German Shepherd Puppy Training

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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Some key points to remember when buying a German Shepherd puppy.

Find one from a reputable breeder; this will go a long way towards your puppy having a healthy happy life.

You can find a good breeder more often than not, through kennel clubs or dog training clubs and your local veterinary.

Don’t take on ownership of a GDS puppy lightly, they require far more attention and training than most other breeds.

Consistent training and discipline are needed to raise your puppy, not when the mood takes you.

A full grown GSD can weigh between 75 – 95 pounds; they are more than capable of knocking you, your child or your parents over. They can be very boisterous.

As a pack animal, your puppy will need to be taught his place in your family, if you don’t teach him, he will teach you yours!

Learn from the experts, there are more than just a handful of online books about German shepherds. Most are reasonably priced and offer tonnes of bonuses as part of the package.

Firstly, obedience training is crucial, as powerful dogs, a German shepherd will very soon rule the roost if it does not learn its place in the pack hierarchy of your house hold. This may sound severe but as a pack animal, all dogs, not just yours, will instinctively try to climb to the top of the pack.

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German shepherds are a keenly intelligent breed; they learn fast and are one step ahead of the game. For this reason, don’t neglect your puppy’s potential and leave it to grow up doing little more than chewing toys.

It needs regular stimulation and exercise, would you leave you child to grow up with no exercise, leaving him to do nothing but watch TV (ironically a lot of people do).

They are powerful dogs even at an early age; don’t be surprised if they occasionally send things flying, including members of your household, be prepared for the inevitable. Try to keep valuables out of harms way.

Buy your German shepherd puppy from a reputable breeder, find one through classifieds or get referred through a vet or kennel club. Superior genes will be a good stating point for the life of your GSD

Before you buy puppy, visit some German shepherd dog training clubs and speak to owners, this will give you a good idea of the sort of commitment needed in raising a GSD and will better help you decide if it is for you

Remember, German shepherds moult far heavier than most other dogs, be prepared to get your Hoover out more than you would have done.

Keep your GSD puppy well socialized, another very important aspect of healthy development for your dog. Locking it away from the world will only serve in making it aggressive when confronted with other dogs and people.