Just got a new dog

pm.

Hi All,

Just looking for some advice, we just got a German Shepherd Jake who is 8 months old. I have 2 kids 2 and 5 and the really like him but he is a bit hyper as all pups are. Is now the time to start Obedience training, sit, stay, come, wait ???

Im in Westmeath if anyone knows of a obedience school also is it expensive ?

cyrusdvirus

I'm sure some will say it's never too early, but by 8 months you definitely want to have something started

LucyBliss

Most definitely. GSD are very smart and need to be taught new skills by their owners so that they will focus on you and not be thinking for themselves because then they will get up to mischief! Which can get the 'aw, he's just a pup' response now but when he's bigger and older, it will be plain annoying.

The more you exercise him and his brain, the more energy he'll use up. It can just be you down the garden with some treats teaching him the basics. Be prepared that he will probably seem like he's not getting it but he is. He's just testing you like a kid would to see what he can get away with. It's important with GSD's (and any dogs really) that they know you mean business and that you expect them to do what you say.

But in the end, you will have such a fantastically loyal dog who will be such a friend to you and your kids. We had one when I was growing up. She always knew when something was upsetting me and would sit beside me until I felt better. She was a darling.

barbiegirl

Stack up on treats, then start on the basics
Sit
Stay
Down
Come
Lie
Make sure he is well socialised with kids, adults, traffic, dogs, basically everything.
Train with praise and treats, never hit. Get help if you feel you need it. Training sessions seem to be about €70 a time, but they are worth the investment over the lifetime of the dog. I'm organising one for us as our dogs are pulling on the leads and I'm running out of options to stop them, plus as Fargo is half Jack Russell (so prone to be dominant) I want to make sure we're not making any mistakes at this point (6 months) that will come back to haunt us.
Best of luck and throw up some photos for us to ohh and ahh over :-)

pm.

ok some great advice thanks, went to the pet shop today and im now stacked up on treats ( they look that good i hope the kids dont get jealous ) I also have a 11 year old lab might leave him in the house while i spend time with Jake dont want any distractions for him....

liliq

Does you lab know his "sit, stay, lie down" commands?
If he does, and is good at listening to you, maybe sometimes you could have him with you when you're training Jake?
When I got my 2, I'm convinced half of what they learned was when I was at my mam's, and we'd have the family dog sit, stay etc., and reward her when she did what she was asked, and my two would learn by copying her!
(Maybe I'm attributing mine with more intellegence than they have though! :rolleyes:)

TwilightWillow

I would try to stay away from training your dog with treats. This is just for the simple reason that the dog will soon learn that if you don't have a treat in your hand, then he won't listen to you. Try to train him with a portion of his daily food amount. Just take a handful of nuts and use those instead of treats. Small little portions is enough for the dog to know that if he does something good, he gets rewarded with his food which he needs every day anyway.

Hope it all goes well! GSD's are a fantastic breed and very very smart and quick to learn.

Dyr

Shepherds are good dogs to train IMO, they tend to pick up good habits just by being around their owners. You don't appreciate that until you get a more stubborn/independent breed :eek:

EGAR

Do you work for them? Nearly all your posts refer to that company?

Michael4002

A friend of mine , but they are good , everyone is always suggesting zooplus , I was waiting 2 weeks for food from them ....

pm.

He will get the same food my lab gets royal canin neutered, i think i will try train him myself my 11 year old lad can almost make tea is it worth while have my kids involved in the training ?