How Rough Is Too Rough For A German Shepherd
Since German Shepherds love rough and tumble play, you have to wonder when it is too much. Usually, nothing stops you from redirecting the dogs to treats or other activities if their rough play makes you uncomfortable.
If anything, thats generally the right time to make them quit. That being said, I am not a fan of using treats as a distraction when the dogs are roughhousing as that can anchor a reward with being too rough more on limiting rough play later.
Rough play is too rough for a German Shepherd dog when neck biting is involved, and he breaks the skin. Usually, this does not happen between adequately socialized and exercised dogs. If it occurs, you must put the dog in timeout and work on exercising away his aggression.
Your Gsd Is Scarred By Past Past Experiences
If another dog has attacked your German Shepherd in the past, they are likely to be aggressive. This could cause them to distrust all or some other dogs.
Most commonly, they react negatively to dogs of the same size or breed as the one that they had an unpleasant experience with. They have a good memory and are very intelligent, so they could hold on to the trauma from an attack for a long time.
Top 10 Reasons Why You Would Want A German Shepherd
German Shepherds are a relatively new dog breed with origins that can be traced back to 1899. Although it is a new breed, German Shepherds are now one of the most popular dog breeds worldwide. In the United states, German shepherds ranks as the second most popular dog breeds of 2016. In fact, German Shepherds have many talents and desirable traits which make them the best dogs that every household should own.
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Take Your German Shepherd On Frequent Walks
Walking your GSD is probably the easiest way to begin socializing him. For a GSD, a walk is far more than just exercise. As your GSD walks with you, he will be exposed to new sights, sounds, people, and animals.
The more that your GSD is exposed to whats out there in the real world, as opposed to the comfort and safety of your home and yard, the more that he will acclimate to these things and view them as fun and intriguing rather than things to be fearful of.
In addition, walking is good exercise. And just like you, your GSD will feel more confident and at ease with himself after a good walk. He will have a higher self-esteem and an improved overall mood as well.
Introduce Your German Shepherd To Small Dogs Gradually
You may want your German Shepherd to act calm around small dogs, or become comfortable with a dog he will be spending time with.
This will require you to keep your German Shepherd on a leash at all times, and a muzzle. This is in case he becomes aggressive or tries to bite or attack.
Allow him to sniff the small dog and socialize with him. When your German Shepherd does this in a calm manner and acts peacefully, reward him with a treat.
Every time he begins to grow aggressive, tug on the leash and command him to sit down.
It is always crucial that your German Shepherd learns from a very young age to view you as the leader of his pack.
If a German Shepherd respects you and your headship, he will most likely be more willing to listen to your commands.
When he calms down, allow him to continue his interaction with the small dog. If he remains friendly, try this with the muzzle off, and reward him for good behavior.
After around half an hour of positive interaction with a small dog, your German Shepherd should be comfortable being around him.
It is important that your German Shepherd is properly introduced to a small dog he is going to be spending time with.
This should be done ahead of time, so that he has become friendly and familiarized with the small dog and is comfortable.
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Keeping Things Calm Consistently
One of the most important things to remember about German Shepherds, as well as dogs of a similar size and energy level, is that they require a lot of exercise. The more exercise dogs get, the more likely they are to behave.
Always make sure your dogs get rewarded for behaving themselves. The more they associate behaving themselves with being rewarded, the more they will be inclined to behave appropriately.
Never use punitive behavior like hitting, shoving, or kicking. These actions frighten dogs and betray their trust, but might also cause dogs to act out with aggression, something you want to avoid in a big dog like a GSD.
Several breeds make excellent companions for German Shepherds. However, knowing how to make the proper introductions is key to making sure all goes smoothly.
How German Shepherds Temperament Affects Their Interactions With Other Dogs
German shepherds are as curious and intelligent, as they are loyal and protective. They are considered one of the easiest breeds to train and can be very obedient when raised properly. This is one of the reasons they are widely used as police dogs, herd dogs, and firefighting dogs.
However, the protective qualities of German Shepherds can sometimes be misconstrued as aggression by people unfamiliar with the breeds temperament. German Shepherds are very loyal and tend to form a close bond with their owners and their families. They are quick to react at the sight of any threats and are dedicated to protecting their loved ones.
Male German Shepherds are believed to be more aggressive than female ones, which is why many dog-owners concerned about their dogs temperament tend to get female ones. However, any well-trained German Shepherd from a good home is unlikely to display unnecessary aggression and should get along fine with other people and animals.
German shepherds that are mistreated or raised in abusive conditions can display excessive aggression and should be treated with caution. This issue is not unique to German Shepherds, as any dog that has been abused can lash out at others.
