should I start training my Greman Shepard

[zeyad]

I just got a german shepard yesterday. She is two months old, born Jan. 17, 2003. I don't know when to start training her. Show I start know or wait? And what are the different kinds of training lessons for dogs. ( I'm a newbie to this pet dog thing.) What should I start first with? Should I go to school for dog training or should I buy a book on the subject and 'TRY' to train her myself?

~Z~ :confused:

[ParNone]

Once your dog is 10 weeks old and has had their second round
of shots, I would suggest a puppy kindergarten class for her.
You work on the basic commands like "sit", "come", "down", etc.,
but the main purpose is socialization. The more things and
situations your dog is exposed to as a puppy, the more
confident and well behaved dog you will have.

A few months ago I took my Collie puppy through a puppy
class at Petsmart and it was the best thing I ever did. He
was a bit of a nervous nelly about some things and the class
really helped him get over his fear of new things. He's much
more confident now and if he does have an initial "UhOh
what's that?" reaction to something new now, he adjusts
to it quicker and is more curious about investigating it.

Par...

[Karen]

You can start simple training right now. Is she housebroken yet? If not, first work on that! Formal classes need to wait until she has had all her shots, but you can work on simple things like house training, and teaching her what a leash is (and that it's not a chew toy) now!

Oh, how fun! As a German Shepherd she is probably very smart, so lots of toys to chew on and things to keep her busy are a good idea. Hide the shoes!!!!

Why not get a book from the library for now? As a first-timer, you'll have a lot to learn, but a lot of fun learning it. Simple things I know:

Never hit her.
Don't scold her for something she did half an hour before. If you don't catch her "in the act," she won't have any clue why you're upset!
Love her,
Love her,
and love her!

Oh, congratulations! What's her name?

[kai]

OOO it's gonna be alot of fun...the peeing, pooping...you gotta love it all! :D I think the puppy class is a good idea. You want to socialize your dog as much as possible. Also, you want to expose her to alot of new things. If she's not housetrained...make sure you have alot of vinigar! LOL...I think that you should bring her to a obedience class afterwards...but in the meantime, you can start with her if you'd like. I started with Kai right away..so by the time we went to obedience..there really wasn't a purpose for us to go...he knew everything already but the socialization was needed.
I also think you should establish that you are the leader at this stage...from the moment I got Kai, I made it clear that I was boss. It's best they learn now rather than when she's older...and ALOT bigger. Anyways, congrats on the GSD! I just love that breed!

[jigsawyouth]

Hi Z! Congrats on your new German Shepard puppy! I had a German Shepard Dog (and three BC's) name Rex since before I was born that passed away last year. They are incredible dogs! But.. GSD's arent exactly the best first timer dog. I suggest that you immediately establish yourself as 'master', that is what is extremely important in this stage of your puppies life. Training is essential. I totally agree with the puppy kindergarten classes. It is a great way of both socializing and training your pup. Also, housetrain the dog! Now is the best time! You can find many many great websites/books that are all about training, but I find that the experience with a qualified trainer, hands-on, is a much better method than self-training.. Especially since youre a beginner dog owner. click here for a good site on training (http://www.uwsp.edu/psych/dog/dog.htm) What are you feeding the puppy? I suggest Nutro Max for Large breed puppies... it worked extremely well on my puppy Archie and he has grown into a beautiful dog on that food. Try out a few dog foods (buy from qualified pet stores, not grocery stores, & check the ingredients list for lamb meal & good stuff!) and see which works best for your baby. Petsmart is a GREAT place to go for training, ParNone! Very affordable, professional, fun! Above all, socialize and spend as much time with your girlie as possible! Introduce her to all of your friends (slowly) and slowly introduce her to other dogs. I'm sure you'll do very well.. as long as you give her plenty of love, affection, and exercise! Good luck. P.s. German Shepards make great 'Agility' dogs.. click here for info on agility for the future (http://www.usdaa.com/) P.s.s. Please, please, unless your puppy is AKC reg'd with awesome bloodlines, take her into the vet within the next few months to be spayed. Pet over-population is a real and terrible thing!

