a wee. Oh, and your favourite shoessorry to hear theyve been chewed on. Apologies to your neighbour Alfred too we heard his favourite pair of trousers were left muddy after your puppy showed such enthusiasm to say hello.
Wed love nothing more to see you both become a wonderful duo one that has overcome the hiccups of starting fresh, and only see bright days of licks, treats, and cuddles ahead.
In this training guide, youll learn everything to tackle those first 8 weeks with your German Shepherd puppy and be as well prepared as possible.
Every question youve asked yourself is pretty much covered. What you do need to know is that everything will be just fine only happy days lie ahead of you.
Key Milestones: 4 Months
Its time for teething, obedience training, and more.
9. Teach your dog whats acceptable to chew .
Starting at around four months, GSPs begin teething.
Venner recommends being ready to redirect your dog away from chewing on the furniture and other off-limit items to teething on appropriate items like chew toys, such as Nylabones or Kongs.
10. Enroll your GSP in puppy classes.
At this age, you can find competition and household pet obedience classes as well as puppy agility classes. These will allow your dog to interact with other dogs in a controlled environment, with fewer problems likely to arise.
Whatever classes you enroll your puppy in, make sure theyre tailored to puppy participants, since your dog is still growing and GSP growth plates are not yet fused at this stage. That means you dont want your puppy to be jumping too high.
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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.
The Key Takeaways Here Are:
- For effective German Shepherd training, you must be a good leader in your dogs life.
- Leadership is about using brains and NOT brawn to train your German Shepherd.
- Understand what your dog is not , learn to speak your dogs language, and get inside his head.
- Always be patient and consistent with your training and reinforcement.
- Aggressive methods are not effective when training your German Shepherd. You will see little to no results, it will cause trust issues and youll break your dogs spirit. Always be kind!
- Positive reinforcement and training will bring quicker, long-lasting results. And build a strong relationship of trust and love between you and your German Shepherd.
Check out this article to learn how to teach your German Shepherd not to jump on you or your guests.
The part of your article that mentioned consistency and why it matters when training dogs was definitely one part that was helpful to read. The last thing I want to happen is that my dog would be let loose thinking that they would behave and they suddenly act aggressively towards my family because we gave the wrong command. Ill make sure I focus on this aspect of training when I find a dog trainer in the area that can help me train my german shepherd.
Hi Roylena,
Im so sorry, I totally forgot to drop the link to my article on jumping here for you to check out. Here it isHow to stop a German Shepherd from Jumping on You.
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