Carry Your Stuff Activity
Your German Shepherd is the perfect candidate to follow you around and carry your things for you.
Its a simple enough task to teach as long as the things arent heavy and your dog has convenient handles to put in their mouth.
You could even have a special bag you place items in as you walk around your house and let your dog carry for you. This simple task of carrying things is hugely satisfying to a working breed dog driven to do a job for their owners.
How about training your dog to carry in the grocery bags from the car for you?
Or what about getting them to help carry your newspaper or mail inside?
How about strapping a doggie backpack to them and letting him carry his own treats and water on your next walk?
Did you know that adding an easy to put onadventure backpack like this on daily walks can provide your German Shepherd a job and activity that may help manage their bad behavior?
Not only does this give your GSD a job to do, but the slight extra weight, as long as its not too heavy, will help tire him out.
But dont add weight to a puppy, as this might harm their joints!
How Much Mental Stimulation Does A German Shepherd Need
German Shepherds need daily mental stimulation. They are very bright and inquisitive and proper mental stimulation is as important to their overall well-being as physical exercise. If this is lacking boredom sets in and your GSD will resort to poor behavior such as barking, whining, digging, biting, or chewing.
Luckily for dog owners, there are endless possibilities to keep them entertained. Starting when they are young, you should take your German Shepherd to a training school. This also helps with socialization and boredom. GSDs will excel in all of the types of classes available, from agility to obedience.
Toys will be your next benefit, and there are specialty toys for larger dogs that you can buy. Some ideas are puzzle toys, interactive toys, or treat-dispensing toys.
There are even automatic ball launchers which are great if your dog loves to play fetch, and these also keep him guessing when you will launch the ball. I like the iFetch Interactive Ball Launcher from Amazon, and this model is great for large breeds. You can also use it indoors and limit the launch to just 10 feet. Its also rechargeable.
Additionally, healthy long-lasting dog chews are a good choice. Make sure they are made for large breeds, as you dont want your German Shepherd to damage their throat or even worse, choke. If you like to give your dog a bone make sure you check out my article, Can German Shepherds Eat Bones? Heres What People Get Wrong!
Kong Tire Extreme Dog Toy
- Budget-friendly.
When I think of a strong, rubber product, tires come to mind. That must have been Kongs line of thinking when they invented their tire extreme dog toy because this toy is tough like none other. Available in small or medium/large sizes, this tire can handle aggressive chewers.
Aside from its tough, natural rubber, its round and bouncy design is great for long games of fetch in the back yard. The inside of this tire is hollow. This means you can store treats and yummy natural peanut butter for your pup to discover and enjoy. As he chews the tire, hes also cleaning his teeth and soothing his irritated gums.
This toy is great for young, teething puppies as well as older, fully trained dogs. It will last forever, and its rubber is super easy to clean. Not to mention, Kong is a very popular and reliable name in dog toys.
We love the unique tire shape, and like all Kongs, you can fill the center with treats to keep your pup entertained for hours. Its also soft enough which is important because GSDs are notoriously difficult on their teeth.
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Can A German Shepherd Live Outside
No. There are very few occasions where dogs should live outside full-time.
There are a few working breeds that do good spending much time outside with their flock. For instance, the Russian Bear Dog was bred to bond closely with their flock. If these canines are used in a working manner, then it would be cruel to separate them from their flock regularly.
Its their family, after all.
However, German Shepherds are not one of these breeds. They bond very closely with their family and are very people-oriented. Their companionship need means that they need hours each day with their family. Otherwise, they may become destructive and even aggressive.
This isnt a breed you can put outside and forget about.
Unless you plan on spending hours with your dog each day, you shouldnt get a German Shepherd. You especially shouldnt expect to leave a German Shepherd outside for home defense purposes that isnt how this breed works.
They were bred to defend people first and foremost. They are often trained as protection dogs, but that doesnt mean they will defend your home if you set them outside. Instead, they perform this job best when they are allowed plenty of bonding time with their family and kept inside.
Can A German Shepherd Dog Live Outside In The Backyard
Amy L: Can a German Shepherd live outside in the backyard?Well, I really want a German Shepherd and my father wants one too. My mother is afraid of dogs so it can’t ever go inside. So, it has to stay outside in the backyard. I’m planning on getting an adult one. Also, I’m going to have to go to school for 8hrs. So it also has to stay by itself at home until I come back. My father also wants a dog that can protect the house from any unwanted intruders.
