Work Ethic Unique To The German Shepherd Dog
From the very beginning, a keen emphasis was placed on the unique character, trainability, and protective instincts found in these herding dogs. Their dependability and their special herding traits became legendary. Over time the breed began to be used for many other services. When blind Morris Frank returned from Switzerland in 1929 with his German Shepherd Dog Buddy, he opened the door for German Shepherd Dogs to be used as guide dogs for the blind. In a very short period of time, the breed would be associated with programs for the blind and for services involving many other disabilities. Their intelligence, trainability, and desire to work put German Shepherd Dog at the top of all lists. Some breeders began their own lines for temperament as opposed to conformation and physical appearance. It was not long before breeding programs throughout America began to selectively breed for service dog programs as their ultimate goal.
Can Your Current Dog Qualify To Be An Emotional Support Dog
Yes, you can turn your existing GSD into a certified emotional support dog. This makes it easier for you because the bond between you and your GSD is already formed, and you will most likely have already trained her to behave well in public places.
If youre looking to get a new German Shepherd as an ESA, its preferable that the dog is young for easier trainability. As soon as you get your new GSD, dont delay! The sooner you train your dog, the better.
What Do Service Dogs Do
Before taking a look at German Shepherds as service dogs, you first need to understand what service dogs do.
In reality, service dogs are trained to respond to different disabilities, medical conditions, and physical or mental impairments.
Thus, service dogs will have some fundamental training in common. This could be how to behave in public areas and how to respond to certain stimuli.
Apart from these basic components, however, the dogs may be trained in different ways.
For instance, a service dog that is paired up with an individual who has mobility issues will know how to act as a physical guide.
On the other hand, if someone has been diagnosed with epilepsy, their service dog will be trained to alert their owners to oncoming seizures.
In case a person is suffering from depression, their service dog could act as a reminder to take their medication as needed.
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German Shepherd Hysterically Fails His Service Dog Training
All dogs have their own unique personalities, which means that theyre not always suited to certain roles that they may have been raised for. And that is totally ok. Theyre adorable just the same.
Take Ryker, the German Shepherd who failed his test to become a therapy dog. And he didnt just fail his exam he failed so spectacularly in every single way by not scoring in any one of the tests put to him.
Ryker was attempting to become a service dog with the Double H Canine Training Academy located in Louisville, KY, however, things went didnt go as planned.
Despite Rykers terrible exam execution, the academys trainers decided that the videos of the exam were just too hilarious not to share. So, with that in mind, the academy decided to put together an adorable little video montage with Frank Sinatras classic song, My Way, playing all the way through. The video was hilarious, especially watching when he has to help one of the trainers out of a wheelchair but instead decides that its a great idea to go after a ball instead.
Seriously, its truly the video that we all need in our lives right now.
As the videos caption accurately described, Every dog has a purpose. Clearly, Rykers purpose is not to be a service dog.
Regardless of the fact that hes clearly not cut out to be a service dog, were sure that Ryker will be great at whatever he ends up doing so long as its not therapy dog.
Watch this adorable boy fail in the video below:
Program Training Vs Owner Training
Program training is when you get a professionally trained service dog assigned to you. Alternatively, you can sometimes request that your own dog is trained through the program. The benefits of this include:
- Higher success rate: Professional trainers literally do this for a living.
- Better understanding of whats needed: A professional will quickly realize if a dog is simply not suited to being a service dog. They will also better recognize when the dog is finished training or still learning .
Essentially, its easier to get a better-trained animal out of program training than it is out of owner training .
But that doesnt mean owner training is no good. If youve got the dedication and the willingness to spend a lot of time and effort not just training your dog but researching the techniques to train them well, you can get a very well trained dog out of it.
Here are some benefits of owner training:
If you arent sure which route you want to take, here are our basic recommendations:
- If you have no experience to train a dog any kind of tasks, we suggest program training if you really want to make sure you get results. Training is not easy and not everyone is suited to it. Its nothing to be ashamed of. It just means program training is probably better for you.
- If you have experience and you have the time and ability to dedicate yourself to training your own dog, we recommend doing it yourself. This lets you get the kind of customized results you want.
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Service Dog Breed Spotlight: The German Shepherd Dog
Shanna Stichler
Welcome to our third of four articles profiling the most popular dog breeds used for assistance dog work. Weve already covered Labrador and Golden Retrievers, so its time now to highlight the ultimate versatile working dog, the German Shepherd! Next time, well finish off the series by profiling Standard Poodles.
