Category: Training and Education

The German Shepherd is a dog renowned for its intelligence, loyalty, and versatility. Used for decades as a working dog, it has also always been a regular companion in homes.

But can they really live with young children? The answer is yes, in some cases, but not without precautions. Here are the things you need to know before welcoming a German Shepherd into a family with children.

1. A dog naturally close to its social group

The German Shepherd is a breed that is very attached to its home. It is often attentive to what is happening around it and easily develops bonds with family members, including children.

Some individuals will even naturally adopt a posture of vigilance or protection towards younger people.

But this closeness can sometimes be misinterpreted: the dog is not a babysitter. Its reassuring presence does not replace parental education or active adult supervision.

2. Physical power that imposes clear rules

Even though he is well-intentioned, the German Shepherd remains a large, powerful dog with developed muscles.

His enthusiasm can translate into abrupt behavior, especially when he is young: running, jumping, pushing without wanting to.

This can be enough to cause a small child to fall, or to injure them unintentionally during poorly supervised play.

It is therefore essential to set boundaries early on, teach the dog not to rush at children, and manage moments of excitement. Training in calmness and impulse control should be an integral part of daily life.

3. No dog should be left alone with a young child.

It's a basic rule, valid for all breeds: a child should never be left alone with a dog, no matter how reliable it is.

Communication between a young child and a dog can be confusing: sudden movements, shouting, unpredictable reactions can generate stress or inappropriate behavior in the animal.

Because the German Shepherd is a sensitive and highly reactive dog, it can be difficult to cope with certain clumsiness or feel cornered if it doesn't have the opportunity to isolate itself. It is essential to respect its signals, give it its own space, and not force it to interact.

4. An intelligent dog, but one that needs structure

The German Shepherd understands quickly, but that doesn't mean he obeys without limits. His quick wit means he sometimes tests the rules. He can also be in constant need of stimulation, which can tire out a family that is not available or already overworked.

Consistency in training is essential: the dog must understand what is and isn't allowed in its interactions with children. This requires time, patience, and sometimes the help of a dog training professional.

5. A dog that can live well with children... if they are also educated to respect animals

Respect must go both ways. Many incidents occur not because a dog is aggressive, but because it is being harassed, continually solicited, or handled without its consent.

Pulling ears, riding the dog, playing in the dog's basket: these are all common behaviors among young children, but should be avoided at all costs.

Even before the dog arrives, it is therefore important to educate the child about the presence of an animal: do not disturb it when it is eating, do not wake it up, do not hold it tightly, and above all let it move away if it feels the need.

To go further, also consult the official recommendations ANSES

6. A good companion, but not suitable for all families

The German Shepherd can become an excellent companion for a dynamic, present family, capable of supervising interactions and meeting its needs.

It is not recommended in a home where adults are rarely available, where dog training is neglected, or in families looking for a passive and undemanding dog.

This breed requires commitment, both physical and mental. It thrives in a stable environment, where rules are consistent, activities are regular, and relationships are balanced.

Conclusion

The German Shepherd can live very well with children, but it's not a dog for everyone. Its strength, intelligence, sensitivity, and need for activity make it a demanding dog, demanding as much from its owners as it can give them. Proper socialization, careful training, and mutual respect between the dog and the child are the keys to a successful cohabitation.

You can also consult our section Living with a German Shepherd? Here

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Skinner And Pavlov in modern dressage (following)

Restoring classical conditioning to its place or when emotion becomes the reward.

In our previous article, we distinguished Skinner's operant conditioning—now widely used in modern methods—from Pavlov's classical conditioning, often relegated to the status of a mere historical anecdote. However, the latter systematically acts in the background; far from being outdated, it is, on the contrary, at the heart of the emotional relationship between the dog and its owner.

As we increasingly talk about "motivation" in training, it is urgent to remember that motivation is not always a trade for a toy or a treat, at the risk of the latter becoming the source of classical/Pavlovian conditioning. As a reminder, it is through repetition that the dog associates a sound, a place, an action with a physiological response. (The dog salivates when it hears the bell).

If the dog is happy, excited, motivated every time he sees the ball, the sausage, the costume, the treat, it is normal and positive, a source of motivation for operant conditioning, (reinforcement action +- or punishment action +-).

But it can and should also emerge from the almost invisible affective association between a behavior and an emotion generated by the presence and integration with its master.

When pleasure becomes Pavlovian

Classical conditioning, by its very nature, works without the dog having to "do" anything. It links two elements: a neutral stimulus (voice, attitude, situation) and an emotional or physiological response (pleasure, relaxation, security, etc.). This process is automatic, not voluntary, and that's precisely what makes it so powerful.

Let's take a simple example: a master who praises his dog every time he returns to the recall. If his intonation and the associated gesture are consistent and repeated, the action (in this case, the recall) ends up evoking a pleasant sensation in the dog. Returning to the master is no longer just an action to "gain something": it has become a positively emotionally charged moment.

In other words, through Pavlovian conditioning, the teacher's praise acquires a positive emotional value which then allows it to function as a true positive reinforcer in learning.

