German Shepherd Thread!

[SunriseChickers]

I have a 2 1/2yo male GSD and he is a snuggle bug I have trained him completely off leash using the e-collar and he is really loving life going to the local park and going on hikes and adventures in the summer! What are your guys' thoughts on off-leash dogs? It can be a really controversial topic and I like the different points people make for and against it

I am just barely doing normal leash training with my crazy pup. He gets super distracted so I feel like I can't do it properly. Off-leash is a distant goal! Any suggestions? I'm struggling with his puppy brain, haha.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

I am just barely doing normal leash training with my crazy pup. He gets super distracted so I feel like I can't do it properly. Off-leash is a distant goal! Any suggestions? I'm struggling with his puppy brain, haha.

It is a bit hard to help you over messages, but if you have specific questions, please DM me! I used the prong collar to leash train him and the e-collar to off-leash train him. I would go onto YouTube and watch Shield K9 Dog Training (he's my favorite), Tom Davis Dog Training, and American Standard Dog Training.
Haz Othman of Shield K9 Dog Training has a book called No Nonsense Dog Training and it tells you EVERYTHING you need to know to train any dog, without all the fluff. I got it on Amazon for $15.00, and that's how I trained Ranger (that and watching his YouTube). I cannot recommend it enough.
How old is your pup? If he is super young, I would give him time, it'll improve! Making sure you don't let him self-satisfy (i.e. sniffing, meeting other people or dogs, etc.) in the environment is super important for reeling in a distracted dog. Using the right tools is also very important for communicating with your dog. Also, make sure you always go for the Balanced method of dog training, rather that either extremes. Don't be afraid to deal out punishment when he knows he has done something he shouldn't have; it's just like children, you must reward good behavior and punish bad behavior.

I hope this helps, remember, DM me if you have any other question, I'm happy to help!

 

[SunriseChickers]

It is a bit hard to help you over messages, but if you have specific questions, please DM me! I used the prong collar to leash train him and the e-collar to off-leash train him. I would go onto YouTube and watch Shield K9 Dog Training (he's my favorite), Tom Davis Dog Training, and American Standard Dog Training.
Haz Othman of Shield K9 Dog Training has a book called No Nonsense Dog Training and it tells you EVERYTHING you need to know to train any dog, without all the fluff. I got it on Amazon for $15.00, and that's how I trained Ranger (that and watching his YouTube). I cannot recommend it enough.
How old is your pup? If he is super young, I would give him time, it'll improve! Making sure you don't let him self-satisfy (i.e. sniffing, meeting other people or dogs, etc.) in the environment is super important for reeling in a distracted dog. Using the right tools is also very important for communicating with your dog. Also, make sure you always go for the Balanced method of dog training, rather that either extremes. Don't be afraid to deal out punishment when he knows he has done something he shouldn't have; it's just like children, you must reward good behavior and punish bad behavior.

I hope this helps, remember, DM me if you have any other question, I'm happy to help!

Thank you! I will certainly message you if I have specific questions (which I am thinking up now, haha).
And thank you for the recommendation! I will be sure to look him up. I got most of my basic info from McCann dogs before we got him.

Jäger is just over 4 months old, so very much puppy brained, but I'd expect there are at least some things I could do to get him on the right track.
I've been thinking about using a Martingale collar for future leash training, but if that doesn't work I'd consider prong, though ideally I wouldn't need it. I've been acclimating him to a harness so that I feel comfortable he won't slip out when in public (he has accidentally slipped out in the yard before, but he hasn't tried it intentionally, and he always just comes up to me so I can put it back on, but I don't see that happening if there is something else more interesting a hundred feet in the opposite direction, lol). Just clipping his leash to his collar, then running the leash through the clip ring for the harness, for now, so I still have some head control but it's more dispersed through his body. I have little to no training experience, but I've certainly been learning a ton.

I'm glad you mention balance method training, because it seems a lot of people insist on using solely positive reinforcement, which certainly hasn't been entirely effective with this big boy.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Thank you! I will certainly message you if I have specific questions (which I am thinking up now, haha).
And thank you for the recommendation! I will be sure to look him up. I got most of my basic info from McCann dogs before we got him.

Jäger is just over 4 months old, so very much puppy brained, but I'd expect there are at least some things I could do to get him on the right track.
I've been thinking about using a Martingale collar for future leash training, but if that doesn't work I'd consider prong, though ideally I wouldn't need it. I've been acclimating him to a harness so that I feel comfortable he won't slip out when in public (he has accidentally slipped out in the yard before, but he hasn't tried it intentionally, and he always just comes up to me so I can put it back on, but I don't see that happening if there is something else more interesting a hundred feet in the opposite direction, lol). Just clipping his leash to his collar, then running the leash through the clip ring for the harness, for now, so I still have some head control but it's more dispersed through his body. I have little to no training experience, but I've certainly been learning a ton.

