If you want a dog that is intelligent, loyal, athletic, and trainable, you’re perfectly describing a German shepherd.

These dogs have come a long way from being pasture dogs. They’ve seen various careers like the military, law enforcement, and even personal support. But before they could be what they were intended to be, these dogs undergo series of training. Most of them start at a very young age so that they could easily learn and retain what they’re learning.

So how do you train your puppy to be a good companion?

We’ll go through the basics first – being the “pack leader”.

Dogs adhere to a very hierarchal social system just like their wolf ancestors. If you’ve read about pack leadership, chances are, you’ve already encountered the word “alpha.”

With this in mind, you should always remember that dogs do not follow commands because they are orders meant to be followed. Dogs follow because they see you as an authority figure. This is the foundation of behavioral training.

Especially at a very young age, puppies should already put you on top of the pecking order. But how do you achieve this? Use treats and affection as currency. When a dog wants something, you don’t give it to them outright. You should be able to set boundaries and make them work for what they want.

These boundaries include the time for eating, when and how long they play, and how far they can walk.

It can also include which areas they could access. Mother dogs do all of these to their young and so should you.

Next is exposing them to their surroundings.

German shepherds are very curious dogs, so exposing them to what lurks in their immediate environment can reduce over-excited reactions and anxieties Take them on walks and let them meet other dogs and people.

Relating certain times and areas with their habits is extremely important too. Take your dog to their “toilet” when you feel like they need to go so that they’ll remember where to do it next time.

Crate training them can also help them identify their “spot”. Make sure to bring your dog to their crate when they’re not distracted and when they’re calm. This can help them associate these feelings of safety with their crate.

Next is training for basic commands.

These basic commands will be the foundation for learning more complicated maneuvers. Remember, when modifying the behavior of your dog, trainers elicit a Pavlovian response from dogs. This means following cues for orders and commands are rewarded with treats or affection.

For example, when teaching your dog to “sit”, you hold up the treat close to their nose. Then, move your hand up and a bit over their heads to cause their bottoms to lower. Once they are in a sitting position, say “Sit!” then give them the treat.

Doing this over and over will make the dog think that the word “sit” and sitting down will lead to a treat.

You can do this to teach basic commands like “stay”, “come”, and “down”, and “leave it”.

Lastly, be consistent.

Regular training and mental exercise can make it easier for your dog to learn new commands. The good thing about German shepherd dogs is the fact that they’re highly trainable. But that doesn’t mean “old dogs can learn new tricks”. So if you want them to retain what they learned, you have to start early.

Remember, a good pet owner teaches their dogs to be well-mannered. This way can live out their best lives without hurting themselves and someone else.

It’s a process that will take love and time, but it is worth all the effort.

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Source: Puppies Club, American Kennel Club, Cesar’s Way, Cesar’s Way, Britannica, Flickr, Pexels