The East European Shepherd Dog is one of the most popular breeds of service dogs. It is an excellent caretaker and protector, as well as a companion that can be kept in families with small children. But those qualities that were originally inherent in the representatives of this breed must be revealed and developed with the help of education and training.
When and according to what program to start training
Training and education of a puppy begins as early as 2-3 months, almost immediately after he appeared in your house. You must decide for yourself what kind of training you need. If you are not going to show the dog, you can use a less formalized command system and conduct the training course yourself, especially when you already have the appropriate skills. In the event that the dog is planned to be presented at exhibitions, it is better to attend with it special classes, individual or group, in which the main course of training it will take place under the supervision of an experienced instructor. This is also required if you want your dog to "work" as a protector and guard.
How to train an East European Shepherd on your own
In the event that you have taken on the role of a trainer, you should immediately understand that, despite the innate intelligence, the dog will rarely understand everything the first time, so you need calmness and patience. You should also understand that neither shouting nor raising your voice will increase the effectiveness of the perception of commands - the dog has excellent hearing, it will hear you anyway. Therefore, the environment in the classroom should be businesslike and calm, in this case both you and your dog will enjoy them. Needless to say, in such an atmosphere, after 4-5 months you will easily be able to master the basic training course.
The first classes should be carried out in an environment of the greatest comfort for the animal, when nothing will distract him, then they should take place in any conditions and in any weather. The time of the lessons is before feeding, when the incentive reward is a delicacy, is of interest to the puppy and is a good incentive for the correct execution of the command.
You should know that East European Shepherd Dogs have an innate tendency to push the boundaries of what is permissible - they will always test you. Therefore, a steady hand and inflexibility in requirements should be the main elements of education, especially during the period of self-determination, when the dog is trying to realize his status in the pack, which is your family for him. Your task is to make her obey you unquestioningly, not because she is afraid, but because you are an authority, and she likes to show you her quick wit and ability to clearly do what is required of her. Encouragement and affection are fundamental to the training of dogs of any breed.
