What does training mean to your German Shepherd? The short answer is that training offers the opportunity for the dog to do what he was bred for.

Shepherds were bred to work.

German Shepherds are, first and foremost, working dogs. They were initially bred to serve three different functions. Herd livestock, protect home and livestock, and as tracking dogs.

While most dogs now serve as pets, the qualities bred into them can’t be ignored. This means that this active, intelligent breed needs to have its energy channeled into positive activities.

So the question then becomes, what does dog training mean to the German Shepherd owner?

It means being willing to spend time daily to exercise and train your dog. Owners who don’t make this commitment are likely to end up with a large, hard to manage dog.

What are good things to include in your dog training?

The most obvious is to have your German Shepherd come to you when you call it. Start off with short distances. The trick here is to be patient. When the dog comes to you give it lots of praise. You want to tell them that they’re a good boy (or girl).

Give them treats as well when they come. The thing with treats is that you only want to give them sometimes. If you give them every time that the dog obeys, they’ll become bored with them. It’s better to give them every few times the dog performs correctly. This keeps their anticipation level high.

Losing your temper if the dog doesn’t respond to your satisfaction is not productive. It is a bad idea for your Shepherd to become fearful of you. It can lead to aggression and other problems.

When your dog has learned to come when you call it, it’s time to learn Sit/Stay.

Shepherds are typically intelligent dogs. Intelligent dogs need to be mentally stimulated. If you turn teaching a trick like Sit/Stay into a game, the dog will learn a useful command and will be able to use their mental abilities in a beneficial way.

Another essential thing to teach your dog is how to walk on a leash. Walking your dog serves several important functions. First, it’s important that your Shepherd gets adequate exercise. Dogs that don’t get enough exercise tend to develop health and psychological problems.

Secondly, walking on a leash creates a unique bond between dog and owner. It creates a situation in which the dog focuses on the owners wishes. If the dog is distracted by a squirrel crossing its path, the leash helps to re-focus his attention.

There’s another important function that learning to walk on a leash serves. It allows the dog to have new experiences that build its confidence. Dogs are a lot like people. The more situations that they successfully deal with, the more self confident they are.

A leash lets you take your Shepherd to the park, flea market or any other gathering.

Proper dog training for your German Shepherd will make a huge difference in both of your lives.

Camille Goldin informs about the importance of German Shepherd training. Get information on Dog Training and care from trainPetDog.com