Neither myself nor the therapist saw it coming. And within a split second, Charley, who has just had hip surgery, jumped up on all fours and started barking madly. One day Apollo strolled past her massage mat. And they'd often exchange stares or the odd growl. The story starts several years ago in 2015 when my now departed GSD Charley attended one of many therapy sessions after her hip surgery…Īnd a Staffie named Apollo also had his sessions in the same time slot as my Charley.Ĭharley and Apollo were never fond of each other for some mysterious reason. And they have an uncanny knack for picking up on the most subtle changes in our demeanor and behavior. Our dogs can and do react to our behaviors.ĭogs are masters of body language and visual patterns. And this is reflected in their training or lack thereof. In dog training circles, we call this a “Disney Dog.”ĭisney Dogs only exist on the Silver Screen!Īnd in reality, dogs do what's reinforcing for them. I come across many people who believe that dogs should behave because they love us. If we don't provide them with the training to make good choices, they will always revert to their instincts. #2 Your GSD is not a Human your Dog is a Reflection of the Training You Give ThemĪs humans, we tend to personify everything we love including our beloved dogs.Īnd in my opinion, there's nothing wrong with that, with a few caveats… The bottom line is your German Shepherd wants to be busy.Īnd so, training serves to fulfill your dog's breed-specific function and provide the stimulation their intelligent brain needs. So don't be surprised if your GSD sticks to you like velcro and is always up for a training session or a game of some kind. And “Shepherd Dog” indicates that they are bred to work closely alongside the Shepherd.
“German” reveals where they originate from. In fact, if you consider your GSD's official name, it reveals their breed-specific function perfectly! In the case of your GSD, their breed-specific function is dual-purpose…Īssisting the Shepherd with herding his sheep. Your German Shepherd comes from a long bloodline of working dogs – and that's true even for our show line Shepherds. These truths will stand you and your GSD in good stead as you grow into the best dog-human training team! #1 Your Dog has a Built-in Breed Specific Function My 7 Golden Rules for German Shepherd Training But before we do that, here are my 7 golden rules for German Shepherd training. We'll dive into the 3 positive reinforcement training methods in a bit. Training any dog is exciting! But training a German Shepherd is doubly so because it's incredibly reinforcing to watch their eyes light up when they realize they've hit the bull's eye! So, your Shepherd is up there with the best, preceded only by the Border Collie and Standard Poodle. Understanding a new cue in less than 5 repetitions and responding to a first cue 95% of the time or more. The German Shepherd Dog performs exceptionally well! Percentage of responding to a cue the first time.The number of repetitions to understand new cues.Stanley Coren in 1994, “The Intelligence of Dogs,” the book documents different breeds and their speed of learning and responding.
It is a fact that German Shepherds are among the brightest and most intelligent working dogs.Īccording to a book published by Dr. One vital skill all dogs and their guardians should practice.īut first… The Lowdown on Your GSD's Intelligence.
Positive reinforcement training my 4 x 3 method.My 7 golden rules for German Shepherd training.You've come to the right place to get my best tips for training your German Shepherd using positivity and kindness. Or if you've finally decided it's time to teach your old dog new tricks… So, whether you've just brought home your first German Shepherd. So I know it's possible to start implementing successful plans in your German Shepherd's training no matter their age! These dogs range from puppies to adult and rescue dogs.
#TAILS OF IRON TRAINER PROFESSIONAL#
Of course, starting early with your German Shepherd training will set the stage nicely for the future.Īnd thanks to the German Shepherd's strong work ethic and drive, even older Shepherds will benefit from training at any stage of their life.Īs a certified professional dog trainer, I coach dog guardians and their dogs to learn new skills, improve existing skills and work through behavior challenges. This is especially true for a large and powerful breed like your GSD. I'm sure you'll agree that a well-trained dog is a pleasure to live with!
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