Schutzhund Training Guide: How To Train Your Dog With Schutzhund

You may wonder what Schutzhund Training means. Actually, Schutzhund is not a breed of dog. Instead, it is a German term that means protection dog. Meanwhile,  Schutzhund Training refers to a method of developing better canine traits. The schutzhund training mostly focuses on three aspects: namely, tracking, obedience, and protection. Getting done with these three aspects means that your dog is near perfectly trained. It means that Schutzhund training guide goes beyond teaching simple sit, down, come, or stay commands.

As mentioned above, the Schutzhund Training consists of three phases. The three phases in how to train your schutzhund teach your dog with higher level of focus, speed, precision, enthusiasm, and accuracy. When the Schutzhund Training was firstly developed, it was designed for German Shepherds. However, other breeds of dog can be admitted in the training.

The three levels are essential for developing the canine endurance, mental stability, courage, scent tracking, and structural efficiencies, namely:

1. Tracking. This phase aims at determining trainability and potential of your dog to track scent and well as testing its physical and mental endurance
2. Obedience. This phase aims at testing his temperament, willingness to work and to protect, and structural efficiency;
3. Protection. This is the final phase, aiming at testing his courage, agility, and physical strength. At this final phase, you need higher level of ability to control the dog throughout the Schutzhund training sessions.

Schutzhund Training Guide : The Basic Principles

As the Schutzhund training guide goes beyond the basic training sessions.  Accordingly, you may need better comprehension on the basic principles of canine training. Overall, the canine training sessions aim at making sure that you reward only the desired behaviors, ensuring that they are not punished physically for misbehaving or failure to understand you commands, and making sure that the process and the training sessions are enjoyable.

Of course, teaching the dogs in real life is not as easy as it sounds. Real-life conditions are always more complicated and messy. However, never give up! More masters are successful in training the dogs rather than failing. So, you have huge chances to be successful in how to train your schutzhund. The following are some basic things you need to know when doing Schutzhund Training Guide:

Getting Familiar with Reinforcement vs Punishment

These two terms are of course interrelated, despite contradictory meaning. Reinforcement refers to the act of strengthening a behavior. Meanwhile, punishment refers to the act of stopping a behavior. In the context of canine training, reinforcement means strengthening desired behavior, while punishment means stopping or avoiding unwanted behavior.

Reinforcement in canine training is usually associated with giving treats like foods or favorite toys when the dog is done with a command or a session. Meanwhile, punishment is never about physical things. Instead, punishment technically refers to the way the master shows that a behavior is not favorable. For instance, the master denies the puppies or does not provide him with foods until he successfully does a favored thing.

Getting to Know Your Dog

Developing bonding between the master and the puppy is important to determine the success of Schutzhund training. When you know your dog well, you know what he loves and what he does not love, it is easier for you to plan the training session. Both of you can enjoy the training and handle the sessions well. You can prepare treats that the dog enjoys very munch.

By providing treats that the dog loves, the training is easier, since you can attract the dog’s attention in a more effortless way. On the other hand, if the dog does not enjoy the treats, attracting his attention will be more difficult. As a result, teaching the desired behavior is also more challenging.

Preparing the Basic Training Equipment

The Schutzhund training guide also requires you to prepare the basic equipment. At the first phase of the training, you may not need all the tools, but with time and when the training progresses well, the tools will make the training sessions easier. The following are some basic tools you need to prepare:

1. Dog collars. Collars are important when you begin training the dog to walk on a leash. Dog collars are made of different materials, like leather, herm, nylon, or electric fence. Whatever the material you choose, your dog needs high-quality collars to ensure his comfort.
2. Harnesses are important if you want to take the dog out for walk. Good-quality harnesses ensure that your dog can walk comfortably.
3. Vests provide the dog with movement control. Make sure to choose one with sturdy and versatile design.
4. Bite pillows, a tug, and bite sleeves. Bite pillows are important in the bite training session. Biting precisely is crucial for the dog to avoid unwanted things in the future. Meanwhile, a tug is important in building drive skill. Again, make sure to choose high quality tools made of leather, fore house, linen, or jute. Then, bite sleeves are needed for ongoing Schutzhund training sessions.
5. Hurdles are must-have tools for training a puppy or a newly adopted dog.  You can find standardized Schutzhund hurdles with aluminum frame. They are known to be more durable and adjustable.

Besides those tools, you will also need to prepare other tools, which are important for different phases of the training. They include protection blinds,  sticks, tracking gear, scaling walls and dumbbells.

Finding The Right Dog Club

Schutzhund training provides you and the dog with opportunity to recognize ability of the dog to perform what is being trained as well as ability of the owner to train the dog. This is the highest level of dog training. Of course, you need high-level commitment and patience. At one point, how to train your schutzhund may also include finding a dog club that fits your lifestyle.

