German Shepherd Pups May Be Prone To Developing Behavior Problems And Behavioral Issues That Are Similar To Those Displayed By Other Breeds
In fact, one of the most common problems with German shepherd its service dogs is depression, anxiety, and boredom. Because of the emotional nature of these dogs nature, owners must try as much as possible to make their German shepherd pups feel loved. To cure these problems, owners must pay special attention to their German shepherds playtime and activities.
Although there is no definite way to determine if your German Shepherd has post-traumatic stress disorder, you should consider that this type of psychological issue can be similar to grief-stricken patients. This mental state is an avoidance reaction that results from a perceived future threat. If your German shepherd fails service dog work because of this state, you can help by offering him toys that he can chase instead of biting or chewing on them. Also, keep in mind that dogs are known for their need for stimulation and if he gets bored, it can result in destructive behavior.
An even bigger reason why the increase in the popularity of the German shepherd fails service dog training is that many people feel that they are better suited for hunting than serving. The first thing to remember is that police officers are not law enforcement officers and should not be expected to behave like one. Even so, police work includes working with dogs and any large dog can be a valuable asset to a police officer.
Does German Shepherd Serve As Service Dog
Yes! German Shepherd does serve as a service dog. German Shepherd is one of the well-known breeds serving as a service dog.
If you look at the history of a service dog, you may find that the German Shepherd is the first service dog breed.
These dogs are kind in nature, they are friendly with your other pets such as cats. Their greater size and powerful strength help them assist and support their owners.
German Shepherd utilizes its bigger size and incredible strength to help disabled people. Their excellent senses enable them to guide deaf and blind persons.
The intelligence of German Shepherds reminds the owners to take proper medications. Yet, they also detect an anxiety attack.
Suppose you get interested in having a German Shepherd. There are few points about a German Shepherd you need to know.
Such as temperament, nature, and some issues are arising if the dog has not trained adequately.
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.
You May Like: Female German Shepherd In Heat
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.
Service Dog Assists The Wheelchair Person:
Not everyone can walk and run. Yet, service dogs are helpful in this regard.
German shepherds assist their owner in the wheelchair by getting the required item. They pick the items for the owner as an assistant.
Disable people often get disappointed in how they will manage all the activities. But, they dont need to worry. Such people should have a German Shepherd to help entertain and guide them.
Also Check: Pitbull Rottweiler Fight
German Shepherd Service Dog For Anxiety
People with anxiety disorders tend to have a sense of impending doom. They usually have frequent, intense fear or anxiety about everything that it affects their nervous system leading to hypertension. These feelings are very difficult to control that usually hamper with their daily activities.
With GSD service dogs around, anxiety attacks are prevented because GSDs can sense them before they happen. They even remind their handlers to take their medicine at a given time.
During anxiety attacks, GSD service dogs can calm their handlers by licking their face for distraction, fetch medicine, bring someone to help, retrieve a phone and preventing people from getting near their handlers.
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.
Recommended Reading: German Shepherds Ears Stand Up
What To Do If A German Shepherd Is Left Alone
I am also the owner of a German Shepherd and remain unhappy when I have to leave my dog alone. You may also feel bad when you leave your dog alone. You want someone to look after your dog in your absence. If you want to be tension free then you can ask some of your family memeber to accompany them in your absence.
Look at some of the methods that you can use while not present at your home.
German Shepherd As Physical Therapy Service Dogs
The German Shepherd has a positive effect on people because they have the power to reduce emotional stress, blood pressure, and much more. For this reason, the more time passes, the more they are used in different types of therapies.
Due to the positive effect that the German Shepherd or even other breeds can have on people, healthcare personnel has them for support. In this way, therapy, or in this case physiotherapy, can be more effective. The German Shepherd is used as a service dog for physical therapy.
They can also assist in occupational therapy, special education, and other therapy types.
You May Like: Skinny German Shepherd Puppy
German Shepherd Training: The 7 Golden Rules & Basic Commands
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get compensated if you buy through these links this is at no extra cost to you. You can read my full disclosure here.
Im sure youll agree when I say:
A well-trained dog is a pleasure to have around.
