December 23, 2007
German Shepherd Training Information in an easy, no-nonsense approach.
Well, let me start off right now with this disclaimer: I’m not a professional trainer! I’m just a dog owner who happens to find training dogs to be very interesting, fulfilling, as well as beneficial to the dog.
What you’ll find here is my experiences “Training a Working Dog for Dummies”. I’m going to chronicle my German Shepherd Training Information of my GSD’s, who’ve included the previous and current dogs, Sable, Schatzie, and Zero – and so I invite you to come on in and join the ride. I’ve also been training at local Schutzhund clubs.
If you’re looking for information on the different colors of GSDs, check out the latest page on that. Or how about checking out our great articles on dog health and diet issues, as well as training your puppy and older dog. And by the way, does your dog jump from high place like beds? If so, then look into steps for dogs at HelpYourPets.com. And if you’d like to leave a comment for us, simply click on the Comment >> link below all the pages and posts.
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February 20, 2011
Photo of Schatzie and I
I know it’s been a long time since we’ve had a new post here on dog training, but I do have a very good reason for that.
You see, I have been taking care of my dad since we “rescued” him from certain death!
Anyway, more about that later, I just wanted to let you all know that I’ll be back with new training and dog lifestyle articles very soon!!!
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December 17, 2010
How do I stop my dog from jumping up on people?
photo credit: Scott Hammond
I get asked that question allot, I to which I answer, “Well, what do you do currently to stop this behavior?” Even before asking about the age of their dog, or what circumstances this bad behavior is most occurring in, I have found that this one question will lead to a better response from me. “Well, I tell him no
most of the time…but he is just
so cute when he does it, I mean, this is how he shows me he loves me!”
My answer? “Enjoy your jumping dog…” Because with a dog, either training a bad behavior out of him, or training a cool, neat trick into him, is all dependent on your perspective. You see, that dog owner can try different approaches to handling a dog jumping up problem that will stop the bad conduct, but until they become consistent in their training, the poor dog will be the one to suffer.
For example, when the new puppy comes home, and it’s all about excitement and playtime – jumping up on his new owners is “cute”. And that behavior goes on until he’s about, oh let’s say, 6 months. Now that 12 lbs puppy is 50 lbs now, and his jumping up is knocking down the kids! So as you can see, adjusting bad behaviors as soon as possible is the best route to take, and the most “fairest” for our dogs.
photo credit: cwgoodroe
Fair, Firm, & Consistent
Once a dog understands that he is being disobedient, that is the time for corrections, not before! Please remember that when you first begin to start the “no jumping” training. After all, let’s be honest…who’s fault is it that our 12lbs-puppy-turned-90lbs+full-grown-German-Shepherd jumps up on us? Did we lay a foundation from the beginning that jumping was not EVER allowed? Not even once, when it was still considered “cute”? So to correct a bad behavior before our dogs know 100% that is is unacceptable is unfair. You can train that way (old school trainers call it, “Yank and Crank”), giving either verbal or physical corrections to get the desired behavior, but if your dog has a soft or medium temperament, your relationship and his obedience will be based on fear, and not on a willingness to please. And along with that, once your dog does understand a command and fails to do it, now is to time for a verbal or leash correction. Definitely.
Ok, with that out of the way, let’s get into our training!
No Jumping!
There are many ways to train this, and you can Google for them all day, but I’ll cover just some of the techniques I personally use, which are used depend on the dogs (age, temperament, etc.).
DISCLAIMER: These – and any other training techniques – are much more difficult if your dog is an outside dog. In an ideal world, we all would have our dogs indoors because that allows for a much closer relationship between them and their “pack”. And that greatly enhances their willingness to train with us as well. So in doing these or any other training techniques, remember to practice much more patience with our outdoor living pals.