I'm glad you mention balance method training, because it seems a lot of people insist on using solely positive reinforcement, which certainly hasn't been entirely effective with this big boy.

I'm glad you have seen that positive only simply doesn't work and that you are open to balanced training. As for McCann, I can't recommend her because I don't know a lot about her training methods, but I have seen a few of her video's and they seemed like she doesn't really have fully trained dog's to show for her "skill". All of the trainers I recommended earlier do have well trained dogs of their own that show for their knowledge.
As for the prong collar, I want to make it crystal clear that, used correctly, they don't hurt the dog. Prong collars are a safe way to mimic the way a mother dog would correct and communicate to her puppies. I greatly advise that you avoid using a flat collar, as that is not only dangerous for the dog's breathing should they pull, but they can also easily slip out of it (I've seen it happen countless times). I would also avoid using a harness because that encourages the dog to pull harder (think of dog's pulling a sleigh), and also completely strips you of any way to correct your pup for pulling or reactive behavior on a leash. I use the martingale as Ranger's 24/7 collar, and if he has to be on-leash somewhere, I use that and the prong collar together. The martingale is a great collar to replace the flat collar with because your dog because cannot slip out of it (as it tightens when he pulls), but, that being said, it doesn't give you the same ability to correct your dog with just a pop of the wrist, like the prong collar does. You will have to give a much firmer pop in order to get the same result, with most dogs. I suggest using both at the same time. Let me explain: I put both collars on my dog, the prong collar high on his neck and the martingale below it, I then clip the leash onto both collars. Here is a picture to help you visualize:

The reason I do this is to prevent the prong collar from popping off. Only do this with a Martingale collar or else the prong collar wont work like it's supposed to.
I may have gone a bit off topic (oops), but I feel very strongly about the importance of tools when it comes to training dogs!
Remember: no harnesses, no flat collars, no positive only, and make it fun for both you and the dog! Also, make sure that the people you take advice from know what their talking about and have dogs to show for it!
Also, one question, what breed is he and where did you get him? That will help me to give you more specific advice for your dog as breed and breeding plays a huge role in training a dog.

 

[ShrekDawg]

E Collars work too. I’ve tried a prong before and it worked okay and I might try it again sometime but for us, the e collar practically worked miracles hahaha of course, you do have to juggle the remote and the leash, etc. but my remote is small and round so it’s ergonomical and I just stuff it in my pocket anyway lmaooooo and then I just put one hand in my pocket on the buttons and the other hand controlling the leash so yeah. Works great. He’s dog reactive but with the e collar he’s a million times better. If I remember to put it on. lately I’ve just been walking with the martingale only and we haven’t seen anyone luckily except walkers without dogs but I need to start putting it back on him again just in case LOL although he’s been better lately anyways even without it. And luckily, he’s friendly anyways, not aggressive, and loves everyone and everything, so his reactivity is more just because he wants to say hi/play with everyone rather than attack them or out of aggression or fear or anything so I’m not really worried about that part. BUT! I do still try to curb it, obviously, because he shouldn’t be lunging and crying/wailing on the leash LOL and with the e collar, he doesn’t anymore. Or at least A LOT less. He still cries a little usually but he doesn’t usually lunge anymore IF I correct it early enough. So yeah. It’s been an amazing improvement lmaoooo so just saying, that’s an option too. OH!!!!!!! And btw, I don’t even use the shock part usually. The vibrate feature is usually MORE than enough for him. If it’s not (usually when he’s extremely overstimulated and/or over threshold), THEN and only then will I use the shock part. But even then, he’s on level 8 out of 100 levels and I’ve tried it on myself and couldn’t even feel it till level 11 so yeah. LOL his collar also has a beeping/tone mode too so I can use that too but I never do because it’s relatively hard to switch back and forth and you can only use two options at a time but yeah. That IS an option as well and I HAVE tested it at least and it works just as well for him LOL all of this said, I would NOT use the e collar for a puppy. We got his current e collar when he was a year old and I think I had used a different, cheaper one maybe a few months before that. I know we used long lines for a while too but then switched to the e collar. But yeah. A lot of people start at 6 months too and we might have, I can’t remember, but personally I feel like that’s a little bit young for me so I think we used the long lines and waited till he was older. But yeah.

