Training Alsatian Puppy

Believe it or not, German shepherds went by an alias---the Alsatian wolf dog---for nearly 60 years. Breeders collectively decided to remove the name "German" from the name at the conclusion of World War I, fearing that anti-German sentiment would harm the breed's international popularity. The British Kennel Club changed the name in 1918, which lasted until 1977 when breed enthusiasts successfully petitioned the UK kennel club to revert the name to German shepherd. This intelligent, loyal companion ranks among trainers as one of the easiest breeds to train.

  1. Housebreaking

    • Put your Alsatian puppy on a strict housebreaking schedule, one that remains consistent every day. Since puppies' bladders are so small, they need to go outside frequently: puppies need to eliminate every two to four hours, after eating and when they first wake from a nap.

    Using the Crate

    • Use a crate right away, from the day you bring it home. Crating restricts your pup's access to areas of the home when you can't supervise its activities, but don't crate your Alsatian for more than four hours without a potty break, including overnight.

    Introducing a Collar and Leash

    • Introducing the collar and leash takes patience. Walk your Alsatian puppy on a leash, and let it drag behind it at first. Let your puppy explore the leash, even play with it; keep a positive attitude, even reward your Alsatian with a game of chase, fetch or your puppy's favorite yummy. This distracts your Alsatian from getting preoccupied with the collar or leash sensation and turns the lesson into a fun game.

    Receiving Touch and Handling

    • Condition your puppy to receive touch and handling. Dog breeders like the monks of New Skete in upstate New York handle puppies from birth to foster trust of humans, particularly to prepare it for future veterinarian appointments or grooming. Make a point of sitting on the floor with your puppy in front of you. Massage the ears, around the muzzle and hold each paw for a few minutes. If your puppy resists, insist that it must receive touch; do this calmly and gently, never forcibly or with anger.

    Teaching an Alsatian Puppy to Come When Called

    • Since the recall, or "coming when called," is such an important skill to teach your dog, start early in its life. You can "capture" the behavior (a term trainers use to describe reinforcing natural behavior) of coming to you by playing with your puppy off leash in a safe, contained area. Dogs like to chase naturally; if you jog in the opposite direction of your puppy it will run after you. Praise, clap and reward your dog with a treat when it catches up to you. If you open your hand and face your palm toward your puppy, it will run to you to explore your hand out of natural curiosity. When the puppy touches your palm with its nose, offer lavish praise and keep your tone of voice light and merry.