You do, of course! But purebred German Shepherds don’t arrive as perfectly-trained puppies on day one. There’s a little bit of training involved.
Like any relationship, it’s a matter of building trust and boundaries early on, so you can enjoy the rest of your time with each other.
You, the human, are in charge of setting the tone. So let’s take a look at a few of the things that will help you and your puppy get off on the right foot/paw.
Know What You’re Getting Into
Maybe you’ve always loved German Shepherd dogs. You’ve always wanted one. But are you really ready to have one? You need to be realistic about this.
Your German Shepherd is going to need lots of attention and exercise, especially early on. So make sure your lifestyle allows you to provide that.
What are your work hours? Do you like to stop at the gym on the way home from work? Or maybe go out for drinks and dinner after work? Neither of these things will work for your German Shepherd. They’re going to be waiting for you to come home, so they can spend all this energy they have pent-up.
If you see yourself driving home from work, just as excited to take them for a walk or to the park as they are, you guys are going to get along just fine.
A poorly exercised dog is a poorly behaved dog. You can buy all the right food, crates, and training in the world. But if you’re not gonna be able to give your German Shepherd the attention they need, none of it can help.
That being said, if you have a spouse or responsible children who can help out with your German Shepherd, this can be a really great fit and your new puppy will love being a part of your family.
Be Present and Be Patient
The more work you put in early on, the easier things will be later.
You’re gonna have to show your German Shepherd dog the right way to do things. And reward them when they do. You’re going to have to show them the right way to go for a walk, to play, to eat, and just about everything else.
So this will take a little bit of time. And it’s going to take patients from you. Getting frustrated or angry when things aren’t working is perfectly normal. But always try to take a breath and regroup. Punishing your puppy for being a puppy isn’t going to help.
Pro Tip: Don’t just put them in the crate when they misbehave. This isn’t going to correct the behaviour in the future, and is going to teach them to fear and resent the crate.
Trust the Professionals
If you want to get off to the best start possible, look into professional training.
You can get advice from other German Shepherd owners, but it’s not always the right advice. And getting insights right from a professional will keep you from developing bad habits that will frustrate you and your GSD for years to come.
We can help! Our obedience training typically starts with a one on one session, to assess exactly what you and your dog need.
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.