Joining a local Schutzhund club benefits you in many ways, particularly if you are still new to Schutzhund. Every club has its characteristics; therefore, you need to find one that fits your lifestyle. Normally, you need to join the club for 2 or 3 years. Accordingly, make sure you really know the club before signing a commitment.

In addition, every club has different standards for its members. Make sure that your characters and personality are really fitted to the club standards. When you join the right one, your dog will benefit in many ways, including:

1. The ability to respect other people as well as other dogs;
2. Willingness to learn through all levels of Schutzhund training sessions;
3. Developing emotional stability;
4. Building trustworthiness and responsibility;
5. Developing self-confidence and independence

Those are only some of the benefits that the master and the dog enjoy after implementing Schutzhund training guide. In reality, both of you will benefit more from the proper training sessions. 

Do You Need To Find a Mentor?

Some dog owners may wonder the importance of finding a mentor for Schutzhund training. Many people suggest that collaborating with a mentor will be much more helpful, as you have someone to share goals and values with. This way, you can do all the training sessions in a more enjoyable way. In fact, not all mentors are similar. 

They have different styles and methods. 

To find a mentor, make sure that you really know the objective of the training.  For instance, if you plan to train the dog for competition, then you need to find a mentor that focuses on trial and competition. The way to train your schutzhund for competition is designed specially based on the objective. Similarly, if you want to train the dog for a good companion, then you need a mentor that specializes in obedience and loyalty training. 

Joining the right dog club makes it easier for you to find a mentor that fits your styles and objectives. However, you still need to make sure that he really fits your style. Do not hesitate to ask questions and ask for a trial with your dog. You will see that the right mentor helps you much, particularly at the beginning of the training, when you may be still confused about anything.

Patience Is the Key

It must be noted that Schutzhund training is tougher than the basic dog training is. Therefore, it requires more patience than ever. Despite the challenge, never let yourself or your dog to be discouraged. Understanding the natural characters of puppies provides you with mind relief. For instance, if you know that puppies have shorter attention span, then you will design shorter training sessions. More importantly, give yourself and the puppy some breaks, and make sure that the sessions are short and fun.

Patience is the key to success when working on Schutzhund training. In addition, make sure to use clear, loud, and consistent commands. These may avoid confusion on the part of the dog. Consistent and solid training foundation helps your dog complete the training and makes it easier for you to reinforce the good behaviors.

Schutzhund training always tells you that this is a long but rewarding journey. When you can keep the patience, both of you will enjoy the benefits. Therefore, make all the training sessions enjoyable. There may be a day when you get upset while the dog gets confused. Never give up! When you have been through all the hardships, you will find that the hard work is finally worth it.
 

How to Train Your Schutzhund the Necessary Skills

Besides knowing the basic things about Schutzhund training guide, the following are things to train to your dog:

Crate Training

Whatever the breed of dog you have, crate training should be an integral part of your dog training sessions. Crate serves like a ‘home’ for the dog at your home. It is a place of safe, a place of peace, and a place, where the dog eats and plays with his toys. How to train your Schutzhund is almost similar for all breeds of dogs. The difference may lie on how long it takes the puppy to get familiar and comfortable inside the crate, even when you are away from home.

Using a Dog Clicker

You might never recognize the importance of a dog-training clicker before. It is a simple but useful tool for positive reinforcement. Using a dog clicker is simple and fun. Imagine the condition that the dog follows your commands properly. Then, you use the dog clicker and then give him the treat as soon as he focuses attention on you. A dog clicker may help in telling your dog that he has done right. Accordingly, the more often he hears the clicks, the more he gets the treats. Therefore, he knows that he is doing right. Eventually, the dog will reinforce the same behavior to get the treats. 

Keep Socializing

Dog is a loyal animal. He wants to be with you anytime. However, make sure that you are not the only individual in his life. Otherwise, you will have many problems in the future. Therefore, make sure to have him socialize. Allocate your time to take him out to the nearby park, dog club, or everywhere possible. Introduce him to a lot of places, a lot of people, and a lot of objects. These provide him with confidence and minimize the risk of separation anxiety.

However, the socialization process must be done properly. In the early stage for instance, do the socialization process slowly to avoid stress. Again, patience is the key, as the dogs are not created equal. Some breeds of dog can learn faster while others need more time. Get to know the natural characters of your dog.

Finally, even though your dog enjoys playing with toys, do not leave him with the toys all day. Again, allocate your time to play with the dog. This is important to build the bond between you and the animal. Toys are important to make sure the dog enjoys the time when you are away from home. However, toys do not do much when it comes to obedience and skill. You are holding the keys that determine whether your dog can be a lovely companion or not.
 

