Is It Ever Too Late To Train A German Shepherd?

German Shepherds are loyal dogs known for their intelligence, bravery, and obedience , but is there an age when a dog can’t learn new commands? Many of us have probably heard the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” but is there any truth to this?

Is it ever too late to train a German Shepherd? It is never too late to train a German Shepherd as long as the trainer is dedicated, confident, open-minded and knowledgeable. It may require some adaptations of the owner’s methods, patience, and consistency, but even an old dog can be trained and taught to obey new commands.

There are many rescue dogs or adopted senior dogs that have not received proper training during their puppy years, and in order for the pet to live in your home, you will need to establish some general obedience. The good news is that it is never too late to start training a German Shepherd or any dog. As long as the owner is dedicated, motivated and patient, a dog of any age can be taught basic commands or new tricks.

There are even some advantages when it comes to training an older German Shepherd compared to training a puppy. If you want to ensure the best chance of success, as a coach, you will have to apply the right knowledge.

We will also look at some disadvantages of training an older German Shepherd, how to socialize an older dog, and how to address any misbehavior. Read below to find useful tips and advice when it comes to train your biggest German shepherd, because never is too late !

See also:

• German Shepherd Training
• German Shepherd Does Something Fun In His Training
• Easy To Train German Shepherd Is It Simple To Train?

Resources to Help Train an Old German Shepherd

One of the best resources available for training a dog, regardless of age or breed, is an obedience class. Obedience classes are not there just to help dogs learn new commands, but these classes also help us as trainers learn methods of how to better communicate with our dogs and achieve desired results. If the owner is not knowledgeable and does not know what to do, then the dog is not likely to learn!

Obedience classes put your dog in an environment full of distractions, from other adults, children, and of course many different dogs. It is a great environment to learn because the dog needs to learn to focus on you and realize that it cannot be distracted by other things.

For anyone who has a well-behaved puppy when working at home, but has chosen to listen to commands when in public, obedience classes help the dog learn to obey, even with all the distractions around him.

When it comes to training, consistency is the key. Even if you attend an obedience class, it is important to keep practicing. Just as humans need repetition to perfect and memorize a skill, you need to work consistently with your German Shepherd.

How To Train Any Dog The Basics!

If you don’t want to attend an obedience class, there are several books and resources available online to help you become a better coach. The more knowledge you can apply to your training methods, the more chances your old German Shepherd will have to pick up on new commands. Some guides are specifically designed for clicker training , which can be a successful way to train some dogs. More on this later in the article.

The biggest advantage of training a dog is remembering that you, as the trainer, are responsible for most of the work. German Shepherds are especially eager to learn and highly intelligent, regardless of their age, but if you are not able to take advantage of your dog’s learning style and consistently enforce training, then it will be difficult for him to remember the new commands.

The best method to train an older dog

If you adopted your German Shepherd later in life, you may not know what kind of obedience training or experience he has had in the past, if any. Some dogs have had little to no training, while others may have endured more abusive homes and are scared and unsure of how to behave in a new environment.

Whether you have the dog as a puppy and you are late to the training game, or you have rescued an older dog, positive reinforcement is the best method of training a German Shepherd. This means that you repeatedly reward your dog when he responds to something you want him to do. That way he is likely to repeat the behavior since he knows he will get something he likes, such as a tasty treat.

Find out what kind of treats your dog likes, as long as they are healthy, and use them as a reward when he obeys a command or takes the desired action.

Other rewards for obedience may include giving your dog his most treasured toy, a short period of his favorite play, or even periods of affection if your dog loves to snuggle.

Positive reinforcement works to build a better relationship between you and your German Shepherd.

Negative reinforcement is just the opposite, that is, you take something, such as a gift or a toy. It involves providing an unpleasant experience to the dog so that you can turn off the unpleasantness when he complies.

An example is the use of unethical shock collars. In fact, these necklaces are now banned in several countries, including the UK, Germany, Scandinavia, parts of Canada, and parts of Australia, to name just a few.

Negative reinforcement can lead to confidence issues and instill fear in the dog, who typically does not cultivate a healthy and successful training regimen. Keep things nice and pleasant, and your dog will obey because he knows it will make him happy and result in a positive experience for him – instead of obeying out of a sense of avoidance and fear of consequences.

It can be a lot of work to train an old German Shepherd who has spent years living with some idea of ​​what is allowed, through no fault of his own. The sooner you can begin to address any socialization and behavior issues and consistently work on positive reinforcement training, the sooner your dog will learn the new rules.

Can I use clicker training with my adult German Shepherd?

A common form of training that uses positive reinforcement is clicker training. This involves a small, inexpensive clicker that creates a distinctive clicking sound when depressed. It is a quick auditory cue to tell your dog that he did something right, such as saying “good dog” or “yes” out loud. It can be a more effective way to train than treatments alone.

