Dog Training DIY » » German

How to Train a German Shepherd

Rick — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:24:54 +0000

The German Shepherd Dog truly is a wonderful animal and not only do they make good working dogs, they also make superb family pets. They are however very different from other pet breeds and need to be handled and trained with a different approach to say your average labrador or poodle for instance.The GSD is a large, strong athletic dog, which needs a lot of mental stimulation and exercise but a well trained shepherd can learn to do almost anything. These dogs positively thrive on challenging activities and they are so willing to serve their master and please. As a working dog used by most police forces, the very look of a GSD is usually enough to act as a deterrent but when called into action there are few dogs that can match the German Shepherd as an all rounder.If you are considering becoming an owner of a GSD then you need to consider the commitment to training in order that you have happy, well behaved German Shepherd dog that you can take out safely in public.If you haven’t previously owned one of these dogs then please do not take on a youngster lightly. Being involved in GSD rescue I have lost count of the number of young dogs I have had to re-home because owners bought them without doing a bit of research first.As youngsters they can be very boisterous and can easily knock over children or elderly relatives, especially if you do not discourage the dog from jumping up when excited. A bored GSD can be very destructive and if left alone will trash your house and contents with ease using their big teeth and claws. Unfortunately these dogs don’t really mature until they are about 3 years old so you are in for the long haul to get through the puppy and adolescent stageThe German Shepherd needs to be well socialised from an early age and needs plenty of exposure to people and other dogs so that they do not develop aggressive tendencies as they mature.Joining a dog training class from an early age is a good idea and most clubs will accept dogs into the puppy classes from about 4 months onwards. This should be good fun for your puppy and allows him to play and to socialise but it also serves the purpose of teaching him or her what is acceptable and what is not. This will prove invaluable grounding for your German Shepherd training.

A Brief Look into German Shepard Puppies

Rick — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 04:35:34 +0000

German Shepard puppies have only risen in popularity in the later 19th century.

Australian Shepherd: As Good As Its German Variety

Rick — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:58:06 +0000

Australian Shepherd is every bit as graceful as its more famous German variety. And like German Shepherd, these too, are bred as herd dogs, trained and nourished to take care of cattle. Also referred to as “Aussie”, they first appeared in Australia in the early 1800s and come in colors ranging from near black to blue merle. The original purpose of this breed was to serve as guardians for sheep and cattle herds, but it did not take very long for them to build a reputation for sharp intelligence and unfailing loyalty.
They also come in a number of sizes from sleek and gangling to short and stout. They weight from 35 to 65, and some of them have now the famous one-blue-one-brown-eye combination. Quite a prankster, the Aussies’ capacity for ‘humor’ is matchless among dogs.
However, the Aussie is not for everyone. Having been bred as a herd dog it does not take well to the apartment living of the modern day. It needs space to move and play around. They have no patience to sit and watch television alongside other family members. Their idea of socialization is going out in open, jog around a little and play around a lot. So, if you are one of those television-after-office kind, the Aussie is certainly not for you. It is energetic to the extremes and would try its best to pull you in an active game. Do not expect it to lie at your feet while you type away on your computer or do easy chit chat on phone. You may live in a apartment and it will be happy so long as evenings are his and he gets to play “canine frisbee” or catch-me-if-you-can every evening without fail.
Once you are home from office, it would either want you to indulge with him in a wrestling match or take him out. If you don’t do either, he would find something to do all by himself, which may not be a good news, for they have the reputation for chewing and eating anything that allows their teeth to sink in.
It is highly intelligent and has this deep rooted tendency to closely ‘investigate’ everything. If you are cooking, it may come in to smell and check if the pots smell good and if you are in the shower it may jump in to join you. Besides, they are not really very welcoming hosts. Their sense of humor goes to dogs (other dogs, that is) when it comes to entertaining an unknown guest. They would stare and growl if a guest drops in unannounced. So, if you are getting an Aussie, tell your friends not to ring the bell every time they happen to pass by, for the Aussie is not going to like it. They are kind to children and are staunch protectors of the family.