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They Are Sweet And Friendly
So German Shepherds are known to be police dogs. It doesnt mean they dont know how to have fun though.
That fierce look aside, German Shepherds are sweet and friendly. Theyre the perfect fun-loving companion to you and your kids.
Thats because theyre capable of being silly and playful at the same time. Spending time with them can remove daily stresses from work.
Note: German Shepherds can be unfriendly toward unfamiliar faces.
How Long Do German Shepherds Live Are They A Healthy Breed
German Shepherds typically live 10-12 years. Some do live to 13 or 14, but usually with chronic health issues such as arthritis.
And sadly, many don’t even make it to age 10.
As a long-time German Shepherd owner, I know first-hand how many health problems this breed suffers from. Crippling joint diseases, autoimmune diseases, digestive diseases, skin diseases, heart and eye diseases…. truly a breed with serious health problems.
It’s a good idea to have pet insurance when you own a German Shepherd.
Here is a complete list of health problems in German Shepherds.
See my advice on keeping your dog healthy.
The most common color in German Shepherds black and tan, in the saddleback pattern
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How Are German Shepherd With Other Dogs
The behavior of a German shepherd dog with other dogs can depend on a lot of factors.
German shepherd dogs can be very friendly and at the same time aggressive with other dogs or pets. They can be aggressive towards dogs of same-sex but most of the German shepherds are good with other dogs and pets. His aggressive behavior can be a result of poor socialization and poor training. Some Owners also train their German Shepherd dogs to be aggressive.
Having a German shepherd that does not like anyone can be a big problem. If you walk in a park with your German shepherd Dog and he is Barking to everyone, then you will surely appreciate a friendly one.
In this post, I am going to teach you everything you need to make your German shepherd is friendly with other Dogs or pets and other people.
Your First question can be :
From Shepherd To Worker
The German Shepherd Dog Club of America pinpoints another shift in these dogs around the year of 1907.
Although the standardized German Shepherd was created, those in America decided to make a separate bloodline, again making drastic physical changes.
Among the most prevalent alterations made to German Shepherds in America was a slanted back. Canidae notes that this was to create an effortless trot while in the show ring.
With the start of World War I, show dogs became useless. Needed was an animal that could run without the hindrance of lowered hips.
In other words, they needed to be fit and as close to their wild ancestors as possible. Soldiers noticed the German bloodlines and how able they were in battle, bringing these dogs back with them.
The German Shepherd Dog was chosen for its elevated athleticism, intelligence, and overall devoted nature. These canines took on a new role as working dogs, continuing to serve after the war was over.
The temperament of this newly designated working dog is similar to that of the German Shepherd we see in our homes today.
It is a dog who gets along well with almost everyone, including other dogs, though can occasionally defend itself when need be. They are incredibly loyal, even protecting their family members from potentially threatening adversaries.
The German Shepherd Dog has gone through a variety of changes over the decades. Despite these adversaries, this breed remains one of the most popular dogs in the United States.
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Use The Right Walking Tools For More Control
Remember that a dog sometimes attacks or acts aggressively when they feel threatened, and they can exert great amounts of power over you.
An aggressive or fearful and reactive German Shepherd can pull you down the street, knock you to the ground, or even hurt your wrist, arm, and shoulder.
Dogs that are aggressive to other dogs tend to lunge with great force.
Use the right equipment to walk your aggressive German Shepherd and regain more control over them, if needed.
This includes:
- Attaching a short lead to them at all times outdoors. A padded handle short dog leash gives you more power when your dog reacts badly by shortening the distance between you and your dog. This gives you greater stability and control. Its not necessary to use the short leash for walking, but clip it on your dog so youre able to grab it for emergencies.
- Using a head collar instead of a regular collar. Some owners prefer to use a head halter, or halti, on their dogs. These humane headcollars allow you to guide your dog away from danger more easily by attaching to their heads, but they do require time for your dog to adjust to using them. See the best head collars for your German Shepherd to help them stop pulling.
Having more control over a powerful German Shepherd that becomes aggressive is a key step in keeping to a walking routine safely. The right walking tools allow you to walk your dog in more comfort and with more confidence.
Are German Shepherds Good Pets
Yes, German Shepherds make great family pets. Theyre usually fine with other dogs and cats as well as children. Plus, because theyre so loyal and loving, they make great cuddle buddies.
They love the great outdoors too, so if youre planning to bring your dog along on walks, hikes, and trips to the beach then you might just be a Shepherds perfect match.
Got kids? Read our article on dogs and kids to make sure that your GS and your children form a great relationship where each respect the others boundaries.
