You and your dog both need to speak and understand “dog language”

Wrong
There are times when you will need to understand why your dog is whining, or barking, e.g. you need to understand if it’s whining simply because it has missed you, or because it has no water and desperately needs a drink.

You need to determine if it is barking because it is just fed up and wants a bit of attention or because it’s trying to tell you there is someone currently in the process of breaking in through an upstairs window. What you don’t need to do is start barking, growling or whining in order to communicate with your dog.

Now we understand that there is no truth in this particular myth, let’s take a look at the various ways your dog will communicate with you, and which will help you understand it.

Using His Tail to Tell You His Mood:  With its bottom in the air and its tail wagging, your dog is probably trying to let you know that it would love to play with you and have some fun. If his tail is right between his back legs, going under his tummy it probably means that he is scared of something or somebody, and if this is the case, you should do your best to find out what is worrying him.

Tail Wagging: Not always an indication of a dog being happy and playful. It can also mean he is feeling aggressive. Depending on how he is wagging his tail, will help you determine his mood. If his tail is held up high and wagging rapidly, this could indicate that he is feeling aggressive.

Hackles Raised: This is an aggressive stance and indicates that your dog is frightened or is ready to fight whatever has caused this reaction in him.

Rolling Over: In dog terms this is normally a submissive sign that occurs when your dog is amongst other dogs or humans. It can also mean they just want their tummy rubbing!

Other communicating signs from your dog to watch out for include sniffing, crouching, position of ears, eyes wide open or narrowed.

Training a German Shepherd comes with it’s own unique challenges that other breeds don’t give you. One of the most rewarding breeds of dog the German Shepherd dog tends to have a very distinctive personality that makes training it something that requires special attention.

Breed Profile

A few reasons why you will need specific advice on German Shepherd training

· A GSD (German Shepherd Dog) is one of the most energetic breeds of dog
· They require considerable mental as well as energetic stimulation
· A lot are very particular about what they eat
· They suffer from numerous health problems inherent in the breed (e.g. hip dysplasia)

German Shepherd Training

So what specifics do you need to consider when German Shepherd training?

Firstly you must remember just how energetic your dog is. They require a lot of rigorous exercise every day – and before they do they have trouble concentrating. So make sure that you exercise them before getting into any serious obedience training or they won’t concentrate as well.

The level of mental stimulation they need is also considerable, so don’t have just one training session a day. On top of that training session look to include training in everyday activities, like getting them to sit before crossing a road or eating.

Make sure you are also thinking about what their diet is when you are giving them food rewards. Because of the health issues associated with the breed it is best to give a German Shepherd a very healthy diet – to that end make sure the treats and rewards you give are healthy. GSD’s certainly do well with a lot of protein in their diet.

If one of the training methods that you are consider is obedience schools make sure they allow German Shepherds. A lot of schools don’t allow German Shepherds because of how they are with other canines. Some will require you to muzzle the dog, DON’T. Muzzling them will make training far harder.

Secrets to Dog Training (formerly named SitStayFetch) has been revamped and was officially launched on February 2, 2009. SitStayFetch has been the top selling dog training course for over four years, and it has been bought by over 64,000 dog owners world-wide. Having reviewed it in great detail, I can fully understand why it continues to hold the top spot . The revamped version promises to be even better!

Secrets to Dog Training is an extremely comprehensive guide, written by the world renowned trainer, Daniel Stevens. Although the 261-page manual is impressively detailed, its step-by-step format provides straight-forward instructions on how to quickly identify and solve dog behavior problems. It also includes many excellent pictures!

All of the training methods described in the book are tried and true, having been used by Daniel Stevens in his own life as a professional dog trainer.

A 5-page table of contents lets you know from the beginning that this guide is jam-packed full of information. The course is not just one more dog training guide, although that section alone is worth the purchase price. The first part is for owners of a new dog or puppy, covering subjects such as diet and nutrition, house training, how to puppy-proof your home, choosing a vet, grooming, general health, etc. These are just some of the subjects covered to give you an idea of the wide range of information.

Several different training techniques are outlined in the course, including crate training, clicker training, dog whispering, and more. Next, the more advanced behavior issues such as chewing, biting, aggression, digging, jumping, etc. are covered. Several informative and interesting case studies are included in this section. We all love a good story!

In addition, there is a chapter on how to understand your dog and the significance of the owner being perceived as the alpha in the home. Doggy facial expressions, vocals and body language are also included in this section. Aided by photographs, the chapters on obedience training are well articulated and the many stances and commands are presented in excellent detail.

I’ve outlined just a fraction of what is covered but I’m sure you will agree that it is impressive. I had already heard great things about this course before I actually took a look at it so had high expectations. I have to say that Secrets to Dog Training has not disappointed me – in fact, I’m amazed at the quality and quantity of the information offered for such a low price.

This book is well-written using easily understood language. My reading experience was enhanced by the fact that the book is broken down into small chapters, making it easy to understand and follow. Being faced with a wall of text can be quite overwhelming!

I was glad to see that Secrets to Dog Training provides instructions for obedience training for all ages and problem behaviors. All too often dog trainers offer training for puppies, not recognizing that these problem behaviors can continue into a dog’s adulthood.

Another excellent feature is the free consultations offered by the team at Secrets to Dog Training when you buy the course. Just send the team an email and they will provide you with an individual answer for your specific dog behavior problem. You’ll receive a response full of practical tips and expert advice.

The following bonus items are included when you buy the guide: an audio book plus 5 extra e-books on house training, security training, aggression, grooming, and secrets to becoming the alpha dog.

A new and exciting bonus being included with the course is a 30-minute downloadable video, which shows effective methods to solve those annoying obedience issues. It is presented by Dave Johnson, the extremely popular dog care professional, who makes it all seem so easy!

The detailed information covered is easy to comprehend and extremely effective. This book is not only useful to dog owners who need help with problem behaviors in their pets. The information in this guide would be of use to everyone looking to have a great rapport with their dog.