Alsatian Facts

• Alsatians are a breed of German shepherd, and share many of that dog's physical and mental characteristics. They are strong, muscular and graceful dogs who can weigh up to 85 lbs. Alsatians stand 22 to 26 inches tall, and have long, rough coats that may be black, white or a mix of black and tan.
  
  

Personality

• Alsatians are very intelligent and keen to please their masters. These dogs have a reputation for being both courageous and fearless, but are also serious and clever. Their eagerness to learn and loyalty to their masters makes them popular as police and working dogs. These characteristics also mean that Alsatians are open to training in the home situation.
  
  

Crate Training

• A crate becomes a puppy's den, and therefore its home, and can be an important part of training. Fill a crate with blankets and toys and use it to train an Alsatian puppy to sleep by itself. Put the pup in its crate while you're out of the house to keep it out of trouble and teach it to sit on its own. Put the pup in its crate when you're at home, and take it out to go to the bathroom once an hour. This gives the pup a schedule and helps with house-training.
  
  

Obedience

• Alsatians are large, active and intelligent dogs, so it's important to train them about obedience and good behavior when they're young. Some common obedience commands include "sit," "stay" and "come." Obedience training also includes socialization, learning not to bark, learning not to bite and learning not to jump on people.
  
  

Leash and Collar

• A leash and collar are important for walks, outings and even house-training. Train an Alsatian puppy to wear a collar early so you can use it for control and identification. Train it about the leash for future walks. Keep an Alsatian puppy with you in the house, using leash and collar, to keep it out of trouble and during house-training.