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Rottweiler Training Tips: How To Train A Rottweiler

Do you have a newly adopted Rottweiler? Or, are you struggling to train your Rottweiler? Rottweilers are known to be loyal, obedient, and intelligent, naturally. Accordingly, they can be trained properly, as they have no many difficulties in understanding your commands. However, you certainly need the right way on how to train a Rottweiler. Properly trained Rottweiler can live happily within the human family. They know their position properly and they can adjust well. Again, proper training is the key.

Ideally, the training for Rottweiler puppies starts when they are 7 to 8-week old.  This is the ideal time to begin implementing the Rottweiler training tips. But, what if you adopt the dog when he is older than 8 weeks. Do not be discouraged, since you still have the chance to train the Rottweiler properly until it reaches the age of 6 months.

Rottweiler Training Tips: Beginning of the Training

At the very beginning of the training, there are some general rules to make your jobs easier. The following are some Rottweiler training tips: how to train a Rottweiler:

1. Make the session short and fun; This is the first thing you have to note when training the Rottweiler, regardless of the age. Before the puppy is 6 months old, one or two minutes is enough for each session. Longer session has few, if any, benefits. Why? The Rottweiler puppies have short attention span. If you train them for longer than 2 minutes, the dog is not able to pay attention to your commands anymore.
2. Establish the rules; This is an important thing to do at the very beginning phase of the training. The rules refer to things that you have to reinforce and the dog will follow throughout the training sessions. The rules aim at improving the dog’s behavior. Some trainers use the term dominance for the rule-establishment session. However, the term is overused to some extent. There is no need to show that you dominate over the dog. Instead, just show tender and careful understanding. Then, never show aggression towards the dog. Hitting the dog does not benefit you at all.
3. Socialize the puppy earlier; Imagine how frustrating it is to see your dog barking or being aggressive when he is around other people or within other dogs. To prevent such problem, make sure that the dog socializes earlier. Do this by taking the puppy out for walks in your environment, over a friend’s house, or to a park. Taking him out regularly helps the Rottweiler puppy fight against fear and stress and develop confidence. For this, make sure that he has positive experience every time you take him out.
4. Reinforce positive behavior; This rule applies for training any breeds of puppies. As the trainer as well as the master, you are just suggested to reward positive behavior and never punish any misbehaving. Positive reinforcement in how to train Rottweiler means training by reward. Actually, the dog does not understand anything you say. He will just repeat one action, when you treat him after doing it. If you do this repeatedly and consistently, the dog will eventually make such behaviors as habits. Rewards may come in the form of toys, food, or anything that the dog likes.
5. No physical discipline; Physical discipline and yelling are never suggested for training any breeds of dog. They will never bring you to the desired results. Physical discipline just leads to fear and confuse, while you may feel frustrated because of it. Imagine this condition: You punish the dog with physical interference for toileting in your house two hours earlier. The dog actually does not know what he has done. It is useless to punish him, as he does not have any idea on it. Conversely, when you treat him after going out for outdoor bathroom, he will do the same then. As you keep treating him after doing the good action, he will make outdoor elimination a habit.
6. Maintain high-level patience.  For many dog masters, teaching Rottweiler is rather challenging, thanks to the loyal characters of the dog. Since they naturally wants to be close to you and always be at your side, teaching some basic commands may be challenging. The same case applies for preventing separation anxiety and stress. Therefore, patience is the key. There is no need to yell or get angry at the dog. Remember that they are naturally lovely companion.
7. With these general rules in mind, you can proceed to the next Rottweiler training tips and train the puppies for simple commands.

How To Train a Rottweiler: Simple Commands

As mentioned above, training session for a Rottweiler puppy must be short, simple, and fun. Otherwise, he will not pay attention to your commands. The basic session in Rottweiler training is teaching simple commands. The following are some basic commands to teach to your Rottweiler:

Use "Sit" Command!

Instead of teaching him his name, you had better teach the dog to sit as the first command he should learn. Why? The “Sit!” command will be necessary in many situations. When the dog understands this command, the remaining training sessions will be much easier. The following are some Rottweiler training tips to teach him “Sit!” command:

• Make sure to attract his attention first;
• You can use hand gesture instead of voice. The body gesture makes it easier for the dog to focus on you;
• You may combine the hand gesture with short voice command. But, make sure you give the voice command after you get his attention. If he does not pay attention to you, the voice command will not work.

