German Shepherd Mix Training

If you've adopted a German shepherd mix, start basic obedience training right away. German shepherds need mental stimulation as much as they need regular physical exercise. German shepherds descend from herding and livestock dogs and are renowned for their intelligence and loyalty to family. Training a German shepherd mix is no different than training a purebred shepherd, since the fundamental approach doesn't change.

  1. Set Training Goals

    • Approach the training with a few goals in mind. Say you want to train "Sit," "Stay" and "Down". Depending on your shepherd's age (puppies generally have shorter attention spans) schedule several one-on-one sessions each day. Start with five-minute trainings. Dogs, regardless of breeding, learn best in short, frequent and focused lessons.

    Train in Spaces Without Distractions

    • When you begin teaching a new behavior, like "Sit," bring your shepherd mix to an area of the house that has the least amount of distractions: a small laundry room, office or sunroom away from noise, pedestrian traffic or dog toys.

    Reward Good Behavior

    • Use treats, verbal praise or a favorite toy to reward your shepherd for good behavior. If you choose treats bring a handful to reward successful "sits." Stand in front of your dog, put a treat under its nose and raise the hand with the treat toward its forehead, right between the ears and hover it there.

    Patience Is the Key

    • Keep the reward out of reach--about six inches above the dog's head. If your dog jumps, raise the treat higher above its head. Say "Sit" one time--don't repeat it. Now wait. Don't say anything to your dog. Your dog's weight shifts slightly backwards as it looks up at the treat, and it will "Sit" more readily from this position.

    Conclusion

    • When your shepherd sits, reward with the treat, saying "Good dog!" Be upbeat and positive when rewarding, to communicate that they got it right. Shepherds are working dogs and love structured activity. Play to your shepherd's strength and intelligence. Once your dog sits promptly when told, you can advance to more difficult behaviors, such as "Stay" and "Down," but don't move off the basic "Sit" until it is reliably performed.