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Can German Shepherds Swim Naturally

Are German Shepherds Good With Cats

Can German Shepherds Swim? Do German Shepherds Like Water?

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It will be easier for you if you get your dog when he is a young puppy so that he can grow up with cats in his environment. That way, they learn that the cat is part of the family too.

When I first got my pup, my cat did not like him at all. She was used to being the only pet and very shy. Whenever she saw the puppy she would run away, and this would trigger the puppy to chase her. However, I had to stop him from chasing her to prevent him from developing a bad habit.;

So, I trained them both. I taught him to stop chasing the cat and I taught the cat to stop running away from him.

My dog is 4 years old now and has never caused any harm to my cat. However, whenever I leave the house, I carry out a quick check to ensure that she has a place to escape through in case of anything.

Why Do Dogs Hate Water

Other dogs are freaked out by water because they cant swim, and they know that water presents a danger that they do not want to be around. Dogs also may have negative associations with water. Maybe they are only exposed to water when they take a bath, and they are not always fans of this experience.

Fear Of Bodies Of Water

Swimming Pools

You, like me, may have learned to swim by being thrown into a pool when you were younger. This is not the approach to take with your GSD!

A swimming pool can be very intimidating for your GSD. For this reason, if you want to prevent any fear of pools from your dog, its important to follow these guidelines:

  • Do not rush the process. Allow your dog to become familiar with the pool and surroundings on its own. If possible, take it off of the leash and let it explore on its own time.
  • Do not just jump in the pool and hope that your dog will follow.This can actually have a very negative effect on your GSD.Since GSDs are very protective by nature, they may feel that you are in danger. This can cause your dog to panic, as its main goal is now to get you out of the water.Try sitting on the edge of the pool with your feet in the water while your dog explores the area. This shows your GSD that the water is just another thing and not a danger.
  • Limit the number of people around. If possible, keep other people around to a minimum. This will allow your dog to keep focused and calm.
  • Consider using a kiddy pool. Kiddy pools are a good way to introduce your GSD to water. They are small and less intimidating to your dog.

Also, be aware that many pools have a vinyl lining. Your GSDs claws can damage this very easily. So be sure to pick the proper pool in which to teach your GSD how to swim.

Lakes and the Ocean

Ponds and Small Lakes

Larger Lakes and the Ocean

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Can German Shepherds Swim In The Ocean

Lakes and ponds rarely pose any dangers, unless they are massive lakes. The ocean, though, can be a different matter because of the salt and the unpredictability.

A German shepherd might be able to swim in the ocean, but we strongly advise against it. Not only are the waves dangerous, but spending too much time in ocean water can lead to potential salt poisoning for your dog.

Playing fetch with your German shepherd along the shore should be fine. Just make sure that they know they shouldnt drink any water from the ocean.

Their instincts should take care of that, but just in case we recommend you bring water to keep your canines hydrated.;And if they start drinking salt water, immediately step in and correct the behavior.

Let us know in the comments below if your German shepherds love swimming or are afraid of the water. What was your experience like in helping your German shepherd learn to swim?

Do you have any tips or tricks that seemed to work well? If so, wed love to hear about them.;

RELATED QUESTIONS:

Training Your Shepherd To Jump In Water

Can German Shepherds Swim Naturally

This can be tricky for some shepherds who dont like to get their head wet.

  • Jump in yourself. Your dog might just be interested in your behavior enough that they follow you. If they dont, continue reading.
  • Start with a well-known command, such as Fetch or Come.
  • For fetch, throw the toy into the water and see if your dog jumps in after it.
  • For come, you should be in the water and command your dog to come to you.
  • Note that if your dog is showing signs of fear or anxiety, back off and stop giving him the command.
  • You can confuse him if they want to please you by responding to the command but is afraid to complete the task.
  • Try using stairs in a pool or a gradual bank in a creek.
  • Once your dog is partway in the water, throw their favorite toy just in front of them. This will encourage them to take a small jump to reach the toy.
  • Slowly work up to throwing the toy farther away.
  • Eventually, try throwing the toy from the edge so your dog has to jump in to retrieve it.
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    What Do You Think About German Shepherds Turning On Their Owners

    Amaranth

    Its possible for any dog to turn on their owners especially if they have been used as fighting dogs, abused, or injured.;

    In general German Shepherds dont turn on their owners. They are affectionate and loyal, and originally bred as protection and herding dogs.

    Even trained GSD such as K9 unit dogs will not attack their owners or strangers randomly. Most people think that these dogs are vicious attack dogs, but they are not.;

    German Shepherds are highly intelligent, energetic and they shed a lot. I cant imagine how my life would have been without these dogs.

