13 best german shepherd training books

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Training Your German Shepherd Dog

The German Shepherd Dog (GSD) is even-tempered, very intelligent, and highly trainable. It will quickly learn basic commands as well as more complex activities like herding, agility, and search-and-rescue. Here you'll find humane, reliable, and easily implemented techniques that you can use when training your German Shepherd. These training methods will help your dog become a well-mannered and well-behaved companion, and will lead to a happy and satisfying relationship between you and your dog.

The 'Sit' Command

1. Get your German Shepherd's attention with the "Here" command.
2. Lightly holding his collar, or with your leash clipped onto his collar, take your treat and place it right in front of his nose.
3. Move the treat from his nose to between his ears in one, slow motion. He should fold backward into a sitting position.
4. Link the command, 'Sit' with the motion of sitting. As your GSD is finishing his sit (still using the lure), say, 'Sit' as he finishes the act of sitting. Reward. Repeat.

Note: This is not linking the verbal command 'Sit' with the motion of your hand. You want your GSD to sit without any hand movement when you link the verbal command 'Sit.' By linking the action of sitting (and not the luring motion of your hand) with the verbal command, 'Sit', your GSD will not be dependent of a hand motion. Your goal is to be able to give the 'Sit' command and even if he can't see you, he will sit.

Teaching 'Wait'

1. Put him on a leash.
2. With your GSD at your side, start to open the door.
3. When he starts to lunge forward, give him a light, quick tug on the leash (just enough to stop him) and shut the door. Note: Again, the tug is not a harsh snap of the leash, it is not wheeling the dog around, it is not even a rough leash correction. It is like a tap on the shoulder to say 'Hey, stop.' Remember , you're trying to teach him something. You're not punishing him.
4. Continue to do this until he stands or sits and does not try to run out the door. Reward him when he is good.
5. Make the exercise harder by keeping the dog open longer. Follow the same steps as 1-4 but incrementally keep the door open longer each time. Reward him when he is good. If he breaks his sit, back up to less time with the door open and use a light leash correction if necessary.

The 'On' and 'Off' Command

1. With your GSD on leash and a high-value reward in hand, select a couch or chair that has a non-slick surface.
2. Use the treat or toy to lure your GSD up on the surface you've selected. Reward.
3. Use the treat or toy to lure your GSD off the surface. Reward.
4. Link the verbal command 'Up' and 'Off' with the actions of jumping up and down.
5. Make the exercise more difficult. Train using higher surfaces (within the GSD's physical capabilities). Train in different environments.
6. Transition the GSD's training to the car or truck. Begin with the lure and have the car or truck in a location with few distractions. As he jumps in and out easily, continue luring when the car or truck is in an area with distractions. When the dog is solid and quick with his responses to the verbal commands, begin reducing the use of lures.

Teaching 'Heel'

1. Hold his high-value treat or toy in your right hand.
2. Put your GSD on your left side.
3. Move your right arm across your hips so that your hand is slightly protruding on the left, where your dog is.
4. Step out with your left foot first (this is the signal to move forward with you), keeping that item of value on your left hip in your hand.
5. Say 'Heel'. Reward for staying glued to your left side.
6. Practice, practice, practice. Add changes of pace (faster/slower). Add turns. Keep rewarding good work.
7. Gradually, as his heeling becomes solid, take away the lure. If at any time he loses position or becomes distracted, go back to the initial steps and practice some more.

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The Purposeful Walk

The keystone of our program is a deliberate and structured exercise we call the Purposeful Walk. During a Purposeful Walk, your dog walks at your side with her head, neck, or shoulder (depending on your and her preference) close to your left leg. As Pack Leader, you are in charge of determining the following critical factors even for your little pack of two:

• The pace or speed of the walk
• The direction we go
• Which distractions we ignore and which we engage with