Some of the advantages of using a clicker are that it is cheap, easy to obtain, and once learned, it can help to replace the treats as a form of positive reinforcement, however you will have to use the treats and the clicker when you start out.

This is great for dogs that are struggling with weight issues or have other health conditions that don’t make constant reinforcement with treats a viable option. The treats are only used to initially condition the response and then sporadically as needed to maintain the effectiveness of the clicker.

Clicker training can work well with older German Shepherds, as well as puppies. For the best chance of success, make sure your dog is alert and hungry when you start to introduce the clicker. You also need to make sure that your environment is positive and calm.

The key to training of the clicker is the timing and just clicked immediately after the desired behavior.

If the clicker is used too late or at the wrong time, the dog may associate the positive reward with the wrong action. In this sense, it is as important for the trainer to be attentive and consistent with the clicker as it is the responsibility of the dog to respond.

Adult dogs can easily adapt to clicker training methods, even with more advanced commands. As a coach, just remember that the clicker is not a substitute for praise or reward. Remember to continue to give your German Shepherd the love and praise he needs to maintain his strong bond and his overwhelming desire to obey and please him.

What is a training session and can it help train a senior dog?

Training sessions are simply specific windows of time that are reserved for working on particular commands with your dog. Sessions are usually short, with a structured plan to achieve a particular goal. Training sessions are great when starting to train a specific command, but can also be used throughout your German Shepherd’s life to refresh and maintain consistent obedience training.

Older dogs can definitely benefit from training sessions and they act as a compromise between you and your dog to work together. They can be used not only to establish basic training commands, such as “sit” and “stay,” but also to impart more advanced techniques such as “turn around” or “speak.”

Training sessions are best when they are short. If a session takes too long, your German Shepherd will become disinterested and easily distracted, leading to mistakes and a waste of time. Be efficient with your sessions and keep them in short, manageable segments of 15 minutes or less. This is best accomplished by teaching one command at a time.

When training a German Shepherd in a session, regardless of age, it is important to ensure that the time is well spent, and that your dog does not become too overwhelmed. For this reason, try to practice in a quiet place with minimal distractions to begin with.

As your dog becomes better trained, he will be better prepared for greater distractions like family members, other dogs, or even a squirrel running up a tree! Always try to end training sessions on a positive note, even if your dog has failed to achieve the desired goal.

You should always give your dog some kind of praise, so if he doesn’t seem like he’s getting the new order, try an easier one he already knows about, and still reward him. Not only will this help reinforce the familiar command, but it will also keep the training session fun and interesting. Remember consistency is key, so you need to reinforce training even outside of training sessions. This will allow your dog to continue learning.

Advantages of training an older dog compared to a puppy

There are several benefits to training an older German Shepherd, especially if you have had the dog for some time. Older dogs are more likely to recognize some basic commands already. Even if they don’t know any commands , they probably know some basic words like “no” and “good dog.”

Older dogs often have a longer attention span than young puppies, too. They can also be faster at picking up words and actions:

Old dogs can learn new tricks! In fact, old dogs can be easier to teach. They are likely to have a greater attention span and more concentration than a young puppy. Also, teaching your older dog new things can help keep his mind sharp and decrease signs of senility.

Harmony Peraza, Técnico Veterinario, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

Adult dogs, especially if they have an established relationship with you, are often more eager to please. This means that they love spending time with you and they like the time they spend training and working on new skills more. German Shepherds are known for their loyalty and have an intense desire to please their owners. Therefore, they are eager to participate in any kind of training.

As mature German Shepherds tend to have a higher level of concentration than puppies, they can be very enthusiastic when it comes to training. You can often tap into your natural instincts to tailor training to your needs. German Shepherds have an amazing work ethic and are eager to get any job done or task done.

Disadvantages of training an older dog?

There really are n’t many downsides when it comes to training an older dog, and as long as the trainer has patience and dedication, an older German Shepherd can learn most of the commands and new skills – it’s never too late for them to learn!

However, one consideration is that older dogs may sometimes be unable to perform certain desired skills due to health problems that can arise with advanced age.

For example, an older German Shepherd is more likely to have joint pain like arthritis. So it can be a bit slower at executing commands, even easy ones like “sit down.” Steady going up and down can be hard on the hip and elbow joints, so it may take a little longer for your dog to obey.

Don’t assume too quickly that he is disobeying simply because he moves a little slow. Remember also that the German Shepherd breed is prone to hip dysplasia, however, not all dogs will suffer, but about 20% will have bad hips.

Certain tricks may be too unrealistic for an older dog to pull off. For example, if you want your shepherd to be able to jump off your back to catch a frisbee, he may simply no longer have the physical ability to do so. When considering your training, keep your dog’s age and capabilities in mind when attempting more intense activities and skills.

