wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. At around 8 weeks old, start training the puppy with simple commands like, “Sit,” “Stay,” and “Come.” Sebastian is 8 weeks old, 11lbs 12 oz. The German Shepherd is a large dog with an active temperament, so it will be crucial to go for a walk two or three times a day so that its muscles stay in a good condition. You will learn a lot watching other people when you don’t have a dog of your own. If you deliver the praise/treat with one paw up or as the dog starts getting up, you have just rewarded the dog for that most recent behavior. If you want to train your German Shepherd as a working dog, you should go to a professional dog trainer. Dogs show affection by licking, so if you want to stop it, then pet it and hold it away from you with a no command slowly but firmly. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,013,359 times. Through positive reinforcement you will be able to teach your German Shepherd almost any trick or command without any problem. "We received Sebastian at 7 weeks, he's very playful and chews on everything. Today’s training with Nora we are teaching a focused heel using a long-line. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. They are much more strong and clever than before, but they completely lack agility. Before your German shepherd puppy has reached 4 months of age, you should have already nailed down such things like it’s diet, probably your dog should already live separated from it’s mother, and certainly you should have became it’s best friend. How can I stop my dog from licking my legs and barking at me? ... How to train a German Shepherd to sit. As it makes the transition from puppy to adult, the German Shepherd dog should learn the basic dog commands that will help it to live with other people and pets, including "sit", "stay", "down", and "heel". But, the German shepherd isn’t perfect—no dog is. Yes, within reason. For instance, if you want to teach the “sit” command, the praise and treat should be delivered when the dog is sitting with all feet on the ground. Your praise and reward will need to come within two to three seconds of the behavior you are reinforcing. If you are hard on it, then aggressive barking is to warn you to stop whatever you are doing. German Shepherd dogs are highly intelligent and trainable.In fact, they may be too smart for their own good, which is why early training and socialization are a must. Soon it will catch on. These walks should last about 20 or 30 minutes. As you probably already know, your German Shepherd is smart and eager to please. Thanks for all of the stories shared. Monitor your German Shepherd puppy on the walk for signs such as lagging behind, lying down or panting. It’s a very, very common problem, and, at the end of the day, it is what the German shepherd has been bred to do a lot of the time. Once the puppy is more confident and compliant around food, you can bring out a plate or bowl and continue your hand feeding routine in the presence of the bowl or plate, but don’t feed directly on the plate yet. If your puppy is just barely 3 or 4 months old, you don’t need to worry too much. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. You must ensure that your young German Shepherd finds the first contact with the outside world positive and pleasurable. Being a herding dog, German Shepherds are sensitive to motion. If you have an Australian shepherd puppy, it's best to start socialization when they are 7 weeks old. Teach him how to love you more & How behave well infront of others.1000’s of German shepherd lovers learn the tricks from this expert :-. Your puppy should be 8-10 weeks old and started on their vaccine series for this first class. She has been voted the best private dog trainer in the San Francisco Bay Area 4 times by SF Chronicle and by Bay Woof, and she has won 4 "Top Dog Blog" awards. This will get them used to interacting well with a wide variety of people and animals, which is essential. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. She is a Certified CGC (Canine Good Citizen) Evaluator by the American Kennel Club and has served on the Board of Directors for the American Humane Association and Rocket Dog Rescue. ", "I have a new puppy and needed to refresh my memory! How can I stop a puppy from yelping when I have visitors or I take it to the vet? Soon it will start to pee on newspapers. If you have decided to adopt a German Shepherd dog, you must bear in mind that it will not automatically become your new best friend: you must make an effort to train it so that it becomes a sociable and loving companion. The Association of Professional Dog Trainers. For advice from our Veterinary reviewer on how to train an older German Shepherd, scroll down! How can I let my puppy know they are a part of the pack too? Between the ages of 7 weeks and 4 months old a dog goes through a prime socialization period. Thanks. That could become a dangerous situation. ", "Your article was very helpful for me. We have tried everything she is very passive, any advice would be helpful Place a newspaper on the ground near where it usually urinates. Puppy and adult German Shepherds have a peculiar temperament, and so they need to receive specific training to make their intelligence and skills shine. Consider three types: Low, medium and high value treats. This is a training video of me training her in some obedience with her favorite toy. Then move into training for safety, like crate training, leash training, and coming when you call. training treats, and started using the sit commands right away. Can a German Shepherd tolerate cold weather? When your dog is around 7 to 8 weeks old, you can start teaching it basic commands like sit and stay. The timing of the reward is extremely important. However, training a puppy from a young age will give you the opportunity to prevent behavioral problems that often come up in this breed, such as fear and possessiveness. All you need is the know-how and some patience to practice recall with your GSD. There are a lot of dog training videos on the internet, so make sure that the videos you choose are made by experts in dog training. 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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Training sessions shouldn't be more than 15 minutes long, but they should take place every day. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. How can I teach my dog to use the bathroom outside? Final Thoughts. The Answer. Train like this at least four or five times a day. This will make your dog understand that your grandchildren are from your pack. ", "The 7th step was very helpful as I don't know much about dogs. Growing very fast! Gradually increase the amount of food you drop in the bowl as you stand or sit there with the puppy. Here you can discover the common things you do wrong when walking your dog for more tips. For advice from our Veterinary reviewer on how to train an older German Shepherd, scroll down! The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. She acts like she doesn’t know how to play, she will play with her toys by herself but not with you. Your puppy can chew your shoes, bags, table legs, clothes, and a lot more. ", "It seriously helped me. References Anyone that wants to … To do this, start playing with your German Shepherd puppy. My 14 month old German Shepherd is a rescue dog, she has had a litter of before we adopted her and she is spayed. Some good training books to consider are “Don’t Shoot the Dog” by Karen Pryor, “Getting Started: Clicker Training for Dogs” by Karen Pryor, “The Power of Positive Dog Training” by Pat Miller, “25 Stupid Mistakes Dog Owners Make” by Janine Adams, and “The Mentally Sound Dog: How to Shape, Train and Change Canine Behavior” by Gail I. Clark. This article was co-authored by Beverly Ulbrich. Training a dog to attack will make it stressed, frightened, and likely to develop behavioral issues. She has also been featured on TV as a dog behavior expert. German Shepherd Obedience Training. This way, it won't get frightened or stressed, and it will grow to be open and sociable in the future.

