Are you a proud owner of a German Shepherd and excited about getting started with your dog’s training? Well, You are at the right place as in today’s article we are going to share some of the best and most effective German Shepherd Training Tips with you all.
In case you are wondering, My Cheery Pet is one of the best places to learn how to train your German Shepherd. German Shepherds are one of the most loyal and popular dog breeds among pet enthusiasts. These dogs are popular because of their distinctive personalities and traits.
They are intelligent, loyal, agile, and versatile and to unlock their full potential you need to put your German Shepherds on an effective training regime. German Shepherds are an intelligent breed of dogs and are comparatively easy to train. One thing that you need to keep in mind is that training a German Shepherd might be comparatively easy but it still takes time for your dog to start picking up your commands.
So as a responsible pet owner, you need to be patient with your dog and ensure your dog stays comfortable throughout its training. After all, we don’t want your dog to get scared and develop behavioral problems because of the wrong training methods.
There are various ways to train a German Shepherd but to save your valuable time and money, I will teach you some of the best and easiest ways to train your German Shepherd. So let’s embark on the journey of finding the best and effective German Shepherd training tips for your beloved furry family member.
Top Proven German Shepherd Training Tips for Success
German Shepherd Training Tips: There are many proven techniques and methods of training a German Shepherd but before we get into German Shepherd training tips, we need to understand that every dog is unique in its own way. And just like us (humans) some of the dogs can be slow learners.
As responsible pet owners, it is our duty to make sure we train our dogs at their own pace and be patient with them. I know training your German Shepherd can be an overwhelming experience for some pet owners and it can be frustrating especially if you are not getting any results from the training.
But I assure you, after reading our effective German Shepherd training tips, you will be able to train your dog with ease. You just need to get the fundamentals of training a German Shepherd right.
Early Training
For best results and to get your dog used to the training regime, it’s best to start the training early. A German Shepherd can be put on training by the age of 8 weeks and the earlier you start the better.
Puppies’ minds are like sponges which makes it easier for them to grasp knowledge at a fast pace. They listen better, they hear better and they respond better. Early training helps you set a solid foundation for your dog for future learning.
You can start the training with some basic obedience commands once the puppy reaches the age of 8 weeks. Sit and Up are some of the most basic and easiest obedience commands that anyone can teach their puppy with some basic and common hand gestures.
All you need to do is remain calm and patient and reward your puppy with its favorite treat after every successful attempt.
Positive Reinforcement
As I said, German Shepherds are an intelligent breed of dogs that responds well to positive reinforcement. To make it easy for your dog to understand your command, you should praise your dog and reward it with its favorite treat when they exhibit the desired behavior.
This is one of the best and most proven techniques that have been used for a long time. This training method helps you create a positive understanding with training and encourages your dog to repeat those behaviors.
If taught in the right way, your dog can learn some of the basic commands within one or two weeks.
Being Consistent With the Training
Being consistent with the training is one of the most important things while training a dog. If you take it as a task then you are going to fail for sure. The best thing you can do is to take it as a fun sport. Training your dog should not be like a job but it should be like a sport that you love.
Stay consistent with the training and keep repeating the same commands until your dog grasps it properly and make sure everyone in your family is using the same commands as you so that it doesn’t get confusing for your dog to understand the commands correctly.
Socializing Your Dog
Next in our German Shepherd training tips is socializing. Socializing your dog is the best training for its behavior development. If you do not want your German Shepherd to develop behavior issues or develop fear and aggression toward strangers and other animals, you would want to expose your dog to the outer world where it can meet various people and animals.
Proper socialization is essential for your dog as it helps prevent developing fear, and aggression issues. Socialization is the best training to make your dog aware of its surroundings and adaptable.
Leash Training
As you know German Shepherds are medium to large-sized dogs and are born with natural protective instincts. They are a strong breed of dog which makes it important to train them with leashes.
You can start leash training from an early age to make it a habit for your dog so that being on a leash doesn’t make your dog uncomfortable. For more comfort, I would suggest you use a chest leash which is much better than that of a traditional leash as it doesn’t put any pressure on the dog’s neck.
Chest-guided leash also gives you more control over your dog and it’s more reliable. You should teach your dog to walk on a leash without pulling you. You should reward your dog with its favorite treat for loose leash walks and to discourage pulling.
Remember, leash training is important for a strong breed like a German Shepherd to ensure the safety of both your dog and your neighborhood.
Exercise and Mental Stimulation Training
Next on German Shepherd training tips is exercise and mental stimulation training for your German Shepherd. German Shepherds are highly alert, active dogs with high energy levels. For them to stay healthy, happy, and active they require an ample amount of physical and mental stimulation training.
