8 Best German Shepherd Training Tips 

A well-trained German Shepherd is a joy to live with. They are exceptional family companions and protection dogs, which is one reason they are the second-most popular dog breed in America. German Shepherds are loyal, steadfast, intelligent, and eager to please the parents they love and trust.

These traits make them great dogs to train. They learn quickly and are capable of learning many advanced skills and tricks. Young German Shepherds are energetic and keen to learn; with the right training, you can bring out the best in this remarkable dog breed.

In this blog post, we will explore the best tips for training a German Shepherd. Here is what you need to do to develop qualities that will keep your Shepherds pleased and make them an excellent friend to have around

 

8 Best Training Tips for German Shepherds

Before we jump into the details of German Shepherd training, starting the process with the right mindset is vital. Always remember the training begins and ends with you. The breed is highly observant and eagerly follows your lead. Moreover, certain issues can derail the dog’s progress, and some common mistakes new owners make are:

• Setting expectations that dogs don’t understand
• Training from a human’s point of view
• Not looking for better alternatives when things don’t work.
• Only reacting to setbacks.

It is essential to have the right mindset before training your German Shepherds.

Here are the 8 best training tips for German Shepherds.

1. Understanding Your German Shepherd’s Perspective

Every dog has a unique personality, but people often use blanket terms. Like in the case of German Shepherds, they have a reputation for being intelligent, loyal, confident, versatile, and capable. But it does not tell us much about the individual dog you have. These are often shared traits but do not tell us about the dog’s preferences, behavior, and perspective.

Understanding the dog’s perspective gives us the best way to approach their training and develop a personalized plan. Two German Shepherds can be equally fast learners but might have different learning styles. One may prefer to go through the task, while the other prefers jumping head first to understand the training.

If we teach, challenge, and reward them similarly, they won’t progress at the same rate. One of them will surely struggle because training is not designed to help them succeed.

2. Set up the Training for Success

There are three essentials when it comes to training a German Shepherd.

• Timing
• Rewards
• Routine

The timing is as important as how you train your dogs. Choose a time of the day when the dogs are motivated, energetic, focused, and eager. An enthusiastic and motivated puppy pays more attention and quickly follows commands. Training before mealtime is excellent because mealtime becomes a reward. You can also try a late afternoon session to wind down the energetic puppy for a comfortable sleep. Moreover, try rewarding your dog immediately for a particular behavior; otherwise, they might get confused about which behavior is rewarding.

Rewards also encourage German Shepherds to focus and listen. Food is a great motivator. If you are not using mealtime, try giving biscuits as small treats to motivate them. Moreover, you can also use toys. Try many different toys: hard, soft, noisy, bouncy, wavy, etc. Once you have a suitable toy and understand the play style, you can use it in training. The top does not have to be expensive. You can prepare DIY-safe puppy toys and toys at home easily.

Routine is what gives your dog momentum going into training. The dogs know what to expect and when sessions start at the same time daily. If it is before mealtime, the training becomes a precursor to something they value.

3. Teach Your GSD to Chill Out Alone

When the German Shepherds feel safe, happy, and assured when alone, they grow into confident dogs with healthy attributes. You must develop special boundaries to ensure they learn early about the expectations for being in a space.

The boundaries can be a safe place where the dog can chill out to stay calm when visitors come. Moreover, teaching them how to be comfortable when they are left alone protects them from the stress of separation anxiety. It is a helpful trait, whether you work from home where you don’t want any distractions or work away from home.

Give your dog a safe space to rest and be alone. It will help them get used to their own company. The safe space can teach them to disengage when there’s more commotion than usual, other dogs, or during thunderstorms.

The boundaries and space make a confident dog and eliminate sparing with your furniture.

4. Add Mental Stimulation Exercises to Dog’s Routine

Physical and mental stimulation go hand in hand. German Shepherds are intelligent and agile dogs and ask for consistent exercises. The physical exercises and obstacle course teach dogs to use their bodies, improve balance, and support their growth. Mental stimulation exercises improve their focus, regulate emotions, and strengthen their bond with you.

Mental stimulation training benefits the body and helps them stay more focused on the task in a disruptive environment. They will be less bothered by the street noises, thunderstorms, other dogs in the parks, and crowds in competitive settings.

Balancing fitness and focus is essential for success. It engages all the tools in their everyday life, builds confidence, and develops a knack for solving problems. Pairing the physical and mental exercises for German Shepherd is not that difficult. It can be done on a routine walk, but they are extremely rewarding for your training and dog’s health.

5. Train in a Calm Environment

As an energetic and enthusiastic dog, young German Shepherds and puppies can easily be distracted. So, training in a calm, quiet, relaxing, and non-distractive environment is essential. It will help your pup focus on you instead of getting distracted by the puppy’s food, other animals, or kids.

Moreover, don’t rush the German Shepherd dog training. Focus on teaching simple and specific German Shepherd commands first. Slowly move to more complex and advanced training to build a strong foundation.

