german shepherd training

How to Train Your German Shepherd

While German Shepherd dogs are often seen as police dogs and guard dogs, they are also one of the most consistent popular breeds as family dogs according to statistics from the American Kennel Club. Originally bred in the late 1800's from a variety of other herding breeds, the breed was first exhibited in American in 1907. The popularity of early canine film stars Strongheart and Rin-Tin-Tin quickly escalated the popularity of this breed

German Shepherds, which are considered a large breed dog, generally stand 22-26 inches tall at the shoulder and are solid, muscular dogs with a noble, sculpted head. German Shepherds generally weigh in between 50 and 85 pounds. These dogs come in a variety of colors, with strong rich colors preferred. Pale colors such as blue or liver, however, are considered to be a serious fault in the breed, and white dogs do not meet the breed standards at all. The coat is usually a dense double coat, with the hair on the legs, head and paws having shorter hair, and the neck having a longer coat.

Being bred as a herding dog, the German Shepherd's gait is long and efficient. These dogs can cover a great deal of ground at a walk and can move quite quickly at a trot. They have great endurance and can walk for hours without pausing.

 If properly bred, German Shepherds are quite intelligent and have a wonderful temperament. They exude self-confidence and openness without being overeager or excitable. German Shepherds can be very loving and loyal, and are considered the third most intelligent breed behind the Border Collie and Standard Poodle. German Shepherds learn quickly and often seem eager to learn new things. They like to have a purpose and job, so having tasks for a German Shepherd will help keep the dog healthy and happy.

 If not properly bred, German Shepherds may show a variety of health and temperament problems. Health problems to look for are hip dysplasia, monorchism and missing teeth. They are also prone to ear infections and bloat. Temperament issues can include excessive nervousness and fear as well as aggressiveness. Both of these conditions can lead to biting, and with the size of the breed and the force of its bite, biting can be extremely serious and can lead the dog to being put down. When looking for a German Shepherd puppy, always ask to see the health records of the parents and to see the parents to determine if they have appropriate temperament.

All dogs should receive proper training as a puppy, but for large breeds such as German Shepherds, proper training and socialization is imperative. An improperly trained or aggressive large breed dog can cause serious damage if it attacks, so make sure you are able to handle and train a big dog before adopting.

German Shepherds, with their intelligence and confidence, are usually quite easy to train. They respond very well to reward based training. With their sense of loyalty and their ability to bond with their owners, German Shepherds tend to be an obedient breed.

German Shepherd dog training should begin as a puppy with basic leash training and teaching basic commands such as sit, stay, and lie. Food aggression should always be discouraged. Practice with the German Shepherd puppy giving and removing the dog's food so that the dog always recognizes your right to remove anything from the his possession. Socialization is very important, so the owner should take the puppy out frequently to mix with other dogs and people.

House breaking is usually fairly easy with German Shepherds. One of the best methods for teaching German Shepherds house breaking is crate training. The dog remains in his crate whenever you are not playing with or training him. Eating times should be at regular intervals, and the dog should be taken out 20 minutes after every meal. The dog should also go outside every time he leaves his crate. Praising the dog and giving a reward whenever he eliminates outside helps reinforce that he should always perform these functions out of doors.

When doing German Shepherd puppy training with a leash, the owner should work on discouraging two common behaviors: pulling at the leash and jumping on people. Because they are a heavy breed, they can easily pull someone off their feet pulling on the leash, and an adult German Shepherd can knock people over by jumping on them. For the safety of those in the community, German Shepherds must be trained against these actions. Whenever these actions occur, the owner should apply a quick correction with the leash and say in a stern voice, "No." When the dog responds appropriately, praise the dog and offer a reward. German Shepherds are very intelligent and will learn appropriate behavior quickly.

 German Shepherd Dogs are a very popular breed in the United States. German Shepherds are beautiful dogs with a loving and loyal temperament which makes them great family dogs and companions. With their intelligence and keen sense of smell, they are often used as search and rescue dogs, narcotics dogs, and in other law enforcement employment. Their intelligence, strength and loyalty make them ideal as service dogs for the disabled, and they are often seen in that role. Of course, they also are good herders, which is the occupation they were originally bred to fill. German Shepherd dogs, if properly trained can fill any number of roles, and their popularity is well earned.