Training Tips
Start training the moment your puppy comes home. Teach the action first, then the command.
- Always give your puppy a treat when you call him to you.
- Train before meals or when your dog is relaxed
- Your German Shepherd puppy was bred for extreme trainability so limit your training to under 5 minutes (short and sweet)
- A daily routine will build up good learning habits
- Always end on a high note, when the puppy has done what you asked right
- Praise, Praise, Praise and Praise,,,,,,,,,,, Let them know they please you when they perform a command by gently rubbing or petting them over the back or shoulder. Keeping a small handful of treats is also a good way to slip your pup some positive reinforcement. Verbal praise is okay, like saying “good dog” – but be careful not to overdo it or you will lessen the effect of future praise
- Training up until a year of age is all motivational. We start with food. Cut hot dogs in little pieces or get some other treats, your Puppy like. Just make sure that whatever you get it must be in tiny pieces for the training or your Puppy will be so busy eating the treat that you won’t have time for the training. You want your puppy to quickly eat the treat and immediately after look at you for more
- Hold your treat up by your face so that the puppy will learn to look you in the eye. If you don’t have his attention it won’t learn.
- Start with a quiet area with few distraction or interruptions.
- Be consistent. Each family member should use the exact same words each time. It should be “Come,” not “Come here girl,” and “Stay,” not “Stay right there, don’t move,” etc.
- Only one person at a time should train with the Puppy. Children should always be supervised by an adult.
- Consistency counts. It will spend 2 weeks alone on sit. Twice a day for a few minutes. After the puppy is good with the sit, I will turn my back, call the pup and generally the puppy will come around to my front and sit directly in front of me.
- Stay and Down are negative commands and I generally don’t work on them until the dog is older. However you can teach the down easily with food so it is not associated with negative training.
- Heeling can be taught by holding a treat/toy in front of the dogs face as he walks on the left side of you. The dog will associate you with food and keep his eyes on you instead of everything else that is out there.
- NEVER hit or shout at your dog for not obeying a command.
- Harsh corrections can result in fear and aggression – both are counter productive to learning.
- If your dog misbehaves, he should be reprimanded consistency and immediately. A firm, verbal rebuke is enough. Don’t rebuke your dog for doing something you didn’t see at the moment.
- NEVER get angry – It will only increase the time necessary for training and will always affect the trust your puppy has for you.
- Remember, like dealing with your children, deep breaths, count to ten . . . . And now we wish you all the best for you and your little friend………..
- And if you like working your dog with a nice group of people, click on the O.G. Carolina link and if you like it, just come and join us.