What are the best training methods for German Shepherd puppies?

[Kaia Murphy]

Hi everyone,

Since I’m new to the breed, I’ve been trying to read up on the best ways to start training a GSD puppy. I keep seeing a mix of advice. Some say focus on socialization and obedience right away, others say let them be a puppy first and don’t worry too much until they’re older.

For those of you with experience, what worked best for you in the early months? Did you follow a certain method or trainer, or just stick to basics like sit, down, and leash walking?

I’d love to hear what you think is most important to focus on with a young shepherd so they grow up to be well-behaved and happy.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Malakai The Great]

Great question, Kaia. Honestly, the best approach with a young shepherd is to think of training as life skills rather than strict obedience drills. At 8 weeks, their brains are like sponges, so it’s less about “perfect sits” and more about building positive habits.

For me, the priorities were:

Socialization - Safe, positive exposure to people, places, sounds, and surfaces. Not just meeting dogs, but learning the world isn’t scary.

Engagement - Teaching the pup that looking to me brings fun. Games like name recognition, “come,” and short tug sessions go a long way.

Basic skills - Sit, down, place, and leash walking all in short, fun bursts. Sessions at that age are just a few minutes long, mixed into play.

Confidence building - Letting them explore, climb little obstacles, walk on new textures. Shepherds thrive when they learn to problem-solve young.

I’d say don’t worry about “being strict” right away. Keep it positive, keep it short, and focus on making yourself the most rewarding thing in their world. The formal obedience polish comes later, but the foundation of focus and trust starts on day one.

You’re asking all the right questions, and your future pup is going to benefit big time from the effort you’re putting in now.

 

[Kaia Murphy]

Great question, Kaia. Honestly, the best approach with a young shepherd is to think of training as life skills rather than strict obedience drills. At 8 weeks, their brains are like sponges, so it’s less about “perfect sits” and more about building positive habits.

For me, the priorities were:

Socialization - Safe, positive exposure to people, places, sounds, and surfaces. Not just meeting dogs, but learning the world isn’t scary.

Engagement - Teaching the pup that looking to me brings fun. Games like name recognition, “come,” and short tug sessions go a long way.

Basic skills - Sit, down, place, and leash walking all in short, fun bursts. Sessions at that age are just a few minutes long, mixed into play.

Confidence building - Letting them explore, climb little obstacles, walk on new textures. Shepherds thrive when they learn to problem-solve young.

I’d say don’t worry about “being strict” right away. Keep it positive, keep it short, and focus on making yourself the most rewarding thing in their world. The formal obedience polish comes later, but the foundation of focus and trust starts on day one.

You’re asking all the right questions, and your future pup is going to benefit big time from the effort you’re putting in now.

This makes so much sense, thank you for laying it out like that. I like the idea of focusing on life skills instead of worrying about perfect obedience right away. The confidence building part really stood out to me. I wouldn’t have thought of little obstacles or textures as training, but it sounds like such a fun way to help them grow.

Do you usually just mix those things into daily walks and playtime, or do you set aside training sessions for it?

 

[Malakai The Great]

This makes so much sense, thank you for laying it out like that. I like the idea of focusing on life skills instead of worrying about perfect obedience right away. The confidence building part really stood out to me. I wouldn’t have thought of little obstacles or textures as training, but it sounds like such a fun way to help them grow.

Do you usually just mix those things into daily walks and playtime, or do you set aside training sessions for it?

Glad that clicked for you, Kaia. Confidence building is one of those things that looks like play to us, but to a pup it’s a big deal. Walking across a wobbly board, stepping onto metal grates, or climbing over a small log might not seem like training, but it builds resilience that carries over into everything else.

As for how I fit it in, I do a mix of both. A lot of it happens naturally during walks or play. If we’re out exploring, I’ll let the pup climb something or sniff a new surface, then praise like crazy when they do it. That way training blends into daily life. But I also set aside a few short sessions each day (2–5 minutes) where the focus is on engagement games, basic commands, or shaping little challenges.

Think of it as layering training into their world rather than carving out big chunks of classroom time. Keeps it fun for them and easy for you.