Many people will train their dog for various sporting events such as Frisbee catching or obstacle races, then there are some that get into the show dog training aspect of it all. This is where your dog will be showcased as a class breed according to the AKC or CKC, and they will be judged for their appearance and demeanor. This is something that is extremely popular, and you will find some of the best dogs in the world are being trained to partake in such events around the world. This is a wonderful way for your dog to show their stuff, and you never know you could actually see your dog with the ribbon one day.

Composure

One of the most important aspects of the show dog training is composure. This is the demeanor that the dog is going to carry in the ring, when they are being viewed by the judge and the audience alike. When they are being checked over, they are expected to stay calm and collected. They will have their eyes and ears looked over, and the judge will look over the dog’s teeth. This is when the dog must behave the most, as it would be an immediate fail if the dog reacted poorly to the judge handling them in this manner. If the dog cannot be trained to keep their composure, they will not be permitted to enter any one the contests that they are training for.

Following Commands

Show dog training means that the dog is going to have to pay close attention to the commands that are given when they are given. If the dog should fail to follow a command by either the handler or the judge, they will not be able to proceed in the event. The commands will be simple and direct, and if the dog is to go anywhere within the show circuit they are going to need to excel at this aspect. There is no room for error in this field, and your dog should be trained to understand this idea. The judge in this type of event has no patience for a dog that is unruly, so this is something that trainers pay particularly close attention too. This will ensure that the dog will not fall behind the pack, due to a misunderstanding. The dog will be trained to succeed, so they must now prove what they have learned.

Walking, Trotting, And Standing Tall

Show dog training will incorporate a few very basic yet critical practices when they are in their program. This means that sitting, standing, and any form of walking or trotting, will be done so with great pride and integrity. All of these actions will be used quite frequently when in a show, so it is vital for these to be worked on diligently with the trainers. There are very few trainers that will forego this type of training for something else early on, so you can expect that the dog will get a full schedule of it.

The German Shepherd Dog is a very noble breed with excellent working abilities. These dogs are capable of performing long hours of physical exercise without showing signs of extreme exhaustion. They are often used as police dogs, guard dogs, search and rescue dogs and also therapy dogs. The German Shepherd Dog is one of the best examples of a perfect working dog.

The German Shepherd Dog is also one of the most popular family and pet dogs because of its many good properties. Owning a German Shepherd Dog comes along with a great responsibility to train the dog. It is very important that the owner shall at least do basic obedience with their dog. That includes sit and down on command, sit and down stays and loose leash heeling. The recall command is probably the most important command of all for any dog, but even more so with the German Shepherd Dog.

German Shepherds are very strong dogs and you do not want to be dragged around the block when you take it for a walk. You need to be in control. When you have visitors, you do not want your German Shepherd to jump up against your friends. It is essential that you start training your German Shepherd puppy the moment it arrives at your home. From day one you should establish the packing order. Your puppy should not for one moment get the idea that he must fulfil the role of alpha.

Things your German Shepherd puppy should not be allowed: ? Your puppy will be very cute and beautiful, they all are, but he should not be allowed on the bed or on the couch. ? He should not be allowed to play bite any human. If he wants to bite your hand, say “NO” in a growling voice and give him a chewable toy.

The most essential thing you should do with your GSD puppy: ? Your puppy should be well socialized especially the first few months of its life, but preferably for the rest of its life. Take him with you wherever you go. Let him meet other dogs, people and especially children

German Shepherd Dogs are such clever dogs and easily trainable and so willing to please their owners that it is really sad when owners do not train their dogs.

There are so many disciplines in which their dogs can excel for example: ? Obedience ? Tracking ? Protection work ? Agility ? Therapy work (depending on the temperament)

Which method should be used for training the German Shepherd Dog? It is wrongly believed that because the GSD is such a strong dog, that you should use strong and harsh methods to train the dog. Actually it is just the opposite. GSD’s are sensitive dogs and so clever that they learn very fast when you use positive reinforcement methods with lost of treats and praise. Clicker training is ideal for training any dog but also the GSD. You still have to be very firm especially when it is a male dog going through his hormonal phases, but the key is consistency and patience. If properly trained your German Shepherd will be a joy and companion for many years.

MS du Toit has been training dogs for ten years. Please visit her Dog Training Page at http://www.dogtrainingtipsforfree.com

Schutzhund is a form of dog training or dog sport foundered in Germany over a century ago. The word Schutzhund actually means protection dog in German and was used to assess German Shepherds to determine if they were suitable for police work.

Although it was initially just German Shepherds, testing now occurs on dogs of many different breeds. The test is both rigorous and demanding, so the numbers of other breeds that pass are limited.

Schutzhund Basics

Enrolling your dog into Schutzhund training may still prove difficult, however if you are keen to learn the techniques and principles behind this training method, there are many DVDs that can be purchased or acquired. It is important to understand though, that the training is highly specialized, very strict and very structured, which means you will need to maintain this consistently for your dog to learn. For this reason, it may not be the best form of training if you have a young family.

The training will over time teach your dog the skills of obedience, tracking, protection, sniffing and retrieving, and will commence when your pup is just a few weeks of age. Of course, you may not be able to commence your training until your pup is 8+ weeks of age when you bring them home from the breeder.

Schutzhund Training Principles

Although it is possible to get specialized training DVDs that focus on a specific principle, you can expect your Schutzhund training DVDs to cover the following areas:

Clicker Training – This is a form of positive reinforcement that is gaining popularity with trainers around the world, even if it isnt associated with Schutzhund. It involves using a little clicker button whenever the dog is good. First you will need to train your puppy to know that the clicking noise equals a good job.

Obedience – This is the core of any training method and is the first test in Schutzhund, covering a set of 11 basic commands. The commands however may use multiple instructions in one, such as sit, down and stand. In addition they cover instructions like focus and attention, targeting, retrieving, motion exercises, pointing out an object and heeling. To pass this test, your dog must be able to execute all 11 commands perfectly.

Tracking – Leveraging from the obedience commands to target and find an object, which has been pointed out, the dog will learn to track all sorts of items and people. The training will teach the dog to remember a scent when provided to them and then to pursue that until they are called off.

Protection – Using more commands the dog is taught how to identify potential threats and how to attack them. Police, guard and attack dogs are taught using this method. Another form of protection is where the dog is taught that it must protect a person or object; this is then done without commands.

Schutzhund training is designed to give a dog an education to enable it to be a specialized working dog. Although this may not be the aim with your dog, the training DVDs can provide useful instruction on training and assist in developing your dog understands of commands. As stated earlier, there are a number of different courses, so it is best to research the types of training courses first before purchasing them. Understand the success rates and the philosophies they employ and whether they are likely to be useful for your breed of dog.