 

Use “No!” or “Stop!” Command

This is another important command that your dog has to understand. “No!” or “Stop!” command tells your dog is doing something wrong. Rottweiler loves mouth items. They love carrying things on their mouth. However, it can be trouble some if the puppies begin biting your shoes, the kids’ toys, or other valuable items. You need to tell them to stop it. The following are some Rottweiler training tips for this command:

1. You may choose either “No!” or “Stop!” command, but make sure you use the same command consistently.
2. As you voice the “stop!” command, move the puppy immediately from thing that he is doing. This shows him that he should not have done it.
3. Ignore him, but make sure to keep your eyes on him.
4. If he does the same thing again, voice the same command and take him away from it.
5. Do not give any treat until he behaves correctly.
6. Once you say “Stop!” or “No!” and he stops immediately, give him the treats.
7. Do not yell at the puppy even though he is misbehaving. Yelling or shouting just makes the dog confused and does not help anything.

Use “Down!” Command

This command is taught only after the dog understands the “Sit!” command. This is important particularly is you have a jumper breed of dog. Jumping may lead to problems like physical injuries. Teaching this command could be tricky. The following is how to teach the Rottweiler not to jump by teaching him “down!” command:

1. Make sure you are prepared with treats in hand;
2. Show him that you have interesting treats;
3. Say “Sit!” command and make sure that he does sit;
4. Make sure he focuses on you. You can put your hand (which holds the treats) near his nose.
5. Move your hand down to the floor and say “down!” command.
6. Normally, he will follow your instruction as he focuses on the treats.
7. Give him the treats if he lays down properly.
8. Repeat the same command, and do the same reward system.
9. Obey him if he fails to do your instruction.
   

Normally, it takes about a week to familiarize the dog with the new command. Practice is consistently but make sure the session is short. The session is regarded successful anytime you can command the dog to stop jumping. 

Use “Stay!” Command

This command is also taught when the puppy is familiar with “Sit!” command. Otherwise, teaching “Stay!” command can be frustrating. Some masters found that teaching this command is one of the most frustrating parts of the Rottweiler training. However, you have huge chances to be successful with it, as long as you maintain high amount of patience. 

Teaching this command is important, as you know that Rottweiler are loyal companions. They always want to be with you, next to you, or at least around you. However, there might be many cases, in which you have to tell him to stay away. The following tips may work for you:

1. Make sure you have some treats at hand.
2. Tell the dog to sit first. That is why “Stay!” command is suggested after the dog is done with “sit!” command;
3. Get his attention by putting your hand near to his nose.
4. As soon as he focuses on the treats, say “Stay!” command and then step back slowly.
5. Give him the treats if he is done with the command.

It is very likely that, at least at the first session of the Rottweiler training, the puppy will run up to you. If this happens, ask him to sit down again, and place the treats in front of his nose. Repeat the command “stay!” while you are stepping backward. Repeat the process until the Rottweiler puppy is done with the command.
For some dog masters, teaching the “stay!” command is a frustrating session. Therefore, it takes more patience. Therefore, make sure to choose the right timing and phase to teach this. 

“Come!” Command

This command is taught when the dog has been done with “stay!” command. Otherwise, you will find teaching the command frustrating. If you choose the right timing, teaching this command is a fun, thanks to the natural character of Rottweiler that loves his master. Understanding this command may help your Rottweiler avoid danger sometimes in the future. Imagine the condition that he is running toward danger and he does not understand your command to come. 

Just like teaching the commands above, make sure you are ready with his favorite treats before beginning the session. The following are some of the steps:

1. Make sure that he pays attention to you. Calling him and show him the treats may work.
2. Slap your thighs and say “come!”. Make sure to use a friendly voice.
3. If necessary, you can use hand gesture. However, whatever the gesture you use, make sure to use it consistently;
4. Give him the treats the puppy does it well.
5. Make sure to work on those commands regularly. Make the session short and fun, but do it consistently. 

How to Train a Rottweiler: Rottweiler Crate Training

Well-trained Rottweiler is actually a gift for you. Why? He is a cute and loyal companion. He always wants to make you happy.  Rottweiler is also known as one of the most powerful, the largest, and the most robust dog breeds of dog. For some dog masters, the naturally loyal character of Rottweiler makes it challenging for crate training. Again, never give up, let alone, get upset with the dog. Note that, he is a companion, and he will do what you want him to do.

Crate training is important for you Rottweiler. If you begin the training earlier, this is less challenging. Crate training benefits you and the dog as well, as you teach him the right way to use bathroom, whether it is in the crate or outdoor. Crate training also teaches your Rottweiler to be comfortable in his ‘home’ while you are away. This keeps him safe in your house and avoids him from potential danger. More importantly, proper crate training can help alleviate separation anxiety. This is particularly important if you are working away from home.

