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.

Specific teaching techniques are not as important as the overall commitment to the learning process. Time and consistency are needed for successful teaching. These dogs are very smart but that does not mean that they will not be forgetful or experience periods of short attention spans. Every dog goes through this. Keeping up with enforcing commands is vital to overcome these moments and get the learning process back on track. 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.

A very endearing trait of this breed is its bonding with the human members of its family. The best way to foster this quality is be constantly rewarding good behavior. In other words when your dog does the right thing, show him so with treats, affection and a warm voice. All dogs thrive on this positivity.

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.

Another thing you may want to do is introduce him to many different people and other dogs. This is not necessarily part of the teaching process, but will make for a happier, better adjusted pet. This, in turn, will make the German shepherd training process easier and more effective.

A properly trained dog is a joy to see, but German shepherd training requires advanced techniques.

categories: german shepherd training,german shepherd puppy training,german shepherds,dog training advice,dog training

Written by Luke Obermeyer using tags: dog training, dog training advice, Dogs, german shepherd puppy training, german shepherd training, german shepherds

This dog training advice for working with large dogs. Keep in mind that dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and humans live in a symbiosis that is thousands of years old. Dogs share an ancestor with wolves, but they have gone through many changes in this relationship with people.

Some instinctive behavior in dogs may be left over from their wolf cousins. But, dogs respond to us in ways that wolves never do. We are truly linked to each other. Keep in mind that training a dog is not like training a wild animal.

Trained dogs are happier because training establishes communication. This reduces frustration for both of you. Dogs are smart enough to learn a lot of words, but if trained using ever day words as commands, there will be trouble.

If a dog has been trained that OKAY releases her from a STAY command. She might take run off inappropriately if the trainer happens to say OKAY during a normal conversation with a friend. One can imagine many problems like this that my come up.

Both treats and punishment are useful, but treats are preferable since they are easier for the trainer. Also, if the dog fears the trainer, she may not listen very well. Make sure the treats are something the dog really likes, but not something fattening. Chicken breast jerky treats are good. Be quick to reward with treats and praise when she does something correctly. If she does something wrong, make a face and tell her no. As soon as she changes to the right behavior, praise her immediately.

A good leash is a simple slip lead, or a leash with a choker chain. For leash-walking, one end should be held in the hand, and the other hand should hold the middle of the leash. The knuckles on the middle hand should be forward. The line should be held against the waist, with little slack. Say HEEL and walk forward.

A good practice is to walk in a small square course, stopping to make sharp turns at each corner. If the dog wanders and pulls on the leash, one should run in the opposite direction, calling her name excitedly and pulling her along. This will keep her attention on the trainer at all times. It is not good to look at the dog while walking. This makes her think the trainer is following her. Instead, the dog should be paying attention to what the trainer is doing.

To teach a new command, say the command, show her what she needs to do, and give her a treat. Do this a couple of times. After that, only give the treat if she does the proper action on her own. You can build on easy commands to teach more complex ones. For example, teaching her to jump for a ball can later be used to get her to jump through a hoop. Get creative and you can teach a dog just about anything.

Consistency with treats and commands is of utmost importance. Regular daily training is also important. Training sessions should only be about thirty minutes. New commands can be taught in just a few minutes. Daily practice for a week will make it stick long term. Once established in this way, a command practiced once per week can be used for a lifetime.

Get exclusive inside info on the best dog training advice for large breed working dogs now in our complete guide to great dog training advice .

Written by Luke Obermeyer using tags: german shepherds, Pets

The regulations for working dogs in Europe are very strict. If you are breeding working dogs there they must pass a special test. This test is called Schutzhund.

German Shepherd dogs are generally the preferred breed for police work. The schutzhund test originated as a dog sport in Germany in the 1900s, and was developed to test the suitability of the dogs for police work. It's a very efficient test as it looks at the dogs skills and not just the overall physical build.