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Are German Shepherds Good With Other Dogs At Home And Outside
September 16, 2020 By Meg Austwick
Are German Shepherds good with other dogs?
Many studies into canine aggression have stated that German Shepherds score higher than average for aggression towards other dogs.
Socialization as a puppy is the best way to ensure an adult German Shepherd is good with other dogs.
However, if youre bringing a new puppy home, either a GSD puppy to another dog or another puppy to your current GSD, you should introduce them in small steps.
Do German Shepherds Prefer To Be With Other Dogs
The German Shepherd is a very dominant kind of dog. They may try to influence other dogs.
What if you already have a dog at home and you want to bring a German Shepherd to stay with him?
German Shepherd dogs love to stay in a company all day. If you have a dog that can play with it is good but it is very important to be a little careful before you introduce a new dog. There are several things you can do to reduce the tension between two dogs and keep them safe.
If you already have a dog and you bring a German shepherd puppy home you should consider:
The best pairing you can do is between two different sex types of dogs.
- It is always better to have two different sex types of dogs. For example, if you have a female dog at home, its a good idea to bring a male German shepherd.
- If you are bringing home is a puppy. You should keep the older dog away from the new one till the new one gets familiar with the new home environment. The adult dog finds it easy to adopt the puppy if it is already present at home.
- It is important to watch your dogs in the beginning. Dont let them stay together in your absence.
Dont let your old dog dominate the puppy. If the big dog tries to bite the puppy, firmly say NO and move him to a different place. Till the dogs get acquainted, their things should not be mixed.
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Can German Shepherds Sense Emotions
German Shepherds can sense emotions of fear, anger, sadness, and happiness using their hearing, vision, and smelling senses or a combination of these. While a lot of human emotion reading by dogs is facilitated by chemosignals, research suggests that dogs read faces to detect perceptual cues.
This is primarily facilitated by dogs readiness to look at human faces, after years of living with humans.
Dogs also combine sight and hearing to match visual expressions with vocalizations. They will look at your face when you are happy or angry and notice the vocalizations that accompany these expressions, so they can detect them better the next time they happen.
Besides, dogs can also link gestures to facial expressions and vocalizations. For example, your German Shepherd can link the gesture of extending a hand in intense motion to an angry face and angry vocalizations.
Studies have also shown that your German Shepherd and other dogs will use their hearing to determine your emotion of fear, happiness, and sadness. At the same time, they will turn their head in a particular direction depending on whether the emotion is negative or positive, which also corresponds to an opposite side of the brain.
Heres how that works:
Theyre Excellent Guard Dogs
All dogs are natural watch dogs.
They bark to deter the intruder and to alert the owner. But a dog doesnt have to be aggressive to come to their owners defense.
Being a guard dog comes naturally for German Shepherds. Because of their loyalty and protective instinct, they make good guard dogs.
The good news is, you can train your German Shepherd to be a guard dog. This is doable by putting in time, patience and understanding.
That being said, there is no shortcut around training. Dont assume that by making your dog aggressive, youre teaching them to be a good guard dog. Quite the opposite.
Plus, their aggression could turn toward you. The training will backfire because your dog wont be loyal to an abusive owner.
And what if they wrongly bite someone because of poor training? The blame will fall on you as the owner. And the poor dog will get euthanized as a result of that.
As such, do not train a dog that is fearful and out of control. Thats because they wont know how to respond in non-threatening situations.
So train your German Shepherd only if they are friendly, stable and well-socialized. Believe me. It is worth the time and effort if they end up being excellent guard dogs.
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How Sociable Are German Shepherds
Are they friendly with strangers?
Most German Shepherds are reserved with strangers. As the breed’s national club says, a good German Shepherd has:
“a certain aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships. The dog must be approachable, quietly standing its ground and showing confidence and willingness to meet overtures without itself making them.”
As you might imagine, this can be a fine line to walk. Without proper guidance from the owner, a German Shepherd’s natural aloofness can morph over the line to suspiciousness, distrust, and even aggression or fearfulness.
When you own an aloof breed, you need to socialize the dog thoroughly. This means a careful program of teaching him to pay attention to you and mind you in the presence of other people and other dogs. He doesn’t have to like them, but he must accept them.
One thing I should mention: many German Shepherds who bark and lunge at strangers or other dogs aren’t being either protective or aggressive. Rather, this kind of reactivity can be the dog’s attempt to hide his own insecurities behind a blustering facade.
There are also legal liabilities to consider when you acquire a German Shepherd. For example, your homeowner insurance policy might be cancelled or the rates hiked, because people are often quicker to sue if a “guard dog breed” does anything even remotely questionable.
Are German Shepherds good with children?
Are German Shepherds good with other pets?