Training a German Shepherd to Be a Service Dog

Meeka, a nine-week-old German Shepherd who will train to become a service dog.
GSDs are great service dogs because of their loyalty, intelligence and sense of protection.
Thanks to Dawn Phillips for sharing!

Training a German Shepherd to Be a Service Dog
Meeka, just woke up from her beauty rest

Did you know…

Although a service dog can be of any size or breed, the most popular service dog breeds today are Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, and German Shepherd.

In choosing a service dog you should first consider the personality. Your companion needs to be willing to work, calm and unafraid. It is recommended to get help from a professional service dog trainer if you are not an experienced trainer.

As a start, your pal needs to be trained in basic obedience. He/She has to be able to sit, lie down, come on cue and stay using either verbal cues or hand signal commands. One of the most popular ways to teach your dog specific behavioral traits is through clicker training. Your service dog should be able to follow basic obedience tricks even when no leash is on.