The German Shepherd Dog truly is a wonderful animal and not only do
they make good working dogs, they also make superb family pets. They
are however very different from other pet breeds and need to be handled
and trained with a different approach to say your average labrador or
poodle for instance.
The GSD is a
large, strong athletic dog, which needs a lot of mental stimulation and
exercise but a well trained shepherd can learn to do almost anything.
These dogs positively thrive on challenging activities and they are so
willing to serve their master and please. As a working dog used by most
police forces, the very look of a GSD is usually enough to act as a
deterrent but when called into action there are few dogs that can match
the German Shepherd as an all rounder.
If you are considering becoming an owner of a GSD then you need to
consider the commitment to training in order that you have happy, well
behaved German Shepherd dog that you can take out safely in public.
If you haven't previously owned one of these dogs then please do not
take on a youngster lightly. Being involved in GSD rescue I have lost
count of the number of young dogs I have had to re-home because owners
bought them without doing a bit of research first.
As youngsters they can be very boisterous and can easily knock over
children or elderly relatives, especially if you do not discourage the
dog from jumping up when excited. A bored GSD can be very destructive
and if left alone will trash your house and contents with ease using
their big teeth and claws. Unfortunately these dogs don't really mature
until they are about 3 years old so you are in for the long haul to get
through the puppy and adolescent stage
The German Shepherd needs to be well socialised from an early age and
needs plenty of exposure to people and other dogs so that they do not
develop aggressive tendencies as they mature.
Joining a dog training class from an early age is a good idea and most
clubs will accept dogs into the puppy classes from about 4 months
onwards. This should be good fun for your puppy and allows him to play
and to socialise but it also serves the purpose of teaching him or her
what is acceptable and what is not. This will prove invaluable
grounding for your German Shepherd training.
When choosing a dog training class do check out a few first as not all
classes make German Shepherds welcome and if any club asks that you
muzzle your dog, please give it a miss and move on and find another
club. No reputable dog training class would require a dog to be
muzzled. If your dog is aggressive towards other dogs there are better
ways of controlling the dog safely such as by using a Canny Collar
which is a simple effective head collar similar to those used on
horses.
The earlier you start training and socialisation the better as GSD's
often develop a tendency to be aggressive towards other dogs and also
towards strangers and they can become very protective towards their
owners and property.
Another important part of training your german shepherd is to get him
used to being groomed because they shed copious amounts of hair and
although they only moult once a year, it lasts for 365 days. So be
prepared for dog hair all over your house, your clothes, in your food
and buy yourself a very good vacuum cleaner.
Training your German Shepherd should be very much part of everyday life
and is should be fun so stick with it because it really will be worth
it in the end.
Training Your German Shepherd Dog Written by Jayne Shenstone who runs German Shepherd Rescue UK which helps rescue and rehome GSD's across the UK
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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