2 German Shepherd Training Methods

Tags: dogs, pets, training, german shepherd

There are many dogs of great intelligence and capabilities out there – some may learn very fast, others may be good at taking on numerous jobs, while few possess both of these assets. One breed that fits the “description” given earlier is the German Shepherd. Everybody knows that it's a favorite amongst the police, because of the skill set it possesses.

Whether it's chasing down a fleeing convict, sniffing out potentially harmful items, or standing guard, this pooch didn't have any problems with performing any of the stated. The versatility of this breed is what made it a popular working dog around the globe – but it didn't just limit itself to that, it also made an ideal house pet amongst many pet owners as well.

If you don't own a German Shepherd, but have plans of owning and training one, then listen closely: what I'm about to share with you are two dog training methods you can use on this canine. The first method would be reward training – this is one of the most basic tricks that can work for almost (maybe all) dog breeds.

Here you'll help motivate the German Shepherd to learn by giving it a doggy treat, for obeying a command. By coupling a treat with a command corresponding to the position you've got it in, you'll be conditioning it to respond the way you want it to. This can be a verbal command, or even a hand gesture, but just remember to reward the “trick” it has done right away.

Delaying the time you give the treat may not work in your favor – this is usually because there's that possibility that it'll be associating the reward you've given with the “behavior” it may be showing after it has done a trick. That brings up the next tip, which happens to be one of the most important of all: never give a treat for unwanted behavior.

Doing so will make it think that you're in approval of the attitude it's showing, which will make it happier to continue with the unwanted behavior – the secret here lies within the right timing. The second German Shepherd training method would be clicker training. This works the same way the reward system works, only it has the addition of a “click making audio device” (a device designed to make a clicking sound).

Here's how it works: whenever the pooch is in good behavior or obeys a command, you immediately make a “click” with the clicker device, and then give the reward. That way the German Shepherd will be associating the “click” sound with the reward and command. This is a great way to let it know that it has been rewarded right away, so when it hears the sound, it'll be able to realize that it has done the right thing.

That in turn will rule out the possibility that'll associate the reward with something else. Which ever of the two you choose, be consistent with the commands you give it. Any changes in the commands you give it will confuse it. Hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck with your German Shepherd.

About the author

Alex De La Cruz is a successful Dog Trainer who has been advising and coaching dog owners for many years. Alex now decided to share his knowledge through this site, Doggyweb.info. You can sign up for his free weekly newsletter and learn how to keep your dog healthy and happy.

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