Training Your German Shepherd

The German Shepherd is an amazing and intelligent dog. They are also playful, protective and live only to work and please their owner. This breed of dog is extremely loyal and when a bond of friendship is forged it lasts forever. The German Shepherd is very unique and not for everyone. If you’re a new owner of a German Shepherd you have to be aware that they need a lot of attention, love and training. They are extremely intelligent dogs which can work to your advantage when it comes to training, but then again this intelligence can be very disadvantageous as they know how to use their intelligence to get what they want.

German Shepherd can be trained for any number of tasks, including guard dogs, seeing eye dogs, search and rescue dogs, drug sniffing dogs, police dogs and just about anything else that a dog can do. People who don’t know German Shepherds tend to assume that they are naturally aggressive. While this can be true for the most part German Shepherds are friendly dogs whose only fault is being overprotective of their family and property. Because of their good stature and aggressive look many people automatically assume this dog could do more harm than good. The truth is that an improperly trained German Shepherd can do physical harm but this is more of a reflection on their owners then the breed itself.

Because of their intelligence German Shepherds can be very stubborn. When it comes to training a German Shepherd it can also be an asset. Owners must remember that there will be times when you ask him to do something and he’s going to look you in the face and basically tell you where to go, he knows he is supposed to do what you are telling him but he decides he can't be bothered and doesn’t. The main thing you have to remember in these circumstances is to be patient. From as early as 6 weeks old you should start your German Shepherd dog training. This will help your training as he grows up. It is also important to socialize him, play with him and teach him, but do it in an exciting way and he is more likely to listen.

The main aspect of training for a German shepherd is socialization. German Shepherds can be very friendly dogs but they need to be trained to become one. They need to get accustomed to other dogs and people. The best way to do this is training classes. That way your German Shepherd will be trained alongside other dogs.

When your German Shepherd reaches 13-16 weeks old it's time for some serious German shepherd dog training. At this age he will try to assert his dominance. He will attempt to take control by not listening to you and become the leader of the pack. The pack in this instance will be you and your family. You have to be a strong leader at this time; you must make it known that acting like that will not be tolerated no matter what.

German Shepherds are a genuinely lovable family dog and would make a proud pet for anyone. Train your German shepherd early with some serious German Shepherd dog training and you can be assured you will have a stunning, loyal family friend.