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