[jigsawyouth]

Mm.. sorry, I just had to point something out. Kai! Me and you said almost the same exact things! You know your stuff. btw, you've got the most adorable little guy! Sheltie's are great.

[G-Diddy]

I've also currently have a young GSD and grew up with a Sheperd. I will never own another breed. However, like someone said, German Sheperds can be a difficult breed for people unfamiliar with raising dogs. They are extremely intelligent and, as a result, know exactly what they can get away with. I highly suggest getting into a puppy kindergarten class and reading up on the breed and puppy-raising!!

Your pup will be a ton of work, but will be worth it!!

[kai]

Thanks! Yea..I love my little sheltie. He's my first dog too! I've wanted one since I was 5..or possibly younger. I knew nothing about dog training till about 6 months ago...LOL now I want to become a prof. Dog trainer! LOL. How are gsd's btw? I've started to really admire the breed. They're so intelligent and they're looks are striking! And..since the spca's have quite a bit of gsd's and gsd mixes, it would make me happy to one day save a life and own a gsd. =] lol one day...


Originally posted by jigsawyouth
Mm.. sorry, I just had to point something out. Kai! Me and you said almost the same exact things! You know your stuff. btw, you've got the most adorable little guy! Sheltie's are great.

[Cheshirekatt]

Congratulations! I had a GSD named Petey and he really was the best dog ever. He was very easy to train and good with cats, kids and dogs. He came to our vet clinic as a four month old pup with hip dysplasia so bad one hip wasn't even in the socket. His future looked very grim. We did a salvage surgery on him and I kept him on the very lean side and he lived 6 years! he was a great dog. :D The only thing he ever did was when I would run, he'd nip me on the butt. Never anyone else, just me. lol

[jigsawyouth]

How are gsd's btw? I've started to really admire the breed. They're so intelligent and they're looks are striking! And..since the spca's have quite a bit of gsd's and gsd mixes, it would make me happy to one day save a life and own a gsd. =] lol one day...


German Shepard's are awesome dogs! I think they'd be great for you, one day, if youre interested in profl. dog training. My older sister had our old GSD in obedience trials, competitively, and he did wonderfully! They have great recall, lots of smarts, usually very gentle and energetic. I love those dogs. And a GSD would probably make a great playmate for your little sheltie boy. I was definately considering adopting/rescuing a German Shepard to keep Archie company and to compete in agility. Check out your local German Shepard rescue or dog shelter, most of the dogs at breed rescues are already socialized and cared for and are usually rescued from the pound.. although, pound puppies are great too!

[Demigodess]

I have a year old GSD and we do GSD rescue, so I always have at least two GSDs in the house. I love this breed.

Now, with that said, you have to remember that GSDs are a working breed. They have been bred to work! That's not to say they aren't wonderful pets, but your dog will be happiest if it is doing something. It will get into less trouble and will bond with you quicker.

I started training my dog the day I brought him home at 7 weeks old. They love to please! Get a good book on training anf work with your dog in small FUN sessions until he has enough shots to enroll in a puppy kindergarten. (Like many people have said, this is a great idea!)

The most common reason people surrender GSDs to rescue is that they haven't properly socialized and stimulated them. Once he has his shots, expose him to as many new things, people, dogs, and experiences as possible. My boy is a year old, like I said, and he is not fixed (he's a show dog). But even in the middle of adolesence and intact, I can trust him around other dogs because he was well socialized with a variety of dogs as a young dog. He loves toy dogs! (To play with - not eat :) )

I also find it important to set clear boundaries with your dog. You don't have to be mean, but decide what is acceptable behavior and what is not and stick with it.

Good luck!!! :)

[Brie]

Originally posted by ParNone
Once your dog is 10 weeks old and has had their second round
of shots, I would suggest a puppy kindergarten class for her.
You work on the basic commands like "sit", "come", "down", etc.,
but the main purpose is socialization. The more things and
situations your dog is exposed to as a puppy, the more
confident and well behaved dog you will have.

A few months ago I took my Collie puppy through a puppy
class at Petsmart and it was the best thing I ever did. He
was a bit of a nervous nelly about some things and the class
really helped him get over his fear of new things. He's much
more confident now and if he does have an initial "UhOh
what's that?" reaction to something new now, he adjusts
to it quicker and is more curious about investigating it.

