Firstly, if you are still in the process of buying a German shepherd puppy, it is well worth finding a good breeder of GSD’s. This will ensure your German shepherd will have a good temperament and be from a healthy bloodline.
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By buying from a good breeder rather than a pet store, you have a much higher chance of your dog having a good life. Get a referral from either a vet, a kennel club or a training club. This will ensure the people will be knowledgeable and passionate about German shepherds.
Typical German shepherd characteristics of a full grown GSD are a large dog, weighing between on average 75 – 95 pounds. Their temperament is one of loyalty, hard working and discipline. In addition to this, providing they have had solid training from puppy stage, will be good with other dogs and people.
It is no wonder, German shepherds are the dog of choice for the police force. However, discipline and consistency are two upmost key factors in training your German shepherd.
The main aspects to training and raising GSD puppies properly are, puppy biting or puppy nipping, house training, social integration and last but not least, your puppy learning its role in the alpha male hierarchy.
Puppy Biting and Nipping
Your puppy must learn not to bite or nip when it feels like it. Using harsh solutions such as hitting or screaming at it, rarely work well. As this merely scares your dog and will inevitably create neurotic complexes as it gets older. By simply associating one word (such as NO or Naughty on a consistent basis and a very gentle tap, will reinforce and teach your puppy not to bite.
House Training
The two main initial rules on house training a German shepherd puppy are:
Keeping it away at all times that your dog is not by your side, from any areas you don’t want messed up. (Restricting access).
Allowing continual access to an area that is catered for your puppy to go to toilet.
This will form a strong association of where and not where to go to toilet.
You could also employ crate training, which has excellent success rates but also takes some initial discipline.
Social Integration
Making sure your GSD mixes with lots or people and other dogs from an early age, will naturally teach it the rules of mixing. Keeping your puppy locked away from the world, can cause anti social problems as it gets older. They can become ill tempered and aggressive round other dogs and people, so don’t keep them locked away. Taking them to the park regularly or plenty of walks will help massively.
Hierarchy
As a pack animal, the dog instinctively runs on pack leader mentality. If left to its own devices, your dog will assert domination over the rest of the house hold. It needs to know its rightful place, if you don’t appoint him one, he will get one himself. This can make for a severely unruly dog as your German shepherd puppy grows into an adult.
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