Ok, so your dog jumps up on you. With a soft/medium temperament dog, a strong verbal correction such as “NEIN!” (German for “No!”), or “NO JUMPING!” immediately followed by moving your body to face opposite of the dog will be sufficient. Once the dog is on all fours, or sitting down, then praise him exuberantly with, “Yes, good dog!!!” If he jumps up again, repeat the technique. Maintain this training – making sure the rest of your family is consistent with it as well – until the behavior stops. Since our dogs are so willing to please us, they will learn that the best and only place for them to receive our attention and praise is when they are sitting or standing next to us, and not on top of us!
For a hard temperament dog, one that is stubborn/hard-headed/wants his own way all the time, you will be adding a physical correction to this technique. Some people pinch in-between the toes of the paw, while others knee the dog in the stomach. While these ways do work, I personally do not recommend them. What I do recommend is pushing the dog down by the shoulder immediately after the verbal correction. So:
photo credit: gianfrancopetrella
Dog jumps up. You give command, “NEIN!”, immediately followed by placing your hand on his shoulder and pushing him down. Once on all fours or sitting give exuberant praise, “Good Dog!”
The common denominator with these physical corrections is making the dog uncomfortable with what he is doing. Now once the dog is 100% trained not to jump up on you, your family, the mailman, the neighbor, or your elementary school principle, and does the bad dead of jumping up again – make sure your verbal and physical correction are quick and sharp. Disobedience should not be allowed.
Remember that every technique we use in training has to be modified somewhat to “fit” our dogs. So let’s please be fair and consistent with our dogs, and in return, they will be loving and obedient for us!
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December 2, 2010
photo credit: tkksummers
You can now view our website in your language as well as my native English! I have been wanting to add translation services to this site for quite awhile, as we get many visitors from all across the world, Germany, Japan, etc., and so now I’ve done it. You can access the different translations via the right-side menu simply by clicking on the flag of your choice, or by selecting the drop-down options.
Let us know what you think, and stay tuned for many more dog articles to come!
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November 2, 2010
I just wanted to put out a quick “Thank You!” to all of our regular contributors, as well as those of you are visitors for the first/second/third time! It’s great reading your comments and questions, as I really enjoy helping to educate fellow dog lovers.
So stick around and enjoy the many articles and photos we have of one of the best dog breeds ever – the German Shepherd Dog! And by the way, there will be much more added to our site in November, so stay tuned!
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September 17, 2010
I know many dog owners that have great, “this is how I selected my dog” stories. But I have recently been contacted by Jenny and Skye, and have been touched by their story. You see, their story involves disappointment due to a fraudulent dog breeder (much more on that situation to come, I assure you!) and a decision to keep their new puppy, even though she had issues that were not disclosed prior to getting Skye. But Jenny can tell their story much better than I, so here it is in portions, taken from the emails back and forth between Jenny and I :
Jenny asked a question regarding two large sebaceous cysts on her puppies head:
I just recently bought a pure bred german shepherd puppy in hopes of training her to become a champion show dog. I took her to the vet, however, and was informed that she has two large sebaceous cysts on the top of her head. When we get these removed, there will be missing hair in these areas as a result of the surgery’s scars. Does this automatically disqualify her from placing as a champion show dog?
My reply to her question:
Hello Jenny,
Unfortunately, due to ANY fault, whether it is a natural occurrence, or like in your case – a health issue, she will at minimum not score highly for “conformation to breed standard” – and for AKC sanctioned championships, she may not score enough to place in the top 10. That sucks, but according to the AKC, those dogs that do make it to the “top 10″ should represent the breed as perfectly as possible. Has the vet discussed any cosmetic surgery procedures to “cover up” the scars? Maybe something can be done there, albeit cosmetic surgery is rarely done on dogs…
I had then asked in subsequent emails about how she came across Skye. Here’s Jenny’s reply:
Hi Martin!
We are still waiting to ask the vet about the cosmetics issue. We go in for her worm medicine in a few days, so I can keep you updated on the answer he gives us when we ask. Thank you for your replies and concerns!
