Training Ideas for a German Shepherd Puppy

The German shepherd is a loyal, family-oriented and versatile dog that can be easily trained. German shepherds should be trained when they're young to prevent behavioral problems such as biting or jumping. A puppy's obedience relies solely on its owner as trainer.

  1. A Brief History

    • It helps to know a dog's origins when trying to train. Originally a herding dog, German shepherds were trained for police work, using the breed's intelligence, strength, energy, agility and loyalty. Trainers must be aware of this large dog's potential to learn quickly but also overpower weaker owners with hyperactivity and strength. As with other herding dogs, the German shepherd needs a trainer who can keep its attention and focus its energies properly.

    Tools and the Basics

    • A German shepherd puppy needs to begin its training early in life to be most effective. A well-behaved dog should know to come, sit, stay and lie down; they should ignore other dogs and strangers, refrain from jumping on people, be housebroken and stay still for grooming. A German shepherd puppy should also learn how to properly heel and walk on a leash so you can productively drain its energy. The tools required for success include those needed for training any breed: collars, leashes, puppy pads and a crate, treats, grooming supplies and plenty of patience.

    Indoor Training

    • You should begin training your puppy when you first bring it home. Cuddling with it and disciplining it when it mouths your hands will get them used to your handling. When it behaves well, offer it a sliver of hot dog frank as a reward. This is what the Humane Society calls "positive reinforcement." This will also help you quickly teach your dog the basic commands: sit, stay and lie down. Puppy pads and crates give the new dog a safe place to call its own and help with housebreaking.

    Outdoor Training

    • To housebreak a German shepherd puppy quickly, put it outdoors with a scolding whenever you find the puppy about to potty indoors. Praise it lavishly with "go potty, good potty!" whenever it happens in the proper place. If you know you can't get the puppy outside in time, take it to the newspaper or pad instead.

      Remove and replace the collar repeatedly to get the pup used to it, and then add a 10-foot leash. Begin leash training by letting the pup wander, supervised, with the leash following it. Once it's used to that, hold the leash and practice walking with the dog, with treats for when it does right, inside the yard. Don't take it outside until you can use a shorter leash and it knows how to properly behave. Keep control of the animal at all times. You should also practice the commands "stay" and "come" while outside, and in all forms of distractions. The pup should see you as the place where he is safest no matter what is happening, and should trust you implicitly.

    Other Ideas

    • High-energy German shepherds require a lot of playtime and walking. Some people enroll their dogs in classes to train them for sport trials like Schutzhund, agility, rally-o, Frisbee and more. Not only does this help drain off the dog's latent energy and hyper qualities, it also gives them plenty of interesting things to do to keep them from being bored.

      Dogs are different, down to the individual. What works as a reward or incentive for one may not work for another. If you don't feel you can handle your puppy's training, enroll in a class that will teach you. It's more expensive but better for you and your new family member in the long run.