Answers and Views:
Answer by crazydaisy993Well, I don’t think it would be fair on the dog to never be allowed to go inside. If you were to give it a lot of shelter outside that would maybe be okay but animals require lots of love and attention. Don’t get a dog just for it to be a less expensive alarm system, get one because you want a companion. Also, you should remember that having a big German Shepherd means that you will have to give it exercise as well.
Answer by ZeroYou dont sound like a very experienced dog owner at all! Yes, German Shepherds can sleep outside but dogs never allowed inside will develop serious behavioral problems! He will bark 24/7 because he is bored and your backyard will be in utter ruin! If you see your dog merely as an alarm system instead of a companion well, I would recommend you to stick with a proper alarm system.
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German Shepherds Are Known To Be Talkers
Yet another consideration many first-time German Shepherd owners do not even think about is the breeds well-known reputation as talkative.
The German Shepherd is a very intelligent, expressive, and sensitive dog breed. This is not unusual, however. Many working dog breeds display similar traits.
As Science Alert highlights, German Shepherds are ranked as the third smartest dog breed out of 79 purebred dog breeds.
The type of canine smarts being measured in this study relates to how quickly a dog breed can master a new command and how frequently they will obey that command in the future.
The German Shepherd can master a new command in five tries or less and will reliably repeat the behavior on cue as often as 95 percent of the time.
This points back to the breeds long evolution as a dog that works closely side by side with a human partner. GSDs are incredibly attuned to their people and are known for talking throughout the day by whining or crying.
While this is adorably cute in a GSD puppy and can be endearing to devoted dog owners even in adulthood, it is far less likely to be well-received by your near apartment neighbors.
How will your neighbors react when your German Shepherd starts whining or whimpering or crying or even worse, barking and howling because you have left the house and your dog is alone, bored, and lonely?
Will your neighbors tolerate it when your GSD reminds you about every meal, snack, walk, and training session with a piercing whine?
Do German Shepherd Ears Stand Up On Their Own Or Do They Have To Be Cut Or Taped To Make Them Stand Up
Ah, you’re thinking about cropping, a surgical procedure to make the ears stand up. That’s done with Doberman Pinschers, but not with German Shepherds. A Shepherd puppy’s ears prick up naturally they’re never cropped.
German Shepherd puppy with perfectly normal ears at this age. If the pup inherited normal genes, the other ear should come up shortly.
But German Shepherd puppies aren’t born with pricked ears. In some pups, the ears start to prick up at 6 or 8 weeks old, while others don’t start until 12 or 14 weeks old.
Often the ears don’t go up smoothly. In other words, they don’t suddenly pop straight up. Typically one ear will go up halfway, and stay like that for a few days. Then the other ear may start to prick while the first ear straightens all the way up. A few days later, just as the second ear straightens up, the first one suddenly flops back down.
This can be a trying time for new owners who worry that their pup’s ears will never stand properly. Rest assured, it’s normal for German Shepherd puppy ears to go up and down for a month or two, especially during the teething period.
Unfortunately, some puppies do inherit poor genes for ear strength and often those ears will never come all the way up. They’re called “soft ears.” Sometimes taping a weak ear can help it stand erect, but often not.
I had a German Shepherd with one soft ear. It flopped sideways on top of his head, while the other ear stood up beautifully. Of course I loved him dearly anyway!
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What About Safe Play Inside An Apartment Space
Whether due to inclement or seasonal weather, your own health, or simply enjoyment of life together, it is also important to ask if your particular apartment unit will allow for safe play with your German Shepherd.
Even if you live in a very temperate climate and you have easy access to local dog-friendly parks or trails, there may be days when you want or need to stay indoors.
Your dog will still need the same level of daily activity to dwell easily in such a small space. So this may mean you are throwing a ball or playing tug-of-war inside your apartment to tire your dog out.
Taking a look at the layout of your apartment and the size of each room will give you a good idea of how hard or easy it might be to play with your German Shepherd safely and easily indoors.
Overall Best German Shepherd Crate
Many lists make you wait until the very end before they tell you what they think is the wisest choice not us, though. Were going to give you our favorite crate right off the bat. In our opinion, this is the overall best German Shepherd Crate on the market:
| Our 2021 Picks: Best German Shepherd Dog Crate |
| Rank |
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Combination Allergies And Their Secondary Effects
All dogs affected by allergies, irrespective of breed and including the German Shepherd, can be affected by more than one allergen.
In fact, having allergies to more than one allergen is more common than being allergic to just one thing. Being allergic to a range of things makes allergy in pets a complicated condition.
This may mean an allergy to multiple grasses, tree pollen, foods, insects, etc. in the same dog. Some pets may be affected by a large range of food allergens without having additional allergy triggers.
