Netizens Offer Ideas On How To Train Hyperactive German Shepherd Without Trainer Or Treats

Well this doesn't sound like the best scenario for training.

Daphnie

• Published in Animal Stories
• March 17, 2024

Dogs are such interesting creatures and animals, but they also make amazing pets. They are loved by so many people, and dogs are one of the most common pets that people have, and for a good reason.

One thing that many people need to look into when it comes to getting a dog is training techniques, especially if you have a hyperactive dog or a big dog who could use it well with training. Ultimately, an owner's decision to train their dog is up to them, and it's definitely something that many owners want to consider.

In this case, we're looking into a question that was submitted by a dog owner who has a German Shepherd, they are looking for advice on how to train their dog who can't really be trained with treats, who is hyperactive, and they said that a trainer is out of the question. People had a lot to say in the comments as they answered their questions and gave tips.

It's somewhat difficult to train a dog in general, much less without treats or a trainer. If you're interested in seeing what people had to say in the comments about this and all of the answers and ideas to this question then keep on reading as we dive in and give you a full look into the post.

Here's the question that was asked in order to get all of these interesting answer responses.

This comment definitely said it best and gave OP a lot of real ways to help them out with this.

Training a hyperactive German Shepherd without the use of treats or a trainer can be a challenging task, but it is not impossible. Here are some tips that may help:

Establish a routine: German Shepherds thrive on routine, so establish a daily routine that includes regular exercise, feeding times, and training sessions.

Use positive reinforcement: While you cannot use treats, you can still use positive reinforcement to reward good behavior. Praise your dog with verbal cues such as "good boy" or "good girl" and give them plenty of physical affection, such as belly rubs or scratches behind the ears.

Use a clicker: A clicker can be a useful tool for training a hyperactive dog. Click the clicker when your dog exhibits good behavior, and then follow it up with praise.

Exercise: Make sure your dog is getting enough exercise. A hyperactive dog needs plenty of exercise to burn off excess energy. Take your dog for long walks, play fetch, or let them run around in a fenced yard.

Be patient: Training a hyperactive dog can be frustrating, so be patient and consistent. It may take some time, but with patience and persistence, your dog can learn to behave appropriately.

People really came in handy when it came to answering this question and giving all of their opinions.

Hi..lots exercise 2 hours per day split into two outings if possible play games dog running jumping frisby ball catching socialise him safely as much as possible with other dogs playing, you need to try and wear him out as near as possible with a gsd🤣 ,

Give the dog jobs to do like get slippers, socks, hair brush, anything to make the dog think and keep challenged,hide things in the house under cushions, stairs, settee ect and always reward a small high value treat e.g small cooked piece fresh chicken (oxo cube size) and always praise the dog make him sit first b4 treat.

Be consistent and regular with his training as much as possible he will look forward to it.

Always be calm but firm set boundaries and be kind to GSDs they don't like any form shouting hand raising or any form aggression towards them.

Diet defo..if diet to high in carbs it will make dog hyper eg carbs get converted into too high blood sugar. Will make dog hyper.. kibble is no good it's ultra highly processed junk food,it's convenience food with poor nutritional value.

Always wait 1 hour after vigorous exercise dog especially GSDs b4 feeding dog as they suffer with torque twisted stomach a serious condition..

Change diet if you can to either raw barf diet or a home cook fresh cooked meat,veggies sweet potato greens,fish,sardines boiled eggs and crushed shells,some brown rice,best diets.

I'm on my 3rd gsd I'm 68 my current one I got as a rescue 9 months old he was mad as a barrel full 🐒 he 6yrs now a balanced dog after lots of training + exercise 2+ hours day good healthy diet plenty mental challenges good socialisation with other people and other dogs.

Hope this helps you good luck.

Everyone seemed to have pretty good advice on this situation here.

If you seriously cannot afford training (you will also require training in how to handle a high energy dog), it may be best to look for a new home for your dog. Not every person and every dog is well-matched.

Some high energy dogs are best matched with a person who is a distance runner who needs a running companion. A new owner who has experience with GSDs, who has a large, safely fenced chunk of land would also be a good match.

You have a responsibility to your dog to find him a good owner who can handle the energy and activity this dog presents. Look for a GSD rescue group in your area to assist you in finding the right place for this dog. Some 4-H obedience training groups, or agility groups might also be helpful in finding a new and improved home for your dog.

This dog is not for a novice handler except possibly with expert supervision.

Getting an alternative for the rewards is going to be very beneficial here.

Training a hyperactive German Shepherd without treats or a trainer requires patience and alternative rewards. Use praise, toys, or activities as positive reinforcement. Focus on basic commands, mental stimulation, and structured exercise.

Join our Quora Space dedicated to dog training for more tips and discussions on managing and training hyperactive dogs effectively.

The terrible twos in dogs is definitely a thing.

He's at a age where some dogs get what is like the “terrible twos" for people. Especially large breeds can be full of energy, constantly into things, jumping all over people. Without training or treats i would suggest going to a dog park or taking a long walk, depending on the dog bike ride to get some of the built up energy out and then work with your dog on some things you want to teach him afterward, the dog should be able to focus more with getting energy out and associate his training work with the reward of getting to go out and walk or play at dog park.

We totally feel like there are a lot of things here that people touched on in the comments. There are definitely ways to train a dog especially a German shepherd who typically does have quite a lot of energy.

Hopefully, this helped the person asking the question.

Daphnie