Dog Training vs Socialization

Reviewed 16 April 2020

Big surprise!? Dog training is less important than socializing your dog!

And for the German Shepherd Dog breed, comprehensive socialization is essential because this dog has been bred to react to the faintest unfamiliar stimulus that could threaten the herd that the GSD is meant to guard. For a family dog, the herd is your family.

Now if you don't systematically socialize your dog then this dog will feel alarmed - and thus stressed! - upon so little as a neighor two roads away mowing his lawn - unless earlier your dog has seen and heard the neighbor mowing his lawn while with you and staying calm.

What your dog got accustomed to in the right setting will not alarm your dog. Everything else will.

The widespread lack of comprehensive socialization is the reason why many people (including city officials) consider the German Shepherd to be barking too much, or even to be an aggressive dog.

So make sure that your dog won't feel alarmed and stressed by ordinary situations, and that your dog won't cause needless restrictions of any kind: Socialize your dog to the MAX!

Many dog owners claim "my dog is very well socialized!", or worse they believe "my puppy is SO sociable, he greets and plays with every person!" - but in most cases I get to know, the dog owner couldn't be misled more:

Mark this and remember forever, recall it in your sleep:

There is a HUGE difference between the impression "very well socialized" and our comprehensive systematic socialization!

I've put a comprehensive socialization report in the Puppy Development Guide - Puppy 101. It even includes Checklists. You can use all of that for the adult dog too, in fact if you haven't followed my guidance, it's even more important for the adult dog.

Every day, your first thought should be: "What socialization can I provide to my dog today?"

And only your second thought should be: "What training repetition can we do today?"

dog-socializing-beats-dog-training-everytime

Don't worry if your first thought of the day is your spouse or your children (or the taxman). Just make sure it's not: "Which cool dog trick can I teach my dog today?"

Only once you're sure that comprehensive and systematic dog socialization is your first priority, give the right dog training some consideration too.

Learn also:

Veterinarian Reality

Meat is not what you think

Dog Fear

Socializing With Other Dogs

Behavior Training

If ever you appreciate the immense work to maintain this uniquely helpful house, feel free to donate a meal.
As .ORG we depend on your (rare!) donations: however small it helps, THANKS SO MUCH!

USD

PLEASE SHARE with your circle what we share with you:

Any problem with the social share buttons, PLEASE say here to help everyone.

Join the discussion

Stay with us and your dog will stay with you, both of you healthy and well-behaved.
If you are ever unhappy with anything we write, do or don't do, we want to be the first to know, thanks.

Disclaimer: Always apply your own common sense when you follow anyone's suggestions. As much as your dog is special (s)he may react different too. Note that for privacy reasons we do not use the everything infiltrating Google Analytics scripts. For a trial period we do currently use a Pinterest pixel to monitor ad spend versus referred visitors from Pinterest only: You can control your Pinterest privacy settings here. If you click through to a vendor and buy something, the vendor may share a commission with us or may not, only Amazon links always should.

© MYGERMANSHEPHERD.ORG - All content is protected. You must not copy or spin or otherwise change our content to republish it in your name, another one's name or without a name. If you wish to make use of our Intellectual Property Rights contact MYGERMANSHEPHERD.ORG. Thank you.