In dogs affected by multiple allergies, identification of the most important allergen is always the key. Ideally, most or all of the offending allergens need to be identified to help ensure good patient comfort. This in turn, will help limit secondary skin infections in a breed like German Shepherds, that is quite prone to skin infections as we will find in the next blog discussing skin infection related conditions of German Shepherds.
Early and definitive identification of allergy signs is always helpful in stopping progression of allergies and their impact in any dog, but is especially true for German Shepherds. If your German Shepherd shows allergic symptoms of itchiness, redness of skin, hair loss, or changes in skin quality, it may be time to consult with a vet dermatology clinic so that your pet dermatologist can help identify the true problem.
How To Play The Magic Cup Activity:
- Take 3 plastic cups and have your dog sit in front of you.
- Place a tasty treat under one of the cups and move them around.
- Ask your job to pick a cup and see if they choose correctly.
Some dogs are immediate experts, while others take a few rounds to pick up on the game.
If they choose incorrectly just dont respond or say a soft uh-oh. This way your dog knows the job is to find the cup with the treat to win the prize!
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How Long Can You Leave German Shepherds Alone By Age
Leaving a newborn German Shepherd puppy alone for too long is not only dangerous but immoral and cruel. If youre worried about being away for several hours per day, you should definitely find someone who can come and watch them. Their natural curiosity can lead to all sorts of hazardous problems, especially if their mother isnt around to protect them.
On the other hand, its not so bad with older well trained and socialized German Shepherds . Senior GSDs shouldnt be left alone for too long as they may need more toilet breaks or if they suddenly become sick as serious problems can develop very quickly without the help of anyone around.
Lets review how long you can leave German Shepherds alone during their different life stages.
What If Your German Shepherd Is A Service Dog
The topic of true canine service animals is a heated one today as the line between service dogs and emotional support dogs becomes increasingly blurred.
However, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act are both crystal clear that any tenant who has a documented medical need for a service dog must be allowed to live with their dog on the premises, even if that apartment complex does not permit dogs.
In order to qualify as a true service animal, your German Shepherd must be trained to do specific work that assists you with a health disability.
These laws can get very complex and may vary from one city, town, or municipality to the next regarding whether the ADA or FHA or both require acceptance of a service dog along with that dogs owner in a housing situation.
However, one thing that remains consistent and clear is that the service dog must be under the handlers control at all times.
This means there is the expectation that a service animal will not act out, display aggression, or cause problems for other tenants because of behavioral issues.
Even dog breeds that are prohibited from the apartment complex or the local region are permitted when the dog is a legitimate service animal. However, the dog must be fully trained before moving in no service dogs in training are covered under these laws.
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Toys For German Shepherd Puppies
During the puppy stage, German Shepherds need a different set of dog toys than they do as adults. Youll likely want to focus on toys that will help satisfy their urge to chew, as well as potentially provide them with a little relief during crate training .
Durability is also important for dogs in the 6-9 month range that have a stronger bite force, so keep that in mind. The toys below are great for German Shepherds up to around 9-12 months of age. At that point, youll want to step into the right dog toys that are made specifically for adult dogs.
Pros And Cons Of German Shepherds
The Good
- Thrives on challenging activities and exercise
- Loyal to his own family
- Looks imposing and has a reputation that bad guys don’t want to fool with, so makes an effective deterrent
- Highly intelligent and versatile can learn almost anything
The Bad
- Can be hard to find one with a family-oriented temperament and a decent chance of staying healthy
- Needs plenty of exercise and interesting things to do
- Needs careful socialization
- Destructiveness when bored or not exercised enough
- Potential aggression toward other animals
- Constant shedding 365 days a year
- Legal liabilities
- High risk of serious health problems
Keep in mind that the inheritance of temperament is less predictable than the inheritance of physical traits such as size or shedding. Temperament and behavior are also shaped by raising and training.
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A German Shepherd In An Apartment Isnt Much Different Than In A House
When it comes to any dog, be it a German Shepherd or a Toy Poodle, apartment living and single-family home living are pretty much the same. All you need to do is be sure you address your dogs physical and mental stimulation needs, and you should have no problem making the best of apartment living together!
Im always reminded of what my boss at the vet used to say. Its hard to be bad when youre exhausted. Keep that in mind. If your apartment living experience includes a German Shepherd, give him plenty of exercise and training, and you should be just fine.
Have you ever lived in an apartment with a German Shepherd? How did you make it the best experience possible? Share below!
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