You and your dog will learn better if you have a good learning relationship with your trainer. If that is your intent and you don't have professional extended experience, it's best not to adopt a dog at all. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. For instance, if you want to teach the “sit” command, the praise and treat should be delivered when the dog is sitting with all feet on the ground. In addition to being one of the most loyal dog breeds, they are also working dogs that generally enjoy learning. The good news…this behavior can be untrained. Keep these in your arsenal to help your dog learn commands. ", "It seriously helped me. There are a lot of dog training videos on the internet, so make sure that the videos you choose are made by experts in dog training. But hey, after having a high-energy, fun-loving German Shepherd, you wouldn’t want a calm (boring) dog, right? At around 8 weeks old, start training the puppy with simple commands like, “Sit,” “Stay,” and “Come.” "We received Sebastian at 7 weeks, he's very playful and chews on everything. This can be their regular food from now on. How do I teach my dog to not jump on anyone? How can I stop my German Shepherd from peeing on the carpet? When your puppy jumps to seek your attention, don’t greet him with the same level of excitement, just stand still, breathe deeply and look away. German Shepherds can be very protective of their family members, so you want to socialize your puppy early in puppyhood. Gradually increase the amount of food you drop in the bowl as you stand or sit there with the puppy. What Does It Mean When a Dog Lifts a Front Paw? A common problem when walking German Shepherds is that they tend to pull on the lead, but it can be easily solved. As you probably already know, your German Shepherd is smart and eager to please. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. How can I let my puppy know they are a part of the pack too? ", "I'm very sure that this article will help when training the German Sheperd we are getting. All you need is the know-how and some patience to practice recall with your GSD. This article has been viewed 1,013,359 times. She's not jumping anymore. This is a process that requires patience and lots of affection. There are a number of reasons that your German Shepherd might not be listening to you that I will mention below. It is very important to not do intense exercise for hours on end. Don’t be afraid to use food treats for training. As it makes the transition from puppy to adult, the German Shepherd dog should learn the basic dog commands that will help it to live with other people and pets, including "sit", "stay", "down", and "heel". You would not want to leave your dog outside in freezing temperatures for long periods of time, however, and if you notice your dog shivering or looking uncomfortable, you should bring him inside. Because German Shepherds have all these traits, being extremely smart, athletic, and eager to please, they are very versatile and trainable animals. Once it has got those down, you can work on commands like fetch, drop, and roll over. You can always go back to high value treats at any time you want to let the dog know they did something exceptionally great and you want them to remember that so you get that behavior again and again. If a piece of food is dropped inside, let the puppy take it and praise them. If the dog urinates on the carpet, ignore it, but when it pees on the newspaper give it a treat or use the clicker. German Shepherd dogs are highly intelligent and trainable.In fact, they may be too smart for their own good, which is why early training and socialization are a must. Once the puppy is more confident and compliant around food, you can bring out a plate or bowl and continue your hand feeding routine in the presence of the bowl or plate, but don’t feed directly on the plate yet. Even if you find it disgusting, you must allow your German Shepherd to sniff around whatever it wants: this is a sign that it is relaxed. Hey, my German Shepherd is nine months old today! References To do this, start playing with your German Shepherd puppy. In our last video, we taught it using a six-foot leash. Treats, petting, and playtime are all forms of positive reinforcement you can use. My 14 month old German Shepherd is a rescue dog, she has had a litter of before we adopted her and she is spayed. When puppies yelp, it usually means they're nervous. Now she is with diet of Royal Cannin which is costly in my part. If you have an Australian shepherd puppy, it's best to start socialization when they are 7 weeks old. Here you can discover the common things you do wrong when walking your dog for more tips. ", "It was how detailed the article was that really helped me. ... A six-month-old dog might be capable of taking longer walks or even short jogs (if your vet helps you determine … The bowl will not always have food inside. How often should you walk a German Shepherd? Some even like playing in the snow. Read dog training books. Dog crate. This article was co-authored by Beverly Ulbrich. ... How to train a German Shepherd to sit. unlocking this expert answer. I’ve been doing this since she was 4 months of age. Beverly has over 17 years of dog behavior training experience and specializes in dog aggression and anxiety training. But, the German shepherd isn’t perfect—no dog is. Take it for walks or jogs daily. Being a herding dog, German Shepherds are sensitive to motion. Whenever a cat is around, distract your dog with the clicker. We have tried everything she is very passive, any advice would be helpful Final Thoughts. The Answer. German Shepherds are prone to hip dysplasia, a genetic degenerative disease. For advice from our Veterinary reviewer on how to train an older German Shepherd, scroll down! I have a 10 month old G SD and she recently seems to have just stopped listening to me. Destroying everything, forgetting the skills he seemingly already mastered, eating too much, not eating, becoming too suspicious, biting. German Shepherds can pick up commands quickly but they require consistency and high energy to keep them focused. Can a German Shepherd tolerate cold weather? Gradually, you will phase out any treat and do more praise reward as the dog gets more consistent. I have just take a 3.5 months old gsd female pup. She is a Certified CGC (Canine Good Citizen) Evaluator by the American Kennel Club and has served on the Board of Directors for the American Humane Association and Rocket Dog Rescue. If you want to learn more about this breed, don't miss the following articles: If you want to read similar articles to Tips to Train a German Shepherd, we recommend you visit our Basic education category. They make mistakes. The German Shepherd is a large dog with an active temperament, so it will be crucial to go for a walk two or three times a day so that its muscles stay in a good condition. Crate your German shepherd puppy at night in a crate that is just big enough for him to … This is a training video of me training her in some obedience with her favorite toy. Thanks very much! Nowadays, German Shepherds are also considered excellent service and therapy dogs. Start with a clicker to get your dog's attention. The German shepherd is bred to be wary of strangers and highly perceptive of her environment. