German Shepherd Training and the Effect of Senses

German Shepherd training can be more effective when realizing that dogs have an extraordinary awareness of their environment.  Since canines are descendants of wolves, socialization and training are mandatory.  Wolves have a pack mentality with the alpha wolf being the leader.  If your pet is not trained properly and does not recognize a clear leader within the family dynamic, they will fill this position as the alpha dog.

When training a white German Shepherd, one must be cognizant of a canine's superior senses.  These may come into play in the form of distractions.  A dog can become alerted by a sound, a scent or motion.  For example, a dog may experience a loss in concentration when picking up a scent.  The German Shepherd has a remarkable sense of smell with some 200 million olfactory senses in their noses.  A human being has about 5 million in comparison. Olfaction is defined as the process of smelling.  A canine's sense of smell is so refined that they can detect different types of chemical molecules.   These include food ingredients, drugs and even bugs.  Studies show the German Shepherd breed has identified diseases such as cancer through the sense of smell and metabolic disturbances. An example of these scents include volatile organic compounds not found in healthy human tissue.

Other senses that may cause a loss of focus are the sense of sight.  Although a dog has trouble interpreting vibrant colors such as shades of red and green, they are excellent motion detectors.  In particular, the German Shepherd breed can see things moving at great distances because of the placement of their eyes. This wider field of vision is consistent with dogs that have longer noses.

Regarding hearing, it is said a dog can hear 4 times the distance of humans.  They can ascertain the location of sound quite quickly due to the eighteen muscles which operate the ears. Also dogs can hear at higher frequencies than people. The ears of the German Shepherd will tilt and rotate to the direction of the sound, since they are upright and curved.

Thus, it is important to find a quiet location, so your pet can focus. Here are some other tips:

• Keep the commands short.  One word commands should suffice.
• Train in a location relatively free from distractions.
• Be consistent with movements of your body.  Too many movements may be interpreted as new commands.
• Reward with treats immediately.  Keep treats out of sight until after achievement.
• Positive reinforcement and high praise are key.

The German Shepherd breed loves to learn and is eager to please.  Successful training makes for a loyal dog and lifelong friend.