German Shepherd Dog Training

author
Aaron Rice Expert Dog Trainer
Written: December 7, 2022

If you have recently adopted a new German Shephard or have purchased a puppy from a breeder, you’ll need to make sure to train them. German Shepherds are fantastic dogs and make great companions. With that said, they are also very large and need to be well-mannered for not only your sanity but also the safety of those around you.
Below is more information about German Shepherds and dog training overall. Once you make the decision to have your German Shepherd professionally trained, reach out to Stayyy. We offer training services for dogs of all breeds, ages, and sizes. We’d love to work with your German Shepherd!

What to Know About German Shepherds

While every breed can be trained and they all have certain things in common, there are certain traits that are common in specific breeds. While these traits aren’t set in stone, you can expect them from dogs of those breeds.
Below are some of the common traits of German Shepherds…

They are Intelligent

German Shepherds are well-known for their level of intelligence. They are extremely smart dogs. This intelligence leads them to do well in competitions and makes them an excellent breed for K-9 units. They are able to quickly pick up new behaviors and commands.
The downside to their intelligence is that they get bored easily. You need to make sure to provide your German Shepherd with fun toys and take them on walks. You should also consider buying some toys that are engaging and mentally stimulating.

They Have a Lot of Energy

While almost all dogs (especially puppies!) have plenty of energy, German Shepherds are known for being particularly active and energetic. If you don’t have the time to take your German Shepherd out for long walks and trips to the dog park, they may not be the right breed for you. They need to burn off their excess energy, or they may start causing problems in your home.
Even if you have a backyard for them to play in, it’s important to take your German Shepherd out and let them socialize with other dogs.

They Like to Explore

German Shepherds are a curious breed, and they like to explore their surroundings. This is in large part due to their high level of intelligence. Expect your German Shepherd to be a big sniffer!

They Are Very Protective

German Shepherds are often used as guard dogs not because of their aggression, but because of how intelligent and protective they are. German Shepherds are fiercely loyal. This is a good and challenging thing. While you want your dog to be protective in an emergency, you don’t want them to be aggressive or mean. Socialization is extremely important for German Shepherds. They need to learn to be friendly towards strangers and other dogs.
German Shepherds are amazing dogs, and you’ll love spending time with your furry new buddy. You just need to make sure your German Shepherd is properly trained.

Obedience Training

Obedience training is the foundation of any form of dog training. Your German Shepherd needs to listen to you each and every time you give a command. A lack of obedience can lead to smaller problems like peeing on the floor, eating off the table, and barking, as well as bigger issues like growling, aggression, and biting. This, in turn, can lead to a lawsuit and even your pup getting put down.
At Stayyy, we start with obedience training. We make sure your dog knows all of the basic commands and listens whenever you give them a command. This leads to a happier, healthier relationship with your German Shepherd.

The German Shepherd Training Process

The German Shepherd training program at Stayyy focuses on eliminating poor behaviors while reinforcing good habits. We make sure your pup knows all of their commands, and we drill them until your dog listens every time.

Some other things we focus on include:

  • Mental stimulation
  • Exercise
  • Socialization
  • Breaking bad habits

Some of the bad habits we approach head-on include:

  • Excessive barking
  • Leash pulling
  • Stealing food from other animals
  • Jumping on people
  • Charging at other animals
  • Rushing in or out of the door
  • Eating off the counter

A major component of the training program at Stayyy is socialization. Whether you have a grown German Shepherd or a puppy, we will provide them with lots of opportunities to meet other dogs and learn pack skills.

Pack Leadership Training

Dogs are pack animals. This is extremely important to understand when training your dog. They will always look for their place in the pack. No matter how much you want to treat your dog like an equal, they won’t see the relationship the same way. They need to know who’s in charge. If they don’t, they will continue to challenge you for dominance. If you would like a mentally-balanced, happy pup, you need to learn how to become the pack leader.
With that said, being a pack leader doesn’t mean being mean or aggressive. Instead, it is like the relationship between a parent and child. It is your responsibility to guide them and set boundaries. If you set boundaries and stick to them, your dog will begin to see you as the leader of the pack.

Our Leadership Program

At Stayyy, we teach dog owners to become pack leaders in a way that is healthy for their relationship with their furry friends. We will teach you how to project calm, confident, and assertive energy. Through this form of energy and strong boundaries, your dog will begin to fall in line and respect your commands.
Become the leader of your pack with Stayyy’s leadership program!