Crate training for Rottweiler is mostly similar to that for other breeds of dog. The keys are choosing the right size of crate, providing the training in a gradual but consistently, and providing the right rewards and punishment.

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Training Guides For Golden Retriever: Adults and Puppies

 

What comes in your mind when asked about your opinion of golden retriever dogs? Are they calm, well behaved, and lovely? Perhaps this perception is true when you have well-trained and well-groomed golden retriever. You might also perceive that if you have two Golden Retrievers, they will likely have similar behaviors. In fact, this perception is not always true. The way the golden retrievers behave depends upon the training they have. Therefore, you definitely need training guides for golden retriever since its very early age.

Training Guides for Golden Retriever: The Timeline

Just like training other breeds of dogs, training golden retriever must be provided at the right time, depending upon its age. Canine behaviorists behave that a golden retriever needs to get all the necessary training sessions before he is 2 years old.

This is the phase of basic skills and obedience. The younger the golden retriever puppies are, the easier for you to train the necessary behaviors. They are trainable and eager to please you. During the training session, make sure to meet all their physical and social needs. This is the time to develop bond and trust and to identify their potential.

The golden retriever puppies at the age of 2-6 months have several characteristics, which may influence results of the training:

1. They have shorter attention span. It means that you have to design training sessions with short duration. Longer duration training has very small potential, if any, for success.
2. They need to burn off energy. At the age of 2-6 months, the golden retriever puppies are very active. Therefore, choosing training sessions that require physical activities, or combining the training with physical activities, is more likely to bring the desired results.
3. The golden retriever puppies are learning to carry things in their mouth. Note that at this age, it is very likely that they are learning to growl, to whine, and even to bark. Therefore, the training guides for golden retriever puppy should include how he uses his mouth properly.
4. They love to communicate. This is the nature-given characteristic. However, make sure that they learn the right way of communication at this age. For instance, make sure that they can properly differentiate friendly vocalization from aggressive one.
5. They develop the fear stage at this age. Actually, this is a normal stage, which rises along with their developmental period. Accordingly, how to train golden retriever to beat their fear is by developing their self-confidence. Make sure to introduce them with loud sounds like babies crying, fireworks, thunderstorms, bell ring, vacuums, vehicle sounds, and many more. Unexpected movements like children running may also lead to fear.
6. Accordingly, purpose of the training when the golden retriever is 2 to 6 month is to establish routines and rules, to build the boundaries between the master and the puppy, and to develop self-confidence when facing unexpected thing or separation. The following are some details of grooming and care you can give to the golden retriever puppies:
7. Always keep their body clean. For instance, trim their nails every week and brush their teeth several times a week. These are good activities to build the bond between you and the puppy;
8. Occasional bathing is also a recommended activity to establish comfort zone between the master and the golden retriever puppy.

Training Guides for Golden Retriever Puppy: The Skills

As mentioned above, the age of 2 to 6 months is the ideal timeline for the golden retriever to learn the necessary skills as follows:

Potty Training

This is the first obedience training session that the golden retriever needs at the earliest stage of their life. Therefore, it is necessary to start the training as early as possible. Why? Just like the other breeds of puppy, the golden retriever puppies cannot hold their bladder too long. They need to go to the outdoor bathroom or to the potty spot frequently. Of the puppies do not develop the right habit, you can lose your mind due to the sharp smell they leave everywhere.

The potty training commonly includes two options, namely, providing a potty or ‘indoor bathroom’ or determining an outdoor bathroom, where the puppies can go immediately anytime they need it. The following are the steps:

1. Place a potty or anything that the puppies can use for quick relief, in case that they need to eliminate when you are not at home;
2. Specify at outdoor space (whether it is a corner at the backyard of your house) to be used as an ‘outdoor bathroom.’
3. Identify the time (i.e. the interval) when the puppies need to go out.
4. Make sure to take them to the same spot anytime they need to eliminate outside.

Treat the puppies anytime they can eliminate themselves to the defined place. If they can do this properly, the potty training is just completed. However, if they fail, never use physical interference as a form of punishment. Never yell at the dogs. Instead, ignore them and do not provide the treats until they show the desired behavior. Use calm intonation when speaking to the puppies. 

Meeting and Greeting

Introduce the dogs to outside world as early as possible. Meeting others (other people or other dogs) is important to build their social instinct. The more frequent they meet others; the more capable are the puppies to manage fears and anxiety. For this, you can do the following things:

1. Take your dogs out regularly. Note that the golden retriever puppies need physical exercises to burn off their energy. Taking them for afternoon walk is a great idea to have them socialize and burn off energy.
2. Do not prevent the puppies from having contact with others. The way you react determines how the puppy responds. Let others hug and kiss them. Just show positive emotion to provide the puppies with assurance and confidence;
3. Let them to be exposed to outside sounds and smells. These help them understand that they are not alone on earth.

