German Shepherds are easy-going and approachable, but when threatened, they can be strong and protective, making them excellent watchdogs once they are trained properly. So how hard is it to train a German Shepherd?
German Shepherds enjoy training and they love following the rules which makes them not too difficult to train. They should start training at a young age and be socialized with other dogs and people to ensure the best outcomes. Following a structured and consistent routine will ensure the training of your German Shepherd will provide lifelong rewards.
There are several critical factors to consider when getting the most out of training your German Shepherd. We’ve done the research and expanded on this further throughout this article.
Are German Shepherds Hard to Train?
German Shepherds are considered to be one of the easiest dogs to train because of their intelligent nature and willingness to follow directions.
How Long Does it Take to Train a German Shepherd?
Generally, it can take between 8 to 12 weeks to train a German Shepherd to learn basic obedience commands. Most 20-week-old German Shepherd puppies are house trained, crate trained, and understand a few basic commands if you’ve trained them correctly and exercised a little patience.
Why is it Important to Train Your German Shepherd?
The companionship of our canines can be one of life’s greatest gifts. Making sure your German Shepherd is well trained can make dog ownership an even more enjoyable experience.
One benefit of training your pup is that it allows you to create a better bond with your dog. German Shepherds are known for their lifelong loyalty. When you befriend and train a Shepherd, you have a companion for life.
Another reason why training your German Shepherd pup is important is that it could help your pup stay safe. If your dog finds himself accidentally in danger, it’s essential that he is trained to follow your commands at a moment’s notice.
Start Training Your German Shepherd from a Young Age
To get the best results and to ensure that your pup adapts to training, it is best to start training them as early as 6 weeks old. Your puppy is capable and ready to learn many simple obedience commands.
This can be exciting for you but you shouldn’t pressure a puppy this young with perfect obedience.
Why Socializing Your German Shepherd is Essential?
German Shepherds are friendly, confident, and good-natured dogs, but only if they’re properly socialized. Otherwise, they could grow up to be fearful and incessantly suspicious of unfamiliar things in their environment.
Dogs that are socialized this way are no fun to have around as they are unhappy making them difficult to care for.
The best way to socialize your German Shepherd is to provide them with a variety of experiences as early as possible. They should be given the opportunity to build relationships with other people and animals.
Key Elements of Training Your German Shephard Puppy
Potty Training
Perhaps the only drawback to getting an adorable German Shepherd puppy is the potty training. No one likes doing it and if it is not done properly, you may end up with a dog that has accidents throughout his life.
It is important to ensure that you start out properly from the very beginning in order to be truly successful.
One way of ensuring that you potty train your pup effectively is to feed your German Shepherd at set times every day, you can get your pup on a bathroom routine, making it easier on both of you to not let accidents happen.
Most puppies go about half an hour after eating – but each dog is different so pay attention to timing.
If your puppy keeps having accidents, you may be waiting too long to take him out after eating.
Another way to ensure potty training success is to reward your pup. Dogs are more likely to do behaviors that are reinforced, so make sure you are rewarding your German Shepherd puppy every time they go potty outside.
Give him treats, praise, playtime, and a big party! He will be more likely to go outside again.
Set a schedule for potty time. First thing in the morning and last thing before bed are times most people think about taking their puppy’s potty training. But, you should also take your German Shepherd puppy out immediately after a nap or playtime, and a little bit after mealtime or drinking water.
Finally, any time they have had a lot of excitement, including meeting new people or dogs is another time your puppy will need to go, and often we forget because we are busy and that’s when accidents happen.
Leash Training
A large number of people believe that dogs just naturally know how to walk politely on a leash, but this task is something that needs to be trained.
It’s an essential skill to train, and one you’ll appreciate every time you take your dog out for a walk.
To train your pup to walk on a leash you must first introduce the pup to wearing a collar or harness. Allow them to wear it while inside the house. This eliminates the chance of them fearing the leash.
Use treats to aid your pup in wearing the leash and following your directives. Practice using the leash inside the house before taking your pup outside. This practice ensures that the pup is aware of what is expected while he’s on the leash.
Preventing Aggression
Dog Aggression is a serious matter and can be quite a pain for dog owners which is why it is imperative to stop any form of aggression in your pups.
If your pup regularly growls, snaps, or bites, you might have a behavioral problem of aggression on your hands. Aggression is one of the major reasons dog owners seek the help of a professional dog trainer.
There is a general misconception that it is just larger dogs and so-called “dangerous breeds” that are prone to aggression; any breed is capable of becoming aggressive under the right circumstances.
Here are some tips to prevent aggression
- Identify the type and cause of aggression
- Consistency in training
- Avoid harsh punishment, use corrective actions
- Ensure that your pup is socialized from an early age
Keep training sessions short
Young pups tend to be easily distracted which is why you must keep your training sessions short. If you allow your trading session to run too long, your pup will get distracted and bored which provides a greater chance of them making mistakes.
Maintain consistency with training sessions
The key to successful training is consistency, if you are not consistent then you will not achieve your desired results. It is important to remember that to your pup a lack of consistency means that their bad actions are acceptable.
Always use positive reinforcement
Positive reinforcement lets you communicate clearly with your dog. You decide what you want your dog to do and let it know by offering rewards when the dog does the desired action.
When you reward your dog for doing things correctly, it’s more likely to repeat those good behaviors because dogs aim to please you.
Avoid punishing your German Shepherd
It is never wise to use physical punishment with your pets and more so with your German Shepherd pup. Leaving your pup without supervision can lead to them getting into trouble.
Punishment instills fear and distrust in your pup which can cause them to become aggressive.
Maintain a structured meal routine
Puppies need structure and consistency to not only ensure successful training but to also make them feel secure. Having meals in routine helps with potty training as well.
Make sure they receive plenty of exercise
Making sure your German Shepherd gets a lot of exercise and mental activity is really important in keeping them healthy and happy. Frequent exercise sessions not only keep them in good shape but can also help improve their behavior and well-being making them easy to train.
Provide regular mental stimulation
Providing your German Shepherd with mental stimulation helps to avoid frustrating behaviors, such as excessive barking and chewing. Mentally stimulating your German Shepherd provides a great way to bond while offering new and interesting opportunities to take a break from the same old routines.
Provide opportunities for toys and games
German Shepherds like humans get bored easily and must be occupied with activities that lead to a healthy mind and body. Dogs demand both physical and mental stimulation to eliminate idleness and negative behaviors which will make training them so easy.
Final thoughts
German Shepherds are amazing dogs to have around, they are loyal, smart, and very easy to train. Because of these traits, they are one of the most sought-after dogs to have as pets.
