German Shepherd Puppy Training Tips

Step-by-Step Training Tips For Your German Shepherd Puppy

Before bringing your GSD puppy to your home, it is assumed that you understand that dog ownership is a life time commitment. This is not only a commitment of money and effort but also a commitment of time and relation too. The German Shepherd puppy is going to be a part of your family and will continually grow with different requirements – nutritional, activities, space and socialization.

Training your GSD puppy involves building desirable habits that includes everything starting from feeding habit and potty habit to play behavior. German Shepherd puppies are very intelligent and grab things quite faster, although this is not always the truth. With the growth the puppy will have a desperate need of daily exercise accompanied with early and ongoing training in order to check all kinds of negative puppy behavior. For a successful and effective training, the puppy should be put to right socializing process. To start off with your puppy should be socialized with other animals from a very early age, for instance 4 months age.

First time outdoor: Take your puppy outdoor for the first time after the first set of vaccine shots are fully done. Keep him in the fenced area and let him explore the entire external world that he can see for the first time ever. Allow him to sniff out the leaves and grasses, and chase the butterflies, moths and birds. Let him run, play and experience the sounds of the falling leaves, chirping birds and other sounds. This kind of socialization is considered as the most significant part of the beginning of an effective dog training.

Introduction to the training session: Gradually! Your GSD puppy should be introduced to actual training session gradually. Start off with potty training your puppy. After each meal, lead him the way outdoor where you want him to get the thing done. Control him through the lead and don’t let him go else where until it is done. It requires a lot of time to potty train your puppy, because sometimes GSD puppies are typically headstrong.

Crate training: A good option of going about potty training is to carry out with crate training the puppy. Make sure that his create is just big enough for him to turn around and lie freely inside it. Note that while starting with the crate training your puppy will exhibit behavioral problems with continual whining. It is recommended not letting him out until he stops whining. However, it is advisable to crate him in for smaller time span to begin with. As soon as you unlock his crate, make sure to chain him and lead him outdoor without any delay and take him to the place you want him to urinate and potty. It is suggested that you always follow the same and feasible route to that place.

Introduction to verbal command obedience training: No age is too early and it is always advisable to start now if he has crossed three months of age and properly vaccinated. Vaccination is of utmost importance because you may need to take take him outdoor if you think inside your house is not the right place for him to be trained. Moreover, training outdoor has its unique effectiveness provided you choose the right time when there will be no single disturbing element that may deviate his attention. Early in the morning and during the night are the two suggested times. Better start off with the command “COME”. Let him play enough to be a little tired and will want to sit. Let him sit, while you move away to a distant. Be sited yourself and deliver the command “COME” while encouraging him, showing him a piece of cookie. If he denies, repeat the command, lovingly and encouragingly. Offer him his tidbits when he comes to you and praise him lavishly. The trick is to let him know which sound associates with which desirable action and if he makes you happy he will be getting his favorite tidbits.

Transition from one command to the other – “COME” to : This is the most delicate point and chances are there that your puppy will get confused with commands and action. Consistency, repetition and patience are the key to the success story. The best command that should be chosen after “COME” is “SIT”. After he is well acquainted with the sound “COME”, stop offering him his cookies when he comes. Start with teaching him how to sit with the Command “SIT” now. Sit before and hold the cookie run your hand slowly over his nose and head and towards his loin and gently press the loin region and deliver the command softly yet firmly “SIT”. He will automatically sit while following the cookie in your hand. One he sits offer him his cookie and praise him. Repeat the whole process again and again starting from “COME” to “SIT”.

What’s next: The best lesson to teach him after “SIT” is the command “DOWN”. Once he is quite well with “SIT”, start with “DOWN”. Teaching the “DOWN” command to your GSD puppy requires additional patience. More importantly, you need to first establish yourself as the ALPHA member (leader of the pack, where the pack mates are you and your puppy). Sometimes, teaching “DOWN” command is typically tough because the puppy will associate the action of lying down to the sense of submission, and he will try not to be submissive too easily. What is desirable to be achieved with the down command is to make your puppy cool and get down to the laying position, with the belly touching the floor, and his front legs extended in the front. Next Chapter: How to teach your GSD Puppy the "Down Command".