From Conditioning to Bonding: The Chemistry of Attachment

Animal neuroscience has confirmed what many intuitive trainers already knew: pleasant social interactions trigger the release of oxytocin in dogs, just as they do in humans. This hormone is involved in bonding, trust, and cooperation.

In other words, a dog can learn to associate the presence, voice, or even the gaze of its owner with a feeling of deep well-being—without the need to add a relay object like a ball or a treat.

Artificialities or natural interactions?

This is not to denounce classic reinforcers, nor to say that they have no place. They are extremely useful in learning specific behaviors, in motivating effort, or in managing energy levels. (To learn more about operant conditioning you can also read our page here)

We too often forget that the dog is also a sensitive and social being, deeply receptive to the emotions of its master and that this type of reinforcement, built on the bond, should be the cornerstone of the educational relationship.

By trying to "professionalize" training, we risk reducing all interactions to transactions: you do this, you get that. However, just as with humans, the joy of cooperating, of giving pleasure, of feeling a sincere connection should be a powerful source of motivation in itself.

Consciously practicing classical conditioning

How can this mechanism be integrated into daily practice? Here are some concrete ideas:

Systematically combine intonation and physical contact: a warm voice coupled with a constant caress in its form becomes a marker of security and pleasure.

Maintain emotional stability: a calm, consistent, predictable master becomes an essential emotional reference point for the dog.

Value human presence as a source of pleasure: not to let reward objects monopolize attention. The teacher, through his attitude, can and must become rewarding in itself.

A motivation that lasts

The greatest advantage of classical conditioning is its stability over time. A dog motivated solely by objects may eventually become bored or distracted by a more stimulating environment (typically a cat vs. a ball). In contrast, a dog emotionally engaged in the relationship with its owner finds this connection a more consistent, deeper motivator.

Towards a new ethology of dressage

Revaluing Pavlovian mechanisms in training means returning to a more refined relational ethology. It means recognizing that the dog can find its reward in the quality of the bond, beyond objects or routines. The dog is not simply an executor seeking reinforcement: it is a sensitive partner, capable of integrating social interactions into its emotional memory.

We often talk about techniques, plans, and protocols. But it's also time to consider what's at play on a more subtle level: the influence of our gestures, our voices, our presence on the dog's internal chemistry.

Because emotion is not an abstraction: it is neurobiology, secretion of oxytocin, activation of dopaminergic circuits.
And it is here that Pavlov, well beyond the bell, opens up for us a concrete path of access to this invisible territory where the link becomes an endogenous, lasting and deeply rooted reward.

 

 

Canine Conditioning and Training: A Reflection on the Mechanisms of Education

In the world of dog training, we often discuss methods, tools, rewards, and reinforcements. But we sometimes forget to revisit the basic psychological mechanisms that govern a dog's learning. In particular, two fundamental types of conditioning deserve to be distinguished: classical (or Pavlovian) conditioning and operant (or Skinnerian) conditioning.

Classical conditioning (Pavlov)

Discovered by Ivan Pavlov, this type of conditioning relies on the unconscious association between a neutral stimulus and an emotional or physiological response. The famous example of Pavlov's dogs salivating at the bell perfectly illustrates this mechanism: the bell, repeatedly paired with the presentation of food, eventually triggers salivation on its own.

In dogs, we use this mechanism constantly without even realizing it. A soft tone of voice, a caress, or a smile from the owner, repeated frequently, can become powerful reinforcers because they are associated with a feeling of well-being. This is not a voluntary action by the dog to obtain something; it is an emotional response to a situation perceived as pleasant.

Operant conditioning (Skinner)

B.F. Skinner described another type of learning: operant conditioning. Here, the animal acts voluntarily to obtain a reward (or avoid punishment). This is the system of positive reinforcements (treats, toys, biting games) and negative reinforcements (removal of unpleasant pressure).

Today, the majority of modern training methods rely heavily on this operant conditioning. The dog is taught to "work" to obtain an external reward: its ball, its food, its sausage, its biting game. These methods work very well technically, and allow for complex and precise behaviors to be achieved.

The risk of a “transactional” relationship

However, this highly effective approach has a limitation: the risk of focusing all of the dog's motivation on the reward object, and not on the relationship with the owner. The dog executes the command to get its ball, not for the pleasure of pleasing its owner.

Now, the dog, as a social animal, descends from a pack animal whose cooperation with the group is a fundamental need.

Used well, Pavlovian conditioning can powerfully reinforce this emotional and social dimension.

A petting, or even an approving look combined with a warm tone of voice, can trigger the release of oxytocin and endorphins in dogs—the hormones of social pleasure and bonding.

The dog then learns that the simple fact of satisfying its master is, in itself, a source of pleasure, even a pleasure greater than that of an external reward (ball, sausage, treat, etc.).

A balance track

Ideally, balanced dog training should integrate both dimensions. Operant conditioning is valuable for learning behaviors. But classical conditioning helps give emotional meaning to these behaviors: pleasing their owner becomes, for the dog, an end in itself.

It is probably on this balance that the best master-dog relationships are based: a dog that works well and above all works for and with its master.