3 Important Keys to German Shepherd Training
First off, the moment the German Shepherd puppy enters your house, you must right away start the baby pet to its proper German Shepherd Training. Failure to do that may result to some serious problems later on. As this kind of breed grows into a huge size, you will soon lose the total command and control of the dog. That is the main reason why it is very important to make a good use of the crucial time of the dog’s early months. Otherwise, the dog may perceive its big size and sue it to claim territory and intimidate those who are around the animal. With that, you can check out these three effective tips on German Shepherd training to make the head start of making your pet loyal and adorable.
Establish Authority
Establish a strong yet loving authority to your pet as early as possible. During the German shepherd training, you need to make sure that you let the dog know that it should follow your voice of command. These dogs are pack animals all the way, so establishing yourself as the Alpha dog, or leader of the pack, is essential if you want respect and obedience from your pup. This can be done by working with your dog on basic commands like “come” and “sit”, with plenty of praise when he obeys your instruction. It is also important to never allow your dog to nip or growl at you. If he does, a firm shake to the scruff of the neck and fifteen minutes in his crate with no attention from you should do the trick. Once your dog accepts you as his pack leader, the rest of your German shepherd training should go much more smoothly.
The Importance of Being Consistent
Consistency works very well with dogs. Conversely, the lack of consistency may only confuse your pets and deter any kind of learning. Just like children, dogs respond best to instruction that is fair and consistent. Not only that, they learn fast with a set of patterns. If you don’t want your dog jumping up on your living room sofa, you cannot allow him to sit there even once. If you want your dog to go to his crate on command, you must be prepared to enforce that instruction every time you give it to him. Consistency in the home will add to a dog’s security and comfort level, which in turn will make him more likely to obey you. Determine what the house rules will be before you even bring your puppy home from the breeder and then stick with them, no matter what.
Show Affection and Give Rewards
Showing your affection and rewarding your pets every time they follow your command are the sure factors of establishing rapport of each other. While there is a time and place for a firm reprimand, most dogs will respond best to plenty of positive reinforcement during German shepherd training sessions. Whether you take your pup to an obedience class or handle the training at home, it is important to acknowledge whenever your dog obeys you well. This can be done through a happy voice and plenty of positive attention. There may also be times when you want to use food treats to help your pup learn a new command. Whatever reinforcement you choose, make sure you offer it to your dog as often as possible to reinforce positive behavior especially during your German Shepherd training, or even outside of it.