German Sheperds

Rick — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:30:40 +0000

People love big, protective and loving dogs and that’s why there
are a lot of german sheperd breeders. The German Shepherd is
sometimes called an Alsatian because that’s where they
originated in Germany. Many Germans still called them Deutscher
Schaferhund because of their original sheepdog function but the
breed is not very old and was really developed from a variety of
sheep herding farm dogs in the late 1800s. In 1899 Max von
Stephanitz, a German cavalry officer, was president of the first
German Shepherd association in Germany. Since then German
Shepherds have turned up all over the world and they came to the
USA as early as 1908 where they were popular with the Red Cross,
the police and as guard dogs. This was partly because they are
extremely loyal and courageous dogs and they are very
intelligent and retain specialized training for a long time.
Temperament is what ensures the usefulness of the German
Shepherd and since this comes from good breeding it is essential
to find a good and reputable breeder. With a bad temperament
these dogs are a disaster. They are highly territorial and will
know and recognize their people and place by about six months of
age. This is when their protective loyalty starts to show
itself! There are many german sheperd breeders and you should
have no problem finding a good one, but just remember that they
come in a range of colors and will protect you no matter what!
They have proved a popular breed over the years for use in both
the police force and as guard dogs for security companies. They
have a very acute sense of hearing which means that they are
invaluable to anyone wanting to protect both themselves and
their property.Because they are a large dog they are a very
useful deterrent against theives.

Training your German Shephered

Rick — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:11:42 +0000

Training your German Shepherd Dog involves a commitment different from what you’d present to a dog of a different breed.

The German Shepherd Dog was initially developed in Germany as an all-around working dog, primarily helping handlers in herding sheep and livestock. The breed was developed to have intelligence, character, courage, agility, and an eagerness to please. These traits carry over to the smart, lovable big dogs we know today.

Today’s German Shepherd Dogs are most commonly thought of as loyal partners of the Police force, or as guide dogs for the blind. This may give you the idea that training your German Shepherd will be a breeze, which isn’t the case – German Shepherd puppies are particularly boisterous and may wreak havoc in their handlers’ property if not trained properly.

Training your German Shepherd Dog requires you to establish a bond with it. The German Shepherd Dog needs a handler that it trusts and respects. As the handler you need to make sure that you control your german shepherd and not to let it control you. This has happened to many handlers of this dog! Not sensing the necessary leadership figure, the German Shepherd Dogs resorted to taking leadership for themselves, sometimes barring any sort of entry into houses and bedrooms.

An establishment of you being the “head of the pack” or Alpha Dog is crucial in training your german shepherd. Your German Shepherd Dog won’t resent this – they’ll actually love you for being the authority figure, since it gives them a feeling that everything’s under control, and they won’t have to take charge.

Establishing your position in the pack is pretty straightforward – you praise your German Shepherd puppy if he does something good, and discipline him if he doesn’t. Now, German Shepherd Dogs instinctively try to improve their position in the pack, and they might disobey orders or nip at you in an attempt to do so. Consistency in training your German Shepherd Dog is therefore very important – once you teach him a good lesson, such as not jumping on people, it must be constantly enforced.

Training your German Shepherd puppy also means you’ll have to expose it to people and other dogs regularly. Socialization, especially in the earlier years of the puppy’s life, will make it more genial towards others, effectively watering down its natural tendency to just go wild.

Training your German Shepherd can be much easier for you if you enroll it in an obedience school early in its life. Social niceties (which behaviors are acceptable and which are not) are effectively taught in these schools, and German Shepherds are generally quick to catch on to these lessons.

However, make sure the puppy doesn’t suffer in obedience school. Some schools use muzzles and tight leashes on their students, which can inhibit your dog’s social relations in a bad way. Training your German Shepherd shouldn’t be a traumatic experience for it – show some love, and it will be returned to you over many loyal years.

Meet the Dog Shepherd: German Shepherd

Rick — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:21:16 +0000

This breed is so named as it was originally used to protect, and herd the sheep. In the ending years of nineteenth century “Captain Max” developed this particular breed. However, at present due to discriminating breeding, they are able to perform tasks or work in environment involving obedience, protection and tracking.

They are very versatile animals and have proven so in a variety of tasks. They have been involved in jobs like protecting people and guarding their properties/possessions; guide the handicapped like blind; or helped those in distress or in need of treatment. They have worked for the military, police, rescue teams and helped in detective work. Despite being involved in above, they are faithful, loyal, loving pets and love to socialize with people plus other animals. As per the 2006 figures of the Kennel Club, it is the most popular among others in United Sates and the United Kingdom.

It is a sturdy, strong and powerful one with a strong and muscular body. Its height from the shoulder can vary between twenty-two inches and twenty-six inches. Their weight can range from sixty pounds to a maximum of hundred ten pounds. They have a medium length coat which is coarse but beautiful. They also have an undercoat which is softer and requires daily brushing due to frequent shedding of hairs from the coat. The coat color varies and can be black-tan and black; golden or grey color with hairs being black at the end. Their required diet consists five cups of dog food (dry) complete with minerals and vitamins or can be one and half cans to two and half cans of good quality meat mixed with biscuits of equal parts.

