Training a German Shepherd Puppy

German Shepherd is an athletic dog that needs a lot of dog care as well as dog exercises. These dogs strive on proper dog training methods. They are very smart dogs and learn quickly. German Shepherd can adjust with their surroundings and soon become a part of your family. However, they are naturally dominant and it is very, very important that you prove your dominance from the start. The minute you let the dog take over, it means you will end up following him for life. The following information on training a German Shepherd puppy will help you learn the tricks to bring up a obedient and well mannered dog.

How to train a GSD Puppy

German Shepherds are very social dogs and need constant companionship. If you decide to bring home a German Shepherd puppy, make sure you are committed to a lifetime of dog discipline activities. They need a lot of German Shepherd training and exercise during their growing years. This active dog needs an active owner. They can be raised with children and are known as good dogs for children. They are extremely patient with the tugging, pulling and mishandling by children.

Bringing Home a German Shepherd Puppy
You have decided to adopt a German shepherd and it is time to bring the lucky pup home. Training a GSD puppy begins the minute you take him out of the animal shelter or animal rescue home. You need to put him on leash and lead him around for a short walk. Speak to him in gentle tones and tell him about his new home and the fun he should expect.

You should not allow him to jump around in the back. He should be kept in a crate with his lead on. Make sure you have someone to hold on to the lead while you let him out of the crate. Or else the dog will have a run for it towards the house. Remember, you need to show dominance over the pup from day 1 while carrying out the basic German shepherd dog training.

The Welcome
Once you get him out of the car, the first thing to do is lead him to a spot where you expect him to go potty. Let him sniff around and if possible allow him to urinate or defecate. It is better as you will have less chances of accidents with the new arrival. Then take him within the house and make sure all the doors and windows are closed. You do not want you new puppy to escape and get lost. Let him move around the house and get accustomed to the new surroundings. Keep a clean water bowl in a place where you will be keep it later on. Show him his dog bed where is supposed to sleep. If he wants, let him have a small nap. Do not carry him in your lap or arm, until and unless necessary. He is not a lap dog and you should not instill bad habits in your dog. Keep in mind, he is not a toy breed, but eventually, this miniature puppy will grow up into a large dog.

The First Few Nights
Do not fuss around the dog a lot. You need to be friendly and reassuring to your new puppy. He does not know you and neither do you know him well. You need to allow him to move about in the house for a while. You should let him take his own time and sit quietly as you and other members of the family carry on your daily business. Before you go to bed, it is important that you take your dog to the same spot for potty. Wait till he finishes his business and bring him back to his sleeping area. You need to make sure you do not switch off all the lights in the room. Place his food bowl near him. Make sure you feed him a light meal. Place a clean bowl of water near it. Give him one of your old blanket to lie on and feel comfortable.

Potty Training
When you begin potty training, consistency and perseverance are the key words you should remember. Puppies are not able to control their bladders like older dogs. You should take your puppy out for potty every 1 to 1½ hours. This will help reduce the number of accidents and help you with the potty training a German Shepherd puppy. Never allow the puppy to be out of your site till you are confident he is potty trained. You need to use a command that will be associated with the process of going potty. While you take him out to the designated spot, say the word 'go potty' or 'potty'. While the puppy is carrying on with his business, say the word 'go potty' or 'potty' aloud. This will help the pup associate the word with the task that he is doing. When he completes his work, praise him a lot. You can give him a dog treat to make him understand that you are happy with his behavior.

Make it a routine to take him to the designated potty spot every 1½ hour during the day. You should also take him to for potty 15 minutes after he has his meal. The first few months, you will need to take him for potty every one hour at night. Gradually as he gets older, you can start placing him in a crate. Place a lot of newspapers in the crate to absorb any accidents. Dogs are den animals and will not soil the area they sleep in. Thus, he will learn to control his bladder at night. But, remember before you put him off to sleep, to take him to the potty area. You should wake up before he does every day and take him out for potty. This will help reduce the number of accidents and potty train your German Shepherd well. If at all the puppy has some accidents, do not shout or punish him. It just means you need to work hard to housebreak your puppy.

Training the Puppy to Follow Basic Commands
It is very important to begin with the basic dog training commands as early as possible. You need your German Shepherd to be obedient and under your command. You should be consistent with the commands and use monosyllables commands like "yes", "no", "sit", "good","bad", etc. If you keep changing your commands or use very big words, you will confuse the poor puppy. Instead of following you, he will disobey you. You should first teach him the word, 'No'. If he begins to understand the word 'No' it will help save a lot of trouble. Next in line is 'Sit', 'Down', 'Stay' and 'Heel'. You need to use dog treats to make him learn to obey the 'sit' command. Place a treat in your palm and place your palm just above the head level of the puppy.

You need to begin training the puppy from the day you bring him home. If you think you will not be able to do full justice with dog obedience and training process, you can always try taking help of a professional dog trainer. During the German Shepherd training, you will find these canines are headstrong dogs. You need to show your dominance as the alpha dog to succeed in training a German Shepherd.