Now a little bit about our puppy – her name is Skye, and she is now about 5 months old, and getting big!! My boyfriend and I have always wanted a GSD, and prior to buying one we had become more interested in getting a dog involved in shows. Through our searches online, we found a breeder in Virginia who claims to breed champion bloodlines so we decided to drive down and see what puppies she had to offer. Our puppy was the first one introduced to us and we fell in love with her energetic and loving personality. The breeder bragged of her ability she will have to show, and talked highly of her prestigious bloodline. So because we were already half sold on her personality, we decided to splurge with every penny we had saved and we bought her. We couldn’t wait to get her trained and make her a winner, yet more importantly, part of our family.
But here’s where the unfortunate mess comes in – the breeder made sure to mention she had a “puppy zit” on the top of her head, that we “shouldn’t worry about,” which created a slight mohawk (that she promised would go away, and has not). Well we took Skye to the vet a few days after being home, and found out the “puppy zit” was one of TWO sebaceous cysts on the top of her head. The largest of these had just ruptured prior to the appointment. I did some research on my own, before asking you the question as well, and every trainer and breeder I talked to around my area said that these cysts would automatically disqualify her from being able to place high, let alone at all, in a show. Surgical removal of the cysts will leave hairless spots on her head. We called the breeder back to inform her immediately and she didn’t answer our phone call for over three weeks, so we didn’t know what to do. The contract we signed stated that the only reason a dog may be returned is if there is a congenital defect found and documented by a vet within a week of the purchase. After 5 days of finding out that information, the dog may be returned only for a replacement dog, no monetary values will be changed. After that short time span allotted, the contract stated that no returns can be made. However, because the breeder waited so long to call us back, we had to keep a dog we planned on returning at first, for 21 extra days. So in the meantime of getting no reply from our breeder, we bonded and fell in love with Skye. Her personality is so loving and her tempermant is so good, that we couldn’t help ourselves, and we completely changed our mind about wanting to return her for a more qualified dog. I couldn’t be happier with our decision to keep her, yet am still disappointed that we were tricked into buying her for false hopes of getting her into shows. Most reputable breeders (should) know what sebaceous cysts look like, and its slightly odd that this one “had no idea.” We paid a very high price for a show-worthy dog who was misrepresented to us, so we now know to do better research on breeders prior to buying our next dog, down the road.
It is a shame that the breeder neglected us right after she made such an expensive sale, and we were upsetted by the fact that we were so fooled. I did some research online about the breeder recently, and found a bunch of testimonials claiming she was a fraud and has a reputation of selling dogs with health issues, and not following up with sales or answering calls after the purchase is made. So hopefully this can be a lesson to all those out there who are dog searching (and to me of course!), to really do your research before purchasing a puppy. Don’t go into anything with any questions and a naive mindset about puppies and purchasing one.
Again though, I couldn’t be more happy with this puppy as far as how we bonded with her. She is beautiful inside and out, and I am so glad she is a part of the family. I just wish that there was something I could do to help her reach the potential I know she can if she is qualified to be a part of showings…
…Take care and talk to you soon,
Jenny
Well, as you can see, Jenny and her boyfriend fell in love with Skye, and so we have a happy-ending to their story. Now we’ll just wait to see if anything can be done cosmetically for the area on Skye’s head after her surgery. If any of our readers know more about dog cosmetics, please contact us asap.
Thanks to Jenny and Skye! Oh yeah, we’ll be hearing more about them in weeks to come, as I am adding a &German Shepherd owner interview& section. Stay tuned!
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September 2, 2010
photo credit: pwcorgigirlHave you ever been somewhere with your dog, who was off leash, and suddenly a squirrel (or rabbit/kid/car…fill in YOUR distraction) runs by, and you find yourself yelling at your dog to, “come back!!!” Well, one of the greatest and most important commands to train your dog on is the “HIER!” (pronounced: ‘Hee-aaw’; German for “come here!”. You can read more on German dog training commands on this page here.)
I know plenty of dog owners who have a really good recall trained on their dogs, but the key in any command is the ability of the dog to obey under heavy distractions. Calling your dog to come to you in your house is one thing, but how well does he listen to you outside? Or how about outside with allot of distractions, like running kids, cars passing by, and that pesky squirrel that bolts right in front of your dog?