Nowadays the schutzhund test is not limited just to German shepherds, as any kind of breed can take part. Because it is such a rigorous test very few dogs pass it. The aim of the schutzhund test is to take the dog through a wide right here tasks and evaluate the performance. The kinds of attributes that it tests are intelligence and courageous behaviour.

Other things that the test looks for are agility, and the strength of the dog. It also tests their ability to smell. German Shepherd dogs are bred as working dogs and have good all-round abilities. As some German shepherds were bred with other breeds it became clear that these traits were being weakened. The idea of the schutzhund test is to protect those traits and the bloodline.

It does this because only dogs that have passed this test are allowed to breed, and to be called German Shepherd dogs and registered as such.the Schutzhund test has to be passed in Europe, but there it is common to find other kinds of breeds competing in this test. Other breeds that do this test includes Dobermans, American Bulldogs and boxers.

The short-term test has three different parts. The first part test of the dogs ability to smell how easy they are to train, and their physical and mental endurance. The second part of the test looks at the dogs overall personality and their willingness to work. The third part test into the dogs overall character including their courage and their strength at how easy they will be to train.

All three parts of the test take place on the same day. There is another part of the test that would have taken place two weeks beforehand. This is where the dogs are evaluated to see how well they react in traffic, to joggers, to bikes and crowds in general.

Anyone breeding working dogs in North America does not have to put them through this test but many breeders will test their dogs anyway. This is because the breeders take pride in conserving the bloodlines of German shepherds and want to make sure that their progeny are always pure. Though the test is rigorous it is well worth doing.

Here is additional information about best german shepherd training techniques or easy methods to concentrate on a certain approach to german shepherd training HERE.

Written by Max Adler using tags: dog breeding, german shepherd breeding, german shepherd training, german shepherds, Pets, schutzhund, working dogs

Schutzhund is a European canine sport that was created in the early 1900s. It means "protection dog" and was developed to determine whether specific German shepherd animals show the traits that are required in order to be police dogs. It is a very hard competition with just a handful of animals that are able to succeed. Anyone who is interested in entering their dog should start early and practice regular Schutzhund training.

The types of traits that are required for a canine to pass the Schutzhund test include courage, a desire to work, perseverance, and a protective instinct among other things. A battery of physical strengths, like endurance and agility, are tested as well. This is because the dogs who conquer the exam will end up performing police work that consists of everything from odor detection to search and rescue missions.

Three sections make up the current version of the Schutzhund. Protection, following, and loyalty make up the test and, in order to succeed, a canine must do well on all three. The dogs must score at least a seventy five out of 100 points and a canine can be excluded at any time if one or more of the judges feel that they are showing too much aggression and fear.

As far as the protection abilities of the animals go, a judge will have a helper who's heavily padded hide in a field. The dog is directed to search and must find where the helper is hiding and make their location known. The dog, in similar exercises, must also react when the padded helper attacks the judge or him. Animals must display a healthy enthusiasm and lack of fear to pass.

The tracking section of the process was designed to test the German shepherd's scenting ability and mental soundness. During this phase a person will walk across a long field and drop small items along the way. Later the dog is instructed to track the field by locating each of the dropped articles. Their score is then based on their determination and accuracy.

As with the other sections, the obedience section is accomplish on a big open field too. One dog watches from a few feet away while another is directed to do a number of commands. Gunshots and similar noises are played to test the animal's reaction. Afterwards, they change places and the test moves forward. The canines in this phase are graded on how well they obey instructions, react to loud noises, and skill.

Although there are quite a few breeds that demonstrate an above average level of skill and loyalty, it is the adored shepherd that is considered top dog when it comes to obedience and courage.

Now you can get all the information and details you will need for your dog to be a top competitor with effective and easy Schutzhund training! Written by Schutzhund training professionals, you can start your dog in this exciting and fun sport fast!

Written by Schuyler Schober using tags: german shepherd training, german shepherds, Pets, protection dog training, schutzhund training