Strong foundations start with the right commands. These essentials build safety, focus, and cooperation every German Shepherd needs early on.
Walk into any professional dog training facility and you’ll see German Shepherds excelling at everything from basic obedience to complex protection work. There’s a reason police departments, militaries, and search and rescue teams choose this breed. They’re learning machines wrapped in fur.
But here’s the thing: that incredible trainability means nothing without proper guidance. A bored, untrained German Shepherd will invent their own jobs, and trust me, you won’t like their career choices. These five commands are non-negotiable if you want a happy dog and a peaceful home.
Command #1: Sit
Let’s start with the MVP of dog commands. Sit is the foundation upon which your entire training program rests. It’s simple, versatile, and incredibly useful in about a thousand daily situations. Your German Shepherd jumping on guests? Sit fixes that. Pulling toward another dog on walks? Sit creates space. Begging at the dinner table? You guessed it.
The beauty of this command lies in its simplicity. German Shepherds typically pick up “sit” within a few training sessions because it’s a natural position for them. Start by holding a treat close to your dog’s nose, then slowly move it up and back over their head. As their nose follows the treat, their rear end naturally lowers. The second that butt hits the ground, praise enthusiastically and deliver the reward.
Teaching “sit” first isn’t just convenient; it’s strategic. Every other command builds on the patience and focus your dog develops while mastering this fundamental skill.
Consistency is everything here. Use the same word every time (don’t switch between “sit,” “sit down,” and “park it”), and practice in different locations. Your GSD might nail it perfectly in your living room but act confused at the park. That’s normal. Dogs don’t generalize well at first, so you’re essentially teaching them that “sit” means the same thing everywhere.
Here’s a breakdown of the typical learning timeline:
| Training Stage | Timeframe | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Understanding | 2-3 days | Dog begins to associate word with action; needs treat lure every time |
| Partial Reliability | 1-2 weeks | Dog sits with lure most of the time; beginning to respond to verbal cue alone |
| Solid Foundation | 3-4 weeks | Dog sits reliably in familiar environments with verbal cue |
| Generalization | 6-8 weeks | Dog sits consistently in various locations and with moderate distractions |
Once your German Shepherd has mastered sit in low distraction environments, gradually increase the difficulty. Practice at the park, during walks, when the doorbell rings. The goal is a dog who will plant their rear end on command regardless of what’s happening around them.
Command #2: Stay
If sit is the foundation, stay is the scaffolding that lets you build something remarkable. This command teaches impulse control, and impulse control is what separates civilized dogs from chaos agents. German Shepherds are energetic and eager, which makes stay particularly challenging and particularly important.
Start small. Have your dog sit, then hold your hand up (palm facing them) and say “stay.” Take one step back. If they hold position for even two seconds, return to them immediately and reward. I cannot stress this enough: you return to them. Don’t call them to you, or you’ll accidentally teach them that stay means “wait until I call you.”
The most common mistake? Progressing too quickly. Your German Shepherd might hold a stay perfectly for five seconds at three feet away, and you think, “Great! Let’s try twenty feet!” Then they fail, you’re frustrated, and they’re confused. Instead, increase either distance OR duration, never both simultaneously.
Stay isn’t about dominance or showing your dog who’s boss. It’s about building their confidence and self-control, teaching them that good things come to those who wait.
Here’s the progression that works for most GSDs: increase duration first while staying close. Work up to a full minute at three feet. Then increase distance gradually while keeping duration shorter. Once they’re reliable at both, add distractions. Yes, it’s tedious. Yes, it’s worth it.
Practice stay during real life moments, not just formal training sessions. Make your dog stay before going through doorways. Have them stay while you prepare their food bowl. Use it before crossing streets or approaching other dogs. The more you integrate this command into daily routines, the stronger it becomes.
Command #3: Come (Recall)
Let me be blunt: a reliable recall can save your dog’s life. German Shepherds are curious, athletic, and fast. If your GSD slips their leash and sees something interesting across a busy street, “come” is the only thing standing between you and tragedy. This command is non-negotiable.
The challenge? Come requires your dog to stop doing something interesting and return to you instead. You’re competing with squirrels, other dogs, fascinating smells, and every distraction the world offers. That’s why you need to make yourself the most exciting thing in your dog’s universe.
Never, and I mean never, call your dog to you for something unpleasant. Don’t use “come” before nail trims, baths, or ending fun activities. Your recall should mean “something awesome is about to happen.” Every. Single. Time. In the beginning, that means high value treats (real chicken, cheese, hot dogs) and enthusiastic celebration.
