As with any breed, german shepherd dog training takes consistency, persistence, and patience, but the rewards are well worth the time and effort.
Since German Shepherds are generally larger dogs with an unfortunate bad reputation in many people’s eyes, it’s your responsibility to show what a great and obedient dog your GSD can be.
Training should start as young as possible, and crate training puppies is a great place to start. Your German Shepherd needs to know from your first day together that you are in charge.
You can set the tone early by doing simple things like always entering and exiting doors first, because a physical following will translate into a following mentality.
German Shepherds are very mouthy, bitey dogs, even though they may be just playing, so you need to discourage this early and often, because this could turn into a sign of dominance, if not complete aggression.
If your shepherd starts to chew on any part of you, immediately stop and correct the behavior by giving them something acceptable to chew on, like a bone or rawhide. Do this for as long as it takes, until they realize you are not a chew toy.
The next step of training, before even moving on to the more traditional commands, is to socialize your dog, so it gets used to other people and pets.
Any signs of aggression should be stopped and corrected instantly, but never hit or abuse your dog, because that could only make the problems worse down the road.
Using calm and assertive tones and actions will have a more positive and lasting effect.
German Shepherd Dog Training – Advanced
Once you’ve mastered basic social training and established yourself as the leader, then you can move on to the more novel tricks and commands.
Always start with the most essential and useful ones: sit, stay, down, come, and heel.
These can come in very handy in public situations to keep your dog out of trouble and in control.
If you’d like to venture into the fun and more complex training techniques, GSD’s are very versatile and adept at mastering just about anything, which is why they are so often used as police and therapy dogs.
They respond well to agility drills, fetching, attack and stop commands, and more, and all of these things are excellent not only for their physical needs, but they provide much-needed mental stimulation as well.
German shepherd dog training is a very rewarding thing to concentrate on, and the sky is really the limit with the general intelligence and obedience of this wonderful breed.
A German Shepherd kennel comes in handy in several different circumstances, whether it’s indoors, outdoors, in the car, on a plane, on a boat, or, well… you get the idea.
It’s a versatile piece of equipment for you and your German Shepherd, so it’s important to get one that is going to work well for both of you.
In fact, if you can’t find one you like, don’t have the funds, or just enjoy building things, you should weigh the pros and cons of making your own kennel versus buying one from the store.
Either way, you’ll see how valuable kennels can be for everything from crate training puppies to simply providing a makeshift den to satisfy your GSD’s natural instincts.
If you just need a simple kennel crate and you have the funds, then buying one already made is the obvious option.
A quality one for a full-grown German Shepherd can cost anywhere from $80 to $150.
Try to avoid the big name pet stores, as I got burned at one of those, before finding out I could get them for a fraction of the price on Amazon and even at Walmart.
I now have two, and though the one from Amazon was about 20 more dollars, the fact that it has two doors, one on the side and one in front, has been more than worthy of the added expense.
If you’re in a pinch though, we did find that Walmart usually keeps them in stock in their pet section all the way up to the large size we bought of 48″ x 33″ x 30″.
If you fancy yourself a carpenter or welder, building one yourself could save you money, cutting the cost in half, if not more.
Metal is usually the better choice for portability, since you will be able to fold it if you use hinges, but wood is easier to use for building if it’s going to be outside or stationary.
Whatever you decide, a German Shepherd kennel can come in handy for you and become a “home of their own” for your GSD.
If you’re in the market for a GSD, it’s essential you get your new dog from a trusted and high-quality german shepherd breeder.
Not all breeders are created equal, and God forbid, you knowingly or unknowingly put your money toward a pet that has come from a puppy mill.
You must do your research first, so you know you are getting a healthy, happy, and socialized dog, and these 5 questions will help ensure you do just that.
Top 5 Questions to Ask A German Shepherd Breeder
How long have you been a breeder? The longer they have been breeding dogs, the better, because they will have gained more experience and be more efficient with the whole process.
Not only that, they will be able to provide more detailed history and analysis of your GSD’s bloodline.
Are there any specific or prevalent health defects among your litters? A good and honest breeder will be upfront about any potential genetic health defects that are common to their recent litters, so you know what to watch for and can correct or prevent problems down the road.
Again, the longer they have been breeding, the more they should have been able to phase out these unwanted qualities or conditions.
Where are the stud and mother? Being able to see and even interact with the parents can give you an idea of how your dog may look and/or act.
Their condition will also help rule out any mistreatment or overbreeding by the breeders.
It’s totally normal for the father to be located at another german shepherd kennel, because some breeders take the time to pick out the best stud for each litter./li>
How have the German Shepherd puppies been raised so far? Knowing what the puppies are used to will help determine if they will be a good fit for your family and household.