Overall, golden retrievers are social dog. You had better encourage this natural character instead of trying to protect them from the outside world. In the future, you will see that this social nature will be helpful.

 

Preventing the Puppies from Biting

Biting can be a problem. Note that the golden retriever is learning to use their mouth to carry things, and biting is naturally the easiest way to do this. However, when the puppies begin to bite things like shoes, toys, and even your fingers, you will need to anticipate more problems in the future, if the problem is not solved immediately. 

The following steps may be helpful as a part of training guides for golden retriever:

1. Identify the times where they try to bite. For instance, if they begin biting when they are hungry, identify the time when the puppies actually need foods.
2. Do not give anything while they are still biting.
3. Say “no” and combine the command with hand gestures.
4. While you are preparing the foods, keep the puppies busy by providing them with toys.
5. Give the foods as the treat when they calm.
6. Stick with this method anytime the puppies bite. Eventually, they will learn that biting is no fun, as they cannot get any treats.

Training the Basic Skills

Just like the other breeds of dogs, the golden retriever puppies need to learn the basic skills from early age. The following are among the basic skills to teach the golden retriever puppies:

1. Leash training. Make sure to work this training. You can start by taking the puppy for a short walk. Put the leash on loosely. If he starts to pull on the leash, stop walking, wait, and see him. Do not move, do not let the puppy go anywhere, and do not give him any treats. Then, walk again after he calms down, and give him some treats after he shows the desired behavior. 
2. Sitting. Teach him to sit by using “Sit!” command and placing the treats at lower place. Do not give the treats until he sits properly. As soon as he does the desired action, give him some treats. 
3. Coming. Imagine how frustrating it is if the puppy does not respond when you call him. If you want the dog to come to you, the first thing you should do is introducing him his name. Call his name repeatedly. Anytime he responds properly, treat. Once the puppy is familiar with his name, it is easier for you to call him to come. As he responds to your calling, ask him to come by using hand gesture. Treat him anytime he responds correctly. If the puppy does not respond the first time you call him, try using additional distractions like food or toys.
4. Teaching the puppy not to jump. Besides being important for golden retriever puppy, teaching the dog not to jump is also a part of training guides for adult golden retriever. Besides its danger, jumping habit can pose you with other problems. Imagine what may happen when the dog jumps to a stranger or a guest who is coming to your house. Turn around or ignore the puppy when jumps. Or, you can walk backward and give “down!” command. Praise him with treats when all his feet are on the ground. 

Once again, praise the puppies only when they do or show the desired response. Instead, do not punish any mistake. Punishment only leads to anxiety and even aggressiveness on the part of the puppies. On the part of the master, repeated mistakes may lead to frustration. Therefore, approach the puppies with gentle voice, instead of yelling.

 

Training Guides for Adult Golden Retriever

Basically, training adult golden retriever is similar to training the puppies. However, you may need more patience and commitment when training the adult dogs. Why? They might have developed some habits and behavior before coming to you. It is okay if the are good behaviors. You will need extra effort to change the behaviors in adult dogs.

However, the approach remains the same. Never use physical punishment to the dogs. Instead, use gentle and calm voice. Reward for the good behaviors comes in the form of treats while punishment may come in the form of ignorance. Golden retrievers are active dogs. Therefore, the best way to train them to the desired behavior is engaging them in training sessions that involve physical activities.
The following are some options of activities to consider as a part of training guides for adult golden retriever:

1. Daily walks. Set the schedule to take the dog for walk around your environment. Besides burning off their energy, the golden retriever can learn to socialize and realize the surrounding;
2. Running. Golden retrievers are excellent partners for running. Wear them down by physical activities like jogging and running. When they are worn down, they will not have much more energy to bark all the night (for instance), as they will use the nighttime for rest;
3. Playing fetch. This simple game is effective in handling down their energy. Choose an open area, where to play the game.
4. Socializing. If the dog has been familiar with the environment and other dogs, engage your golden retriever with other well-behaved dogs. Besides learning to socialize, the dog can have fun time, which wears down his energy.
5. Swimming. Most golden retrievers love water. Swimming is a great activity for the dog.  

Engaging the golden retrievers in outdoor space is a great idea to keep them busy while building the bond between the owner and the dog. Then, make sure to reinforce all the good behaviors and reward the dog properly. Treating the dogs for any good behavior naturally tells them to do the same, and they will do so to get more treats. 