Start training recall indoors with zero distractions. Call your dog from a few feet away using their name followed by “come!” When they reach you, jackpot them with multiple treats and genuine excitement. Act like they just won the lottery. Gradually increase distance and add mild distractions.
Your recall reliability is directly proportional to your consistency in rewarding it. The day you stop making “come” worthwhile is the day your dog stops coming.
Here’s a progression plan:
| Environment | Distance | Distraction Level | Success Rate Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indoor (familiar) | 5-10 feet | None | 100% |
| Indoor (familiar) | 20-30 feet | Mild (toys visible) | 95% |
| Outdoor (fenced) | 10-20 feet | Moderate (grass, smells) | 90% |
| Outdoor (fenced) | 30+ feet | High (other people, dogs at distance) | 85% |
Practice recall multiple times daily in short bursts. Five successful recalls scattered throughout the day beats one twenty minute session. Use a long training leash (15-30 feet) when transitioning to outdoor environments so you can prevent your dog from learning that ignoring you is an option.
Command #4: Down
Down takes sit to the next level. It’s a more submissive, relaxed position that’s perfect for settling your German Shepherd in various situations. Need them calm at a cafe? Down. Want them to stop losing their mind when visitors arrive? Down. It’s also an excellent position for grooming, vet visits, and those moments when you need your dog to just chill out.
German Shepherds sometimes resist down initially because it puts them in a vulnerable position. They’re protective by nature, and lying down means they can’t react as quickly to perceived threats. Be patient. This is normal.
Start with your dog in a sitting position. Hold a treat in your closed fist and lower it straight down to the ground between their front paws. Their nose will follow. As their head goes down, their elbows should follow. The instant they’re fully down, mark it with “yes!” and release the treat. Some dogs figure this out immediately; others need several sessions.
If your GSD is stubborn about it, try luring them under a low obstacle like a chair or your bent leg. They’ll have to lie down to get underneath. Capture that position with your marker word and reward.
Make down a comfortable, positive experience. Practice on soft surfaces initially. Reward generously. Some trainers recommend teaching “down” and “stay” separately before combining them, which prevents confusion. Your German Shepherd should understand that down means lie down, while stay means hold your current position.
Use down strategically throughout the day. Have your dog down while you eat, while watching TV, during work calls. It teaches them that calm, settled behavior earns rewards and attention. This is especially valuable for high energy German Shepherds who think life is one continuous excitement fest.
Command #5: Leave It
Leave it might be the command that prevents the most emergencies. German Shepherds are mouthy breeds who investigate the world with their teeth, especially as puppies. Combined with their size and strength, this creates endless opportunities for disaster. Poisonous plants, dropped medication, chicken bones on sidewalks, dead animals, garbage, aggressive dogs, these are all things your GSD needs to ignore on command.
This command means “don’t touch that thing, even though you really want to.” It requires significant impulse control, so expect it to take longer than sit or down. Start easy. Place a low value treat in your closed fist. Your dog will probably sniff, lick, and paw at your hand. Ignore all of it. The instant they pull back, even slightly, mark with “yes!” and give them a different treat from your other hand.
You’re teaching them that leaving something alone actually gets them something better. This concept is revolutionary for most dogs.
Leave it isn’t about deprivation; it’s about trust. You’re teaching your German Shepherd that you’ll keep them safe and that better things come from listening to you.
Progress to placing a treat on the floor while your hand hovers over it. Say “leave it” and wait. Cover it with your hand if they lunge for it. When they back off, reward from your hand, not by letting them have the floor treat. Eventually, you can practice with your dog on leash, walking past progressively more tempting items.
The real world applications are endless. “Leave it” works for food on counters, inappropriate items in the yard, other animals, and even people if your GSD is overly enthusiastic with greetings. It’s also useful for managing resource guarding tendencies before they develop into serious problems.
Practice at different distances and with various temptations. A biscuit at five feet is easier to leave than a steak at two feet. Build up gradually. And remember, in truly dangerous situations (your dog about to eat something toxic), physical intervention is always acceptable. Leave it is a trained behavior, not a magic force field.
Training your German Shepherd these five commands creates a framework for lifelong learning and cooperation. These aren’t just tricks; they’re communication tools that let you guide your dog through an increasingly complex world. Start today, practice consistently, and remember that every German Shepherd, no matter how stubborn they seem in the moment, wants to work with you. You just need to show them how.