Par...

It's never to early to start training. Make sure the pup has all it's shots before you take the dog in a place where other dogs are and have been.

I would call your local SPCA or Humane Society for training though. They 1. are non-profit's rather than large corporations, focusing on saving the lives of animals rather than making a quick buck. Not to mention, both of these companies practices are questionable in the care of the animals they sell (animal cruelty is in question at both companies). and 2. This is the first time I've ever heard anybody say anything good about Petsmarts or PetCo's training programs.

[ParNone]

Hi Brie,

My point wasn't to wait until 10 weeks to start training. My point was a puppy kindergarten class is really beneficial for socializing your puppy and from the places I looked at, you can't join one until after the dog has its second round of shots. My local SPCA doesn't offer a puppy class. I did look at a few places, but Petsmart happened to be the only one that fit into my timing and my main goal was socialization, not training at that point. And My goal of having a more confident puppy was achieved, so I give kudos to Petsmart. I'd pay'em the $89 again in a heart beat.

As for the actual training, I had a very positive experience at Petsmart, where that was concerned too. The class was small, so I got a lot of one on one with the trainer. She only taught positive reinforcement techniques, so I never found myself in conflict with what she wanted me to do with Oz. She also runs her own dogs in agility, of which I'm very interested. So I got lots of information from her about the local agility clubs. The only complaint I had was due to lack of space, because of it being held inside the store. Having a puppy as big as a Collie, this was an annoyance, but I was mainly there for socialization and the store was great for that, so the positives outweighed the negative.

For Basic Obedience, I did switch to a local training facility. I loved all the space to work in, but I was in conflict with some of their training ideas. I also didn't find the trainers as approachable as the one at Petsmart. Overall Petsmart was a more positive experience.

Bottomline, I've now got an 8 mo old Collie, who's confident, friendly with people and other dogs and is an absolute joy to have in my family. My local SPCA will never have to worry about him showing up on their doorstep. And just maybe that's more important than the fact that I used an evil corporation for a puppy class.

Let me finally add that my local SPCA contracts with Petsmart for using their store for weekend adoptions. hmmmm...

Par...

[primabella]

mickey learned to sit a day after we got him. :) i guess you could start taking him to classes when he is older and has his shots. good luck :)

[oodlesofpoodles]

Originally posted by ParNone
Hi Brie,

My point wasn't to wait until 10 weeks to start training. My point was a puppy kindergarten class is really beneficial for socializing your puppy and from the places I looked at, you can't join one until after the dog has its second round of shots.

Par...
At the Vet Clinic that I work at we recommend That the puppy have all 4 sets of vaccines before you take him to training classes. In some breeds we recommend 5 sets of vaccines. The last set of puppy vaccs are at 16wks, rabies, 4th DA2Pl/Cv, 4th parvo, 2nd bordetello. Training begins when you bring the pup home. We do not recommend the early training classes at petsmart due to the pups not having all the vaccs. I have seen the class and think it is wonderful but due to some people bringing pets to petsmart with out vaccs I dont recommend it. I have seen to many sick puppies in Petsmart. With only the 2nd set of vaccs they still do not have enough immunity to diseases in their bodies. I do not take my dogs anywhere till they have had all vaccines. NO PUBLIC PLACES. The reason, sad to say, that not everybody has their pets vaccinated.

[*LabLoverKEB*]

Jigs, you should be a proffesional dog trainer! lol! Good information, everyone! :) ;)

[zeyad]

Her name is ginger and I got pretty much the hang of times, except when she tries to play tug-a-war with the leash to get me to let go or go her way. She loves to chase my nieces and newphews around the yard. But, all in all she's a good dog. She lost most of her voice from barking and wimpering for me. Now, when I leave her alone she might whimper or try to bark for me, but when I' m out of sight she just gives up.

[Karen]

When she starts trying to play tug-of-war with the leash, just let it go slack and say "No!" Don't tug back! It's cute now, but when she's full-grown, it could be a real problem! Find another toy, THEN play tug-of-war, so she learns that the game is okay, just not using the leash!

