I purchased a nice blood lined German Shepard. He has a great personality is pretty fearless already. Nice and sound. He is a little startled of the ATV starting but I have only had him 3 days so its still new. I could call him and get him to come pretty close with it running.

I have not taught him anything but his name and come he has pretty down. I have 2 of the training DVDS I cant afford to buy them all yet.

He will be a protection dog and also a family pet.

Some of the things that were done differently. He does have a crate outside and I put him in at night sometimes to sleep and dont let him out, even though he criese for around 20-30 mins every 4 hours, however he doesnt use the restroom in there.
What steps should I take for partial crate training and teaching him not to cry at all?

He is also pretty well house trained.

I play tug with him and work on his drive and bite. What can you suggest or elaborate on the issue?

He does have free reign of the house and has gotten a good idea of the pack sturcture. My mother in law has watched the DVD and trains explicitly as instructed when I am at work.. He only has made a few mistakes in the house on the first day, but none since.


He is 12 weeks old. I dont want to break his spririt or overtrain him but I ant to make sure I am doing everything possible to have a balance between family and protection. ( I have been focusing on tug for 1-3 minutes and do not yell at him for biting hands etc just distract him with a toy then trade him for a treat.

I give him raw bones to chew whenever he wants but he has NO toys they are mine and he only plays with them with me. He pulls on pants toys etc and I allow him to but distract him with a toy then do the treat trick =)

What other suggestions do people have? I havent taught him to sit etc and was kinda waiting on those commands. I train him int he backyard off leash and collar at the moment but I have been putting on his collar and leash just today and let him walk around with it to get comfortable.

Any help would be appreciated.

I think first we have to agree on some definitions for words and terms, before I can answer your questions:

What do you mean by "protection dog"?

What do you mean by "partial crate training"?

What do you mean by "he does have free reign of the house"?

What do you mean by "pack structure"?

FOrgot to mention also have 3 other dogs in the house that he does socialize with but do not allow to run free with.

1. 2 are small dogs a cockapoo and a chiwawajwaw lol however you spell it its my girlfriends sister and other is a large pitbull mix (older dog) 2 are females and he gets along really well.

 Quote: alyssa myracle

I think first we have to agree on some definitions for words and terms, before I can answer your questions:

What do you mean by "protection dog"?

What do you mean by "partial crate training"?

What do you mean by "he does have free reign of the house"?

What do you mean by "pack structure"?

1. Protection dog as in will walk the paramter of the house when asked. Bark, attack and release on command and watch after the house and or family when asked. Also will take a fight response as oppsed to a flight response under stress.

2. Partial crate training. Where he is comfortable going in and out of the crate (this is where he is fed and watered) and doesnt mind to be placed in it when the family is doing other things or have poeple over.

3. Free reign of the house meaning very few doors are shut and he can walk around as his pleases. there are always a set of eyes on him wherever he goes as he follows me or my girlfriend around like a puppy (yes a pun was on purpose lol )

4. Pack structure meaning he knwos I am the dominant male of the house he seems to be getting when asked of the other 3 females to do something that he is suppose to do it.

Do you have a club or helper you plan to work with?

Yes I do.

I forgot his name off the top of my head. I got the dog from Shepard meadows and he and the gun shop where I frequent referred me to a trainer here close in daytona beach.

By the way thank you for such quick responses

When you remember the name, please let us know.

Will Rambeau, a moderator here, has a wealth of Personal Protection experience.

He will probably be the first to tell you that as a rule of thumb, Personal Protection dogs make poor family pets.

RE: Crate training
I would be taking him out to potty every three hours. Try to get to him before he cries.

RE: Training
It is never too early to being loading the marker. Have you read up on Marker training?

RE: Other dogs
If you intend to have this dog as a Personal Protection/working dog, I woud limit it's contact with other dogs (AND other people, for that matter).

Neutralization to strange people and animals comes a little later. In the first weeks, you want your dog to spend it's time primarily with you, building a bond with it's handler.

IMO, I would NEVER let a working dog play with other dogs.
There is zero reason to do so; at best, the dog doesn't benefit from it. At worst, you can end up causing significant problems or even ruining your pup.

My recommendation would be to always have the dog on a collar and leash when he is out of his crate. On leash in and out of the house.

All in all, it sounds like you are doing quite well bringing the pup into the home, but there may be some changes needed if this dog is to be a working dog.

I will as soon as I can remember his name.

Is there a way to balance the family dog/ personal protection?

Maybe I was unclear on the protection intentions. I dont need a full blow protection dog just building the foundation so he can have training for reactiosn to mood temperant. FOr instance someone comes to the door in the middle of the night and intentions were poor. The dog would react in a manner of protection and not back down.

I will work on the crate training. I can set my alarm for every 3 hours and let him out.

He has no contact with people other than the 4 of us. If anyone else comes around I allow him to bark commend him and I walk outside with him and keep the contact to nil.

He has 3 acres to protect and mainly the girlfriend and rest of the family as well as the house when we are not around.

Again I appreciate the quick responses.

Here is his pedigree:

http://shepherdsmeadow.info/German-Shepherd-Dams-Breeder-Florida-pagemaster-view_page-14-29:5.htm

Blanka is the Dam

http://shepherdsmeadow.info/German-Shepherds-Our-Dogs-Sires-pagemaster-view_page-13-5:5.htm

Opus is the Sire