First Step to Training Your New Puppy!

In this comprehensive guide, I'll take you through the
foundational steps of obedience training with a German
Shepherd puppy, highlighting techniques that l've found
most effective for training any new dog. The session begins
with the basics of handling food for training, followed by a
detailed demonstration of using a food lure to encourage
your puppy to follow a straight line. This technique not only
engages your puppy but also lays the groundwork for more
advanced commands.
To kick off each training session on a high note, I'll share my
personal method for getting puppies excited about training
Using enthusiastic phrases like "Are you ready to train?"
poosts their eagerness and speeds up the learning process
Next, we'll progress to more complex maneuvers, teaching
your puppy to follow the food lure through six different
positions relative to the trainer. These include lateral
movements (left and right in front of you), heel positions on
both sides, a center position, and a backward follow, which
serves as a precursor to the recall command
A key focus of the training is the timing of praise and
rewards. Effective praise during the lure followed by
rewarding your puppy at the end of the movement
encourages them to re-engage with you, fostering a
dynamic where the dog feels they are leading the session.
This approach significantly boosts their motivation to train.
Additionally, we'll integrate sit and down commands within
each position and movement to generalize the training.
ensuring your puppy adapts to a variety of commands
seamlessly. To conclude each session, a clear "all done"
signals to your puppy that the training is over, helping them
distinguish between training and free time.
Throughout the first week of training, I repeat these
exercises about 35 times. Repetition is key to reinforcing
he training and ensuring the puppy grasps and responds
to the commands effectively. My approach emphasizes
engagement, repetition, and positive reinforcement, aiming
to establish a solid foundation in obedience and behavior
for the puppy.
This video serves as a step-by-step guide to beginning
your puppy's training journey, emphasizing patience,
consistency, and the importance of making training an
enjoyable experience for both you and your puppy.