If you own an untrained pooch you know the frustration it causes.
Whether youve just brought home your first German Shepherd.
Or if youve finally decided its time to teach your old dog new tricks
Youve come to the right place to get the 101 on German Shepherd training.
It is a fact that German Shepherds are among the brightest and most intelligent working dogs.
Preceded only by the Border Collie and the Standard Poodle.
This is according to a book published by Stanley Coren in 1994 The Intelligence of Dogs.
You can read more about his study and the metrics here.
Thanks to their ability to understand new commands in less than 5 repetitions and obeying the first command 95% of the time or more.
And the desire to please you most owners can succeed at training their dog on their own.
Because of their intelligence, German Shepherds can sometimes be stubborn. They need a firm hand and a smart approach to their training.
Training your German Shepherd is exciting. But sometimes dog training can seem overwhelming if you donât even know where to begin.
So heres the deal:
Youve got to get inside your German shepherds head
And Im about to show you exactly how you can do this:
Also Check: When To Neuter A German Shepherd
What Factors Do Not Make German Shepherds Good Service Dogs
Although the German Shepherd breed has an excellent combination of traits to assist people with disabilities, the suitability of an individual dog depends on a number of factors. This includes their unique personality, socialization, and training.
Generally, the following factors affect a GSDs ability to become a good service dog:
Also Check: How To Draw A German Shepherd Easy
Can Everyone Have A German Shepherd Service Dog
NO, not an individual is capable of dealing with and handle a German shepherd service dog. It costs high that is not affordable for everyone.
Yet, it is not easy to have a German Shepherd.
There is also the fact that German Shepherds arent always the right breed for the job. But, if you have precisely selected, you can be confident that they will do a fantastic job.
People in need and can afford a German Shepherd service dog can buy a German Shepherd service dog.
German Shepherd service dogs give the best service to the owners. Service dogs are useful for many reasons.
German shepherds help provide great Companionship to their owners. They are also in demand as police dogs or as a detector narcotics and bomb detection.
How Well Do German Shepherds Respond To Service Dog Training
There is one thing that most experts can agree on, all dogs regardless of breed can be trained.
However, as established, service dogs need to learn specific and complex skills. And this isnt something that every pooch can do.
Thus, this begs the question, are German Shepherds a little better at learning these skills than many other breeds? Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM, who serves on the advisory board for Pup Life Today has some insight into this.
German Shepherds who come for working lines of dogs may have an advantage over dogs who have simply been bred for their looks. Working dogs of all sorts need to combine obedience with independent thought, a concept known as intelligent disobedience in the guide dog community.
For example, a service dog who is told to perform an action should refuse if that action would be too dangerous. Service dogs have to be clever to balance these competing demands.
Essentially, there is no guarantee that all German Shepherds are equally well-equipped to learn tasks specific to service dogs.
Simultaneously, as long as your pup is from the right bloodline, they may just be able to master complex tasks a little better than other breeds.
Don’t Miss: Who Would Win In A Fight German Shepherd Or Pitbull
Are German Shepherds Good Family Dogs
German Shepherds generally have a calm and patient nature, making them ideal family dogs and great with children. GSDs are also famous for their protective instincts, which means they have natural guarding instincts.
Typically, GSDs are perfect for large, active households where they are not left alone for long and are distracted by the household activities.
However, its best to remember that GSDs are super-active and require early socialization and puppy training to become well-behaved adults.
Take a look at these adorable clips of GSDs being loving and protective to give you a good idea of what you can expect in terms of a German Shepherd being around your family:
History Of German Shepherds
The German Shepherd is a not too old dog breed. Its origins date back to 1899. Captain Max von Stephanitz, career captain in the German cavalry, bred these dogs. His goal was to create a breed that would do its job perfectly as a herding dog.
Farmers in Germany have been using dogs to drive and protect their herds for centuries. There were very skillful dogs, and even then there were attempts to breed proper herding canines. However, no one has developed a distinct breed for this purpose.
