Best Dog Training in Sacramento
What is the difference between a good dog and a bad dog?
The answer is simple. There are no good dogs and bad dogs — just good and bad training.
And when it comes to intelligent and strong breeds like German Shepherds, good training could not be more important. Unfortunately, many people mistake poorly-trained German Shepherds for being bad dogs, even though this could not be further from the truth. After all, dogs are inherently pack animals, and they crave structure instinctually as a result. Dogs that misbehave and readily disobey commands are dogs that have not properly been shown their place in the pack nor how to act when with others.
Healthy and happy dog-owner relationships therefore come from time and discipline. It’s also important to acknowledge that dogs are safer and more content when they are well-trained, as adhering to a simple command can keep them out of harm’s way.
Whether you already own a German Shepherd or are looking to bring one into your family, here are some things you should know about training them:
Professional Training Can Do What Home Training Cannot
Even if you’ve trained multiple other dogs on your own, it’s common to find yourself running into unforseen barriers with German Shepherds. Even if you’ve had success with other dogs of the same breed, it’s important to understand that canines have individual and unique personalities — what worked for Fido may not work at all for Rex. An experienced professional trainer knows how to spot differences in dogs’ personality and learning ability early on and can adapt their technique accordingly.
It’s also important to understand that professionals (like those of us at the German Dog Training Center in Sacramento) are able to cover not just the training basics but more advanced levels in order to help dogs reach their full potential. It’s also important to understand that the training doesn’t end with the pros — a good trainer always makes sure the owner can take the lessons home and build a strong, responsive relationship with their dog.
Basic Obedience Training is a Crucial Foundation
All dogs should have the basics down, especially if you want to be able to build a strong relationship with them. Basic obedience training consists of general commands like sit, down, heel, come, etc. This training is taught with positive reinforcement and is primarily done on-leash. All dogs should learn to feel comfortable while on a leash, never tugging or trying to “lead” their owner (signs of poor training).
It’s always preferable to train dogs in the basics right from the start (when they’re young), but it is possible to train older dogs with a lot of focus.
The German Dog Training Center is regarded as having not just the best dog training in Sacramento, but also among the best in the world. While it all starts with the basics, this training should be viewed as a foundation upon which more extensive training can be built.
Going Beyond Basic Obedience Benefits All Dogs (and Dog Owners!)
Again, the training shouldn’t stop at the basic level, especially for our strong-willed fur friends. German Shepherd training in particular can extend far beyond the basics, and that is why the German Dog Training Center also offers intermediate training courses (involving off-leash commands with positive reinforcement) and advanced obedience training that teaches dogs to avoid distractions and follow more precise commands. All of this training is meant to be reinforced at home so the dog can not only stay educated and obedient but also foster a strong bond with their owner/family. That said, refresher courses are always available.
Additionally, it’s not uncommon for dogs to have individual problems that need tackling (again, they have unique personalities). Fortunately, you can bring them in for custom behavior correction and training courses to address these areas more thoroughly.
To learn more about German Shepherd training and its importance, don’t be afraid to reach out to the professionals at the German Shepherd Dog Training Center in Northern California. We’ve been both breeding and training German Shepherds for almost 40 years, and our dogs are internationally recognized.