Have they been living more inside or outside? Have they been around children and/or other animals?
Match these answers to your specific needs to make for the easiest and quickest transition for both you and your new dog.
Do you have references? If a breeder stays in contact with their customers, it shows they truly care about their litters and follow up on their future health and condition.
If they have a few references that you can call or visit, it’s a great way to get a firsthand account of what you can expect.
Remember to volunteer yourself to be one of their references as well, so you can help someone just like yourself later on.
Follow these steps, and your new pet will fit right in, while having the best chances for a happy and healthy life.
Once you pick him or her up, it’s time to start looking for German Shepherd names too!
Don’t be afraid to ask these questions of any German Shepherd breeder you come across, because this is a big decision, and any reputable dealer will be more than happy to provide you with all of this information.
In Part 1, we talked about choosing a German Shepherd Kennel crate, and now we’ll talk about choosing the best kennel where you can take and leave your dog.
You may find yourself in a situation where you need to separate from your pet for a bit, whether it’s just a few hours, a few days, or a few weeks.
There are several reasons for this coming up:
1. going on vacation
2. moving
3. busy with work or family
Whatever the case may be, it’s important you choose the right kennel, so you and your dog can be at ease.
The first thing to do is check your local listings, via phone book or Google search, and locate as many nearby kennels as you can.
If they have a website, check it out, look around, and see what they are all about.
Some things to look for and/or ask:
1. how much do they charge?
2. how long can they keep your dog?
3. how are the dogs treated and where do they stay?
4. how often are they fed?
5. how often do they play and/or walk?
It’s always a good sign if they make a big point, whether on their website or in person, about making sure your German Shepherd gets pelenty of exercise.
The last thing you or your dog wants is to be caged up in a tiny space with little attention other than a feeding or two throughout the day.
Exercise is vital for your pet’s overall health, so a great german shepherd kennel will provide at least two walks and/or play sessions per day.
Also, be sure to bring your own food, because even if the kennel provides it, a sudden change in food could disrupt your dog’s digestive system and lead to diarrhea or vomiting.
FInally, make sure you can visit at least a few of your top picks in person before deciding.
It’s one thing to read a website or talk on the phone, but you need to go and see in person what the environment is like and see if the dogs seem happy and tired, or do they seem anxious and full of nervous energy?
It’s also a good idea to bring your dog along on these visits, so they get introduced to this environment a few times, before having to stay right away, so they will be much more comfortable when it’s time to leave them there.
Don’t hesitate to ask any and all questions you have, as leaving your dog in the care of someone else is a big deal, so it’s vital you choose the best possible German Shepherd kennel.
A German Shepherd Kennel could be somewhere you are looking to leave your dog or an actual kennel crate that you will use to transport or house your german shepherd.
Whichever type of kennel you’re looking for, we’re going to show you how to choose the right one for your dog.
First, we’ll examine a kennel crate, since these can come in very handy for almost any dog owner, regardless of breed.
Crate kennels are a great way to housebreak your german shepherd puppy or dog, as well as providing them a home or den of their own that they can grow to love.
I know my german shepherd didn’t like her kennel at first, but now it’s the first place she goes when she comes in the house and she sleeps there every night.
And let’s not forget the importance and value of a kennel for travel. Whether by car or plane, a kennel can provide a more comfortable, sanitary, and convenient way to travel for you and your german shepherd.
The first thing to consider when buying a kennel crate is the overall size. You also need to consider your german shepherd’s estimated adult size if you would like to get one that will accommodate him or her throughout their entire life.
I personally bought an extra large dog crate 48″ x 30″ x 33″ because my white german shepherd comes from a line of relatively large dogs.
If you don’t know your dogs estimated adult size or are comfortable trading up in the future, you can go with one that is the right size for your dog right now.
The correct kennel size for any dogs current size is as long as it is big enough for them to do three things:
1. lie down
2. turn around
3. stand up
One word of caution: if the kennel is too large, especially for puppies, it may provide them room to use the bathroom on one side, while still comfortably staying on the other side.
This can disrupt using it for housebreaking, and it’s better to use a dog’s natural instinct of not using the bathroom in their “home” by getting one that is just the right size for your dog.
Some kennels actually include a divider panel as well, so you can get the right size for your future full-grown dog, while only providing it just enough room in the meantime using the divider panel.
This is the best of both worlds and the type of kennel crate I bought, here’s mine:
Once you’ve picked out a kennel, then it’s time to put it to use, but it’s very important how you introduce it and use it with your german shepherd, so please read these dog crate training tips first!
If you’re looking for the type of German Shepherd Kennel where you can take and leave your dog, then continue on to Part 2 by clicking the link above.
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