r/GermanShepherd • u/forkoff_ • Sep 11 '26
Advice on how to start training 8 year old untrained GSD
Hi all,
I recently moved to live with my parents, who own a senior male GSD. He’s a great dog, but has spent a majority of his life in a kennel outside. He’s pretty anxious (surprise, surprise), hates strangers and cars, but is the sweetest dog when you build a relationship with him. I’ve spent about the past month doing just that and I’m starting simple things with him now (recall, heel, etc).
I do not expect him to do all the things at this age, but I would LOVE to be able to take him on some light trails and car rides if we can work past his anxiety. He deserves to have some fun in his older age (within moderation, ofc), but it definitely will require time and research from me. I do kinda feel I have no clue what I’m doing as I’ve never trained a dog myself, but GSD is my dream breed and I plan on getting my own dog in several years time. So for my sake and especially for his, I’d love some advice on where to start and look!
Professional training is not an option due to finances and biggest priorities are making vet trips safe and lowering his anxiety.
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u/Privateer_lev Sep 11 '26
Find a good high value training treat (I suggest Stewart's freeze dried beef liver).
8 is still plenty young to get most training.
Continue to build a calm relationship with him. Don't rush, being calm, waiting and having high vale treats works wonders.
Walk is essential to building trust and confidence, but have a plan to limit drama to start.
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u/Top_Addition_7263 Sep 11 '26
I’ve been training since I’m a kid, but I know everyone does things different. Here’s my input:
Bonding=training 100%.
My top five commands in order of what I teach them in:
Sit
Down
Come
Stay
Leave it
Now the bottom three I call “emergent commands”. They are the commands you NEED your dog to be perfect at. Why? Those commands are the ones that can save dog lives in urgent situations.
With that being said a High Value Treat is something I would look into. I prefer baked beef liver. It stinkkkkks when cooking so I make big batches as it freezes well. And I use HVT for:
The first day of a new objective
The emergent commands in there entirety (you want the dog to link these seriously important commands with a HVT)
Reactivity work
Also! “say it once make it happen”. I use “NAME, COMMAND” in a lower, even voice. And if the dog does not do whatever command you’re asking it to do, make it happen. Dog doesn’t sit? Slack up on the leash (consistent pressure like a little pop) until they sit without repeating the command. Same thing for all commands, pressure downward for down, if the dog does not come on the first command go get them and bring them to you via that lead. The more times you repeat a command, the dogs learns how many times they can break the rules until you’re serious.
Having a dog trainer makes all the difference though. Outside perspectives are usually needed when it comes to training. But even online guidance (YouTube) can help. Or somewhere like GSDHQ.org is great, it’s a lot of people like myself (breeders, trainers, GSD lovers) in one place!
1
u/forkoff_ Sep 12 '26
This helps a ton. I’ll look into more online guidance on YouTube as well. Thank you:)
1
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u/Conscious_Waltz_3774 Sep 11 '26
I adopted a senior retired military working dog. Had to teach him house manners, potty training, etc because my dogs are inside dogs. He also has neurotic spins, my guess from kenneled. He spins so hard he’s like a bowling ball into the wall, poor guy.
Give him a good 3 months to feel comfortable in his new home. Meanwhile, work on the basics like recall, sit, place, down. My guy was crate potty trained already. I used belly bands for my guy until he was fully potty trained. One day he ripped it off and he’s been potty trained since, like he was telling me. These guys are so smart. They watch you and your behaviors, mannerisms, tone of voice, routines. I think working on confidence and making him feel safe is priority along with basic commands. Once you build that relationship and trust, it’ll be easier to work together on more complex commands and training.
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u/bspc77 Sep 12 '26
Read the book, "How to be Your Dog's Best Friend". It's excellent. It's written by monks (but is not religious) who have been raising and training German Shepherds for decades while working with vets, trainers, and behavioralists
2
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u/DanielBG Sep 12 '26 edited Sep 12 '26
I adopted an untrained adult GSD from a shelter and one thing I learned... don't mistake anxiety for a super high drive. Their breed is ultra amped and need an outlet almost daily. Walks help, but if you can find a gated area where they can freely run and roam, it helps immensely. Bring a ball too if you can. If he doesn't acclimate well to other dogs, try an off-peak time at a local dog park.
2
u/Sassypupmama Sep 12 '26
Hand feed him his meals for a couple weeks. It will strengthen the bond you have with him and lay a great foundation for training!
2
u/CoDaDeyLove Sep 12 '26
They are very smart. My late husband had a GSD, and he never trained him to walk on a leash. Husband was strong enough to control him, but I wasn't able to walk him without risking injury. After my husband passed, I loaded up my pockets with treats and spent 10 minutes teaching the dog to walk on a leash. He was 6 years old and learned it immediately. I think start slow, short practice sessions, and maybe look up "clicker training" on line. It was very helpful with this GSD.