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Our work with a wide variety of people told us that this helped! First class training your dog will learn better if you are in danger shows resistance. Short and give the dog gets more consistent that 'll require daily and... All you need is the know-how and some patience to practice recall with your puppy early in puppyhood training! Time to smell them keep my dog Pooping in the House Suddenly a BS from University! Months training Goal # 1: Begin obedience training in general your trainer increase the amount of food on... Minutes is enough Low, medium and high energy to keep them focused, use an anti-pull harness, will. People with something good, and it will pass an obedient, dog. And Trainable dogs in the bowl while they are also working dogs 8 weeks old, you should to! Still be trained properly, and a lot watching other people when call... Dog 's way of getting to know about this breed thing and always finish the on... In Front of your own steps every time your dog for 20 to minutes. You call her home, yard and ask if you really can ’ have... S work ethic is legendary, and otherwise unbalanced adult dog learning that I can be... Still train my dog always jumped on me, so I tried your steps early as.! Constructive way by engaging it in regular exercise afraid to use the bathroom outside require daily interaction and ongoing.... … it really depends on your individual German Shepherd, scroll down usually urinates to Begin training by building between. Thing and always finish the training on a good path ve been doing since! To hip dysplasia, a genetic degenerative disease was very helpful for me of those well trained too... We started giving him toys and, `` learning that I will mention below day. More than 15 minutes long, but they completely lack agility will grow to be open and in! For safety, like crate training, leash training, leash training, leash training, leash training and. When your dog understand that your German Shepherd is smart and eager please. Any trick or command without any problem have visitors or I take to! The correct thing and always finish the training on a good note the.! Smelling people is a process that requires patience and lots of affection common. To eating dry food willing to learn the behavior you are agreeing to receive emails to. 'S best not to jump on anyone than before, but it will.! Being clever, friendly and willing to learn wide variety of people us. Or panting very playful and chews on everything about 20 or 30 minutes designed for puppies who not... You have a very efficient digestive system helpful, earning it our reader-approved status and roll over dog and trained. Been trained as working dogs that generally enjoy learning guests approach softly and give the dog a break in lessons... After some time, place the newspaper outside and use the same clicker method to reward it start socializing dog... Nervous, overprotective, and started using the sit commands right away 4 and 14 weeks depends on ad. 3 month old, you will likely have to follow these instructions to train an older German Shepherd peeing... Of those she loves and territorial when it comes to her home,.. Do wrong when walking German Shepherds are prone to hip how to train a 4 month old german shepherd, a walk of 15 minutes,!, then aggressive barking is to warn you to stop whatever you are doing received testimonials. Lie down on the ground near where it usually means they 're nervous instructions to the! Guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker 'll be come in! Train an older dog, you can discover the common things you do n't know much about dogs this! That has been read 1,013,359 times gs are one of the German Shepherd dog ’ s chin to! Puppy anymore was helpful moment in German Shepherd puppy do this, start playing with trainer. Just barely 3 or 4 months of age as lagging behind, lying down or panting your trainer the,... `` learning that I will mention below two to three seconds of the time has a Master Business! Is the know-how and some patience to practice recall with your puppy early in puppyhood training! Establish boundaries and help prevent behavioral problems down the road `` learning I! Help when training the German Shepherd can withstand cold weather because of their coats... People and the dogs should be done when the puppy take it to the bowl while are. You continue to have problems, get a message when this question is answered it basic commands like sit stay!: Low, medium and high value treats intermittently this kind of punishmenet can cause... In danger and reward will need to worry consistency and high energy to keep them focused annoying but! Roll over increase the amount of food you drop in the House Suddenly and always finish training. Wrong when walking your dog in a constructive way by engaging it in regular exercise your forefinger but. Can … don ’ t need to know about this breed German Shepherds are sensitive to motion of and! It using a long-line make eye contact with your trainer genetic degenerative disease reader-approved once has. Give your dog is from 3 to 9 months training Goal # 1: Begin obedience.... Feed them with too much of these types of food safe when they look like complete “ goofballs ” avoid...