    Things To Keep In Mind

    If you are planning to train your German Shepherd for swimming, here are a few things that you need to keep in mind before starting the training. These points might be helpful for you and the training.

    • Just have a firm belief that this is a process. It is like training a human child for something like riding or swimming. For teaching a child or a dog, you must need to have patience and make yourself ready to tolerate their mistakes.
    • Dont start with long sessions of training right in the beginning. German Shepherds get tired soon and lose interest. Begin with short sessions and when your dog starts showing interest, you may increase the session as long as your dog remains interested.
    • If you take your German Shepherd to a chlorinated pool or a dirty water lake, make sure that you rinse your dog every time after the training session. It will keep your dog safe and clean.
    • Never leave your dog unattended in the water. German Shepherds get overwhelmed and might get into deep water and get into trouble.

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    How Do You Teach A German Shepherd To Swim

    To teach your German Shepherd how to swim the first thing you consider buying is a life jacket. Make sure the life jacket is comfortable. The life jacket should have a handle so you can pick your GDS out of the water if the need arises. I have researched and found a good life jacket vest for you. Check it now on Amazon

    One precaution you must adhere to when teaching your german shepherd how to swim is not throw them into the water if they are first time swimmers.

    Start from the shallow part of the water and work your way gradually in the deep part of the pool.

    If your GDS is anxious dont force her to continue. Get her out. Reward her with a treat and start over again.

    With Time your German should be confident enough and go into the water alone.

    After say at least a week you should take the life jacket off.; Under your supervision, observe how your; German shepherd swims without the life jacket.

    Teaching your German shepherd to swim can take a lot of time and patience. There is always professional help at hand if you cant teach your dog to swim.

    What Are The Benefits Of Swimming

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    • Great for overall health.
    • As a form of exercise, it is low impact. It lessens the pressure on your shepherds tendons and joints.
    • Can be used as a technique to improve mobility .
    • Aids weight loss.
    • If your shepherd gets bored easily, swimming is a great way to add variety to their exercise routine. Dogs can find swimming fun and you can also combine fetching a toy and swimming.
    • Helps your shepherd get some relief during those really hot summer days.

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    Interested In Training Your German Shepherd The Right Way

    If you havent trained your German Shepherd properly, then this is the perfect time to start. Whatever bad behavior your shepherd has, whether its barking at night or other bad behaviors, using the right training program is the key to having an obedient and happy pup.

    The training program I love and highly recommend is Brain Training For Dogs.

    With Brain Training For Dogs youll save yourself a ton of time and effort. Instead of banging your head against the wall trying to figure out why your dog wont listen, youll follow a path that has been tried, tested, and most importantly, thats given proven results. Not to mention the fact, youll be able to fit the course around your schedule, not fit your schedule around a trainer or obedience class.

    So instead of worrying about whether theyre going to be well-behaved or not, youll only have to worry about how much fun youll have with them!

    And in most cases its still going to be:

    • Cheaper than hiring a professional.
    • Cheaper than replacing everything they might break.
    • And definitely cheaper than a lawsuit against you, if they decide to bite someone.

    Just imagine how great it will feel to finally be able to trust your German Shepherd completely and never worry whether theyll be naughty or not. Instead, youll have the peace of mind that you have a well-behaved pup, and the boundaries you set for them, will always be there, EVEN IF YOURE NOT.;

    Prepare The Necessary Equipment

    Firstly, youll want to get a dog swimming leash and a doggy life jacket for your dog swimming lesson. The swimming leash will help you supervise your puppy and doesnt swim too far out while the life jacket is useful to help your dog avoid drowning while learning to swim.

    Our Top Pick: Best Life Jacket for German Shepherds

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    Are German Shepherds Fur Water Resistant

    Many physical features of the German Shepherd make them natural swimmers. In addition, regardless of your dogs coat length, almost all German Shepherds have a water-resistant double coat. This is another feature some dogs have that help them be good swimmers.

    Can German Shepherds Learn Swimming

    Can German Shepherds Swim?  Embora Pets

    GS can easily excel in swimming if they get good practice and training. It is easier to train a German Shepherd for swimming when compared with any other breed as they are very sharp.

    GSD Puppy provides you a better chance and more favorable for you to teach them how to swim. A puppy shows more interest in learning as an adult German Shepherd. If you keep on training a puppy for swimming side by side, it will make them feel less afraid of water and they will start enjoying the activity of being in the water.

