To start service dog training, attach your puppy to you like a tether. Stay in each others space for as much as possible. After one year or much less, you two will seem to know what each other are thinking. Before 16 weeks is mostly bonding and conditioning them to be ok with loud noises and distractions. After 16 weeks of age obedience training begins. Next, the more you can interact with them and be like their family, the more they will become humanized and get oxytocin (love, bonding chemical) from human touch instead of adrenaline (fight or flight chemical).
The basics of German Shepherd training is to be a confident leader so the dog can relax and follow the rules instead of the stress of leading a different species. Always train.. Every kibble or leftover can be a lesson so they learn their way by following the rules and performing their duties. Make them wait for permission for everything they do and get so they will look to you for permission for everything they want and do. We increase the wait and distractions to go in or out of the doors and gates so they will not even go through an open gate or doorway without waiting for permission. Corrections and praise = Love
Our primary method of German Shepherd training is servant leadership by making them wait increasingly longer for permission for food and everything they want and get. By regular care and attention, they become increasingly loyal. We can hold them on their back or gently roll them over to see if they are submitted and fully trust us. If they try to right themselves, they may think they are the boss. If they lay still, they fully trust their leader.
We regularly set them up for controlled situations where they must follow the rules or be corrected. Increase pressure until following rules and release pressure for compliance. The more they understand what to do, the more they do it. They act out on how we feel so it is important to always feel confident and strong.
We gain the respect of our Shepherds, communication is very important in bonding. We use hand signals and body language along with our commands because they are always watching us for any non verbal indications of our actions. Best friends do not have to speak.
Training a German Shepherd to sit/stay. Start off holding our hand or treat above their head, slowly move our hand past them so they naturally sit to keep attention on our hand and give the treat. Celebrate like they did some wonderful thing. Repeat until they associate their sitting with the command and positive attention. Next, after they understand, reward them with treats and or positive attention after they obey the command. Increase distractions. Finally, command them to sit/stay while we gently, slowly pull on their leash, when they try to move with the pull, place them back in a proper sit/stay and repeat until they obey our command over the steady pull of their leash. After they plant their paws and refuse to be pulled away, they are solid. Increase distractions. Slowly increase the duration and distractions for higher levels of obedience.
Corrections for a trained German Shepherd can be as simple as a confrontational look. Looking at them in a challenging way puts the pressure on to focus and obey. Body posture or a word of praise or affection releases the pressure. The most advanced training can be done with body language and other non verbal communication. When a German Shepherd and handler communicate well, the bond keeps increasing. Strong leadership makes an effective team!
Providing corrections. Our German Shepherds are obedient. They do not need corrections. They practice self control to follow our rules.
We educated them with small lessons like, do not bother people’s food. Be calm when guests arrive. Be respectful and ignore untrained dogs. Any other unwanted behavior by setting up those situations so when they go for the plate of our food on the floor, correct them! Warning from a wise parent. After a week or two of these powerful lessons, the German Shepherd understands what is expected and their place in the family. Always supervise while they have the training collar on. Let them drag a leash around with it on for quick redirections. Give them a simple command like sit right after a correction so we can praise them for obedience so they know it is never personal.
Stay positive. Done quickly and powerfully for a couple of weeks, the German Shepherds are obedient off leash for the rest of their lives.
*Our parents corrected us for the short time of our childhood as it seemed good to them. But God corrects us throughout our lives for our own good, giving us an invitation to share his holiness. Hebrews 12:10
Much More to come..