Training Your German Shepherd
German Shepherds are a popular dog breed, and for good reason. They’re smart, loyal, and make the best companions. However, training German Shepherds can be challenging, especially if you are a first-time owner of the breed or have rescued a dog for the first time. In this blog, we will discuss some tips and techniques for training your German Shepherd.
Start Training Early
German Shepherds are smart and curious dogs and will absorb and learn quickly starting at a young age. It is important to start training your German Shepherd early to establish good habits and prevent bad behaviors from developing. Begin training with basic commands like sit, stay, come, paw/shake, and down, and build up to more advanced commands as they learn the basics. When training basic commands, Tuscany enjoys these soft training lamb and salmon puppy training treats.
Positive Reinforcement Training
German Shepherds train well through positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement training involves consistent rewards for desired behavior instead of punishing them for bad behavior. When bad or undesired behavior occurs, it’s important that you correct the behavior and not punish your dog. Use treats and praise (usually with a one syllable word like “yes”) to reinforce good behavior and encourage your dog to repeat it.
Socialization
Socialization is an essential part of training your German Shepherd. Introducing your dog to different people, other dogs, and environments helps develop confidence and allows them to practice being comfortable, adaptable, and all around good members of the community. When your dog practices socializing, over time, helps prevent aggressive and anxious behavior towards other people and animals.
Consistency is Key
Consistency is key when training your German Shepherd. During training sessions, use the same commands and techniques each time to avoid confusing your dog. German shepherds also benefit from regular training like more frequent shorter sessions than longer ones. This helps keep your dog engaged with you and motivated during each.
Patience & Practice
Training a German Shepherd definitely takes time and patience, but has so many long term benefits when proper time is allocated. Like us, your dog won’t learn everything overnight. Start with a few commands until mastered before moving on to others and more advanced training. Patience and being persistent is key to long term training success and always remember to celebrate small successes along the way. With consistency and positive reinforcement, your German Shepherd will grow into a well-behaved and confident companion.
Training your German Shepherd is a rewarding experience for you and your dog. Start training early, use positive reinforcement, socialize your dog, be consistent, and patient. A book that we frequently reference, The German Shepherd Dog, offers a wealth of tips and tricks you can use with your dog. You can find hundreds of positive reinforcement training videos on TikTok and YouTube if you prefer video tutorials. With time and effort, your German Shepherd will become a well-trained and well-behaved companion for life.