    German Shepherds, as new learners, must use their four limbs while doing practice for swimming. Only using front paws or only using back paws can be unhelpful and may delay the learning.

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    Do German Shepherds Shed A Lot

    Azure

    Yes, they do. From my experience, I have discovered that they shed more than Collies.;

    Buy a shedding blade if you have a German Shepherd. Its basically a looped curry comb like the one used for horses. It is remarkably effective in getting rid of shedding fur.;

    If you want a dog and shedding is a big concern for you, then do not get a GSD. As a matter of fact, if shedding is an issue for you dont get a dog in the first place. All dogs shed; some breeds shed more than others.

    Never Force Your Dog Into Any Body Of Water

    If your dog isnt eager to jump into water, dont push it.; Play around the water, and slowly get them comfortable, you may find that with some time they eventually want to get in on their own.;

    Plus forcing your dog into the water before they are ready could create fear of the water, and they may never want to get in if they become too scared.

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    Are German Shepherds Easy To Train

    Punch

    From my experience, I found it both easy and hard. My German Shepherd will not do something just because I asked them to. I needed to learn how to be smart so that I could teach them to want to listen and learn.

    Once I achieved it this, they developed the willingness to learn and training became easy from there.

    Since I needed to improve my dog skills, I enrolled in dog seminars and classes and now I am much better at training my dog.

    Tips & Tricks To Get Your German Shepherd To Love Water

    Swimming female German shepherd dog

    Some individual German Shepherds will take to the water more easily than others. You may find that your dog seems uncomfortable in, or even afraid of, the water. If this is the case, its possible your dog had a negative experience in the water in the past. It could also be that you simply introduced him to the water too quickly. Whether it is a pool, lake, ocean, or another body of water, it can take some time for your German Shepherd to completely acclimate to being in the water.

    You should never force your GSD to go in the water if he doesnt seem ready. Start slowly by taking your dog into the shallow end of a pool or lake and playing by the water. Get into the water with your dog and help support his body if needed while he moves his legs. You might even consider getting a dog life jacket to use at first. Do not jump into your pool and expect your dog to follow you. He may think you are in danger and feel an impulse to help you, but fear of the water may cause him to feel stressed.

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    How Long Should A German Shepherd Swim For

    A German Shepherds Swim time in water depends on how familiar he/she is with water and his/her fitness level. But on a more general level,

    • Minimum Swim Time in saltwater 10 minutes
    • Maximum Swim Time in freshwater 30 minutes

    Remember, German Shepherds are naturally athletic dogs. If they go on to enjoy swimming and become excellent swimmers, you can allow them to be in the water for 30 minutes straight and it will be an awesome workout as well!

    German Shepherd Dogs Are Protective Of Their Loved Ones

    They are known for being fearless and self-confident. GSDs will assertively stand their ground and are suited to be either watchdog or guardian, whichever the situation demands. They can be aloof with strangers yet are not hostile. This natural protective instinct is reassuring to the German Shepherd owner. But it also comes with a certain responsibility. You should be committed to spending time socializing and training your dog to ensure your companion feels comfortable around strangers and other dogs. If you do, you will benefit from all this dog has to offer.

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    Do Huskies Like Water

    First of all its important to know whether huskies even like water. To answer the question, in most cases, huskies do not like water. They were bred to be sled dogs which means theyd rarely need to swim. With that being said, its always down to the individual husky, and its entirely possible for a husky to like water if theyre acclimatized properly.

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    Swimming Safety For Your German Shepherd

    Can German Shepherds Swim? Do German Shepherds Like Water ...

    Even if your dog is an avid swimmer and catches on quickly, you want to keep things as safe as possible. If your dog is hesitant or not a great swimmer, you will want to take every safety precaution possible. This becomes even more important in moving water where your dog could get swept away.

    Some basic safety precautions that you need to have in mind are:

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    Should I Get A Male Or A Female German Shepherd

    Bronze

    Gender preferences have changed over the years. Back in the sixties, people wouldnt buy female dogs unless they had a breeding business. Most preferred male dogs hence why they were more costly. These days, however, people like female dogs.

    As for me, I prefer male dogs. The main reason for this is personality. Male dogs are easier to train and they are more confident than females. I find them more forgiving, courageous, loyal, and easier to play with. If you want a dog for protection, a male dog is more likely to bark aggressively when he senses a threat.

    Also, spaying a female dog is more expensive than neutering a male. In the event a mistake occurs, a male wont have puppies for you to find homes for. On the contrary, its highly likely that a male dog on heat will travel to find a female.;

    I have had several dogs of both genders and trained more dogs than I have owned. I really enjoying training males.

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