 

[SunriseChickers]

I'm glad you have seen that positive only simply doesn't work and that you are open to balanced training. As for McCann, I can't recommend her because I don't know a lot about her training methods, but I have seen a few of her video's and they seemed like she doesn't really have fully trained dog's to show for her "skill". All of the trainers I recommended earlier do have well trained dogs of their own that show for their knowledge.

That's fair! She was definitely helpful for getting me into a more dog-minded headspace, at the least, since I come from a very horse-involved background. It's been difficult to get my mind to click with "dog".

As for the prong collar, I want to make it crystal clear that, used correctly, they don't hurt the dog. Prong collars are a safe way to mimic the way a mother dog would correct and communicate to her puppies. I greatly advise that you avoid using a flat collar, as that is not only dangerous for the dog's breathing should they pull, but they can also easily slip out of it (I've seen it happen countless times). I would also avoid using a harness because that encourages the dog to pull harder (think of dog's pulling a sleigh), and also completely strips you of any way to correct your pup for pulling or reactive behavior on a leash.

I've known a bit about prong collars previously, and I do know that they are harmless when used properly, which is why I'm not entirely against them. I suppose this is part of my equestrian background too, where you start with the softest communication you can. Dogs are much more direct about things, I'm learning. It's hard to change those habits!

I use the martingale as Ranger's 24/7 collar, and if he has to be on-leash somewhere, I use that and the prong collar together. The martingale is a great collar to replace the flat collar with because your dog because cannot slip out of it (as it tightens when he pulls), but, that being said, it doesn't give you the same ability to correct your dog with just a pop of the wrist, like the prong collar does. You will have to give a much firmer pop in order to get the same result, with most dogs. I suggest using both at the same time. Let me explain: I put both collars on my dog, the prong collar high on his neck and the martingale below it, I then clip the leash onto both collars. Here is a picture to help you visualize:
View attachment 4092580
The reason I do this is to prevent the prong collar from popping off. Only do this with a Martingale collar or else the prong collar wont work like it's supposed to.

I am definitely interested in getting a Martingale collar! The only thing stopping me is that, as I understand, the collars need to be properly fitted, and he is nowhere near being done growing.

I may have gone a bit off topic (oops), but I feel very strongly about the importance of tools when it comes to training dogs!
Remember: no harnesses, no flat collars, no positive only, and make it fun for both you and the dog! Also, make sure that the people you take advice from know what their talking about and have dogs to show for it!
Also, one question, what breed is he and where did you get him? That will help me to give you more specific advice for your dog as breed and breeding plays a huge role in training a dog.

He is a half Golden Retriever and half German Shepherd. Both parents were purebred, and at least the dad was papered, "imported" from Canada. (I imagine the mother was as well, but it wasn't mentioned). They were an oops litter, but both parents have been gene tested (both are clean) and the mother has had physical tests (eye, hip, elbow, all clear). The dad isn't old enough for physical adult tests yet. I'm not sure about the dogs being either working or show lines. The breeder was well prepared for them, and was actually a former K-9 officer. He carefully chose the sire when he purchased him, but I'm not sure what for, exactly.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

That's fair! She was definitely helpful for getting me into a more dog-minded headspace, at the least, since I come from a very horse-involved background. It's been difficult to get my mind to click with "dog".

I've known a bit about prong collars previously, and I do know that they are harmless when used properly, which is why I'm not entirely against them. I suppose this is part of my equestrian background too, where you start with the softest communication you can. Dogs are much more direct about things, I'm learning. It's hard to change those habits!

I am definitely interested in getting a Martingale collar! The only thing stopping me is that, as I understand, the collars need to be properly fitted, and he is nowhere near being done growing.

He is a half Golden Retriever and half German Shepherd. Both parents were purebred, and at least the dad was papered, "imported" from Canada. (I imagine the mother was as well, but it wasn't mentioned). They were an oops litter, but both parents have been gene tested (both are clean) and the mother has had physical tests (eye, hip, elbow, all clear). The dad isn't old enough for physical adult tests yet. I'm not sure about the dogs being either working or show lines. The breeder was well prepared for them, and was actually a former K-9 officer. He carefully chose the sire when he purchased him, but I'm not sure what for, exactly.

