Training
Training is the most important key to having the dog you want. Again as we have said times before knowledge is key and we're here to help.
You will want to begin training as soon as you can to help your pup get used to his or her new pack, they have a pack mentality which is imprtant to understand. The adjustment is a big one for your pup since it is most likely the first time he or she has been separated from his or her litter mates and mother. German Shepherd pups are usually able to adjust easily and quickly to their new family, but a couple of days to fully adjust to their new home before fully diving into training.
Alpha Leader
Training should begin and be a natural evolution with your German Shepherd. The most important and the first situation to focus on is who is the alpha leader.
Quickly choose someone in your family or yourself to become the alpha leader and establish yourself as such immediately. This is extremely important. If your GSD pup does not know or sense an alpha leader the puppy will think it is him or her and they will run your house, not in a good way. The way to become the alpha leader with your GSD is to exhibit and exude calm confidence and be strong with your demands for proper behavior to be displayed at all times.
This doesn’t mean yell at your pup; it just means that you are the one in charge. If you do yell at your pup, this will result in fear, and it will interfere with your chance to bond with your puppy. Also your pup will act out in disobedience and self-defense. You don’t want to become a control freak, but you do want to make the house rules clear and teach them properly to your pup.
Introducing a New Dog to your Household
Training your existing dog to get along with a new GSD pup is crucial to a peaceful household.
If you are a dog owner that already has a dog at home and are considering on bringing a new GSD puppy home, you will want to follow a few of our simple tips listed below so that they can meet and become acquainted with each other in a natural way.
Bring Your Pup Home in the Car: Leave your dog and/or other pets at home when you go to pick up your new FurrFam. The car ride home should just be you, your family and your puppy. This avoids any aggression during the car ride that can arise between your dog and your pup.
Bring a Blanket – Bring a small baby blanket with you to pick up your puppy. You will want to wrap the blanket around your pup just for a few seconds and maybe rub it on his fur gently to allow the blanket to absorb his scent.This will give a your puppy a since of security and something familiar.
Arrive Home – Once you arrive home, have someone sit in the car with the puppy while you go in your home with the blanket only. Greet your dog with a treat and allow him to smell the blanket to get used to the scent of the new puppy. Put the leash on your dog and take him outdoors to the front of your home. This allows them to meet in a mutual territory. Always keep the leash on. this is to ensure safety for both dogs.
Allow them to Meet – Have someone put your new puppy on a leash and bring him to meet your dog. Allow them to sniff each other and adjust. A great way to do this is by taking them both on a walk together. They will soon develop a friendship or at the very least a mutual understanding that they acknowledge each other.
Bring them Inside the House – Once you observe that they are both peaceful with meeting each other, you can bring them inside the house and allow them to run around and explore the house together. Always keep a close eye on them since your dog may become territorial. A great way to establish boundaries is to establish a special place for your new puppy’s bed, toys, food and bowl dishes that are away from your dog’s personal space.
Be Patient – Always be patient and never yell during this process. It is going to take time for your dog to accept a new FurrFam members. Especially when he is going to be invading his space a bit and soaking up attention from you and your family.
At times some dogs will not adjust well and be aggressive towards the new puppy. If this happens, separate them within the household and seek help from from us or a trainer that is experienced in helping dogs adjust to new pups entering the pack.
Crate Training
The word crate may send some dog owners running scared. Some dog owners may feel that putting a dog in a crate can be harmful when this is the farthest from the truth. All dogs including GSDs are den animals. This means they prefer to have a small safe environment that is all their own where they can rest and sleep.
You may notice that your German Shepherd puppy will even seek out these cozy little spots in your house by hiding under tables. Providing a crate for your dog that has a soft, comfortable blanket and a favorite toy will not only please your puppy and make him or her feel safe, but it will also help you as well. Your cute little pup will begin to grow quickly and go through a variety of stages that involve chewing your favorite items such as shoes, objects, children's toys and even furniture.
There are going to be countless times when you need a brief break from watching your puppy closely and kindly placing them comfortable crate is going to be a safe haven for both of you. Never punish your pup and place him in his crate.
The crate is meant to be a peaceful solution for times when you need to leave the house or need time to clean or take care of other chores. It is also helpful for in the future if you ever have to take your pup to a kennel or groomer where they will be placed in a crate. Their early exposure to the crate will benefit them in the long run.