When things are normal, they have a balanced, poised, and calm personality. However, once the situation changes, they become alert, on guard, and protecting in nature. Besides that, they can quickly change their roles as per the circumstances, they can be companions (playful), herding dogs (watch sheep), watch dogs/guardians (protect), or guides for binds (helping).

They can be lovable social house pets provided they are given proper socialization training; especially the young ones or puppies. They are intelligent, forever alert, observant, and eager. They are sensitive to the changes of the surroundings and to the moods, and attitudes of the people around them. Therefore, training and socialization is imperative for honing their natural skills of observing and adapting to the various and varied circumstances. If proper training is not done they can be aggressive and dangerous. If puppies are not trained they can grow into vicious adults with a bullying, and hostile behavior. They can become aggressive suddenly and get scared of certain people or surroundings.

Since, they were bred to be protectors, they have a natural tendency to fearlessly protect anything that it considers within its own territory or den and pack. Considering the home situation, where they are pets, the den can be house property or car; whereas the pack can be members of the family.

Her German Shepherd Dog Has Become “Collar-Smart”

Rick — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:37:51 +0000

Will wrote to me about his dog, Lexi, and said:

“Hello Adam. I have purchased your book and DVD set, and my 14
month-old shepherd Lexi and I have made great strides.

We started agility training at six months and thanks to the long
line training, she no longer takes 1 or 2 obstacles and takes
off running. We also are involved in training for show obedience.

Now here’s my question that I need serious help with. I use the
pinch collar during training as I should and she responds
incredibly. The problem I have is when we are in the ring and
she’s wearing AKC standard collar, it’s a whole different story,
like we’ve never trained. She won’t heel the way she does on
collar (she lags behind) and on the handler recall she will
usually blow past me. And obviously there are no corrections
allowed at any AKC event. She’s obviously collar smart, so
please Adam, I need your wisdom.

Thank you in advance. — Will and Lexi.”

Dear Will,

You say you that you are using the pinch collar during training?
Are you training only during specific times of the day or is the
collar on her all the time? Keeping the collar on all day (when
you can supervise her) will allow you to correct her whenever
she does anything wrong, not just when she’s in “training” mode.

Do exercises during the day that aren’t formal show obedience,
but that make her obey, anyway. Work her in different
environments; the driveway, the park, kitchen, neighbor’s yard,
etc…. So that she learns how to listen to you in any situation
with multiple distractions.

Stage an event so it has the feel of an AKC show. Have friends
and family come and even “judge” the show. Perhaps have a few
other well-behaved dogs around doing their exercises. Put her
show collar on as well as the pinch collar. Put her through her
paces and the moment she messes up, give her a correction: this
isn’t an AKC event, this is your event and you say what is and
isn’t allowed

German Shepherd: The Loyal Protector

Rick — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:23:33 +0000

It is believed that the German Shepherd breed was developed by “Captain Max” von Stephanitz in the late nineteenth century and originally developed for herding sheep, hence their name. Over the years, their roles have changed somewhat, but by selective breeding; they have been bred for specific tasks or working environments such as protection, tracking and obedience.
According to Kennel Club figures from 2006, German Shepherd Dogs are one of the most popular breeds in the UK and also one of the most popular breeds in the United States. German Shepherds have proven to be very versatile in their working roles, working as guide dogs for the blind, for police and detective work, guarding people, possessions or properties, part of search and rescue teams, any kind of therapy and working in the military. Even though they are well bred and very capable of all of these lines of work, they are also very loving, loyal and devoted pets inside the home. Early socialization is a must for younger puppies so that they do not become aggressive and exhibit dangerous, menacing or threatening behavior when they are adults. Otherwise, German Shepherds are very social, as they enjoy being around people and other animals.
The German Shepherd is a strong, sturdy breed, standing twenty-two to twenty-six inches at the shoulder and weighing anywhere between sixty and one hundred and ten pounds. His muscular, strong body is covered by a beautiful medium length, coarse shedding coat. It has a softer undercoat, which needs to be brushed daily, as they can shed quite a bit. The color of the German Shepherd may vary but can be black, black-and-tan, golden with black-tipped hairs, or gray with black-tipped hairs.
This breed’s personality is marked with an inherent direct willingness and fearless instinct to protect what it considers its “den” or territory (i.e. house, car, and property in a home situation) and “pack” (i.e. human family in a home situation). The German Shepherds temperament is usually poised, calm and fairly even keeled, however when the circumstance demands, they quickly can become very alert, ready to protect or guard and eager to perform the task at hand. They can immediately “shift gears” from loyal companion to being fit and willing to serve and perform as a watchdog, guide dog for people who are blind, herding dog, or guardian or whatever the circumstances demand, no matter how rapid the change.
German Shepherds should be fed anywhere from one and a half to two and a half cans of a high-quality meaty product with a biscuit added in equal part or five cupfuls of a complete, dry dog food with vitamins and minerals.
This breed is considered the most keen, aware and perceptive of his surroundings, atmosphere and person’s attitudes, moods and dispositions. Because of this he must be socialized to cover as many differences in atmosphere and disposition as possible. If this is not done and trained as a puppy, they may exhibit an unexpected aggression or be afraid of certain surroundings or people.

