Best Ways To Train A German Shepherd To Stay Calm In Public
German Shepherds are smart, loyal, and protective—but let’s be honest, if they’re not trained properly, they can be a handful in public. A reactive, anxious, or overexcited Shepherd isn’t just frustrating—it’s a liability. Whether they’re barking at strangers, lunging at other dogs, or refusing to settle down, you need to train them the right way before you take them out in public.
As a veterinarian with ten years of experience and someone who runs a sanctuary for stray dogs and cats, I’ve worked with countless German Shepherds—from service dogs to strays with severe anxiety. I can tell you this: if you don’t teach your dog how to stay calm in public, they’ll figure it out the hard way—and that’s not a risk worth taking.
1. Nail Down Basic Obedience at Home First
Before you even think about training in public, your Shepherd needs to listen to you at home. If they can’t focus in a quiet room, they sure as hell won’t listen at a busy park or city street.
👉 Commands They Must Know Before Going Out:
✅ Sit & Stay – Helps prevent them from jumping, pulling, or getting too excited.
✅ Heel – Keeps them walking calmly at your side instead of dragging you down the sidewalk.
✅ Leave It – Stops them from fixating on distractions like food, people, or other dogs.
✅ Focus (Look at Me) – Gets their attention back on you when they start to lose control.
💡 Pro Tip: Train these commands in different areas of the house before moving to new environments.
2. Desensitize Them to Public Sounds & Sights
German Shepherds are naturally alert, which is great—until they’re reacting to every little thing. If you don’t properly expose them to loud noises, fast movements, and unfamiliar people, they’ll get anxious or overexcited in public.
👉 How to Desensitize Them:
🔊 Play city sounds at home—sirens, car horns, crowds. Start at low volume, then increase.
🚗 Take them on car rides—even if it’s just driving through busy areas.
🛍 Walk them near shopping centers—but at a distance first, so they don’t get overwhelmed.
🐕 Expose them to different types of people—kids, older adults, people wearing hats, people on bikes.
💡 Pro Tip: If they start getting nervous or reactive, don’t comfort them too much—that reinforces the fear. Stay calm and confident instead.
3. Start Training in Low-Distraction Areas Before Going Public
You wouldn’t send a kid straight into a college exam without studying, right? Same logic applies here. If your Shepherd has only trained at home, they won’t be ready for a crowded park.
👉 Training Progression:
1️⃣ Start in your backyard or a quiet street.
2️⃣ Move to a calm park during off-hours.
3️⃣ Gradually increase distractions—walk near other dogs, people, and noises.
4️⃣ Work up to busier areas (city streets, farmers markets, pet-friendly stores).
💡 Pro Tip: If they start getting overstimulated, back off a little—don’t push them too fast.
4. Teach the “Settle” Command
Every German Shepherd needs to know how to settle down on command. This is crucial in places like restaurants, stores, or crowded parks.
👉 How to Teach “Settle”
1️⃣ Have them lie down on a mat or towel.
2️⃣ Reward them only when they stay calm.
3️⃣ Gradually increase the time they have to stay there.
4️⃣ Start practicing in new environments.
💡 Pro Tip: If you bring a portable mat, your dog will start to associate it with “relax time” no matter where you go.
5. Keep a Loose Leash – No Pulling Allowed
A dog that pulls like crazy in public is not a calm dog. If they’re constantly yanking on the leash, it means they’re overstimulated. Teaching them to walk calmly beside you is a game-changer.
👉 Loose Leash Training:
🚶♂️ Start in a distraction-free area.
✋ If they pull, STOP. No forward movement until the leash is loose.
🎉 Reward them for walking nicely beside you.
♻️ Repeat this every single walk.
💡 Pro Tip: If your Shepherd is extra stubborn, a front-clip harness can help discourage pulling while you train.
6. Use “Look at Me” to Regain Focus
If your dog starts fixating on something (a squirrel, a loud truck, another dog), you need a way to snap them out of it before they react. That’s where the “Look at Me” command comes in.
👉 How to Train It:
👀 Hold a treat near your eyes and say “Look at me.”
🐕 When they make eye contact, immediately reward.
📍 Practice with increasing distractions.
💡 Pro Tip: This works great right before they get overexcited or anxious—use it as soon as you see their focus shifting.
7. Reward Calm Behavior – Ignore the Hype
Dogs repeat what works for them. If you only pay attention to your German Shepherd when they’re barking, whining, or pulling, guess what? They’ll keep doing it.
👉 What to Do:
✅ Reward calm behavior—quiet sitting, loose leash walking, relaxed body language.
🚫 Ignore attention-seeking behavior—don’t pet or soothe when they’re acting hyped up.
💡 Pro Tip: If they start getting overstimulated, have them do a quick obedience command (like sit or down) to refocus them.
8. Slowly Increase Exposure to Other Dogs
If your German Shepherd loses their mind when they see another dog, you have to train them to stay calm around other animals.
👉 How to Do It:
🐕 Start from a distance—reward them for ignoring the other dog.
📏 Gradually decrease distance as they get more comfortable.
🎾 Keep their focus on you—use treats, toys, or commands.
💡 Pro Tip: If they start lunging or barking, you’re too close, too soon—back up and try again later.
9. Don’t Baby Them – Stay Confident
Dogs take cues from their owners. If you’re nervous, tense, or overly protective, your Shepherd will pick up on that and assume there’s something to worry about.
👉 How to Act in Public:
✅ Walk with confidence and control.
✅ Use a firm but calm voice.
✅ Don’t react emotionally to distractions—stay cool.
💡 Pro Tip: If your dog hesitates or gets scared, don’t comfort them too much—that reinforces the fear. Instead, act like everything’s normal.
Final Thoughts: Train Smart, Stay Consistent
A well-trained German Shepherd in public is a dream to walk—a poorly trained one is a nightmare. If you put in the work now, you’ll end up with a dog that’s calm, focused, and a joy to take anywhere.
✅ Start obedience training at home first.
✅ Expose them to different sounds, sights, and people.
✅ Train in low-distraction areas before moving to busier places.
✅ Use commands like “Settle” and “Look at Me” to keep them calm.
✅ Reward calm behavior and ignore bad habits.
✅ Stay confident—your dog takes cues from you.
Put in the effort, stay consistent, and you’ll have a calm, well-behaved German Shepherd that turns heads for the right reasons.
