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Do German Shepherds Like Other Dogs

Myth #5 Do German Shepherds Bite

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This is kind of an odd myth, but one that is out there regardless.

For some reason, German Shepherds have gotten a bad rap as a breed, known for biting.

Perhaps this myth is again fed by the breedsuse in aggressive jobs or maybe their size and imposing stature cause people toassume that they will be biters.

Fact: This is an unfairly earned myth. German Shepherds are not generallyknown to be biters. Biting is a bad habit that is encouraged by poor trainingand poor socialization.

According to the American Kennel Club, German Shepherds account for less than 2 percent of reported dog bites.

In fact, Americas favorite breed, the Labrador Retriever is more likely to bite a person than a German Shepherd. For dogs, biting is a response to fear and a need to defend themselves.

If a German Shepherd bites, its likely there is a reason. Few dogs bite without being provoked.

However, a well socialized and trained dog is more likely to be calm in a greater variety of situations, which can also reduce the risk of biting.

Acting Hurt When Told To Back Off

If when you tell your German Shepherd that you need a little room or that you want to pay attention to your child/partner/another dog, your Shepherd throws a little hissy fit or leaves the room, you can assume that they cant stand watching you interact with other animals and are complaining or taking themselves out of the situation so that they dont react inappropriately.

Training With Your Aggressive German Shepherd

If you havent already started, you should include positive reward-based training with your dog.

This means you use rewards, such as treats, toys, or praise, to encourage your dog to respond and behave the way you want. It also gives you some options when youre out on walks and need to get more control over your dog.

Not only does training give you a more reliable dog, but it gives your dog a way to help ease their stress and to bond with you in positive ways.

Use a scientifically-based dog training program that you can use from the comfort of your home. The last thing you want to do is throw your stressed GSD into a class full of other dogs if theyre showing aggression to other dogs.

So, start small with at-home training thats fun and proven to work on behavior issues, like this inexpensive program called Brain Training for Dogs thatll walk you through step-by-step obedience training.

I know its difficult to bond with an aggressive German Shepherd, and training should be included in your daily work so that you can feel closer to your dog. One-on-one home training with your dog helps you to feel more confident with your dogs behaviors later when out on walks or in public.

Your aggressive German Shepherd might also benefit from these scientifically proven German Shepherd enrichment ideas. These activities can not only increase your bond but help your GSD to focus on you more and provide them healthy, safe outlets for their energy.

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What Dog Gets Along Best With German Shepherds

If you have a German shepherd dog, you can be worried about which dog can fit perfectly as it a companion.

This question is tough to answer because there is not much research on this topic, but there are still some important considerations you can do before getting a new Dog.

In my own experience, I think the most important thing is not the breed of a dog but what is the character of an individual animal and how it has been trained.

Yes, one thing that really matters as I mentioned before is the sex of the dog.

It depends on how your German shepherd dog can socialize with the new dog. In my experience, two dogs with same-sex hardly can get well together.

German Shepherd dogs like to be dominant, and if you bring another dog with different sex, they will not feel challenged. Dogs like the company of other dogs.

How can I Know if my German shepherd dog will like a new dog?

A good indicator could be:

  • try to see how your German shepherd dog behaves with other dogs on the street or in the parks.
  • If he likes to play and stay together with other dogs, then you can think about getting a new dog.
  • If his behavior is very aggressive, then train and socialize him better before bringing home another dog.

Why Cross A Cocker Spaniel With A German Shepherd

Does your dog/pup look like their siblings?

Few would cross GSDs and Cocker Spaniels on purpose because their size difference may cause some health issues down the line. Nevertheless, there are many positive outcomes to crossing these two breeds.

German Shepherd Cocker Spaniel mixes arent just physically smaller but they are also calmer and more content when left to relax at home. They are less vigilant and more open to strangers than purebred GSDs.

Additionally, they require less mental stimulation and are less likely to get themselves into trouble.

Also Check: Are German Shepherds A Good Guard Dog

What If I Have Adopted An Adult German Shepherd Dog

If you have adopted an adult German Shepherd, then your shelter or breeder should be able to give you more information about his behavior.

If you have bought a German Shepherd that is very aggressive, do not try to get rid of him instead give him a chance.

