Puppy training can start at seven weeks.
The German shepherd is a big dog, usually between 22 and 26 inches tall at shoulders, so it is especially important that German shepherd puppies become well-trained adult dogs. You don't want to start training too early, however, as you might scare or even injure your growing puppy.
When to Start
You can start training your German shepherd puppy the basic commands of sit, come and down when he reaches seven weeks of age. This is a good time period because your puppy's brain is at a developmental stage that makes him especially receptive to training. This also is when you can begin socializing your puppy to new experiences, as long as he has had at least one set of his puppy shots to ward off contracting a disease. House-training is the exception to this, as your puppy should have begun this type of training even in the whelping box where he was born.
Puppy Classes
If you are interested in puppy classes as a means to get help with your training and/or provide your German shepherd puppy with plenty of opportunities for socialization, you can enroll him in a puppy class. Be sure to choose a class that is specifically for puppies under 12 weeks of age so that you can avoid being in classes with older dogs that may frighten your puppy. Also, the instructor will be better able to serve the needs of your puppy, such as being able to stop when your puppy is tired.
Exercising
Teaching your puppy to walk on the leash is an important part of his education, and you can start as soon as you bring your German shepherd puppy home by rewarding your puppy's instinctive behavior to follow you around the house with praise and treats. Avoid taking your puppy for walks longer than 30 minutes long, however, until he is approximately 2 years old. Most puppies younger than 2 still have open growth plates in the joints, and strenuous exercise can injure these areas.
Specialized Events
For specialized training such as agility and tracking, it is again best to wait until your German shepherd puppy's growth plates have finished closing to avoid injuring your puppy. This will give you plenty of time to establish the basic commands, as well as stay, so that your puppy will have an easier time learning the new set of skills. Also, your puppy should be examined by a veterinarian to be certain he is not afflicted with hip dysplasia or any other genetic disease associated with large dog breeds.
Assistance Dogs
Since assistance dog training happens in stages, your German shepherd puppy can begin training for the basic commands, socialization and walking on the leash at the appropriate young age, then continue on to the more specific training as he grows older.
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