| The German Shepherd Dog truly is a wonderful | | | | The German Shepherd needs to be well socialised |
| animal and not only do they make good working | | | | from an early age and needs plenty of exposure |
| dogs, they also make superb family pets. They | | | | to people and other dogs so that they do not |
| are however very different from other pet | | | | develop aggressive tendencies as they mature. |
| breeds and need to be handled and trained with a | | | | Joining a dog training class from an early age is a |
| different approach to say your average labrador | | | | good idea and most clubs will accept dogs into the |
| or poodle for instance. | | | | puppy classes from about 4 months onwards. |
| The GSD is a large, strong athletic dog, which | | | | This should be good fun for your puppy and |
| needs a lot of mental stimulation and exercise but | | | | allows him to play and to socialise but it also |
| a well trained shepherd can learn to do almost | | | | serves the purpose of teaching him or her what |
| anything. These dogs positively thrive on | | | | is acceptable and what is not. This will prove |
| challenging activities and they are so willing to | | | | invaluable grounding for your German Shepherd |
| serve their master and please. As a working dog | | | | training. |
| used by most police forces, the very look of a | | | | When choosing a dog training class do check out |
| GSD is usually enough to act as a deterrent but | | | | a few first as not all classes make German |
| when called into action there are few dogs that | | | | Shepherds welcome and if any club asks that you |
| can match the German Shepherd as an all | | | | muzzle your dog, please give it a miss and move |
| rounder. | | | | on and find another club. No reputable dog training |
| If you are considering becoming an owner of a | | | | class would require a dog to be muzzled. If your |
| GSD then you need to consider the commitment | | | | dog is aggressive towards other dogs there are |
| to training in order that you have happy, well | | | | better ways of controlling the dog safely such as |
| behaved German Shepherd dog that you can | | | | by using a Canny Collar which is a simple effective |
| take out safely in public. | | | | head collar similar to those used on horses. |
| If you haven't previously owned one of these | | | | The earlier you start training and socialisation the |
| dogs then please do not take on a youngster | | | | better as GSD's often develop a tendency to be |
| lightly. Being involved in GSD rescue I have lost | | | | aggressive towards other dogs and also towards |
| count of the number of young dogs I have had | | | | strangers and they can become very protective |
| to re-home because owners bought them without | | | | towards their owners and property. |
| doing a bit of research first. | | | | Another important part of training your german |
| As youngsters they can be very boisterous and | | | | shepherd is to get him used to being groomed |
| can easily knock over children or elderly relatives, | | | | because they shed copious amounts of hair and |
| especially if you do not discourage the dog from | | | | although they only moult once a year, it lasts for |
| jumping up when excited. A bored GSD can be | | | | 365 days. So be prepared for dog hair all over |
| very destructive and if left alone will trash your | | | | your house, your clothes, in your food and buy |
| house and contents with ease using their big teeth | | | | yourself a very good vacuum cleaner. |
| and claws. Unfortunately these dogs don't really | | | | Training your German Shepherd should be very |
| mature until they are about 3 years old so you | | | | much part of everyday life and is should be fun |
| are in for the long haul to get through the puppy | | | | so stick with it because it really will be worth it in |
| and adolescent stage | | | | the end. |