Playing with your german shepherd dog is not only a fun pastime, it is indispensable for building up a good bond with him. However, do not forget that what you consider playing can be taken seriously by your dog. This is the case in the so-called “tug-of-war” game. In this, you pull on one side of a rag, toy, or thick rope and your german shepherd dog pulls on the other side. For you, this is a game; for your dog, it is a trial of strength to see who is the strongest. If you keep letting your dog win, which means that he will make off triumphantly with the toy, then he will have the idea that he is stronger than you; a dominant Shepherd  may then see whether  he can taje over the house. If you never let him win, he will soon start to dislike the game. Tug-of-war games are permitted, but make sure that you are mostly the winner.

Fetching

Most german shepherds like to fecth, and it is a nice way to let your dog do something for you. You can teach a pup to retrieve in a simple way. If he has something in his mouth, call him by his name and say “fetch”. If he comes to you with what he had in his mouth, switch it with a piece of dry food or something else that tastes good, and then throw the object away again. If he has something in his mouth that he is not supposed to have, you react in the same way, only instead you throw something he is allowed to have. In the beginning, it is sufficient if you just stimulate the fetching. Later, you can require your dog to fetch on command. For the safety of your german shepherd dog, you should always use blocks designed for the purpose insted of random twigs or branches.

Tracking games

Every German Shepherd is an enthusiastic tracker. Even if it goes beyond our senses, your Shepherd is actually working hard and with much concentration when he tries to find a rag or toy hidden by you. At the various training clubs, tracking is an important part of the training process and therefore it is always advisable to stimulate your Shepher’s keen nose. In a trial, certain rules are attached to tracking and, when you plan to work with your Shepherd, it is best to contact a club early to prevent your dog from learning to track “the wrong way”. If you have no such ambitions, you are free to teach your dog to tracj in your or his own way.

You can encourage tracking in a lot of different ways and many variations can be found. You should, of course, begin as simply as possible and put the rag or toy to be sought farther away each time, in less obvious places. The so-called “assortment trial” is a great fun to do. Your dog has to  find precisely the rag with your scent on it among different rags. ”Search” is the right command to use for tracking.

Training for the ring

If you plan to have your German Shepherd judged at a show or club competition, you cannot start soon enough teaching your dog to put himself  ”in position”, to have his teeth examined (also by strangers), and to trot properly next to you. If you have not had much experience with this, you can enroll yourself and your dog in a ring training course.

Author: Esther Verhoef – The German Shepherd Dog

The command “heel” means that the german shepherd dog should walk neatly on your left side withou bothering you. He should never pull on the leash, stay behind, or wander off the side, but should never pull awlays follow you with his shoulder at knee height. His speed should be adapted to yours and not the other way around. He looks up at you regulary to keep pace with you. The use of a properly attached choke chain is practically indispensable. Let the chain hang slightly and hold it with two hands at chest height. Let the german shepherd dog sit down on your left, call his name to get his attention, and then give the command “heel”. Then walk forward in a stright line. If your german shepherd dog stays behind, lure him with friendly words or delicious treats and reward him when he walks next to you again. If he walks too far forward or to the side, tug on the leash to hold his attention and reward him forthwith if he walks beside you again, looking up at you as he should. A bag filled with treats can serve as support if your dog respond to this. When the german shepherd dog is fimilar with the command, you can expand the exercise by turning right and left and stopping abruptly in between, at which point the dog must sit immediately. The principle is that the dog pays attention to you and not the other way around. If the dog accidentally steps on your toes it is not your fault – your dog should have paid more attention. He should know you so well and pay such good attention thet the leash, regardlessof your movement or speed or speed, always hangs loose and never right. You can tell very easily if your dog understands and likes the exercise, because in that case he will follow you happily, wagging his tail and looking up at you.

With this exercise as well, do not ask too much at once from your german shepherd dog. Let him “free” in good time, and practice short distances. You cannot teach a pup to walk to heel but can prepare him by letting him walk next to you on a leash, while showing him treats which of course you ultimately give to him.

Author: Esther Verhoef – The German Shepherd Dog

You can also start training your German Shepherd pup fairly early to sit on command. Squad down next to your puppy and sayhis name first to get his attention, and immediately give the command “sit”.  At the same time, put pressure on the German Shepherd’s hindquarters with one hand, while blocking the foreleg. If the pup sits, even just for a second, he is always a “good boy”, and you should reward him enthusiastically. Do this the moment he sits, not when stands up again. Should this become a wrestling match, keep trying until it works. The intention is that he will experience disobeying your command as disagreeable, whereas obeying your command will result in your approval, which is something positive. In the beggining, it is sufficient for the puppy to sit for a little while. Later, you can expect him to sit until you lift the command by saying “free” or “go on”.