Even humans have difficulty learning complex tasks without knowing the fundamentals first. Similarly, your dog’s training has to be simple at the start. Moreover, stay consistent with the training.

6. Don’t Reward the Misbehavior

Chewing on items and jumping on the parents and guests may be cute as a puppy, but having an adult German Shepherd doing it is related to bad behavior.

The kind of behavior needs to be rooted out at a relatively young age so the habits don’t escalate when the dog reaches maturity. So, it is essential to set ground rules for the dog’s life, not just the puppy stages.

The best way to eliminate bad behavior is by stopping interaction when they misbehave and applying positive reinforcements.

Stop interacting when the dog is pulling on the leash or jumping on you. They have to think for a few seconds before they move again, which will help them learn good behavior.

Positive reinforcements include giving them tasty treats and a lot of praise after they complete a cue, following your command, or showing good behavior.  Moreover, don’t implement punishments like yelling, pushing, or shoving your dog.

It will cause them to mistrust you and make the training time depressing and fearful for the German Shepherd.

7. Adapt and Be Patient

Don’t stick to a set training plan. It is vital to adapt to the changing dog’s behavior for ideal training. Dogs will adapt over time; for example, they may learn that barking when about to be fed will speed up things. They might start doing it; in this case, do not reward them with the meal; instead, wait until they stop barking and then put the food down. Figuring out the odd traits and figuring the way out is the best way to train your dog.

Yes, German Shepherds are intelligent, but they will not learn the commands and good behavior in an instant. Being patient and never taking the frustration out on the dogs is crucial.

Keep the training sessions short initially, and always finish the session if they seem bored or frustrated. Make sure to end on a positive. Ask your German Shepherd to perform a task and reward them with praise and treats to ensure they maintain a positive outlook on training.

8. Start with Socialization

It is crucial to start with socialization. Frequently take your dog to the parks, introduce them to your extended family and friends, take them on walks, and spend a lot of time together. Play games with them and use different toys to interact.

Help them learn that the world is a friendly, fun place and you and your family members are trustworthy pet parents. The socialization phase is an excellent time to get your puppy used to grooming tools like brushes, combs, and nail clippers.

The early and effective effort to socialize your dog builds strong confidence, and a confident dog is always eager to learn and usually learns quickly.

Related: How do I crate train my German Shepherd puppy? 

Advanced Activities German Shepherd Dogs (GSD) Excel at

German Shepherds have fantastic traits and excel at all sorts of advanced activities. Here are some unique activities:

• Police Dogs: German Shepherds are loyal and brave and have reliable noses, which makes them ideal police dogs for good reasons. They provide protection, find crime scene evidence, and even search for explosives and narcotics.
• Service Work: The dogs are excellent at service work, thanks to their intelligence and eager-to-please nature. It is the reason they were the first seeing-eye dogs in the US. GSDs can be trained to perform all sorts of service tasks, but they are exceptionally good at grounding as they are highly perceptive and attuned to their owner’s mood.
• Agility: German Shepherds consistently come on top in agility courses. It is also due to their genetics; their gait is outreaching and elastic, effortless, smooth, and rhythmic. Moreover, their endurance is phenomenal, and they love to train and play with agility-related tasks.
• Herding: As the name suggests, the dog was initially bred to herd flocks of animals and eventually evolved to become the best family companion and service and police dog. Still, it has the genes and ability to effectively herd animals. They are even part of the American Kennel Club Herding Group.
• Search and Rescue: Their ability to pick up smells and identify their source makes them great search and rescue dogs. No wonder they are among the best. They stay calm and focused under pressure, allowing them to reach their goal no matter how stressful the environment is.

FAQs

Do German Shepherds go through a rebellious phase?

Yes, like many dog breeds, German Shepherds go through a rebellious phase, which is typically between 6 months to 2 years. During this phase, they may test boundaries and display increased independence. Proper training and consistency are essential to working with the new German shepherd and driving through this phase successfully.

Is a German Shepherd puppy still a puppy at one year old?

Yes, a 1-year-old German Shepherd is still considered a puppy. They are transitioning into adulthood, with physical and behavioral development. The dog breed usually takes 2 to 3 years to reach full potential.

Conclusion

German Shepherds are among the easiest breeds to train, making them ideal candidates for various roles, including police work. They are gentle, courageous, and hardworking dogs that love pleasing their owners, with an unrivaled loyalty. When considering how to train my German Shepherd like a police dog, keep in mind that GSDs are very demanding; they require a lot of physical and mental stimulation exercises to ensure healthy and confident growth.

Moreover, always train them with positive reinforcement. This approach is the most effective method and delivers the best results when training your German Shepherd. On the contrary, punishment-based training will not yield the desired outcomes and can negatively impact the dog’s well-being. By using positive reinforcement, you can successfully train your German Shepherd to exhibit the skills and behaviors of a police dog while strengthening your bond.