German Shepherd Kennels | Banffyhaus

Feeding is an area that can be a real issue if not dealt with correctly. Overfeeding and free-feeding are just two issues. If you have any other questions please blog me and I will answer.

My goal is to make your life with your German shepherd as enjoyable as possible.

Banffy Haus German Shepherds: Correcting for Disobedience

November 15, 2012/0 Comments/in All Articles, German shepherd puppies, Training/Behavior /by [email protected]

Hello German Shepherd lovers: This is Dr. Banffy. This blog post covers proper correction for dog disobedience.

First of all you must first understand the appropriate level of correction for you specific dog. You must know the level of correction which will push them into avoidance and submissive behavior. Watch tell-tale signs such as ears back, tail between the legs, hunching down, urination and/or running away. If you see this type of behavior, you need try a lower level of correction.

Next, I am a true believer that a firm voice and a leash correction is all you need for training most dogs. We use a Herm Sprenger stainless fur saver to save the hair on the neck, and a 4 foot Amish leather lead to keep control. When you correct, use a firm, low voice, put slack in the lead and yank briskly up and to your left (that is if the dog is on the left as it should be). A well known saying in training circles is one firm correction is worth 1000 small ones. Dogs learn to adjust if you incrementally increase severity from gentle to firm.

You are probably saying that the last two paragraphs seem to have conflicting advice, don’t be too harsh yet be very firm. Well, it is a balance. But what I am saying is if you know their limit, then correct to that limit rather than below and then incrementally raising it.

What is so good about a leash correction as opposed to the hand or foot (which I don’t like even though many German trainers use it), is that you are less emotionally connected and less physically connected to the dog when correcting.

There are a few dogs that have to use a prong collar. Don’t be shy. It does not hurt the dogs. Never sharpen the tips of the prongs as some trainers do. And understand that the collar is made to evenly distribute the force around the neck.

And remember another important training tip. Never correct a dog who doesn’t yet completely understand the skill. Don’t use correction to teach the skill. It is a lot better to use motivation for that. Please visit our K9University for more useful articles and videos.

Finally, for German Shepherd puppies, until they are at least a few months old, use as much positive reinforcement as you can to develop a love for training.

German Shepherd Puppies: Saving them All

November 14, 2012/0 Comments/in All Articles, German shepherd puppies, German Shepherd: Miscellaneous Issues /by [email protected]

Hello German Shepherd lovers;

This is a blog to help some of you in your quest to “save them all”. First of all, we as breeders have to live with the hard fact that we can’t. But we always will try our best. I have saved puppies by giving mouth to muzzle (breathing gently into the mouth to expand their lungs), we have sutured ruptured umbilicals with dental floss where mom chewed too close, I have spent hours with a heating pad and blow dryer to save rigid puppies born outside in the freezing cold, I have verbally encouraged fading German Shepherd puppies, rubbed and massaged, been heartbroken when they die.

I just lost all five in a litter of five because I could not get oxytocin dispensed to me by my new vet. I spent hours at emergency and then aborted the dead puppy from the canal myself when the attending vet was too nervous about what my dog might do if she did it.

Look, very few people understand what we breeders do, lovingly cleaning our nurseries and dogs after whelping, stressing for days to make sure puppies make it past “fading puppy sydrome”, putting each pup on the nipple. The greatest joy I get from this all is hearing from my clients about some amazing story of how our dogs served them or protected them. I have some wonderful stories to share. I plan to write some tips for you hobby breeders to help “save them all” in the near future. Please watch on the blog and follow the new articles and videos posted to (click here) my K9-U.

We German Shepherd breeders have to live with the fact that we can’t save them all, but we can do what we do the best we can.