Did you know that less than 5% of dog owners will attend dog training classes? That’s a shame, because classes can really go a long way in helping both you and your purebred German Shepherd.
But, If you can’t afford formal training, we still want to help. We want to give you and your new best friend the best possible chance for a long and healthy relationship. So let’s get you off to a great start with some German Shepherd basic training advice– straight from the breeder.
1. Crate Training for German Shepherd Dogs
If you’re not sure if crate training is right for your dog, you should read this article about the pros and cons of crate training a GSD.
It can be a really great thing for a lot of German Shepherd owners, but not all of them.
Basically, it can be a safe place your dog loves to go to rest and feel secure, while you get the peace-of-mind of knowing they’re under control when you may not be able to watch them.
However, if you use it as a punishment when your dog is bad, things may backfire. If you just put your GSD in the crate when they misbehave or act hyper, instead of doing the work and training to correct the behavior, you’re making things worse. Also, they may grow to fear and hate the crate.
2. Bite Training a German Shepherd Dog
A GSD can pack over 200 lbs of pressure into a single bite (humans, by comparison, are about 80), so you don’t want to be at the business end of a bite.
We’ve explored how to stop a German Shepherd puppy from biting in this article, in great depth.
Here are some quick tips:
- Even though you may want to wrestle, don’t encourage rough play with your hands
- Re-direct their desire to chew toward appropriate chew toys
- Keep tug toys nearby, so you can immediately redirect them to looking for a toy when he feels like mouthing
- If they bite, don’t hit them or hold the muzzle closed as punishment. They may become aggressive
- If you get bit hard, don’t yank your hand away. This could bring out the chase instinct and make the problem worse. Let out a high-pitched yelp to train them to know they’ve hurt you
If you’re having a tough time curbing the biting behavior, you may want to look into professional training.
3. Seriously Consider Professional Dog Training
We know, it may seem expensive. But any money you pay for training is actually small when you consider how much it can save you in damaged and chewed belongings, and save you a whole lot of stress.
We can start with a one on one evaluation to pinpoint individual the issues you’re having with your dog.
We are committed to the rules and regulations set out by the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV) in Germany. The SV established guidelines for good breeding over 100 years ago, standards we believe are essential to healthy and happy German Shepherd puppies.
Let’s talk! You can reach us by clicking here.