Dog Boarding

Boarding can feel stressful. It doesn’t have to be, though! When you choose Stayyy as your boarding facility, you can be sure your pup will get all of the love and attention they need while you are away. We provide German Shepherds in our dog boarding lots of opportunities to play, socialize, and burn off energy. We will even train your pup while they are visiting our facility!
Daily walks are a cornerstone of any boarding program. We make sure to take your dog on daily, long walks. During these walks, they’ll have the opportunity to sniff around, potty, stretch their legs, and get some fresh air. If your dog has any specific needs during their walk, let us know! We are very accommodating of special needs.
In order to board your pup, we’ll need current vaccination records and written proof of DHLPP and Bordetella before check-in. If your pup is over four months old, we’ll also need rabies vaccination records. This is for the protection of our staff and our other furry guests.
When you are preparing for your pup’s vacation, consider these things:

  • A feeding schedule
  • Bedding
  • Your dog’s favorite food and treats
  • Your pup’s favorite toys and blankets
  • Kennel crate (if properly trained)

We look forward to hosting your German Shepherd at our doggy hotel!

Group Training Classes

Once it has been determined that your German Shepherd is properly trained on obedience, they will be allowed to start attending our group training classes. During these classes, your dog will get the chance to socialize and meet other dogs in a controlled environment. Their progress will be tracked, and they will have the opportunity to work with other dogs.
It’s especially important for you to socialize your puppy. We help puppies to meet other dogs that are well-behaved so they can grow up to be happy, social, and well-mannered. Even if your dog is older, though, we can still work with them to better their socialization skills.
We offer group training at our facilities, dog beaches, dog parks, and other pet-friendly facilities.

German Shepherd Puppy Training

Everyone loves puppies—and German Shepherd puppies are extremely cute! Don’t let that cuteness get in the way of proper training, though! You want to start your pup off on the right path. It’s better to start their training as soon as they get home rather than wait for them to develop bad habits. If you don’t, they will chew, potty on the floor, and cause lots of problems.
Stayyy offers puppy training that is geared towards teaching puppies the commands and behaviors they need so they can grow into a happy, healthy, and well-adjusted adult.

Preschool Puppy Training

If you have a puppy that is at least 12 weeks of age, you can enroll your puppy in our preschool puppy training program. Here, they will learn great skills. Our puppy training program includes:

  • Scheduled and effective potty training
  • Problem-solving education
  • Scheduled feeding
  • Obedience training
  • Socialization

We provide your pup with the tools they need to grow into an amazing adult dog. We make sure your puppy gets to meet other pups and socialize so they are properly socialized when they are adults. This is especially important for German Shepherds, as they grow to be quite large.

What You Need to Know About Our Puppy Training Program

There are some undesirable behaviors that can develop early on, and it’s best to stop them before they become a problem. Our puppy training program encourages good behaviors and eliminates bad habits.
Some of the things your puppy will be learning in our program include:

  • Coming when called
  • Focusing their attention on you
  • Sit, stay, down, and wait commands
  • Letting go of items
  • Calmly welcoming other dogs and people to your home
  • Off-leash freedom
  • Hand signals for commands
  • Housebreaking/potty training
  • Tolerating the behavior of children
  • Prevention of anxiety and aggressive behavior

With our puppy training program, your pup will stop the following behaviors:

  • Leash-pulling
  • Digging
  • Scratching doors and windows
  • Food guarding
  • Chewing
  • Jumping on people and things
  • Nipping and biting
  • Whining and barking
  • Running out the door

If you are having trouble with puppy training or you would simply like the assistance of a team of professionals, reach out to Stayyy. We’d be happy to enroll your puppy in our training program and provide them with the skills they need to be friendly, happy, and well-behaved.

Day Camp

The Day Camp program at Stayyy is designed to provide dogs with the chance to learn the fundamentals of obedience in a controlled environment. With our Day Camp, you simply drop off your dog whenever you want (during our business hours), then pick them up when you’re ready. While they are at Day Camp, they will be taught basic commands and get the chance to socialize with other dogs. We provide an immersive and friendly environment for all of our guests.
If your dog has special needs, please let us know. We are very accommodating of dogs with special needs. We want your dog to be happy and comfortable during their stay at our facility.
After your dog’s stay at our Day Camp facility, we’ll make sure to send them home with some great goodies. You can then continue training once you get home.
For more information about our Day Camp program, reach out today!

About Stayyy

Stayyy is a professional dog training organization that is dedicated to helping dogs to become well-behaved, friendly, and sociable. Stayyy is made up of dog lovers, from the top down. It’s our mission to help dogs and their owners.
The team at Stayyy understands the mental, physical, and emotional needs of dogs. We also understand that most “mental disorders” are actually just behavioral issues that need to be addressed. Through command and obedience training, we make sure the dogs in our care understand what is expected from them. Mixed with pack leadership training, the dogs we train learn what is expected and what behaviors are appropriate. We also teach dog owners how to better connect with their dogs and build leader-follower relationships.
At Stayyy, we believe socialization is extremely important and necessary. We work with dogs to better behave with other dogs, as well as strangers.
If you have any questions about Stayyy or would like to book training services, reach out today!