Although I don't train them, I have been riding horses for 5+ years so I get it! When it comes to fitting the Martingale collar I would watch some YouTube on it. You can get a larger one that will fit him when he is done growing and just punch extra holes in it so that it fits him now (you can hammer a large nail through it). It will have a lot of slack for a bit but dogs grow fairly fast so it shouldn't be a problem. Sounds like she has good parents! With him being 1/2 GSD, I would be very careful with how you socialize him to prevent leash reactivity! To sum a very complex subject up, you don't want him to meet ANYONE, animal or human, when you and him are out and about together. Socialization training isn't a meet and greet!
Here is a great video on that topic:

 

[SunriseChickers]

Although I don't train them, I have been riding horses for 5+ years so I get it! When it comes to fitting the Martingale collar I would watch some YouTube on it. You can get a larger one that will fit him when he is done growing and just punch extra holes in it so that it fits him now (you can hammer a large nail through it). It will have a lot of slack for a bit but dogs grow fairly fast so it shouldn't be a problem.

I will look into it then, thank you!

Sounds like she has good parents! With him being 1/2 GSD, I would be very careful with how you socialize him to prevent leash reactivity! To sum a very complex subject up, you don't want him to meet ANYONE, animal or human, when you and him are out and about together.

That's definitely a very difficult task to accomplish, hah, especially here. People are much more friendly in general where I live.
He does get *very* excited when he sees other people, even just when my husband comes upstairs (that's one thing that confuses me - he only sees my husband when he pops up from his basement office, and in the evenings he sees him all the time. But when he's out of the crate he gets so excited that he get nervous pee when he is getting pet. He is never excited to see me, and I am with him most of the time). It has been improving. The first time we went to the farm store, I could barely grab his attention (though I did succeed in getting him to sit and stare at me intermittently between high traffic paths, which was great, until some old folks came and said hi, :') ), but we went to a distant Cabela's over the weekend and I saw some huge improvements. During our browsing there, we went from *ooh, humans, I won't sit unless I'm made to, and I won't stay* to *sit and wait voluntarily* within a half hour. I was surprised near the end when he spared only a glance to the two young men walking behind us, and went on his way without a fuss. So I have been trying to work with him on ignoring humans, and he is already showing great improvement. He hasn't been near many dogs yet. It's a bit difficult because of how much interest he displays in people who would love to cuddle with him and he looks just like a cute little Laborador. Maybe I need to get one of those "Do Not Pet" or "In Training" vests/leash wraps. ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

Socialization training isn't a meet and greet!
Here is a great video on that topic:

I did a lot off reading up on what socialization actually is before we got him, and it was fascinating to me! Thanks for the video link.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

I will look into it then, thank you!

That's definitely a very difficult task to accomplish, hah, especially here. People are much more friendly in general where I live.
He does get *very* excited when he sees other people, even just when my husband comes upstairs (that's one thing that confuses me - he only sees my husband when he pops up from his basement office, and in the evenings he sees him all the time. But when he's out of the crate he gets so excited that he get nervous pee when he is getting pet. He is never excited to see me, and I am with him most of the time). It has been improving. The first time we went to the farm store, I could barely grab his attention (though I did succeed in getting him to sit and stare at me intermittently between high traffic paths, which was great, until some old folks came and said hi, :') ), but we went to a distant Cabela's over the weekend and I saw some huge improvements. During our browsing there, we went from *ooh, humans, I won't sit unless I'm made to, and I won't stay* to *sit and wait voluntarily* within a half hour. I was surprised near the end when he spared only a glance to the two young men walking behind us, and went on his way without a fuss. So I have been trying to work with him on ignoring humans, and he is already showing great improvement. He hasn't been near many dogs yet. It's a bit difficult because of how much interest he displays in people who would love to cuddle with him and he looks just like a cute little Laborador. Maybe I need to get one of those "Do Not Pet" or "In Training" vests/leash wraps. ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

I did a lot off reading up on what socialization actually is before we got him, and it was fascinating to me! Thanks for the video link.

I think you are doing a great job with him! The fact that he is 4 months old explains his short attention span. I wouldn't worry about it at this point. Just keep doing what your doing and I think he will turn out just fine. Remember, a 4mo won't have the ability to preform like an 2+yo dog, he's doing great for his age! Just stay consistent and don't let him get away with bad behavior, even if it seems small.

 

[SunriseChickers]

I think you are doing a great job with him! The fact that he is 4 months old explains his short attention span. I wouldn't worry about it at this point. Just keep doing what your doing and I think he will turn out just fine. Remember, a 4mo won't have the ability to preform like an 2+yo dog, he's doing great for his age! Just stay consistent and don't let him get away with bad behavior, even if it seems small.

Thank you!
I definitely struggle with knowing if we're doing things well or even correctly, because I have nothing to compare it to. No past experience or other dogs similar to him to look at, no timelines for anything to give me a good idea. I think that's the worst of it! I'm not sure if we are making appropriate progress where we should, and it burns me out a little.