Tips for Training German Shepherd Puppies - Family - Pets

Training German Shepherd puppies is not difficult, but owners must realize that no two dogs are alike. Training must begin early; the sooner the better, as pups grow rapidly and owners may regret having an extremely large puppy on their hands that displays unruly behavior. While training, owners should keep in mind that not unlike any youngster, attention span is short. Owners not having the time or willingness to put energy into puppy instruction might find trained German Shepherds.

Though considered a more intelligent breed than some, each German Shepherd possesses its own temperament and willingness to please. The key to proper training is having patience and displaying consistence. Only expect the puppy to learn one thing at a time. Do not begin training a puppy to lie down, for example, until the animal learns to sit on command.

Puppies have a short attention span and exceeding their level of patience does not produce better results in the dog and often times causes owner frustration. Keep each learning session to a maximum of 5 to 15 minutes and try to eliminate any possible distractions. Instruction might be repeated at various times throughout the day until the puppy has a firm grasp of what the owner requires, and performs the desired request automatically. Make training German Shepherd puppies a fun and rewarding experience for both you and the animal. Allow times for play and offer much love and encouragement, which makes the pup all the more willing to please.

These animals love to look into their master's eyes and eye contact between dog and owner is a form of communication. Use a cheerful tone when offering praise and guidance. Firm tones might be used for "bad" or "no," which effectively conveys disapproval. Physical punishment is also never recommended because besides making the dog fearful, the animal may adopt aggressive behavior. Regardless of mischievous or inappropriate behavior, never call the dog to you for reprimanding. The pup soon equates coming to its master as a bad thing, which ultimately ruins the relationship between dog and owner.

Owners commonly initially train German Shepherd puppies ny to obey the basic commands sit, stay, come and down. Besides teaching verbal commands, owners might also simultaneously use hand gestures, which the dog soon equates with specific commands. Once mastering these tasks, owners might move onto to leash training. Even small puppies quickly learn this task inside the home. After mastering the basic commands thoroughly, in a one on one restricted environment, owners may combine distractions with learned commands to reinforce lessons. Animals, people and outdoor noises and activities often serve as effective attention deterrents.