German Shepherds – The facts every owner should know

Rick — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:33:25 +0000

Also known as the Alsatian, the German Shepherd is a ‘young’ breed, having only been recognized as a distinct breed in the last 90 years. The German Shepard can trace its roots back to a range of shepherding dogs in Germany, and some groups tried to informally breed this dog. This effort failed but in 1899, a new group formed. Der Verein fur Deutsche Schaeferhunde was founded by Max von Stephanitz, who wanted to breed an all purpose working dog.

The German Shepherd came to the United Sates in 1908 with soldiers impressed by the courage and abilities of this dog. German Shepherds will reach an average height of 22 to 26 inches, weight of 77 to 85 pounds and live an average of 13 years. There are a wide variety of coats in this breed. Some German Shepherds are longhaired and some are shorthaired. The color is most often black and tan, but can also be sable, all black, blue and liver and white.

The one thing all German Shepard coats have in common is that they shed profusely, and shed worse during their shedding season. Daily brushing usually helps combat the shedding, and German Shepherds should only be bathed occasionally. Almost all German Shepherds are described as self-confident and loyal.

German Shepherds are highly intelligent and often times used as police dogs, rescue dogs and guide dogs. German Shepherds make excellent guard dogs and are very loyal to their family. They make excellent protectors, barking when someone unfamiliar is approaching. German Shepherds do make good family pets and will guard the children of ‘their’ family. They will tolerate the poking and prodding children are prone to do. However, they are sometimes unaware of their size and power relative to a small child and may indiscriminately knock them over.

A German Shepherd and child should always be watched to avoid this. German Shepherds can survive apartment living if given enough exercise regularly and given enough activities. If left alone too long or not stimulated enough, German Shepherds will become bored and destructive. They enjoy being in the company of their human family but not other pets.If you are not able to take your German Shepherd out for regular exercise, consider getting a dog treadmill.

As a working dog that likes to please, a German Shepherd will do very well with obedience training. German Shepherds are prone to some genetic disorders including hip and elbow Dysplasia, blood disorders, digestive problems, epilepsy, chronic eczema, keratitis (inflammation of the cornea), dwarfism and flea allergies.

German Shepherd Whines When Left In Kennel

Rick — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:57:49 +0000

Dear Mr. Katz:
I have a 6 month old German Shepherd named Thor. Having read your book, I applied your techniques to him and he responded very quickly, to my surprise!
He is quite good at a sit-stay and down-stay now, which is very, very useful. I do have one problem that I couldn’t fix with him though.
Here are the circumstances and the problem:
Thor lives outside in a dog kennel/pen thing, I walk him every day and play ball with him and always make sure he has food and water, I brush him and I spend a lot of time with him. But whenever I leave him, he sits and whines for half an hour! He just won’t be quiet! And if I go back out to make him stop, as soon as he sees me, he’s quiet… but as soon as I leave, he starts whining and barking again, so I just ignore him, but it has gotten to be such a problem that the neighbors have started to complain about it. I don’t make a big deal out of leaving him or anything. I just say ‘Bye Thor’ and leave.
Can you help?
Christina Hathaway
Dear Christina:
Welcome to the wonderful world of German Shepherd ownership.
Here’s what you can try:
1. Wait until he really starts whining and barking loudly. Then use the Bridging technique as described in the book (No, NO, No) and go back and correct him with the collar. Leave the pinch collar on, but keep the tab with you. Hook the tab on the collar, correct the dog, then take the tab off and walk away. Please note that you’ll also want to later practice putting the tab on the dog, feeding him a cookie, then taking the tab off, so that the dog does not come to associate wearing a tab with a correction.
2. If Tip #1 doesn’t work, pick a time when your neighbors are away. Ignore the dog. Wait until he finally settles down and is quiet… then wait another 2 minutes. Go back to the dog and let him out. Your goal is to teach the dog that being quiet will get him what he wants.
3. Simply ignore him. Eventually he will learn that this behavior does not product the results he desires, but it may take a couple of weeks. Also, increase his daily exercise regimen, substantially. You may also experiment with changing his dog food.
Different things work for different dogs when it comes to this behavior. Unfortunately, there is no quick cure-all.
That’s all for now, folks!
Adam