German Shepherds are the original service dog breed. They were the first to be chosen as guide dogs back in their native Germany and later in the United States. Now, as we find new ways for dogs to help people with disabilities, Shepherds have been trained to do all kinds of service dog tasks. Having said that, this breed is not ideal for everyone.
Why German Shepherds make good service dogs
Generally, when it comes to German Shepherds, people tend to fall into one of two camps. They either love this breed, or they really, really dont. As for me, I freely admit that Shepherds are a personal favorite. They are intensely loyal, they love having a job, and they bond very strongly to their person. Shepherds love to learn and train, so its easy to teach them all kinds of useful things. My own Shepherd, Diamond, can guide, retrieve, and assist with balance if needed. She is highly driven and loves new challenges. These are all very typical characteristics of the German Shepherd breed.
German Shepherd Physical Characteristics
German Shepherd Temperament
Can I Train A Service Dog Myself
The short answer here is yes. You can most certainly train a service dog yourself.
But before deciding to undergo this process, its important that you understand some fundamentals about the training as well as the time and work commitment involved.
Often times it may seem like a great idea to train your dog yourself to do this. But its important to understand your limits. Being overly ambitious in this scenario is not a good idea.
A service dog must be trained and have the ability to precisely execute the task that is trained for each and every time. No exceptions.
While some service dogs make life more accessible and convenient for their owners, others, as discussed above, are there for the specific task of preventing injury and saving lives.
So if you are not able to follow through entirely with the training process, it is wise to enlist the help of a professional trainer. A poorly trained service dog is no good to anybody and can be a detriment to lives.
Just be aware of the commitments involved in training your dog to be a service dog on your own. Its absolutely possible and a great choice if you have the time and are willing to put forth the effort. Otherwise, it is highly advised to seek the help of a professional trainer.
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Why German Shepherds Rate So Highly
The Guide Dogs of America says that around 70% of dogs trained as guide dogs are Labrador Retrievers, and just 15% of all guide dogs are German Shepherds. For this article, we are going to look at German Shepherds and their top-ranking position among service dogs as well as working dogs.
After all, if you look at the majority of dogs working in the military, police, law enforcement of all kinds, and so on, you see that German Shepherds still rate as one of the top.
So, why is it that this breed is so capable of serving the disabled and working in some of the toughest jobs in the world? Lets figure that out.
German Shepherds Are Adaptable
When you think about what service animals do, you can see why they need to be adaptable. Service animals often accompany their owners everywhere they go. They are frequently faced with new environments and novel situations and must be able to do their dog work in any situation.
GSDs are highly adaptable, making German shepherds one of the most popular service dogs. They can transfer their learning from one situation to another, and trained dogs aren’t typically confused when routines vary. Their ability to focus on their jobs is why they are so adaptable.
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Disabilities Helped By Service Dogs
A large variety of physical, mental, social, and emotional disabilities can be helped by a service dog however, the general public is most familiar with seeing guide dogs for the blind or service animals for individuals in wheelchairs. But not all service dogs perform such highly-visible work many work for handlers who do not have a visible disability, such as:
- Diabetes, epilepsy, and other medical issues requiring alerts
- Impaired mobility, hearing, or vision
While there are dogs trained as authentic emotional support animals, an emotional support animal is not a true service dog and is not covered by the laws protecting service dogs and their handlers. A Psychiatric Service Dog, on the other hand, is a legitimate service dog that has been trained to support an individual whose disability happens to be due to mental illness. A dog for PTSD, for example, can be a Psychiatric Service Dog. Under the law, a business may not deny access to a PSD, but they can deny access to an animal whose sole task is to provide emotional assistance.
Are German Shepherds Good Service Dogs 7 Reasons Why They Are
Yes, German Shepherds are good service dogs. In fact, theyre considered to be one of the best service dog breeds.
But what exactly qualifies German Shepherds as good service dogs? Well, lets find out as we look deeper into what exactly service dogs do and the specific German Shepherds traits and qualities that fit into this line of work.
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What Is The Best Age To Neuter A German Shepherd
I often hear discussion of neutering or spaying our dogs in general terms without understanding the procedure. There are many individuals for and against the procedure without knowing the details of the operation. This leaves many questions for new dog owners, especially the most basic when and why should I neuter my German Shepherd?
The best age to neuter a German Shepherd is sometime between 18 to 24 months of age. Smaller dog breeds can have the procedure done sooner, but for large breeds, it is important to wait until they are properly developed.
In this article, I will discuss the pros and cons of neutering, what can happen if I neuter my dog too early, how neutering impacts a German Shepherds behavior, which age is the best to have them neutered, and the general cost to neuter a male puppy.
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What Traits Make A Good Emotional Support Dog
Not all dogs make good emotional support dogs. There are certain traits that make a dog more suitable for the role than others.