Expert behaviorists say that a German Shepherd Behavior Can be modified if you take the right steps.

On the other hand, if you have adopted an amiable German Shepherd dog who likes to play and socialize with other dogs and pets, then that is great!

To take advantage of this, you should give a lot of opportunities for your German Shepherd Dog to meet and play with other dogs.

A great option could be a Dog park. Take your Dog to these places and let him enjoy. In Dog parks, aggressive dogs should not be allowed but there are always some people who do not respect the rules, so it is good to be careful.

About The Cocker Spaniel Breed

The Cocker Spaniel might seem like your average lap dog, but it is actually a very active sporting breed.

These dogs assisted hunters even before rifles were invented. They got their name from the woodcock, which was the type of game they specialized in.

Today, Cocker Spaniels are mostly found in homes and dog shows. They were especially popular in the 1950s when Disney first aired the animated movie Lady and the Tramp.;

Although not quite as popular these days, they are best-loved for their calm temperament and irresistible, silky coat. They also tend to be excellent household companions for families with young children.

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Parting Thoughts On Do German Shepherds Get Along With Other Dogs

German Shepherds arent particularly challenging to care for. Their large size usually means they have larger appetites and need more space to run around than most other breeds, but they are also loyal and protective.

These dogs have come a long way since their early days as service dogs. The breed continues to grow in popularity and bring joy and security to the lives of owners across the globe. These dogs are willing to serve and protect you with their lives, so remember to treat them with love and respect.

How Often And How Much Should You Feed Your Gsd

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Naturally, the growingGSD pups are more ravenous than their mature counterparts. This is because theyhave higher energy levels and require a lot of calories to stay healthy andhappy. You should feed your German Shepherd puppy at least 500 calories perday. As soon as he becomes a young adult, increase it to 1,500 to 1,700calories per day.

Its best to start withwet food for weaned puppies, at around seven weeks old. Puppies younger thanfour months should be served four meals per day. At about four months, reducethe meals to 3 per day until about nine months. This is the ideal time to startintroducing your dog to live animal products such as eggs, liver, and bones.Avoid giving them too much of these foods.

After nine months, yourpuppy should be able to eat fewer meals 2 to 3 per day. You may also givethem more live animal products at this age. If youre not sure the total amountof food to feed them per day, ask your vet for advice.

When your GSD becomes ayear old, his metabolism willstart to decrease slowly. At this point, they need less food, and you can servethem one large meal per day, or two regular-sized meals per day.

Recommended Reading: When To Neuter A German Shepherd

Seek Affection And Attention

Your German Shepherd may lie on or close to your feet to simply seek affection and attention. German Shepherds enjoy a warm cuddle and sometimes they can even become extra clingy.

If you are sitting at a chair tapping at your computers keyboard for an hour or two, your furry friend will take what he can of your closeness, hoping to remind you that he exists.;

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.

Read Also: How Many Vaccinations Does A German Shepherd Need

Myth #1 Do German Shepherds Attack Their Owners

Many myths about German Shepherds are related to their aggression level.

Historically, in movies and television especially, we see examples of German Shepherds behaving badly.

This myth is likely supported by the common use of German Shepherds as police and military dogs.

These dogs tend to act aggressively, and have been known to unintentionally injure their owners. But is this action an actual attack or is it just a case of mistaken identity?

Fact: German Shepherds do not attack their owners any more frequently thanmany other breeds of dogs. In many cases of injury caused to owners by GermanShepherds, the dog is not at fault or the incident was not a case ofaggression.

This doesnt mean however that GermanShepherds havent been known to attack their owners. Many well documented caseswhere a GSD has attacked their owner, there is a known history of abuse.

;In these instances, the dog has attacked its owner out of fear or as a way of protecting itself in a scary situation.

German Shepherds, like most other dogs will take any action necessary to protect themselves when they are feeling threatened, even if the threat is their owner.

What If I Get An Adult German Shepherd

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If you accept an adult German Shepherd, the breeder will be able to give you more information about his behavior. If you bought a very aggressive German Shepherd, try to give him a chance instead.

According to an expert, German Shepherd behavior can be corrected if you take the right steps.

