Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge
Hi Everyone,
Throughout the development of your German shepherd puppy, they will go through different phases and one common phase is to have a lack of confidence about themselves in regards to the new world around them. Some shepherds demonstrate this lack of confidence by showing the fight or flight response. Therefore, a puppy that lacks confidence may be overly fearful or overly aggressive towards new and challenging situations including strangers and other dogs. The best way to build confidence in your young German shepherd dog is through regular obedience work. These obedience exercises do not need to be laborious or boring. Take your German Shepherd Dog, puppy or young adult on a walk and periodically stop and make them sit, down, and stay. Also, throw into the walk a couple of stays then have them come to you. A couple of blocks a day will do wonders for the confidence of the developing psyche of your young dog.
Invariably these walks will provide training opportunities such as loose dogs approaching you and your puppy. If your young dog shows undue aggression a quick correction with the choke chain will develop confidence and allow you train for the appropriate behavior while meeting a strange dog. If your shepherd shows anxiety towards a strange loose dog, you can build their confidence by verbally reassuring them, and by presenting a confident and relaxed demeanor to the situation. If you come across strangers during your walk, have treats with you, and have the stranger offer a treat to your puppy. In addition have the stranger pet your puppy while you reassure your puppy with a calm-confident voice.
Basic obedience training builds confidence by providing boundaries and expectations for your German Shepherd Dog, puppy or young adult. As they perform your commands during training provide your puppy with a lot of praises and treats. They are not so different than people, and when you are praised and rewarded for a good job, you are encouraged, emboldened, and empowered with confidence to continue doing a good job.
A confident 12-month-old German Shepherd Dog Puppy, Caesar with his owner Jason
We are preparing for Canine Good Citizen Testing, and at 10:30 AM on July 20, 2013 at Mannford, Oklahoma as a Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, I will be offering testing for $20.00.Below list the ten test that your dog must pass to receive its Canine Good Citizen Certificate, and the test is directly from the American Kennel Club web page.
All breeds and owners are invited.Please call me to schedule your testing at (918) 261-4729.Canine Good Citizen is the first step to your dogs’ career as good companion, Therapy dog, or Service dog.Please come if you can make it and if for nothing else to watch.We are also offer free Canine Good Citizen and basic obedience classes most Saturdays at Keystone German Shepherd & Kennels at 10:30 AM.
Training/Testing: CGC Test Items
Before taking the Canine Good Citizen test, owners will sign the Responsible Dog Owners Pledge. We believe that responsible dog ownership is a key part of the CGC concept and by signing the pledge, owners agree to take care of their dog’s health needs, safety, exercise, training and quality of life. Owners also agree to show responsibility by doing things such as cleaning up after their dogs in public places and never letting dogs infringe on the rights of others.
After signing the Responsible Dog Owners Pledge, owners and their dogs are ready to take the CGC Test. Items on the Canine Good Citizen Test include:
Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger
This test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger to approach it and speak to the handler in a natural, everyday situation. The evaluator walks up to the dog and handler and greets the handler in a friendly manner, ignoring the dog. The evaluator and handler shake hands and exchange pleasantries. The dog must show no sign of resentment or shyness.
Canine Good Citizen Training
Test 2: Sitting politely for petting
This test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger to touch it while it is out with its handler. With the dog sitting at the handler’s side, to begin the exercise, the evaluator pets the dog on the head and body. The handler may talk to his or her dog throughout the exercise. The dog may stand in place as it is petted. The dog must not show shyness or resentment.
Canine Good Citizen Training
Test 3: Appearance and grooming
This practical test demonstrates that the dog will welcome being groomed and examined and will permit someone, such as a veterinarian, groomer or friend of the owner, to do so. It also demonstrates the owner’s care, concern and sense of responsibility. The evaluator inspects the dog to determine if it is clean and groomed. The dog must appear to be in healthy condition (i.e., proper weight, clean, healthy and alert). The handler should supply the comb or brush commonly used on the dog. The evaluator then softly combs or brushes the dog, and in a natural manner, lightly examines the ears and gently picks up each front foot. It is not necessary for the dog to hold a specific position during the examination, and the handler may talk to the dog, praise it and give encouragement throughout.
