How to Clicker Train a German Shepherd Puppy

You can do this by not asking him to do anything yet. Simply click and then reward. This will help him associate the click with a good reward.

Begin with a task such as ‘sit’ or ‘down’. Guide your dog into the proper position using a treat or toy as a lure.

Any time your German shepherd makes positive progress towards a task or behavior, mark it with a click and reward him. He will soon make more and more progress as you encourage the right behavior.

Your German shepherd puppy will do best at the beginner levels if a reward always comes with the click. Later on, you can consider weaning him off of them, but consistency in the early stages is key.

After learning ‘sit’, move on to other commands that should be relatively easy to learn such as ‘down’, ‘speak’, and ‘stay’. These can help build a better foundation with clicker training.

Take your training outside or in a somewhat busy environment. Use these distractions to build your German shepherd’s focus on the clicker.

It can be difficult to focus on clicker training when there are distractions, so better or more rare rewards can be a helpful tool. Use real meats, or other dog-safe people food that can be exciting and new for your dog. New toys can also be used. Just be sure that every reward you offer your dog is safe for her to use.

Using clicker training to adjust your German shepherd to walk on a leash can be extremely rewarding for both you and her. Use the clicker to reward proper leash walking and other good behaviors when out and about.

Start rewarding only every other click to begin weaning your dog off of her reliance on treats.

Training sessions should still be short and sweet, balanced with both long walks and playtime to maintain a routine that promotes health and prevents your dog from becoming overwhelmed. Don’t try to ask too much from your dog all at once.

Remember to reward for positive behavior and ignore negative behavior. If your German shepherd is struggling to grasp a concept, you can begin again from the start. Try again as many times as you need to for her to understand.

Clicker training should only be a small part of your dog’s obedience training. Utilize other tools like chew or puzzle toys to keep his brain occupied when you can’t be there to train him.

German shepherds can be very athletically inclined and great at sports like dock diving, rally obedience, agility, or other similar sports. Use the clicker to adjust your dog to the tasks that are required for your preferred sport.

Use your clicker training sessions to teach your dog something useful like fetching newspapers or other household items. Alternatively, you can get him involved in more intense work such as search and rescue or begin training to become a therapy dog.

Let the treats become more and more rare until your dog is performing only for the reward of the sound of the clicker.

Practice your dog’s clicker training often to keep it fresh in his mind. The more you practice and use this in your day to day life, the more your German shepherd puppy will be able to perform later on without hesitation.