German Shepherds are one of the easiest breeds to train: they are intelligent, eager to please, and quick learners.
If you and your family are in the market for a large breed dog, nearly all the experts agree that German Shepherds are about the smartest and easiest to train. Though all dogs are smart, eager to please, and trainable, Shepherds seem to be especially in tuned to the movements, looks, and especially words, of their masters. They are attentive and constantly aware of our every move. A Shepherd can be taught to obey words or only simple hand movements, and they learn quickly. As law enforcement experts can attest, Shepherds can be trained to attack, but will stop immediately upon command. They seem not to let their emotions or instincts get in the way: they only want to please their master.
Training any dog requires time and patience, but training a German Shepherd will give almost immediate results. A dog of 4-5 months can easily be taught to sit, stay, fetch, roll-over, lie down, and even to speak. But although Shepherds are quick learners, the behavior must be reinforced. Once your dog or puppy learns a new behavior or skill, continue to practice the skill for a minute or two every day. Just like us, dogs will forget, get lazy, or pick up bad habits.
The best way to begin training a puppy is to join an obedience class. Veterinarians and pet stores usually have contacts for the best training classes in your area, or check the yellow pages. An obedience class is usually made up of 10-12 dogs and their owners, all standing in a circle. With a bag of treats in the master's pocket, the dogs are taught by their owners how to heal, sit, stay, etc., in the presence of other distracting dogs and people. German Shepherds might be skittish at first, distracted and concerned about all the new sights and smells, but the owner will learn to speak softly and firmly, and the Shepherd will be the star of the class. The things you and your dog learn in class will need to be practiced daily, preferably several times each day.
When your Shepherd is still just a puppy, it is important, as with any large breed, to teach the dog that the humans in the family are the dominant pack members. Dogs learn this the same way they learn in a pack setting: the others members of the pack take turns dominating the dog. In our world, with a civilized home, family and dog, we do this by taking turns pinning the dog each day. What this means is that each family member, from the parents to the smallest child, must each grab the puppy by the scruff of his neck and gently pin him to the floor. This is how his mother would train him and though he may cry and protest, it won't hurt him. Hold him on the floor until he stops protesting and raises his back leg. This is a sign of submission and it's sort of a "mercy" sign that he has given up and in to your domination. A large dog must know his place in the family: even though Shepherds are extremely loyal and devoted to their families, there have been rare instances when large dogs have turned on their masters. They must believe from the beginning that this can never ever happen.
It will also be necessary to train your Shepherd to use the bathroom where you want him to use it. Each day take him to the spot outside where you want him to go. Do this first thing in the morning and several times during the day until you've had your dog for a month or so. Praise him when he does the right thing in the right place. If he has accidents elsewhere and you catch him in the act, shake him gently by the scruff and say a firm "no." If you don't catch him, don't do anything but clean it up, as he won't understand discipline after the fact.
German Shepherds are wonderfully intelligent dogs to have. They are extremely obedient, loving and gentle, yet they provide protection, if necessary. Don't ever buy into the concept that a large dog has to be trained to look scary; they look that way naturally. Train your dog to act like a teddy bear and the looks will be protection enough.