Canine Good Citizen Training
Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)
This test demonstrates that the handler is in control of the dog. The dog may be on either side of the handler. The dog’s position should leave no doubt that the dog is attentive to the handler and is responding to the handler’s movements and changes of direction. The dog need not be perfectly aligned with the handler and need not sit when the handler stops. The evaluator may use a pre-plotted course or may direct the handler/dog team by issuing instructions or commands. In either case, there should be a right turn, left turn, and an about turn with at least one stop in between and another at the end. The handler may talk to the dog along the way, praise the dog, or give commands in a normal tone of voice. The handler may sit the dog at the halts if desired.
Canine Good Citizen Training
Test 5: Walking through a crowd
This test demonstrates that the dog can move about politely in pedestrian traffic and is under control in public places. The dog and handler walk around and pass close to several people (at least three). The dog may show some interest in the strangers but should continue to walk with the handler, without evidence of over-exuberance, shyness or resentment. The handler may talk to the dog and encourage or praise the dog throughout the test. The dog should not jump on people in the crowd or strain on the leash.
Test 6: Sit and down on command and Staying in place
This test demonstrates that the dog has training, will respond to the handler’s commands to sit and down and will remain in the place commanded by the handler (sit or down position, whichever the handler prefers). The dog must do sit AND down on command, then the owner chooses the position for leaving the dog in the stay. Prior to this test, the dog’s leash is replaced with a line 20 feet long. The handler may take a reasonable amount of time and use more than one command to get the dog to sit and then down. The evaluator must determine if the dog has responded to the handler’s commands. The handler may not force the dog into position but may touch the dog to offer gentle guidance. When instructed by the evaluator, the handler tells the dog to stay and walks forward the length of the line, turns and returns to the dog at a natural pace. The dog must remain in the place in which it was left (it may change position) until the evaluator instructs the handler to release the dog. The dog may be released from the front or the side.
Canine Good Citizen Training
Test 7: Coming when called
This test demonstrates that the dog will come when called by the handler. The handler will walk 10 feet from the dog, turn to face the dog, and call the dog. The handler may use encouragement to get the dog to come. Handlers may choose to tell dogs to “stay” or “wait” or they may simply walk away, giving no instructions to the dog.
Canine Good Citizen Training
Test 8: Reaction to another dog
This test demonstrates that the dog can behave politely around other dogs. Two handlers and their dogs approach each other from a distance of about 20 feet, stop, shake hands and exchange pleasantries, and continue on for about 10 feet. The dogs should show no more than casual interest in each other. Neither dog should go to the other dog or its handler.
Canine Good Citizen Training
Test 9: Reaction to distraction
This test demonstrates that the dog is confident at all times when faced with common distracting situations. The evaluator will select and present two distractions. Examples of distractions include dropping a chair, rolling a crate dolly past the dog, having a jogger run in front of the dog, or dropping a crutch or cane. The dog may express natural interest and curiosity and/or may appear slightly startled but should not panic, try to run away, show aggressiveness, or bark. The handler may talk to the dog and encourage or praise it throughout the exercise.
Canine Good Citizen Training
Test 10: Supervised separation
This test demonstrates that a dog can be left with a trusted person, if necessary, and will maintain training and good manners. Evaluators are encouraged to say something like, “Would you like me to watch your dog?” and then take hold of the dog’s leash. The owner will go out of sight for three minutes. The dog does not have to stay in position but should not continually bark, whine, or pace unnecessarily, or show anything stronger than mild agitation or nervousness. Evaluators may talk to the dog but should not engage in excessive talking, petting, or management attempts (e.g, “there, there, it’s alright”).
Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge
Hi Everyone,
First, I would like to apologize for not posting daily, which was my original plan for this blog.However, as we have moved into spring, mowing and maintenance work has dominated my time.I see now that I will not be able to always post every day.However, I will post as much as possible and after I get caught up with all my work, I will post on a more regular basis.Please continue to check our blog for new posts, and look in the archives for post that may be germane to your current situation or questions regarding German Shepherd Dogs.
Retraining your German shepherd dog not to be dog aggressive is not an easy task and will take a concerted effort and time to correct.Retrain rather than train is because your shepherd was not always dog aggressive, and likely you had a large part in the development of this behavior as your puppy grew up.Either you did not socialize the German Shepherd Dog enough as a puppy by exposing them to strange dogs and people or when you came into contact with a strange dog while walking your shepherd you gave the wrong signals, which encouraged the aggressive behavior.
