A lesson won’t be completed without you knowing what NOT to do. Here are a few things you should not do to your German Shepherd during or after the training session:
- Do not EVER punish your German Shepherd or hit him for any reason.
- Do not ever rub your dog’s nose in the mess to teach him a lesson. The dog has no idea that he has done something wrong and he himself can’t stand the messy stuff and just wants to get rid of it. By rubbing it in, he registers only the harshness of the punishment with you.
- Do not isolate your dog or lock him outside in a kennel because he has made a mess inside. Dogs are family-oriented and the insecurity that is caused by isolation will lead to more destructive behavior.
- Do not allow the dog to roam around the house unattended – he would most likely sniff out corners and do his job there without your knowledge.
- Do not change the routine all of a sudden. Be consistent with your training schedule. Stick to the program and try as much as possible for the first few months to maintain a regular pattern.
- Do not expect too much too soon. Be realistic and fair with your dog. Two days is not enough for your dog to get the message. A week’s time of consistent practice would set the pace but you will still have to follow it up by maintaining the pattern for up to two months.
Summary
Hopefully, we have equipped you with the essential resources for you to start training your German Shepherd puppy to become a well-mannered canine citizen.
Starting today, arm yourself with lots of high-value treats and toys, you can train your puppy on the same tricks several times a day. Repeat 8-10 times in each session, preferably 5-10 minutes each time.
Again, the key to success for training any dog is patience, consistency, and a lot of positive reinforcement. Some puppies learn faster than others. There will be a learning curve. But the good news is your GSD will learn fast and improve over time. Good luck and enjoy!