On average, a German Shepherd requires a playtime of two hours. Teaching them to fetch, taking them for strolls, and engaging them in physical activities such as proper training regime can easily fulfill their physical stimulation. However, for their mental health and stimulation, you can buy them puzzle dog toys made specially for dogs to engage their mind.
You can learn more about the Best Toys for Dogs in India here.
Physical and mental stimulation plays an important role in the overall growth and health of a German Shepherd and by meeting their daily requirement you can help your German Shepherd to reach its full potential.
Crate Training
Crate training could be beneficial for both your dog and housebreaking as it provides your dog with a comfortable safe space. Crate training is also important in case you have family, friends, or kids coming over to your house and people who are afraid of dogs and don’t want a dog hovering around them. This way you can ensure the safety of both your dog and people coming over to your house. But make sure you never use it as a punishment or lock your dog because it could scare your dog and cause serious behavior issues.
You can start by creating a comfortable and comfy crate and put some food and water in it so that it can come and go whenever it pleases. Once your dog gets used to the crate you can start increasing the time it spends in the crate.
Dealing with Behavioral Issues
Aggressive training may cause behavioral issues in your dog especially if you have been losing your cool or getting frustrated while training your dog and shouting at it. There are various signs that can be seen as behavioral issues such as digging, aggression, excessive barking, and disobedience.
If it feels like your dog might be disturbed or if your dog shows any signs of behavioral issues, it’s best that you visit a vet or consult a professional dog trainer who is an expert in dog training.
Keys to Successful Training
German Shepherd training tips show that being patient and showing a positive attitude is the key to successful training. Being as intelligent as they may be training a dog can be challenging at times. You might even get frustrated at times but staying positive and calm is essential for training a dog.
Dogs can sense positive as well as negative energy and it is seen that dogs respond better to trainers who train their dogs calmly.
Advance GSD Training
If you want your dog to be a perfect watchdog who can understand not only basic but advanced commands and perform tasks like other service dogs, you can enroll your GSD in various training classes.
There are various institutes or trainers that teach advanced obedience, agility, and protection training classes.
Are German Shepherds easy to train?
No doubt German Shepherds belong to some of the most intelligent breeds of dogs and their intelligence does make it easier to train them, but just because they are an intelligent breed of dogs that doesn’t guarantee that it will be easy to train every German Shepherd.
German Shepherds are intelligent but every German Shepherd has their own unique quality and personality. Each German Shepherd grows at their own pace so there’s no saying how much time your GSD would take to train.
But you can prepare your dog for training by creating a proper training regime with a proper schedule. German Shepherds are smart so all they would need is 15 to 20 minutes of regular training time.
You can start with some basic obedience training such as teaching your dog to ‘Sit’ and ‘Up’ following your hand gestures and sound. You should keep repeating the process till your dog exhibits the right behavior.
To encourage your dog and to keep it engaged in the training, reward your dog with treats and praises.
Also read German Shepherd Adoption Tips
Bottom Line
As per our German Shepherd training tips guide, we learned that despite being an intelligent breed of dogs, German Shepherds require an ample amount of specialized training regime to help them reach their full potential.
You need to be calm and patient with your dog and maintain a positive attitude throughout its training. Providing your dog with a proper training regime, and a healthy and positive environment will help you provide your dog with a healthy and happy learning experience.
Remember, learning new things takes time and you can’t force your German Shepherd to learn things quickly. Aggressive training may cause discomfort to your dog and repetitive activities may bore your dog. In both cases, your dog might develop some serious behavioral issues.
To prevent that, keep the training regime short, take frequent breaks, and play fun games or engage your dog in fun activities in between the training breaks to keep your dog from getting bored.
I hope our effective German Shepherd training tips help you train your dog better.
How do you discipline a German Shepherd?
Using techniques such as positive reinforcement is the best way to discipline a German Shepherd. Always remain calm while disciplining a German Shepherd and feed them with their favorite treat as a reward when your dog exhibits the desired behavior.
What is the smartest dog breed?
German Shepherd, Poodle, Border Collie, Shetland Sheepdog, Doberman Pinscher, Papillon, Labrador Retriever, Rottweiler, and Australian Cattle Dog are some of the most smarted dog breeds.
What should I train my German Shepherd first?
You should always start with easy-to-train exercises and commands such as basic obedience training. Basic obedience training is easy to train and can be taught within one or two weeks of training.
What are German Shepherds’ weaknesses?
German Shepherds are prone to various diseases and one of the most common diseases that German Shepherds are prone to is arthritis.