12-Month-Old Heidelberg’s Nelson Being Socialized to Strange Dogs at a Dog Show
German Shepherd Dogs that are bred correctly will have the propensity to be protective of their owners and their owner’s property including the owner’s other animals.If not nurtured and developed correctly this predisposition to be protective can be demonstrated in aggressive behavior to strange dogs that come to close to the owners or owner’s property or even while on a walk.
Because your German Shepherd Dog is aggressive towards other dogs does not mean that your shepherd is evil or a killer. If this is your thought process then you need to understand that your shepherd is just doing what they were bred to do and because of your lack of training experience it is your fault not your dog’s fault. In your German Shepherd Dog’s mind they are protecting you from attack from strange dogs when they show this aggravating behavior of charging at strange dogs while you are walking with them.From this perspective, while frustrating, it is a little harder to be angry at your dog now that you know they are willing to risk injury and even death to protect you from what they see as a perceived threat.
German Shepherds Will Protect Your Property From Strange Dogs and People
If your German Shepherd Dog is dog aggressive then it is imperative and solely your responsibility to keep your shepherd from contacting a strange dog outside of your property until they are retrained.If your German Shepherd Dog hurts another dog outside of your property get your checkbook out and start writing a check.While you are writing a check, then write another one out to a professional trainer to retrain your German shepherd Dog.
Basically if your German Shepherd dog is dog aggressive, you have four choices: 1) return the dog to breeder or get rid of the shepherd and the problem then get a poodle because you do not understand dog psychology well in enough to own a German Shepherd Dog; 2) ignore the problem and keep your shepherd on your property away from strange dogs; 3) retrain your German Shepherd Dog yourself; and 4) hire a professional trainer to retrain your dog not to be dog aggressive.Tomorrow, I will continue this blog by focusing on option 3 and 4.
Ask me a Question and I will provide my opinion. Also, please see our web page: KeystoneGermanShepherds
Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge
Conclusion:How to Stop Your German Shepherd Dog, Adult and Puppy to Stop Jumping on You
Hi Everyone,
Today we conclude our 3 part training tip on how to stop your German Shepherd Dog adult or puppy from jumping on you and other people.
This last method that I recommend for your German Shepherd Dog to stop jumping on people requires two people. This method is mainly for those German Shepherd Dogs that only jump after an extended absence by the owner or family members.
This exercise can be accomplished at the door that the family uses to enter the house. First a family Member that is home must be contacted by the arriving owner that they are a few minutes from coming home. The person that is home gets the German Shepherd Dog adolescent or adult on a leash and choke chain. Place the German Shepherd Dog on a sit and stay command in front of the door. Then the arriving owner opens the door and provides verbal commands for the German Shepherd dog to remain in a sit and stay. The person on the leash gives choke chain corrections (in silence) for the arriving family member.
The arriving family member does not approach the German Shepherd Dog until they are are in the sit and stay position. If the dog moves as you approach give verbal commands while the leash is operated by the silent family member. Continue with this exercise until you can approach your German Shepherd Dog while they remain in the sit and stay position. Once approached give your German Shepherd Dog adolescent or adult love and praise. Repeat this exercise every time you return home until your German Shepherd Dog will remain in a sit and stay position until greeted. Then try it without the leash and choke chain. Repeat training exercise if your German Shepherd Dog reverts back to jumping.
The above method can be transferred to the yard or kennel. Try utilizing the outside door to the backyard or a gate for the arriving family member.
Lastly, I do not advocate kneeing your German Shepherd Dog when they jump because your dog does not understand this correction and they are also in a very vulnerable position and can be seriously and/or permanently injured if kneed, which can cause them to land awkwardly. In addition, I do not advocate hitting your German Shepherd dog with a slap or with your fist on the muzzle. Again, they do not understand this correction and you can seriously injure your hand on their teeth since the German shepherd Dog’s mouth will usually be open while jumping up to give you a kiss. Also, you may injure your German Shepherds Dog’s eye if you start flailing with your hand.
With patience and persistence you can use the above exercises to train your German Shepherd Dog puppy, adolescent, or adult not to jump on you and others. Your German Shepherd Dog will love you more if they are well mannered and they will show you their appreciation with lots of kisses without jumping.
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