Creating An Individualized Training System

At the dog park there are a lot of different owners and dogs to watch as I try to figure out what gestures and commands to incorporate into the puppys own training regimen. Kind of my own, individualized German Shepherd training system, I guess.
I have also watched some videos on dog training but many of the trainers in them seem mean and unforgiving.
This puppy is a member of the family, just as if we had brought home a baby instead of a puppy. I expect that it will take a lot of attention, time and effort in order to mold it into a well disciplined member of the family.
The training program will have to have some fun aspects to it or I wont want to follow through on it and the puppy wont have any interest in it at all. I have, however, found a great new recipe for beef treats I am going to bake up to use strictly as training rewards.