When a routine has been established, make sure to stick to it every day.  The more you stick to the routine and reinforce the new habits, the easier it is for you to train the golden retrievers. These are only parts of the actual training guides for golden retriever. When doing them, you will get more experience.

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German Shepherd Training: How To Train A German Shepherd

German shepherds are surely among the cutest puppies you can have. They are even lovelier when trained properly. On the other hand, untrained puppies may lead to frustration. Training your German shepherd as early as possible is of course advisable, but choosing the right timing for every new tricks in the German Shepherd training is more important.

The good news is that German Shepherds are among the cleverest dogs. As long as the training is designed properly, you will not have many problems in training them to have good behaviors. Studies show that they can understand new commands very quickly. You just need to repeat a new command 4 to 5 times, and the German Shepherds can get them. However, they obey almost 95% of the first command. Therefore, you need to repeat and reinforce the commands before they are familiar with them

More interestingly, most owners of German Shepherds are success in training the dogs on their own. Therefore, it is unlikely that you will need help from a canine behaviorist because of the problems in training the new habits. Unfortunately, their intelligence may pose a different problem for the master. Sometimes, they can be stubborn. Therefore, you need a smart approach for how to train a German shepherd.

How to Train A German Shepherd: 8 to 16 Weeks

As mentioned above, training a German shepherd can be a fun thing to do as long as you can choose the right timing. Age of the German shepherd puppy determines what kind of training you can give. You are lucky enough to have a German shepherd puppy, as you can start the training earlier. The ideal time to begin training is when the puppy is 8 weeks old. At this age range, the following are the guidelines for you:

Socialization

Most breeds of puppies can be better in socializing when they are trained to do so at earlier age. The German shepherd is no exception. Experts say that dog’s socialization window mostly closes at the age of 12 to 16 weeks. Therefore, make sure that the training for socialization begins at earlier age. Otherwise, you will have problems in training and reinforcing new behaviors for them.

When the socialization begins at older age, the masters will be facing more problems. By nature, they are protective guardians. Early socialization is crucial to allow them determine which strangers are actually friends. They are observant animals. As a result, the way they react to strangers (new people, other animals, or even new situation) may depend upon how you react.

Since the age of 8 weeks, it is good if the German Shepherd puppies are exposed to many different situations. Show them that the new people or the new situations are not threatening. This way, they can be confident that you are not in a threatening situation. The key to success of training in this stage is confidence. Exposing them to new people, new smell, new sights, and even new smells is important. Do them in a calm way, and the German Shepherd puppies will eventually react in the same way.

The training may include a number of activities, like engaging the puppies in short but fun games, taking them to new places, introducing them to new tools like nail clippers, combs, brushes, and many more. The socialization step is called successful when the puppies do not go aggressive or restless in new situation, among the family members, or even at uneven surfaces.

Crate Training

All breads of puppies need proper crate training. If you want to have this for the German shepherd, make sure to start the training at this age range. Of course, you cannot always be with the puppies. Make him acclimated to be alone at home by means of proper crate training. If not trained properly, the German shepherd puppies will develop separation anxiety and even may bark all the time when they are left home alone.

Crate training strategies for the German shepherd is mostly similar to those used for other breeds of puppies. You need to choose crate of the right size, and get the puppies familiar with crate in a step-by-step way. Make sure to set the schedule for feeding and for taking them out.

How to Train A German Shepherd: 3 to 9 Weeks

At this age range, there are a number of training sessions, which you can begin for the German shepherd. They include obedience training, recalling, and impulse control.

Obedience Training

This training session is important for all breeds of puppies. The obedience training aims at teaching the puppy to act properly at home or in other settings. This is only the way to fix bad habits, which the dog had developed before they came to you.

German Shepherds are working dogs and they excel in terms of obedience. If you begin the obedience training at the right age, you can encourage their best working traits. At this step of training, you can teach basic commands like come, sit, stay, and walking on a loose leash. The following are some basic but essential skills you must teach since the puppies are 3 months old:

1. His name. Throughout the training sessions, you will call his name, right? If the puppy does not respond when you call his name, training will be much troublesome. The first thing you have to do in the obedience training is getting him to know his name. As he hears you calling his name a lot, the dog will be able to recognize it. When he can respond properly as you call his name, treat your German shepherd properly.
2. The command “Come!” This is also a basic command for the German shepherd puppies. Teaching this command will be much easier when the puppy recognizes his name well. As soon as he looks at you when you call his name, say the command “come!” If he is successful and coming to you soon, give him some treats. However, if the puppy ignores you, you may need higher-valued treats like his favorite toys.
3. The command “sit!” Even though this is a basic command you need to teach the German shepherd, you may need extra efforts as well as extra treats for this. If the treats are interesting enough, the puppy will keep eye contact on them, rather than on you. Hold the treats lower and call the command “sit!”. Hold the treats on if the puppy jumps on it. Instead, give him the treat if he sits down like what you ask him. Keep practicing this until the behavior becomes his second nature.