Lying down on command

For lying down on command the command “down” is used. You teach the German Shepherd puppy “down” when he has properly understood and obeyed the command “sit”. First, you let yor dog sit. Then you pull the forelegs forward with slight pressure to maneuver him into a lying postition, while keeping your other hand on his hindquarters to prevent him from sliding backward. Then give the command “down”. If the German Shepherd dog stays down, even for a second, reward him. Most pups, certainly dominant ones, will show a bit more inclined to lie down sooner. Avoid a struggle, but do not be to lenient; try to find the golden mean. Naturally, you must also build up this command slowly. You lift the command by saying “free” or by calling his name.

Staying on command

The command “stay” can be combined with the commands “sit” and “down”, but also can be given when the dog is standing. This is very importent command, because more than once it has saved the life of an obedient German Shepherd dog that was about to cross a busy thoroughfare. As the point of departure, you let your pup, leashed, sit or stand on the left next to you. You then give him the command “stay”. If the pup continues to lie down or sit for a while, say “free”. If he does not, tug briefly on the leash and repeat the command. Build this up slowly by standing a step further away from him each time, until eventually he stays in place when he is not leashed.

Make sure that the German Shepherd dog stays exactly in the starting position. If he creeps away or starts walking, put him back in the starting position. This is where he is supposed to stay and not an inch forward or next to it. Also with respect to staying on command, you should not make it too difficult for the dog and should prevent him from making mistakes. Let him “free” fairly quickly to prevent your German Shepherd from lifting the command by himself. At a later stage, you can demand more from the dog.

Author: Esther Verhoef – The German Shepherd Dog

The very first command, which you can teach your german shepherd dog from a young age, is to come to you immediately you call him. The intention is that the dog immediately stops whatever he is doing and comers straight to you without any hesitation. To teach this, you use a long leash. Let the german shepherd pup sniff around a bit and then call his name, so he knows you are talking to him, and then immediately give a command “come”. If you squat down, the german shepherd dog will obey the command sooner. If he comes to you, reward him with an affectionate pet and a friendly word, and perhaps give him a dog biscuit. A stubborn pup may not listen immediately. Repeat the command and tug on the leash to back up your command. This makes it unpleasant for the german shepherd dog to ignore your command (the tug on the leash) and pleasurable to obey (petting, friendly word).

At a later stage, you can expand this exercise by training it without the leash. In the beggining the pup may stall, but remember: if the puppy has followed your command, no matter how it took, he is always a “good boy”. Unfortunately, many people make the mistake of punishing their dog if he eventually follows the command after stalling. The pup does not link the stalling with the punishment, but the eventual following of the command. He was punished at the moment he comes to you. The result of this is that the german shepherd puppy will stall even longer the next time, because there is a scolding waiting for him when he comes to you. At a certain moment, the dog will not come to you at all or will circle around you, because he is in conflict with himself. Do not make the mistake of saying “good boy” while he is still underway; only when he gets to you has he followed the command and can he be rewarded.

Not should you try and catch your puppy. You will always lose this game. If your german shepherd puppy does not obey, walk away in the opposite direction. Your puppy will probably follow you.

Author: Esther Verhoef – The German Shepherd Dog

You have to be consistent during training. You should never go back on a command again earlier and should always end an exercise with a command that the dog has correctly followed. This also means that you should not have too great expectations. Do not demand too much from your dog all at once. Do not lose sight of the fact that following your commands properly should essentially be fun for the dog. Nothing is more upsetting to see than a dog walking dejectedly and fearfully beside his owner., preoccupied with not making any mistakes. So do your best to make the mutual contact pleasant. Do not pressure your puppy, and make your demands in as positive a way as possible. Only train when you are in a good mood and when you have time, otherwise you may vent your irritations, possibly unconsciously, on the dog. Training for too long a time at once also ensures that the dog will dislike it and start making mistakes. Five minutes a few times a day is more than enough in the beginning. Before you start the exercises, your puppy should be accustomed to walking on a leash and wearing a collar. Do not drag him along the street, but lure him along with delicious treats and friendly words; then your pup will get used to this in a few days. For the training, you should use a choke chain, which must be put on properly. In nature, wolves correct each other by a short, fierce bite on the neck. A short pull on the choke chain is interpreted as such by the dog and is thus understood very well. Such correction will not actually be necessary with the pup, but will be used later when the dog is older and stronger. You are training a young dog and cannot make too many demands.

Author: Esther Verhoef – The German Shepherd Dog