[wolfsoul]

I have a GSD! :D They are my second favourite breed! My GSD's name is Leather :) She's a silver shepherd...What colour is yours?
Welcome! I hope your puppy becomes really well-trained! :)

[wolfsoul]

Originally posted by Karen
When she starts trying to play tug-of-war with the leash, just let it go slack and say "No!" Don't tug back! It's cute now, but when she's full-grown, it could be a real problem! Find another toy, THEN play tug-of-war, so she learns that the game is okay, just not using the leash!
I read that playing tug-of-war with a dog could make it competitive with it's owner as well...That's too bad, because it's one of Timber's and Leather's favourite games :(

[zeyad]

her coat is all black with tan paws( all gsd have tan paws) and a little white in the front above her chest.

[wolfsoul]

Originally posted by zeyad
her coat is all black with tan paws( all gsd have tan paws) and a little white in the front above her chest.
not all german shepherds have tan paws...my dog doesn't...she has white paws...
see, here are some that don't have tan paws :)

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/youthdevelopment/images/7046_p13a.jpg
http://members.aol.com/adoptme2000/images/white%20shepherd%2014kb.jpg
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/calendars/American_White_Shepherd.jpg
http://www.pets4you.com/pages/images/snowcld2.jpg
http://www.vonfalconer.com/images/vonfalconer3_2002.jpg

your dog must be a bicolour...bi colours are gsds that are mostly black with tan highlights, whereas regular black and tans are gold dogs with black highlights :)

[wolf_Q]

I took Nebo to both the Puppy Class and the Basic Obedience at Petsmart. I had no problems with it, and I enjoyed the class. I plan on putting him in the Advanced Class when he's a bit more mature.

I'd like to get involved in Agility or try out some other training classes, but I haven't been able to find any around here. :( There's not much offered.....

[oodlesofpoodles]

There is also a sable colored GSD
http://www.k9kamp.com/images/dogs/rabaukeheadsmall.JPG
They are absolutely gorgeous

[wolfsoul]

Originally posted by oodlesofpoodles
There is also a sable colored GSD
http://www.k9kamp.com/images/dogs/rabaukeheadsmall.JPG
They are absolutely gorgeous

I love sables :) The sables I like best are the ones with the wolfish markings...but I think I might get a bicolour when I'm older...Well, if the personality is good :) I can't wait to find out!

[wolfsoul]

My favourite colour shepherd is liver, but you can't show them :(

http://bluedogpics.8m.com/utah3.jpg

http://cc.usu.edu/~nancyr/gsd/zeus2.jpg

http://www.pets4you.com/pages/images/snowcld16.jpg

http://www.bluedogpics.8m.com/redpuppy.jpg

http://www.bluedogpics.8m.com/kahluacr1.jpg

http://www.bluedogpics.8m.com/kahluach.jpg

I also really like blue german shepherds...

http://www.bluedogs.8m.com/gypcrop.jpg

http://www.bluedogpics.8m.com/sideways.jpg

http://www.bluedogs.8m.com/Adrian4wks.jpg

[Karen]

In any case, Zeyad, your pup sounds lovely! She can scome to mt house to play anytime! :)

[zeyad]

sorry for the misinterpentation that all GSD have tan paws, i totally forgot my cousin has a 6 month all white GSD. I'll try to get a hold of a digital camera to take pictures of ginger to show her off.

[zeyad]

Should I spay ginger or wait a couple months until after she has her first litter. When should I allow her to breed? The guy I bought gsd from said if I want I could breed ginger on her 3rd heat, which is when she's 1 1/2 years old. Well, I'm going to ask the vet what he thinks on the subject. If he gives the to go sign on breeding her I will do it, but only if she has no problems such as health wise. The only think is when is a good time to breed her, on which heat?

[Demigodess]

Why do you want to breed her? Are you showing her and setting up a reputable breeding program with the goal of bettering the GSD? Or ore you just looking at breeding for fun?

If you are considering breeding for a reputable program, you should be prepared to have a lot of money to invest. There are a host of tests that should be performed on a GSD before she is bred, not the least of is having her hips and elbows x-rayed and certified. If you breed before age 2, you'll need to do this twice (once before 2 and once after). This could cost upwards of $500 - $1000 dollars.

