Dog Training Rules for German Shepherds

There may be no better companion than a well-trained dog. One of the bonuses of adopting from a reputable breeder in New Braunfels is you will most likely adopt a dog that has received some dog training before you take them home. For our litter of German Shepherds, we will start with some training, but you can also bring your pup to dog obedience classes on an ongoing basis. Dog training is so important to not just teach behavior, but also to build a bond between dog and owner. Here are some of the key rules to follow when training German Shepherds.

German Shepherds are Working Dogs

It’s important to remember what German Shepherds are born to do. As working dogs, they like to keep busy and feel they must be productive. That is why they are so good at herding, detecting, and protection duties. They are born to be active, so your training should reflect that. Keeping them active when dog training will keep their minds sharp and keep them engaged.

Dogs Process and Respond to You

This goes for most dogs and is not specific to German Shepherds. Dogs are very perceptive. They will read your actions and behave accordingly. For instance, if you are out walking your dog, and you tense up when you see another dog, your dog may sense that something is wrong. This may cause barking, snarling, or some other form of aggressive behavior. The best approach to take is remaining calm with a positive attitude. You can be firm, but you must always be confident and calm. One of the things that set our German Shepherd puppies apart is the amount of time spent with their mother before being adopted. Mothers are great at helping in the socializing process of their pups.

Dogs Do Not Communicate As We Do

While we dog-owners tend to humanize our dogs, we need to remember that they are not people. It is totally fine to humanize them, but we must keep that in mind. They communicate using body language like posture and moving certain body parts. It may take time for your pup to learn simple commands like “sit”, “stay,” and “come.” Do not make your commands complicated. Keep them simple and direct so it will be easier for your pooch to learn them.

Consistency is Key

If you take your new German Shepherd pup to dog obedience classes, one of the main things you will learn is consistency. Even slight changes in commands, like saying “sit down” instead of just “sit” can confuse a pooch. Remain consistent with commands and say them in the same tone of voice each time. That way your dog will be able to learn them easily. Also, if you correct a dog’s behavior once, then you must continue to correct it every time. If you allow unwanted behavior one time, like jumping up but prohibit it the rest of the time, it will confuse them.

Dog Training is Best with Positive Reinforcement

As opposed to correcting bad behavior, try always to reinforce good behavior. Your German Shepherd pup will respond well to treats and rewards. Yelling at them or smacking them will only make them fear you and you will not get good results. The best motivation is through praise and treats. They will keep your pup striving to be the best, most agreeable pup they can be.

German Shepherd puppies are great when it comes to dog training and are amazingly intelligent talented dogs. Call Lara’s Canine Solutions if you are in the New Braunfels or San Antonio area to see if your home might be a good fit for one of our pups.

For more information about dog training for German Shepherds in San Antonio, San Marcos, Austin, or New Braunfels, visit our website at https://larascaninesolutions.com