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German Shepherd Defense Academy CLASSES
COMPLIANCE LEVEL 1
Compliance level 1 starts around 2 months of age We will focus on imprinting and socialization.
Name association
Crate training
Introduction to house-training within an indoor environment
Teach that "No" means Stop
Learn to respond to collar and leash
Follow handler on a leash
Single kennel acclimation
Sit on command
Down on command
Come and sit in the front position
Hygiene: bathing, trimming of nails, and ear cleaning
Vehicle familiarization
Drive building - encourage chasing and biting of approved toy
Regular grooming on an elevated table and handling
Introduction to stairs
Exposure to slippery floors
COMPLIANCE LEVEL 2
Compliance level 2 starts around 3 months of age and focuses on manners and obedience.
Sit and Stay (One minute)
Down and Stay (Three minutes)
Come and Sit in the front position
Walk on a loose lead in the heel position without pulling
The meaning of 'No" is Stop
Introduction of training collar as a positive experience
Diffusing the possibility of becoming collar-wise
Stop mouthing, inappropriate biting, and jumping
Introduced to house-training within an indoor environment
Fetch (Promoting Retrieving Instincts)
Drive Building - Encourage chasing and biting of approved toys
Introduction of distractions during learned exercises, proofing what the dog has already learned
COMPLIANCE LEVEL 3
Compliance level 3 starts around 4 months of age. We will focus on boosting performance levels.
Fuss - Heel (Walk on a loose lead in the heel position without pulling)
Automatically sits when the handler stops
Finish - get into the heel position from the here front Sit
Increasing duration of Sit and Down Stays
Immediate response to the word “No”
Extending the area of influence the handler has on the dog from 6 feet to 30 feet with the use of a long line
Proofing already learned behaviors around distractions (dogs, people, vehicles, in home, and office environment)
Promotion of off-lease response to commands creating positive based
on quickness of performance
COMPLIANCE LEVEL 4
Compliance Level 4 begins at approximately 6 months of age and serves as an introduction to Schutzhund (IGP) training. Your adult GSD must have mastered the following skills:
Focus: Making eye contact with you
Sit: Sitting on the ground with eyes on you
Stand
Stay: hold onto sitting or standing positions for short periods.
Down: Keeping the head upright and belly on the ground
Come: Moving in your direction.
Go: Moving in the direction indicated by you
Stop
Off: Getting down from standing on the hind legs
Potty: Letting him know that this is the right time
Kennel up: Getting inside the crate
Wait: Going to a designated location and staying there
No Bite: No biting without having a chewing alternative
Drop: Letting go of an object
Fetch: Getting an object
No: Asking to stop doing any current action
Once your GSD has mastered these basic skills, you can teach him some tricks or make your commands more complex!
German
Achtung!
Aus!
Bleib!
Bring!
Fass!
Fuss!
Gib! Laut!
Hier!
Hopp!
Nein!
Pass auf!
Pfui!
Platz!
Sitz!
Such!
Voran!
Voraus! (Use Free)
Pronunciation
(Ahk-toong')
(Ows)
(Blibe)
(Brring)
(Fahs)
(Foos)
(Gib Lawt)
(Heer)
(Hup)
(Nine)
(Pahs owf)
(Foo-ey)
(Plots)
(Zetz)
(Zook)
(For-ahn)
(For-ows) (Free)
English
Watch! Attention!
Out! Drop It! Let Go!
Stay!
Fetch!
Attack! Take hold!
Heel!
Bark!
Here! Come!
Up! Jump!
No!
Pat attention! / Watch
Shame! Stop that!
Down!
Sit!
Search!
Go-on! Blind Search
Go Forward! Run out!
A trained dog is a confident dog.
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At the German Shepherd Defense Academy (GSDA), we train every dog to reach its full potential.
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Our training develops balanced prey drive, defense drive, and social drive to produce confident, well-rounded German Shepherds.
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Dogs learn to understand and respond to German commands used in professional working-dog training.
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Our programs build obedience, confidence, focus, and handler engagement while respecting each dog's natural abilities.
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Training is tailored to prepare dogs for working roles, personal protection, or life as loyal family companions.
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Crate training is not included in Compliance Level 1 unless specifically requested or included as part of a customized training program.