Expert Training Tips for Working Line German Shepherds from a Professional GSD Breeder
German Shepherds are one of the most recognized breeds for their intelligence, strength, and versatility. Due to these qualities, they have been used for many roles such as the police, military, and even search and rescue. If you are looking to adopt a working German Shepherd, it is important to note the specific training requirements of this type of GSD. As a working line German Shepherd dog breeder, I dedicate years into perfecting the skills and techniques that help these motivated dogs excel in their roles. In this article, I want to provide you with my expert training tips that will enable you to raise a well-mannered and competent working line German Shepherd.
Training a working line German Shepherd can prove to be an exhilarating task. These dogs are bred to fulfill a particular role, and their vigor, instincts, and mental capabilities make them great partners in work. On the contrary, this could mean that they require proper training from the very start to constructively utilize their energy. If they are not trained properly, their drive to achieve can become a problematic trait. Training a working German Shepherd requires discipline and planning whether you are a novice or an expert in dog handling. For further insight into the astounding particulars that differentiate working line German Shepherds, click this link for more insights.
Understanding the Working Line German Shepherd
When training your German Shepherd puppy, it is important to note the difference between show line and working line German Shepherds. Show line GSDs are bred primarily for their looks and personality, whereas working line German Shepherds are bred for their drive, stamina, and ability to perform under pressure. These dogs possess extraordinary intelligence, a strong work ethic, and a desire to be productive. A GSD working line dog breeder will seek to further enhance these qualities, so the dog will excel in obedience, protection, and search and rescue missions.
To train a working line German Shepherd, you should simultaneously apply the skills of obedience and provide mental stimulation. This breed excels when given the opportunity to think in a well-organized environment. The tasks should be as physically and mentally challenging as possible. A working line German Shepherd will seek out difficult tasks and become restless if those needs are not met. Therefore, their training needs to be tailored to them. To get a better understanding of the working lines of GSDs, take a look at this guide created by a professional GSD breeder.
Start Early with Basic Obedience Training
Starting training as soon as a German Shepherd puppy is brought home is essential. Basic obedience and socialization should be top priorities. This is the stage at which they are able to perform basic commands, such as sit, stay, come, and heel. Although working line GSDs are incredibly self-sufficient, which may make them stubborn, they are also very quick to learn. From my experience as a GSD breeder, I have found that the majority of puppies need intensive training to establish good behavior.
Due to their independent nature, working line German Shepherds may try to test boundaries from a young age, which is why it is important to take a gentle but firm approach. It is important for them to understand that a handler’s voice is to be respected and that will influence their behavior in future training sessions. You must remain consistent, meaning if you say “sit,” they must sit. Otherwise, your working line German Shepherd may become less motivated to respond and vision. If you are looking for information on how to appropriately train your new puppy and get off to the right start, check out my article on early obedience training techniques for German Shepherds puppies.
Provide Plenty of Mental Stimulation
German Shepherds from working lines do need basic obedience training, but that alone is insufficient for them to function properly. These dogs need to be kept busy mentally, otherwise they might become restless. Sorry – letting them play agility games, puzzles, or doing scent work is not the only way to prep their training. These activities ensure mental stimulation and positive redirection of energy. As a GSD breeder, I can’t stress enough how important it is to stimulate the mind of a working line German Shepherd frequently.
Problem-solving comes naturally to German shepherds from working lines. Their eagerness to work means they flourish in challenging circumstances. For example, the combination of simple obedience training with tracking or scanning exercises allows the dog to utilize their senses and intelligence. Moreover, providing them with new scenery for training, like practicing verbal commands in different environments, ensures that they do not get settled. To help you further with mental stimulation ideas, here’s another guide with tips on how to keep your German Shepherd’s mind occupied.
Leverage Positive Reinforcement Techniques
Those engaging with a working line German Shepherd are well aware of the commitment needed for training. It is not uncommon for dogs to totally inverse their responses as a result of negative reinforcement, which usually triggers fear-based behavior rather than prompting action. As a breeder of German Shepherd dogs, I have experienced that dogs that were raised with positive reinforcement mechanisms were trained with more eagerness and formed stronger bonds with their handlers. These dogs do best in a reward based system, where toys, treats or even praise are doled out during successful task completion.
Like all sessions ending on a positive note, training sessions do assist in increasing the bond between handler and dog, making further training more effective. This makes certain that your working line German Shepherd is not just controlled with positive reinforcements, but remains completely immersed in the training. Working with line German shepherd dogs is quite exciting, owing to the progress they make with constant training and focus combined with a willingness to take on challenges.
Socialize Your Working Line German Shepherd
Socialization training is vital in any working line German Shepherd’s life, especially if they are going to be working around people, other dogs, or any other types of activities. As with any other form of socialization, it should start at a young age and include exposure to different environments, people, and animals. The objective is to enable your dog to remain calm and confident in various situations. By having a well-socialized working line German Shepherd, he will be able to function better in an adaptable and high-stress environment.
If there’s an absence of socialization, a working line GSD may become fearful or aggression-driven. Also, because they are protective by nature, GSDs can also be aggressive. It is equally beneficial to the working line GSD to have exposure to different environments while still in training. This way, you can take them to parks or playgrounds and even allow them to interact with other children or older people and even other dogs. This way they will learn how to maintain their calmness and confidence in an unknown environment.
Strengthen Physical Conditioning and Agility
As with all other breeds, working line German Shepherds require daily doses of mental and physical exercise to remain at their best. This breed, like most others, is high energy and without the correct level of physical activity, they can become agitated and develop behavioral issues. Fetch, agility training, and other high energy exercises will ensure your working line German Shepherd is exercised and pumped for action.
These dogs particularly benefit from agility training due to the combination of physical exercise and mental engagement. German Shepherds from the working line are natural athletes and enjoy completing agility tasks like running through tunnels, jumping over hurdles, or climbing ramps. This type of training gets them stronger, more coordinated, and able to follow more advanced commands. Eliminating excess energy will enable your dog to devote more focus to other types of training exercises.
Overcome Challenges with Consistency and Patience
Working line German Shepherds are not the easiest to train considering their boundless energy and intellect. It’s crucial to keep in mind that patience and perseverance are two vital factors. Some dogs may learn certain commands faster than others, while some may grasp certain behaviors later on. As a professional german shepherd breeder, I always remind my clients that this is part of the process.
During modification of any behavioral action, one must strive and be persistent. If your dog starts to show signs of unwanted or bad behavior such as barking too much and jumping, give up. Positive actions done instead with minimal barking or jumping will encourage calmness. Desired behavior will need to be positively rewarded while negative actions need to be ignored. Generally, the more you repeat the commandments, the faster or more willing the dog will be to follow through responding to the action you set.
Harnessing the Potential of a Working Line German Shepherd
Training some breeds might take less effort than training working line German Shepherds, but the latter definitely reaps the most reward. It would certainly pay off, given that these dogs are loyal, exceptionally intelligent, and are able to accomplish almost any task assigned to them. With the right training, your GSD’s full potential can be reached whether it is search and rescue, family protection, or any other demanding job.
To learn more about training and raising working line German Shepherds, check out this guide from a reputable GSD breeder. This will give you insight into the right way to train and take care of a working line GSD so they grow into the incredible dogs they are meant to be.
