Are you fortunate enough to live with a German Shepherd?
Then you know that they are extremely active dogs. They
need lots of exercise. They are bold, determined, and
smart, requiring a lot of attention. German Shepherds are
also naturally dominant dogs so proper training is a must.
It is essential that you control your German Shepherd or
she will control you. But training will ensure that she is
a happy, well-adjusted member of your family.
So, you are going to train your German Shepherd but what's
the best way to do this? There's some important points to
remember, but before we tell you what they are, here is the
biggest secret to training your German Shepherd.
CONSISTENCY
You guessed it! Consistency. Many times someone will bring
home a German Shepherd puppy and underestimate the amount
of time needed to train him effectively. Training your dog
is really very simple, give him praise when she does
something you want, and correct him when he doesn't. If you
do this consistently, your German Shepherd will be trained.
In essence, training him will enhance the bond you share.
It will establish you as the leader of the pack, making
your dog more comfortable. You can promote this natural
rank by following these teaching points. We will discover
the best ways to train your German Shepherd, ensuring a
long and happy relationship.
First you must understand that your dog is not human and is
largely governed by instinct. It is up to you to temper
that instinct with conditioned behavior through human
training. By correctly establishing a social hierarchy
within your household from the very first day you bring
your German Shepherd puppy home, you can achieve this. The
hierarchy consists of an Alpha dog, which is the dominant
dog to all. He is the supreme ruler of the pack and is
submissive to no one. Following the Alpha dog is the Beta
dog, second in command. The Beta dog is second in line for
dominance. Obviously, the Beta dog would be submissive to
the alpha dog but dominant above all others. At the tail
end of the pack, so to speak, is the Omega dog, which is
dominant to none and submissive to everyone.
The most essential point to remember is that your German
Shepherd needs an Alpha dog to give him firm, consistent
leadership and is happiest when this occurs. However, your
German Shepherd is instinctively wired to better his pack
position so beware of periods when he tests boundaries,
especially during training. He may push your buttons by
misbehaving or ignoring commands that he has already
learned. This is normal and the best way to work through
this is with consistency and maintenance of the training
program you have established.
The Alpha wolf in the wild will always decide where to hunt
and when he will decide where to settle the pack. After
each kill, the Alpha wolf always will eat first as the
unequivocal leader of his pack. There are no exceptions. He
governs his pack in a firm and fair way, with no exceptions
to his law.
What does all this have to do with training your dog?
Simply that you must be the Alpha dog in your pack to
effectively train your German Shepherd. He will work harder
to please you if he understands his relationship with you.
This will also establish a proper relationship between you
and your dog right from the start and he will bond more
closely and deeply to you.
There is a special situation that you must consider. It is
this: Imagine being a petite woman married to a big guy who
is 6'4" and weighs 225 pounds. In your dog's mind, you
probably won't be recognized as the Alpha dog; although
your husband might recognize you as such. This is because
the undetectable scent he puts off to the dog and his
deeper voice establishes him as the Alpha dog. Even though
you might have to work a little harder, you can easily
establish yourself as the Beta dog, dominant over all other
dogs in your household. Are the kids the Omega dogs then?
Definitely not! It is essential that they participate in
the training of your German Shepherd so they will also be
dominant over your dog.
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David Lee is the owner and designer of several web sites
promoting responsible pet care. For more info see
http://www.GermanShepherd-1.com and for cat owners
http://www.AceCatHealth.com or
http://www.AceCatFurniture.com
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