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. The general rule of thumb for walking a puppy is around 5 minutes for every month of age. Your puppy can chew your shoes, bags, table legs, clothes, and a lot more. ", "Everything helped, because I just got a puppy and I am first-timer at this. If that completely describes your situation, then you are standing on a good path. Now that my German Shepherd princess is 12 months old. They have herded livestock, but they have also been guardian dogs and assistants to police forces, firefighters and rescue teams. Now I know exactly how to train my new pet dog, thanks. 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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. STOP. Some good training books to consider are “Don’t Shoot the Dog” by Karen Pryor, “Getting Started: Clicker Training for Dogs” by Karen Pryor, “The Power of Positive Dog Training” by Pat Miller, “25 Stupid Mistakes Dog Owners Make” by Janine Adams, and “The Mentally Sound Dog: How to Shape, Train and Change Canine Behavior” by Gail I. Clark. Approved. Once you've had a few days to play and bond with your German Shepherd puppy, it's time to get started with formal training. This will make your dog understand that your grandchildren are from your pack. She is a Certified CGC (Canine Good Citizen) Evaluator by the American Kennel Club and has served on the Board of Directors for the American Humane Association and Rocket Dog Rescue. Finally, we must stress that dogs shouldn't be trained to attack, unless in extremely specific circumstances and in controlled environments - certainly not in our daily lives. Support wikiHow by It’s a very, very common problem, and, at the end of the day, it is what the German shepherd has been bred to do a lot of the time. Teach your puppy that people are not a threat to the food bowl by adding food to the bowl while they are eating. 3 month old , the topic on German shepherd is very informative. German Shepherds, given their long breeding history focused on their value as working dogs, are a breed that can learn to have a very reliable recall. If you happen to get an older dog, adult dogs can still be trained effectively. I know I wouldn’t have it any other way! How can I keep my dog from being aggressive when I feed it? She's selectively aggressive a bit. On average, German Shepherd ears stand up when they are finished teething or around week 20. Beverly has over 17 years of dog behavior training experience and specializes in dog aggression and anxiety training. Thanks for all of the stories shared. This article received 25 testimonials and 86% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Anyone that wants to … Then feed nearby again. Instead, use an anti-pull harness, which will be available in any pet store. Every day, I continue to introduce him to something new (today he met a new dog and person, and he practiced being handled by my husband instead of me). Training a dog to attack will make it stressed, frightened, and likely to develop behavioral issues. The timing of the reward is extremely important. What is wrong? Train like this at least four or five times a day. Place a newspaper on the ground near where it usually urinates. For best results, this should be done when the puppy is between 4 and 14 weeks. By rewarding good behaviors, your German Shepherd will quickly learn how to quickly do those things. If you deliver the praise/treat with one paw up or as the dog starts getting up, you have just rewarded the dog for that most recent behavior. ", "I just red this article and I am going to use those lessons to train my dog. When he is comfortable with that, then attach the leash to his collar and let him drag the loose leash around the house until he is comfortable having it attached also. Smelling people is a dog's way of getting to know people. You can also add high value treats like roasted chicken breast into the bowl if your puppy seems to need more reassurance that you bring goodness to the food bowl. Exhaust your German shepherd's energy in a constructive way by engaging it in regular exercise. Are German Shepherds more likely to bite than other dogs? Today’s training with Nora we are teaching a focused heel using a long-line. These are our tips to train a German Shepherd. Resource guarding, as the term suggests, refers to a dog displaying aggressive behavior during times in which he fears of losing a valuable resource such as food or even the attention of their owner. The German Shepherd is a large dog with an active temperament, so it will be crucial to go for a walk two or three times a day so that its muscles stay in a good condition. Why is my Dog Pooping in the House Suddenly? This will help you enjoy life with an obedient, docile dog, and your German Shepherd will be safe at all times. The German Shepherd Dog’s work ethic is legendary, and you can encourage your … With these tips to train a German Shepherd, you'll be come inseparable in no time. This article has been viewed 1,013,359 times. things you do wrong when walking your dog, police forces, firefighters and rescue teams, Differences between German Shepherd and Belgian Shepherd dogs. Thanks. Keep the timing right. Make the bowl no big deal. The first step … They are much more strong and clever than before, but they completely lack agility. Expert Interview. The school will have certain requirements for enrollment and you will likely have to provide proof of vaccination. If your dog is doing something you don't like, try redirecting its attention to something else. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/ff\/Train-a-German-Shepherd-Step-13.jpg\/v4-460px-Train-a-German-Shepherd-Step-13.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/ff\/Train-a-German-Shepherd-Step-13.jpg\/aid1221221-v4-728px-Train-a-German-Shepherd-Step-13.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
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