What I do to train an outside recall is to use a long-line, about 25 feet, attached to my dogs collar. Once the recall is solid (like it is INSIDE the house), then I add small distractions. Once the dog I’m training is good with that, I gradually increase the level of distraction, until it is seemingly overwhelming to the dog. And once obedience is solid – 100%, then and only then, I will allow my dogs off leash in public. Why? Well, for one thing, many people are terrified at a 100 lbs German Shepherd running full bore around them, and will call the police to report a “crazed, mad dog running loose in their neighborhood”. And secondly, I would hate to loose my best friend (yes, my dog is my best friend, isn’t your dog your best friend?) to a passing car as he runs into the street, ignoring my call.
photo credit: cwgoodroe
So please, please, please – follow the steps above before you allow your dogs off leash. Your dog will be a better citizen for it!
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June 15, 2010
My dogs are indoor dogs, and as such, they tend to sleep anywhere they like. However, I’ve noticed that their favorite place to sleep is on my bed. But once I lay down, they jump off and sleep on the floor next to me. So I’ve been thinking…because I want to make my dogs feel secure and at home while sleeping, having a place to retreat to when they rest, I want to get them their own dog beds. Something as comfortable as my bed, while being able to fit in my room – but being large dog beds so they can be comfortable and not cramped.
So I’ve asked around, and been on a hunt, for that perfect bed for Schatzie (my female German Shepherd) and have found Mammoth Dog Beds. They have an extra large dog bed that is perfect for her. Since their large dog bed is made for 51lbs to 100lbs, and is itself 44′ wide by 36” long, she will be able to have tons of room on it. Like I’ve said, I’ve checked into other “beds”, but this one from Mammoth has a removable cover that can be washed, and is made of “industrial strength” canvas. Oh yeah, it’s also stain resistant and antibacterial! What I really like about it is the inner pillow, because I can take it out and use it for Schatzie as a travel pet bed. And guess what? It’s made from, “Cordura Premium grade ‘virgin high memory’ upholstery fiber fill” – wow, sounds like something I want to sleep on!
I have a friend who has a Bull Mastiff, which weighs 140lbs, and I’ve checked the Mammoth website – and their extra large dog bed holds a 100lbs dog – up to 200lbs. Wow, that’s a big dog! That is 55” by 42” – even more room for his dog to feel comfortable on. All their beds have what they call an Easy Velcro system, and a “cozy ring” (gotta love the way they name their stuff!) – kinda like a pillow for their heads.
So Schatzie is going to love her new bed, and since Mammoth Dog Beds have been around since 1995 – and their beds are vet recommended, I’m going to love it too.
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April 13, 2010
Did you know that having a fully Protection Trained/Schutzhund Trained German Shepherd Dog could be a liability? Now, I’m not knocking them, as all of you know that I LIVE for my dogs training in the “art” of PPT/Schutzhund. But that particular style of training is not for everyone! Seriously…
photo credit: Les DeFoor
So with that said, let’s ask each other a few questions if you are contemplating the training of your large breed dog in this area, ok? Ok!
Can I trust a dog trained in protection with my family?
This is a great question. And to qualify it, let me first state that any dog can be a danger to a family. As a matter of fact, did you know that getting bit by a dog is the 5th most common reason for taking your child to an emergency room? And the majority of bites – 77% – are from dogs owned by the person’s own family, or that of a family friend!
But why the German Shepherd?
So then, what about our breed? What about the German Shepherds keen abilities – bred into them? Here’s a snip from http://www.k9pups.com/site/657261/page/356580:
Captain Max von Stephanitz, a young German cavalry officer, decided to develop a national breed of shepherd dogs. Max von Stephanitz was a very educated man, fond of shepherd dogs and appreciated very high their working abilities. He is known as the father of the breed. April 3, 1899 is considered to be the birthday of The German Shepherd Dog
From the inception of the breed, guardianship & protection have been mastered within them to the point it is now. And that’s why k9 units are using the Shepherd (of course, along with Belgium Malinois and Rotts) on their forces, not to mention the military of just about every super power in the world!
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