A Simple Study Of German Shepherd Training
German shepherd dogs are one of the more popular breeds, perhaps because people are attracted to their loyalty, intelligence and determination. They are common as family pets as well as workers with the police. The dogs are very assertive and active which is why German Shepherd training is so important to having a happy dog that fits in well in his home. Here are some things to consider while training one of this breed.
More important that any individual training technique is the overall commitment you give to the process. That means that consistency and a good amount of time are needed when teaching your dog. While German Shepherds are very smart, they may sometimes have short attention spans and be forgetful just like any dog would. Frequent reinforcement of commands is vital. 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.
The fact that these shepherds are so bright means that they are curious and thus may get distracted at times. Do not let this discourage you. Just remember that they will have their off moments and keep a positive attitude.
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 properly trained canine is a joy to own, but German shepherd training requires advanced techniques.