 

Controlling Impulse

The ability to control their impulse is important for the German shepherd puppies. Improperly trained German shepherd frequently poses the master with behavior problems, such as digging, excessive barking, or aggressive chewing.  Inappropriate chasing is another impulse-related problem commonly found in German shepherd. They naturally love chasing thing. However, inappropriate chasing may lead to problems.

Training the puppies to control impulse may be challenging, but most masters are successful in it. The key is having the puppy focus on you. Ability to control impulse is similar to patience training in other breeds of dog. Train this from the early stage, for instance:

1. Ask the puppy to sit while you are preparing the meal. You may give him his favorite toys or let him play around. Do not let the puppy to jump to the meal. This is an important part in obedience training; otherwise, the puppy will intimidate and demand the food impatiently.
2. Never put the puppy on his bag as a way to teach the command “sit!”. This may lead to injury. Physical interference mostly leads to negative behavior. So, try your best to use physical interference when training the puppy.

How to Train a German Shepherd Puppy : The Tricks

As your German Shepherd puppy shows pleasing results in the basic training sessions, you may proceed to the trick training. This training aims at boosting the puppy’s self-confidence and encouraging the bond between the master and the puppy. The tricks work by stimulating and challenging their natural instinct and capacity. At this step, you may see how intelligent the puppy is. The following are some tricks you need to teach the German shepherd puppy.

Using His Mouth Properly

Some owners of the German Shepherds might see that the puppy chews their shoes, bites the toys, the pillows, and even bites their hand. These could make the owner lose their mind, right? Actually, all puppies bite. This is their normal behavior, since the puppies are still exploring things around them. Using their mouth is the natural way for exploring things. 

However, when the habit is let uncontrolled, they German shepherd will bite and chew things, even your precious stuff, in the future. Therefore, you need to know how to stop a German shepherd puppy from biting and for using his mouth properly. The following tips may help you:

1. Tidy out the spaces commonly visited by the puppies. Keep things like shoes, pillows, or other things that may interest the puppies in the right place. 
2. Call the puppy while he is biting or chewing something, and than take the object away. You may use gestural signs to ask him to stop, and treat him when he is done. 
3. If the puppy keeps biting, do not get upset and yell at him. Instead, refrain yourself from giving him the treats. Give the treats only after the puppy shows the desired behavior.

  

Stopping the Puppy from Jumping

Besides knowing how to stop a German shepherd puppy from biting, you need to know how to stop the puppy from jumping. Perhaps, he looks cute when jumping to you when he is a puppy, right? However, wait and see few months later. The habits will challenge your nerve. It is annoying to see the adult dogs jumping on you or on other people. Therefore, start teaching the dog not to jump since it is a puppy:

1. Ignore the puppy when jumps on you as you come home. On the other hand, greet him when he stays calmly and looks at you. Ignore him again, if he jumps again. Do this repeatedly.
2. Never push the dog when he jumps. There is no need to knee.
3. If he keeps jumping, command him to “sit down!” The puppy should have been familiar with “sit!” command, as you have trained him about this at the basic steps.

Walking on a Leash

German shepherd training also includes training the puppy to walk on a leash. This training aims at teaching the puppy to walk properly and preventing him from pulling on the leash. Introduce the puppy to the leash as early as possible. As he is familiar with the object, proceed to put it on his neck while at home. Let him familiarize with the leash on his neck and allow him to walk. See how the puppy responds. Treat him for the desired response. 

On the other hand, if he begins to growl or bark, ignore him. Treat him when he is calm. Then, ask him for a short walk at the backyard of your house. Then, you can increase the duration gradually. Show the puppy that you are the leader. Do not let him to walk in front of you. Reward him if he walks properly and calmly behind you.

General Tips on How to Train a German shepherd

Training the German Shepherds is mostly similar to training other breeds of puppies. However, the German Shepherds have some distinguishing characteristics, like their working nature, protecting instinct, and intelligence. The following tips may help in encouraging the training sessions:

1. Always prepare the treats before the training begins. The treats may be foods or the puppy’s favorite toys. Treat the puppy for any good behaviors.
2. Never do bad things, like physical interference, as a form of punishment even though the puppy does not behave, as you want it.
3. Never yell at the puppy, as it may confuse him. Yelling or shouting may reinforce the negative behavior, since the puppy does not really understand the meaning of your shouting.

By applying those ways on how to train a German Shepherd in a patient and consistently, you will likely get the desired results faster.

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