To be an effective emotional support dog, the following traits are must haves:
- Calm and gentle: If youre suffering from low energy, a dog with a more calm temperament might be more suitable for you than one who is always excitable and running around.
- Loyal: A loyal dog who sticks with and is willing to please you is an ideal emotional support companion.
- Friendly: A friendly dog is just a joy to be with. Since you will be taking her to places with you, its essential that shes also friendly to strangers and other animals, too.
- Obedient: An emotional support dog must know how to obey basic commands.
- Consistent: Your dog must be consistently well-behaved especially when youre out in public and on flights. Unpredictable behavior may indicate that you probably cannot rely on your companion in adverse situations.
- Attentive: An attentive dog will be more attuned to your needs than one who has the tendency to be aloof.
- Patient and affectionate: Some dogs just dont like being showered with too much attention. If you think youd want to cuddle your dog for hours, she must be okay with receiving affection! It will also be more rewarding for you if your dog is the type who gives affection in return.
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Can German Shepherds Be Both Service Dogs And Family Dogs
Generally, it is not recommended for a service dog to also be a family pet. Although German Shepherds can be taught to co-exist with other family members, they need to develop the strongest bond and loyalty to the person they are assisting.
That means they must prefer to be in the presence of their handler and follow their commands above anyone elses. Treating them as a family pet will be confusing and will interfere with their value as assistance animals.
To Deal With Physical Disability:
These service dogs assist physically disabled people. They give them assistance to get back into life. They help them to live life fully.
It is difficult for the disabled person to perform various activities. They help them by picking up items, getting them around, and many other tasks.
German Shepherds are incredibly the best service dogs for their intelligence.
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Service Dogs For Diabetics
It may surprise you to find out how a service dog that is trained to assist diabetics actually works. A diabetic person may not experience the same symptoms that most people do when their blood sugar is low.
A non-diabetic person will feel sweaty or shaky or anxious when their blood sugar is low, but they can recognize it through these feelings.
A diabetic may experience hypoglycemic unawareness. What this means is that their body does not trigger epinephrine which causes the symptoms that a normal person feels. So they remain unaware that their blood sugar is low.
A service dog is able to pick up on this through scent. All people emit the same scent from their breath when their blood sugar is low. The dog picks up on this and alerts the owner.
The owner still needs to check their blood sugar regularly, but these dogs provide an extra layer of safety for them. Hypoglycemia unawareness can be fatal, so these dogs play a very real role in saving peoples lives.
Can You Train One Yourself
More and more people are looking to train a service dog themselves. With long waiting times and high costs, purchasing a dog from a professional training organization can be too difficult for some families.
Training a dog yourself can present a viable alternative to getting a service dog, but if you are considering this option, you should know that it will take a lot of work. You can choose any dog to train as a service dogwhether you adopt a puppy, find a rescue dog, or train an existing family pet.
When choosing a dog, you should look for a dog with a calm temperament who shows focus and intelligence. Not every dogeven German Shepherdsis cut out to be a service dog. Some people who choose to train their own assistance dog may hire a professional to help with the training. This can end up being more affordable than adopting a fully trained dog from an agency. However you train your dog, a German Shepherd service dog can make an immense impact in your life.
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Your German Shepherd Does Not Get Enough Exercise
German Shepherds need at least 90 minutes of exercise per day. If your dog is not getting the required amount of exercise, they may have pent-up energy.
If a dog cannot release its energy in positive ways, they will behave badly. German Shepherds that have not been active enough can release their pent-up energy by being aggressive and irritable.
This would make them react suddenly and aggressively towards anything that they may see as a threat.
German Shepherd Service Dogs Autism
GSD Service Dogs Autism, also known as Sensory Signal Alert Dogs, are GSDs trained to help keep a child or a person with autism safe.
In children with autism, a GSDs main role is protection. They usually stay very close to the child while adults or parents hold the leash. GSD service dogs for autism are well trained to block the child when he/she tries to bolt away into danger, as well as alert parents of seizures and behavioral meltdown.
Adult People with ASD or Autism Spectrum Disorder may or may not function independently. So A GSD service dogs role is to alert its handler of things requiring attention and to perform simple tasks such as opening lights or doors.
When their handler is having an anxiety attack , which is normal in adults with ASD, a service dog can calm its handler down by sitting on its handlers feet, lying down on handlers body or putting its paws on the lap. They can interrupt their handlers from overstimulation or self-harm.
GSD service dogs autism provide great support to people with ASD. They sometimes become a channel for social interaction which can help their handlers slowly adapt back into society.
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