Dog Health Questions: Dog Training question, would appreciate all input?

So, I'm about to get a puppy. He's a white German shephard/ Yellow lab mix. Half of each. I would like some training tips, and any other tidbits that anyone would like to add about the breeds! Much appreciated!

Dog Training Tips

Recommended Answer:
You're ahead of the game, most people wait until they are in over their head before they learn anything about raising a puppy. Do as much reading and research as you can ahead of time. Ian Dunbar (a top trainer & founder of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers) has a free PDF book titled "Before You Get Your Puppy" that would be a good place to start.

See the resource links below:

http://www.clickertraining.com/node/3140 (great article with tips on developing positive associations with the crate)

Books:

Before you get your puppy -- Ian Dunbar (free PDF available at http://www.siriuspup.com/beforebook.html )

Puppy Whisperer- Paul Owens

(just a few other essentials are "the Other End of the Leash - Pat McConnell" "Don't Shoot The Dog - Karen Pryor" "Reaching the Animal Mind - Pryor")

Websites:

http://www.clickertraining.com/ (some good resources, books, vids, supplies, articles)

http://www.karenpryoracademy.com/find-a-… (all are top notch trainers you could hire to help you get started)

http://www.apdt.com/petowners/ts/default… (more trainers, give preference to certified trainers -- see their article on choosing a trainer, lots of other info on the site also)

http://positively.com/dog-training/find-… (newer trainer database from Victoria Stilwell with a few well screened trainers)

http://www.youtube.com/user/JBHollingswo… (my YouTube, look at my recommended pages and subscriptions for some great pages for training tips & general info-- KikoPup's videos are an amazing free resource)

http://www.dogmantics.com/Dogmantics/Hom…

Dog Training DVD, A Great Investment in Your Dog

• Exercise.
  
  Don't expect too much of a puppy, but do set ground rules from the very beginning and follow them- consistency is key.
  
  The most important things a puppy can learn are "good dog", "No!", and the connection between those phrases and their actions.
  
  Reward or punishment, for a puppy, should be immediate. If the puppy sits, then thinks about something else or does something else, and then you reward him, the pup has no idea why you're doing it. Make it easy for the dog to see the connection- the younger the puppy, the faster the response has to be.
  
  Make it easy for the dog to do the right thing, and make sure to repeat until you're sure the puppy knows exactly what it has to do- then repeat some more. Keep training sessions short and sweet, and run over things you've done before.


• - German shepherds and labs are both very intelligent animals so it should be easier to train.
  - Reinforce with treats and praise your dog when he does something right during training.
  - They have some really good books out there that offer advice.
  - Watch dog training shows on Animal Planet. You can get some really good stuff. There's a great show called the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic channel. He gives tips and things.


• Both breeds are easy to train, so you should not have any problems there, although labs have a tendency to mature late. Here is a training site with lots of fun things to teach your puppy;
  http://www.dogtrainingbasics.com
  click on "articles' next to the picture and scroll down for something that tickles your fancy.


• if it is still a puppy then it will be easy to train..plus the mixing of breeds.. hope this helps


• take to a professional and learn how to train
  get books, read
  talk to every one you can
  need to research both breeds and guess from there


• School!! Well puppy training school! It also helps to socialise dogs which is always a good thing when it's a larger breed.