Gsdfinder

(I am going to use the word clicker, but you can just as well use a marker like yes. It can be, however challenging to always say yes with the same tone. You also can only say yes ones! I always used to tend to get too excited and say "YES, YES, YES, YES" In a row. This is a mistake, a dog learn immediatly after its action. The 2nd, 3rd.. YES is already too late and the dog coud become confused why he gets rewarded. It also could be because he was looking at you after you said the first time yes?! You always have to be very careful! However, the positive point in using a marker, is that you do  not have to carry a clicker around with you and you have your hands free)

How do I punish/ correct my dog?

If your pet does not do what it is supposed to do, you have to use correction. I think, it depends on the dog in which extend this correction should be, but it should never be inhumane! If you would not want anybody to do it to you, do not do it to an animal!!!

Correction just has to be something, the dog does not like. It will stop a behavior if something follows that is uncomfortable. Yelling or spraying a little water with a spray bottle on the dog can already do the job. My dog is a boy and one of the "though" kind. He does not mind my yelling at all, so I do slap him little on his nose, but gently! It does not hurt him, but he learns out of it. You basically just have to watch your dog and figure out what works the best.

Pets all have a different personality and you can not say this is a good treat or this is a working correction.

IMPORTANT: Never hit a German Shepherd on the hip!

It is important as well that when you try for example to teach your dog to sit, only say it once. If he does not do it the second time correct him by saying in a strong tone "NO" and then move the pup in the sitting position.

After that, REWARD

RULE #1 AFTER A CORRECTION, A REWARD HAS TO FOLLOW

That means show your dog how to do it the right way and then reward for doing it the right way. This will make a correction way more effective!

CAN I TEACH MY OLDER DOG?

For some Reason, many people believe that they have to get a puppy, simply because they want to teach the dog tricks, manners, etc.  Also, often dog owners give up on their dog, because its bad behaivior and maybe  even end up taking their pup to a shelter!

But it is not impossible at all to teach older dogs! Of course, the earlier you begin with training, the better, but adult dogs learn just as good as puppies! Sometimes, it even can be very helpful if a dog is a little bit older, just because puppies get easy "overly excited". It can be hard to teach a puppy to "sit" when it sees that you have a treat in your hand.

Don't get me wrong, you do have to encourage the dog and make training fun, but you do not want to have an overactive dog. This can make a training session quite frustrating.

PART II is coming soon....