Stephanitz began his breeding career in 1898. His goal was to create the perfect German herding dog. The British had very talented herding dogs. This is why he studied their breeding techniques. He also tried to visit as many dog shows as possible in Germany to observe the herding dogs there.
Von Stephanitz saw many excellent dogs who had fantastic traits. Examples are intelligence, athleticism, capability, and so on. However, he did not come across a dog that had all the positive traits. Of course, after that, it became an even more important goal for him.
In 1899 he bought a wolf-looking dog namedHektor Linksrhein. The dog was later renamed Horand v Grafeth. Encouraged by success, Stephanitz founded a society called Verein für Deutsche Schaferhunde. He later bred Horands descendants here.
Stephanitzs German Shepherds served during the First World War as guard dogs, Red Cross dogs, supply carrier, messenger, rescuer, and sentry.
Don’t Miss: When Do German Shepherds Ears Stand Up
Things To Consider Before Getting A German Shepherd As An Emotional Support Dog
Although German Shepherds can be amazing emotional support animals, they are not for everyone.
GSDs are bred as working dogs, so they thrive in always having a job to do.
This means that exercise and mentally-stimulating activities are a must if you want to keep your GSD entertained.
Otherwise, she will eventually become bored, which may result in wreaking havoc around the house.
If your condition keeps you from exercising your dog daily, perhaps another breed will be more beneficial to you.
German Shepherds also need to be properly socialized, ideally starting at an early age.
While all dogs require proper socialization, this is a must for GSDs no exceptions.
Unsocialized, a GSD may become aggressive to other dogs and even humans something that must absolutely be avoided when dealing with a dog as powerful and potentially dangerous as a German Shepherd.
Consider that it can be quite challenging for a dog owner with depression to muster the energy to train a German Shepherd.
On the other hand, this challenge can turn into an opportunity to take responsibility for something other than ones self, or even become a source of fulfillment, which is good for mental health.
Whats The Best Age To Spay Or Neuter Your Dog
Typically, weâd like to see female pets spayed before their first heat cycle, so in the past, weâve recommended that pets get spayed and neutered around 6 months of age.
If you can prevent unwanted pregnancy, wait as long as possible before sterilization. For most of my patients, this means around 10 to 14 months of age.
But, as we advance veterinary medicine, we are realizing that this blanket approach is not always best for every pet. Here are some other factors to consider:
Also Check: Is A Belgian Malinois A German Shepherd
Can My Dog Qualify As A Service Dog
Certification of a service dog is not required in the United States. This is actually a great benefit to those who need them.
This is because it allows people to train their own dogs as service dogs as opposed to making them go through a certification program which may limit the access of many people without the financial means to acquire a service dog.
Under the ADA, there is no certification required to be presented to demonstrate that a dog is a service dog. And beware of any place that sells you a certification for a service dog. These are not recognized by the Ada as proof that the animal is a service dog.
Even though there is no required certification for service dogs in the United States, there are standards set forth by The International Association of Assistance Dog Partners .
Because there was a large number of disabled individuals in need of assistance dogs who did not have any understanding of the training or guidance to give a dog, this organization developed what is called the Minimum Set of Training Standards for Public Access.
This set of standards is widely used and recognized as authoritative in terms of certifying whether or not a dog is prepared to be a service dog. Under these standards, a dog should at a minimum be able to display the following social behavior skills:
IAADP also recommends:
- A minimum of 120 hours of schooling over a period of at least 6 months.
- At least 30 hours devoted specifically to working in public places.
What Is A Service Dog Vest And How Do I Get One
A certified service dog has gone through proper training and can, therefore, wear a vest that identifies them as such. This vest allows them to have access to nearly anywhere their human can go, even places like restaurants or plain cabin where animals are not normally allowed.
However, some people, who dont own a service dog, want to take their pet dog with them everywhere, too. So, they purchase a service dog vest for them and take them wherever they want. This is illegal and can cause some huge problems.
First and foremost, a dog that is not legitimately trained as a service dog could be a danger to other people or animals. Secondly, when a fake service dog misbehaves badly, it can cause store owners to ban all animals from their businesses, including legitimate service dogs.
You May Like: Average Weight Of German Shepard