Older dogs may also need to be ‘untrained’ in previous bad behaviors, such as jumping on furniture or people, as they don’t want this behavior in their home! This is not necessarily impossible to unlearn, but it will be more difficult. However, with a lot of patience and persistence, it can be done.

How to socialize an adult German Shepherd?

The best time to socialize a dog is when it is in its early stages of development as a puppy. Unfortunately, this is not always possible, and sometimes it ends up with an adult dog that has not been properly socialized and has trouble accepting anything new, be it experiences, people, or other dogs or pets.

The good news is that an older dog can still be socialized, however the dog’s previous experience, temperament, and adaptability must be considered. Exposing an unsocialized adult German Shepherd to a new environment should be taken in stride to avoid any fear or aggression in the dog:

‘Simply exposing adult animals that have not been exposed to social situations at an early age will probably not meet their needs. These animals can benefit from individual paced intervention programs. ‘

American Veterinary Medical Association

One way to start socializing your adult dog is to slowly introduce him to other dogs, first by taking a walk. You don’t need to get close to every dog ​​and human that passes, but if your German Shepherd greets another dog when you’ve been walking for a long time, he will probably have less pent-up energy, and any encounter will be much quieter.

If your shepherd barks or has a negative behavior while you are with other dogs or humans, do not yell at him or throw him forcefully. This will only excite him even more and create a negative experience that he will learn to relate to when meeting others.

If you feel like your dog is about to bark or lash out at another dog, it ‘s important to do it at the right time in training by correcting the unwanted behavior just before it occurs . Use positive reinforcement with treats and / or a clicker as mentioned above.

Remember that when socializing an adult dog, it is important not to overwhelm him by asking for too much at one time. Don’t let your dog loose in the crowded dog park and hope for the best! This could be a disaster. Try to spend time on at least one controlled social interaction per week, gradually increasing it as you progress.

Obedience classes can be another helpful resource. Not only does it provide a structured, calm and controlled environment to meet other dogs, but it also allows you, as a trainer, to learn techniques to help your German Shepherd adjust, as well as acquire other skills and commands to teach your dog. .

Why has my adult dog started to show bad behavior and what can I do?

Sometimes an adult German Shepherd who has been relatively obedient for most of his life can suddenly start to misbehave again. Maybe you’ve started chewing on your wooden furniture, or shoes, or maybe you’re peeing inside. What would normally be expected and considered normal for puppies can be an unwanted trait in older dogs. So what does this mean?

If an older dog begins to misbehave, it can be for a number of reasons. Dogs often behave as an emotional complaint, whether out of boredom, loneliness, anxiety, or simply to get attention. Some German Shepherds are known to be clingy .

If your dog tells you that he is not feeling well, he needs your intervention. So instead of getting angry and punishing him, you should take steps to eliminate bad behaviors and make your dog more relaxed and content.

If your dog is acting out of boredom or a need to dissipate excess energy, then you should start incorporating more activities into his day to help ease his pent-up energy. Some breeds, like the German Shepherd, naturally have higher energy levels, and no amount of training and discipline will reduce this!

Instead, make time to exercise your dog, and that doesn’t just mean walking on a leash! German Shepherds need a variety of physical exercise, such as fetching, frisbee, off-leash running and playing, agility, or obstacle courses. A minimum of 2 hours per day is the norm. In addition to this, pastors also need a lot of mental stimulation that must be incorporated into their daily routine.

Make sure to reward your dog for any good behavior. This will reinforce the positive and desired behaviors and give you the attention or treatment that you are probably wanting. When your dog shows unwanted behavior, turn and walk away and pay him no attention. Since most bad behaviors are a way for the dog to seek attention, do not reward bad behavior.

An adult dog training class can be a great way to take the frustration out of teaching a disobedient German Shepherd. Obedience classes give your dog attention, exercise, and a sense of purpose.

They also give you the opportunity to socialize with other dogs and people. Obedience classes can also help you, the trainer, learn how to deal with your dog’s behavior and positively support good behavior.

conclusion

Even if you decide to adopt an untrained German Shepherd or have never properly trained your own puppy, it is never too late! Here are some key points from the article:

• Older dogs can be trained, but the trainer will have to show consistency and patience.
• Obedience training can help both the dog and the owner.
• Use positive reinforcement and consider using a clicker.
• Keep training sessions short and structured.
• There are some benefits of training an elderly German Shepherd.
• Older dogs can still be socialized, however take it easy at first.

German Shepherds are wonderful dogs, regardless of their age. They can learn new commands and tricks both as puppies and as adults. This is due to their intelligence and their intense loyalty to you, their owner.