German Shepherds are energetic dogs that need regular physical activity to release their energy and have to get rid of excess steam through play or vigorous physical exercise. If they cannot receive enough of that stimulation, they may attempt to exert their will by leash pulling during walks with you.
how to train a german shepherd
Get your dog moving by holding out a treat, saying "heel," and walking forward quickly until they maintain the proper heeling position every time you start or stop moving forward.
Gaze
German Shepherds are highly intelligent dogs that need both physical and mental stimulation in order to remain content, so they often find entertainment for themselves by barking or chasing something moving nearby - this behavior is typical among herding and hunting dogs but can become distracting to pet owners.
When a dog locks eyes with you, it could mean they are listening, excited or submissive; or may also indicate they feel nervous or stressed - especially if their ears seem tight and their posture appears rigid; an aggressive stare could be happening here!
To get your German Shepherd to pay more attention to you, use SMART training - which involves rewarding good behaviors with treats or verbal cues like "yes". Start by gathering 50 tiny treats and placing them in your pocket or treat bag.
Squint
Squinting can be seen as a form of protection for their eyes from bright lights or objects; it could also indicate irritation, anxiety or discomfort. If your German Shepherd squints at you while out walking together it should be evaluated by a veterinarian to rule out pain or discomfort.
Sniffing and smelling are natural GSD behaviors; it allows them to explore their environment by discovering new scents and objects to interact with. But sniffing while walking may reinforce leash pulling, and should be limited as much as possible.
To prevent your German Shepherd from pulling, plant your feet and use a familiar word cue such as, "LET'S WALK!" When they come closer, reward them with a treat. If they pull again, stop walking until they begin walking beside you without pulling. Consider purchasing the Walk Your Dog With Love No-Pull Harness to ensure they stay close during walks.
Howl
German Shepherds can be vocal dogs that exhibit excitement by howling or howl-howling when engaged, which is natural for them and can be taken as a positive sign that they're engaged with something. But, if your German Shepherd is barking at you to try and herd you or try and herd you, that should not continue; such barking is known as "begging howl", becoming habitual over time.
German Shepherds, like their wolf ancestors, will howl when separated from their owners to express that they miss and want you back. This howling expresses this need.
To combat this behavior, employ the same counterconditioning process you did for leash-pulling: play an audio recording of howling, tell your dog they should "Howl", and reward when they do so. Do this at least fifteen times; eventually your dog should learn that "Howl" means forward progress rather than backward movement and will no longer react negatively when confronted by noise triggers such as sirens - leading to much more enjoyable walks for you both!
Sit
German Shepherds are herding breeds with an instinct to hunt. Because of this, they may become drawn towards small animals and people they pass while out walking; leashes can sometimes seem to derail this natural urge, leading them to pull on them frequently during walks.
Remind your dog not to pull on the leash by training him to sit whenever they start feeling the lead tighten. This will teach him that walking by your side means forward progress, and pulling must not be an option.
Start training your pet in a quiet area of your home using an established verbal cue that tells him/her it is time for walking - such as "LET'S WALK!" or any other word/sound you have trained them to respond to.
When your dog pulls on the leash, turn away from them and begin walking in an opposite direction slowly without jerking on it; your pup should follow you and you can guide them as necessary. Repetition throughout the day until your canine no longer pulls on their leash will do just fine.
Walk in Front of You
German Shepherds often pull on their leash because they have never been taught how to walk beside you. If your puppy or GSD has an unhealthy habit of pulling on its leash while being leashed walked, try breaking this pattern by teaching it how to stand and wait beside you while leash walking using either Stop and Stay or Turning methods to teach this new behavior.
German Shepherds often need physical exercise during walks to release any excess energy they've accumulated; this means pulling on the leash as soon as they feel you are moving too slowly to accelerate ahead. If they believe they are not moving quickly enough, they may pull ahead by pulling back.
GSDs possess a natural instinct to herd animals, which can spark their desire to pursue prey when they spot something like squirrels or small animals crossing their path while out on daily walks. If this happens often enough, your GSD may start yawning frequently while becoming eagerly excited for what's ahead - to prevent this, engage them in some exciting pre-walk games such as fetch or tug of war so they'll spend less energy pulling on leash.