The Keys To German Shepherd Training
From beloved family pet and companion to diligent and dependable police dog, the German Shepherd dog has consistently maintained a high level of popularity. Although noted for its intelligence, loyalty and determination, it is also a breed that is extremely active and assertive. With this in mind, German shepherd training can be an invaluable process to ensure that your dog is happy and fits well into his home environment. Let’s take a look at some of the things to consider when training yours.
Specific teaching techniques are not as important as the overall commitment to the learning process. Time and consistency are needed for successful teaching. These dogs are very smart but that does not mean that they will not be forgetful or experience periods of short attention spans. Every dog goes through this. Keeping up with enforcing commands is vital to overcome these moments and get the learning process back on track. Because German shepherd training teaches the animal to perform various tasks, proper training is important.
Negative reinforcement is never a good part of teaching any dog. Hitting or smacking a dog will eventually have a poor impact on its personality. You do not want shepherds to look away when you look into their eyes. A change on your voice will make it clear to the dog if his behavior is bad.
Perhaps the most endearing characteristic of the German shepherd is its desire to bond with the people in its family. The best way to encourage this trait is to reward good behavior constantly. This means when your dog does things correctly he should be spoken to in a warm voice and pet affectionately. Treats are also good.
One of the downsides to a German Shepherd’s intelligence is that he is very curious and at times can become distracted. Do not become discouraged during your training of him. It is important to recognize that he may have an occasional slip and that you will need to stay encouraged while teaching him his manners.
Shepherds have been called noble and regal, and so they are. However, with this comes an affinity for them to believe that they are the ones who should be giving the orders. In other words, they have no difficulty assuming the alpha dog role. Therefore, it is important to let them know at an early age who really is the boss. This does not mean any form of mal-treatment, but rather adopting a temperament on your part that indicates that you in fact are the alpha dog.
As a final note, be sure you take the time to familiarize your dog with as many other dogs and people as possible. Although this does not technically fall into the category of German shepherd training, doing this will go a long way in making for a happy and well-adjusted dog, and by extension make the teaching process easier.
A well trained canine is a joy to own, but German shepherd training requires advanced techniques.
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