I also believe that a GSD should not be bred unless she is show either in the breed ring or in a performance event. Otherwise, you have no way of knowing if you dog has characteristics that should be passed on to better the GSD gene pool. If she is not what you would call a "working dog" then she should not be bred unless she has some success in the show ring. This is how one evaluates the physical structure of a dog to see if it is well suited for breeding. You also should research the dogs pedigree and learn about illnesss and genetic problems in the lines as weill as in the lines of the possible stud.

You would also have to consider the right stud. Stud fees can reach $1000 for a high quality male dog and you often have to travel to find a good male.

Most reputable breeders lose money on a litter, so it is an expensive hobby.

I'm not suggesting that your dog should not be bred at all, but these are some of the circumstances under which I believe it is acceptable for a GSD to be bred. I do allow my male to be bred, but only with all of this in mind. And frankly, I stud him out to breeders that I know are reputable because I don't feel ready to handle all the things that go into it. I do my own research on the pedigees and illnesses, so I am educated, but not quite ready for the entire responsibility.

I also work in GSD rescue and I can tell you there are so many GSDs are put to sleep every day that it makes your heart break. A reputable breeder should guarantee that she will take back a dog for the entire life of the dog if the owners can't keep it. If you can't do that, don't breed because you will add to the population of unwanted dogs.

Unless you can do the things I am describing, you should spay your dog. Spaying before the first heat is best because she is at a lower risk for health problems later on if she is spayed before her first heat. It also reduces the possibility for an "oops".

[wolfsoul]

I agree with demigoddess....Unless you are going to be a proffessional breeder who keeps pedigrees and gets x-rays done and wants to make the breed better, I wouldn't breed her...German shepherds are the second worst breed in the world for diseases and other medical problems, and have the worst reputation for hip dysplasia...great care must be taken with breeding and ecspecially with dogs that are as vulnerable as GSDs...

[zeyad]

thanks for the feed back guys. I decided to ahead a get her spayed before her first heat. Wolfsoul what is the first breed to be vulnerable to diseases??

[zeyad]

anyone know where I can get a Labrador Retriever? I'm looking for breeds that are willing to ship a pup to me in the US Virgin Islands. The puppy most have already been check by a vet for any health issues and has gotten its shots. And also the pup most have papers.

[wolfsoul]

Originally posted by zeyad
thanks for the feed back guys. I decided to ahead a get her spayed before her first heat. Wolfsoul what is the first breed to be vulnerable to diseases??

I can't remember lol...I remember reading a list on every breed in AKC and it had all of the statistics on diseases and everything, it was great...but I focused mostly on the german shepherd since that's my second fave breed, and forgot what the first dog was lol

[zeyad]

Can anyone please tell me what is micochipped for a dog?? And where can it be down, at the vet?? Everyplace I look everyone is talking about a microchip.

[oodlesofpoodles]

Microchipping is done at the vets office and many breeders will do it also. In my area it runs about $25. for the chip to be inserted. I highly recommend it. But just be sure to have it checked from time to time. My Riley has 2 chips, The first one move to his elbow (it was advent) the 2nd one(home again) was inserted 2yrs ago and is still in the same place between the shoulder blades. At the clinic we scan the entire dog with the scanner as not all people place the chip in the same place and the chip will sometimes move,

[zeyad]

but what is a microchip for? So when you take your dog to the vet the microchip tells the vet what shots the dog already recieve? In other words what is the purpose of a microchiP???

[wolfsoul]

A microchip is like an identification thing...
If you find a lost dog, you can take it to the vet or a shelter where the microchip can be removed from it's neck and the dog can be identified by putting a censor thing over it :)

[oodlesofpoodles]

You don't need to remove the microchip. If a dog is chipped and sold to someone else, you send in an update of new ownership and all new information as to the new owner . The wand as it is called you turn it on and scan the entire body. if the dog is chipped it will read the number out and you call the recovery number depending on which chip it is and they will tell you who the vet is who the emer. contact is aand the owner. Its a great way to locate missing pets There is to be a new chip coming out that if your pet is missing, you call a number and they send out a signal and it will locate the area your pet is in within 30 feet. I am trying to find out about it. will update when I do.