Next, if you adopt a pleasant German shepherd dog who likes to play and socialize with other dogs and pets, thats cool! You should give your German Shepherd dog plenty of chances to meet and play with other dogs.

Take your dog to a Dog Park and let him enjoy it. Aggressive dogs should not be allowed in dog parks but there are always some people who do not respect the rules so it is better to be careful.

Read Also: How To Train A German Shepherd To Protect You

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!

How To Socialize A German Shepherd Puppy

Puppies should be well socialized to as many people, things, and experiences as possible by the time theyre 16 weeks old, ideally under 12 weeks.

But, this can be difficult, as puppies should not go on the ground outside until they have completed all of their vaccinations.

Luckily, you can introduce your puppy to other dogs indoors if you know the dogs have been fully vaccinated.

And, you can still socialize a puppy to other dogs outside as long as you are holding him.

For more information, take a look at this guide of 12 great places to socialize your puppy.

Finding other dogs to meet

During the socialization period, its especially valuable to try and engineer lots of rewarding contact with other dogs.

The more happy experiences your puppy has with other dogs now, the more receptive they will be to meeting other dogs in the future.

So you may want to take your puppy to the dog park and sit on a bench with him on your lap so the pup can watch other dogs.

Enrolling in puppy training classes is another great way for them to meet other dogs and socialize.

Bear in mind that adult dogs have varying degrees of tolerance for bouncy young puppies.

So dont let your German Shepherd puppy approach them indiscriminately. Arrange encounters with dogs you know to be patient, check with their owner before your puppy says hello.

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Signs Of Aggression To Watch For

German shepherd owners should watch for signs of aggression in their dogs. These are often subtle and may not be immediately apparent, but they can offer clues to a developing problem.

The following are signs of aggression to watch for, whether they do this with a new dog at the dog park or a dog at the same home.

  • Aggressive growling at other dogs
  • Holding his tail low and stiff instead of wagging it normally while greeting another dog.
  • Raising of hackles, flat back, and stiff body posture in your German shepherd when they see another dog.
  • Showing their teeth, baring their teeth, or raising a lip.
  • Flicking their tongue in and out of their mouth in a mock snarl or warning growl.
  • Stiffening of the hind legs and a crouching posture with tail up
  • Barking aggressively at other dogs. The dog may also attempt to chase other dogs away.
  • Staring at other dogs with intense aggression in their eyes.
  • Lunging at another dog.

Your German Shepherd Is A Velcro Dog

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A Velcro dog wants to stay always with his owner. He will follow him anywhere and everywhere.

You can say that a Velcro German Shepherd has the craze to follow the owner everywhere.

German Shepherd Dogs that work alongside the owner all day long are prone to become velcro dogs.

Do not confuse separation anxiety with a velcro dog. German Shepherd with separation anxiety will panic when he does not see you or you leave the house.

A Velcro Dog will try to stay very close to you all the time when you are around.

What are the causes of this behavior?

A German Shepherd can become a velcro dog for different reasons.

1 If you Give your Shepherd treats or rewards every time he comes to you then he might think that staying with you will always get him a reward

2 If you rescued a German Shepherd who has been abandoned in the past, then he can get more attached to you and behave like a velcro dog

3 Some dogs just follow you because they are bored and have nothing to do

4 Older German Shepherd Dogs might found it safe to stay near you.

5 Also, letting your Shepherd sleeping with you can create dependence.

6 If your German Shepherds behavior changed quickly, then it can be a health problem.

7 If Your German Shepherd Dog develops vision or hearing problems, he can get scared and try to stay near you to feel safe.

Read Also: Why Is My German Shepherd So Anxious

What Should You Feed Your German Shepherd

German shepherds, bothpuppies and adults, require meals balanced in nutrients and proportions toenable them to keep up with agility expectations. They are large and energeticdogs and require protein in large quantities. It helps to build up their energyand develop their muscles.

Also, fat is necessaryfor the maintenance of a fine coat. Good sources of dietary fat include fishoil, peanuts, and peanut butter. A good quality German Shepherd should alsocontain some calcium and phosphorus in the ratio 1:1 for puppies and 1.2: 1 foradults.

Proper nutrition canreduce hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia,arthritis, and other common health issues in dogs. Here are some foods thatcontain the right nutrients for your German Shepherd:

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