German Shepherd Dog Club of Rochester, NY, Inc.

All of us dream of having the perfect pet--one that is polite, well behaved, friendly and happy. If you have patience--lots of it, persistence and determination, one can have a German Shepherd that is a "Canine Good Citizen". Just as we teach our children the values of life, we must also teach our German Shepherds. Learning starts from the day they are born.

The Learning Stages

At 8 weeks of age the German Shepherd should be taught simple, everyday things:

• Where their water dish is       
• Which is their private nook in the house
• Their daily schedule--eating, playing, bedtime, quiet time and potty schedules. A routine has positive effects
• The meaning of no
• Who is boss

  You can teach the infant simple things like house rules, housebreaking norms, crate training, being handled by you and others, as well as bite inhibition.

  The Middle Stages

  At 3 to 4 months old they can be taught simple commands:

  • Sit
  • Stay
  • Down
  • To come when called
  • To walk politely on leash
  • To give (handover) anything they have in their mouth when asked
  • Socialization skills with people and other dogs

• The Older Stages

• At 4 to 6 months the training becomes more intense and goes to a higher level:

  • You can teach pet eye contact
  • Hand gestures
  • To do tricks
  • To treat guests politely
  • To "lie down" and rest
  • To recognize family members by name, play hide and seek and more
• Regardless of what your ultimate goals are for your GSD, the above skills should be taught as a foundation to the future use of the German Shepherd (e.g. Service Dog, Therapy Dog, Competition, Protection., etc.).