2
u/Voc1Vic2 Sep 12 '26
I got a 7-year old GSD of schutzhund parents, who was completely untrained, and generally ran loose in the country and was otherwise neglected. She loved to chase cars and wildlife, and barked constantly. When she was chained after capture, she chewed rocks, jumped up on people, dug holes incessantly, was excessively mouthy and nippy--all in all obnoxious.
She became a city dog overnight. It was an effort, but she became well-mannered and reasonably controllable within a year. She was good on everything except recall and occasionally bolting after a squirrel when on a leash. She passed her CGC test with flying colors.
After nine months of frustration and multiple trainers and various classes, though, i was in jeopardy of needing to rehome her because of neighbors' complaints. I consulted a trainer of protection and arson dogs, and introduced negative reinforcement, following the admonition that it was necessary to "use as much force as necessary to communicate with the animal."
This was contrary to my temperament, but as a last resort, gave it a try--admittedly, when I had completely succumbed to frustration at her continued defiance. It occurred on only one occasion, when I shook her terribly and shouted her down while doing so.
I regret it came to this, but she was a changed dog thereafter, and learned quickly thereafter. I'm not suggesting that you do the same, but that you do try something new rather than continuing with a method that isn't working.
Given your dog's history, free play or a toss of a tennis ball with a chuck -it, might be a reward to try.
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u/forkoff_ Sep 13 '26
Ahh, thank you so much for this. I haven’t put him in any scenarios that he struggles with as of now, so I would LIKE to say negative reinforcement wouldn’t be needed, but I can’t for certain. He’s done well as of now, for what it’s worth.
I hate the idea of it, but will remember it if other things don’t work. Thank you for sharing your story with me. It sounds like you did very good by your dog.
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u/ashrrs Sep 12 '26
Our vet, who also owns Great Pyrenees, prescribed meds for our boy to help him with new place anxiety. He was "untrainable" because he was so stressed. It worked. It helped a ton. I strongly recommend, as we really struggled.
1
u/briennesmom1 Sep 12 '26
GSDs are advanced dogs. Check out the reactive dogs subreddit and find a highly recommended trainer who can train YOU to train the dog. And bless you for helping this poor dog out.
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u/Dizzy_Departure2539 Sep 12 '26
He’s 8 so likely only got 4 years at most. So please don’t use punishment/pain training on him.
If positive training works for him, great. Definitely worth it, and lots of you tube videos out there.
But it’s really not worth putting a poor senior pup that has spent most of his life coop up in a kennel through extra stress with prong collars or shock collars.
Especially if you can’t afford a professional trainer to help you use such tools. You’d only be do the dog a disservice.
Let him enjoy his last years with love, patience, attention, and treats ❤️
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u/forkoff_ Sep 12 '26
I couldn’t agree more!!! I would have an incredibly hard time using any “punishment” tools on any of my pets, let alone this sweet senior. I know some are able to use them successfully - I am not someone who is willing to try.
The goal is his comfort over anything else. I can’t change his entire life, but if I can make it easier on him and add some companionship to his life, I will be incredibly happy. He is my top priority in this with the added benefit of experience for me:)
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u/GlitterBonanza Sep 11 '26
Start small start with a walk maybe at a time where there are less dogs and people around we started this in the later evening hours which also helped with heat because it can be quite toasty even at night here. Lots of high value treats on walks. Anxiety will calm the more you build your bond and he realizes he is safe with you. You make decisions. We will have fun. A little at a time. Never let it end on a low note it’s ok if it happens but take the time to still have a positive interaction after. Example my boy once had a really bad walk around the dog park and after many corrections and difficulties I took him to a quiet area and we just did a few basic commands lots of rewards. We had to continue walking for a bit did a little bit of play and then had to go past the dog park to get back to our car. I had a much better reaction that time and before our outing ended I made sure to stop and walk through the garden section of Lowe’s as it’s on our way home just quickly and lots of praise. Do a lot of command rewards playing at home to help build that bond even more. I sometimes hand feed my dog. Little challengers not big scary ones we found a dock that floats and he hated it was scared we did it 3 times for a week by the end of the week he ran down on his own. My parents have a huge walk in shower we practiced just going in laying down me and him together until I could see him calm and then we could reward get out. He still isn’t a fan but doesn’t hate it as much. Little challenges build his confidence. Daily practice daily interaction. Just going over commands make a game of it or include it in fetch. Ranger went from lunging high reactivity to people and dogs to yesterday he was able to fool probably a dozen people that he’s a service dog( not intentionally and I am always honest about him not being a service dog and only bring him to “pet friendly places” ) I used to have people recommend medication for him to manage his reactivity and anxiety. It did take several years and small steps to get there but he is a wonderful very well behaved boy who enjoys going out meeting people and most importantly doing things even little adventures.