Do German Shepherds Like To Be Petted

How To Introduce A German Shepherd To Your Family

When you introduce your german shepherd to your family for the first time, it could affect your whole relationship from thereon.

So make sure youre doing the best you can to make them feel at home. Here are some of the things you can do.

Offer Them Food

One of the best things you can do is offer your german shepherd some food when they come into your home.

At first, they may not eat it, but showing them theres food, is going to help cement the idea this is a safe place for them.

It will make the house feel more like a home, and theyll see the food giver as a source of positivity.

Make Sure Youre Giving Them Lots Of Love

When your german shepherd first comes home, its important to make sure youre giving them lots of love.

Its important to remember that your german shepherd may cry for the first few days there home. Theyve just been taken from their first home, as well as their brothers and sisters, so theyre going to feel lonely.

Teach Young Children How To Act Around Your Dog

One of the most important things you can do is teach young children how to act around their dogs.

A lot of kids see dogs as toys and may end up pulling them around or mistreating them. Before you get your german shepherd home make sure youve taught your children exactly how they should act.

If they act the wrong way then your german shepherd could end up becoming aggressive as well as repressing other negative emotions.

Make Sure You Create A Space For Them

How To Make A German Shepherd Love You In 5 Easy Steps

Do you want to know the secrets of how to make a German Shepherd love you?

Imagine how amazing your life would look as your German Shepherd gazes at you with affection and admiration! German Shepherd love and affection is amazing

when you know the secrets to their hearts!

But, its easy to feel loved by your German Shepherd with these tried and tested tips thatll have your dog anticipating your every word.

Ill share with you some of the best ways to make your German Shepherd love you.

But first

Lets get the basics of German Shepherd love out of the way.

Key Points To Consider When Buying The Best Dog Food For German Shepherds With Skin Allergies

The following are the factors you must consider when buying the;best dog food for German shepherds:

At the time of buying dog food, make sure all the ingredients are sourced from reliable sources. Always buy quality dog food that has enriched with minerals and vitamins. When selecting the;best dog food for German shepherds;with

Check the Ingredients

skin allergies;make ensure that it also contains vegetables and fruits that are high in antioxidants.

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

They Allow You To Hug Them

The act of hugging dogs became controversial because a;casual, observational study;revealed that it gives dogs anxiety. Indeed, dogs may not like hugs because it practically immobilizes them and makes them feel unprotected. But, many dog parents especially those with German Shepherds would attest to the fact that their pups enjoy hugs. At the very least, dogs will tolerate hugs when they come from people they trust and love.

When your GSD allows you to hug them, check for signs of distress, including folded-back ears and half-moon eyes. If you dont see any, youre free to take it as a sign of affection.

Do I Have To Train The Dog To Sleep In Its Bed

In a word, no. As long as you dont mind sharing your space with your furry friend, theres no reason why they cant sleep in your bed.

Just remember that if you start when theyre small, you might be in for a rude awakening when he or she grows up.

If you prefer to have your dog sleep with you at night, there are numerous ways to encourage him or her. Take a look at this YouTube video for inspiration.

If you do opt to train your German shepherd to sleep on its own, be consistent.

Dont cave in and allow them to jump back up on your bed just because youre tired or frustrated with the animals whining. The bottom line: Youre the master, and you set the rules.

In this guide, we go over:

• Preparing;to adopt a dog
• Dog supplies you will need
• Choosing the right dog to adopt
• & much more!

Read Also: Are German Shepherds Prone To Hip Dysplasia

Does My German Shepherd Love Me

If youre wondering whether or not your German Shepherd loves you, this post will show you a number of ways that you can tell and what you can do to get it to love you more.

So, does my German Shepherd love me? Common ways that they will show their love for you will include wagging their tails when you come home, bringing you things, looking to you for direction or making eye contact with you.

There are actually many ways that a German Shepherd will show its love for you and I will show you 13 of them below.

Your Body Language Matters When Petting A Dog

You also need to watch your bodys position and language, Newell says. Specifically, we shouldnt hover over dogs, as they might perceive it as a threat. We also need to watch the amount of eye contact we make while petting dogs. While its natural for us to want to lovingly stare into a dogs eyes, a dog might not interpret it the same way. Itd be like if someone came up to you, shook your hand and stared at you, Newell says. Youd be creeped out.

The general rule of thumb is not to make too much eye contact, specifically any hard stares, when you meet a dog you dont know. Just glancing at a dog, or keeping your eyes averted are best practices when petting dogs you dont know.

Read Also: Is A German Shepherd A Hypoallergenic Dog

Forza10 Wet Hypoallergenic Dog Food

Forza10 Wet hypoallergenic dog food is suitable for all kinds of adult dogs of different sizes and ages that have sensitive stomachs, digestive systems, and some allergy issues.

This formula helps to reduce Stomach distress, diarrhea, vomiting, belching, flatulence, intestinal sounds, and gastric swelling among the German shepherd dogs. The first five vital ingredients of that recipe are a Meal of Anchovies, Peas, Beans, Fava, pork meat, and Fish Oil.

This high-protein formula contains an anchovy meal with omega-three fatty acids found naturally in anchovies. It also means that the kibbles have a lot of fish taste, which dogs love.

Because anchovies are easily digested, this formula is suitable for those dogs that have sensitive stomachs. It also contains all essential amino acids that dogs need to maintain lean and muscle mass, with a protein content of 30%.

Although this is a limited-ingredient recipe, it contains pig meal and hydrolyzed salmon and fish proteins.

The hydrolyzed proteins are processed so that they are broken down into smaller-chained amino acids that are absorbed considerably and more quickly by dogs bodies.

The rich amount of omega-three and omega-six fatty acids included in this recipe helps to reduce obsessive skin, licking, skin itchiness, dry fur, and formation of the knots on the dogs skin and also helps to improve the brain and the overall body function of the dog.

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?

Recommended Reading: Why Are German Shepherds So Smart

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.;

Ways That Your German Shepherd Could Show That It Loves You

It follows your orders

One way that your German Shepherd might show that it loves you is by following your orders. If it does what you say when you tell it to do something then it would be a sign that it loves you since it shows that it trusts you, it looks at you as its leader and that it believes that being with you will be good for it.

It protects you and your home

If your German Shepherd did not love you then it would not have any interest in protecting you or your home. If your GSD tends to get protective when there is a stranger at the door or when someone it doesnt know is around you then it would be a sign that it loves you and that it does not want something bad to happen to you.

With that being said, if it does get overly protective when other people are around then this would be problematic since you want to be able to introduce your GSD as a friendly dog. I have written more about why it might be overly protective here.

It noses you

One way that dogs will show their love for their owners is by nosing them which is where they touch their owners with their noses in order to smell them. This is a sign of love because it does it to see where you have been, how healthy you are and to see if you are ok.

It makes eye contact with you

When your dog looks at you in the eyes it releases Oxytocin which is a hormone that promotes bonding . This means that, if your GSD regularly makes eye contact with you, then it would be a sign that it loves you.

It licks you

You May Like: How Long Will My German Shepherd Be In Heat

How To Train An Adult German Shepherd

While it is recommended to train your German Shepherd when it is a puppy, thats not always possible. Perhaps you got your dog as an older dog, or perhaps you never trained it as a puppy. Whatever the reason, its still possible to train an adult German Shepherd, but it may be a bit more difficult. With persistence, however, you can still succeed.

Here are some tips to help get you started:

Liver German Shepherd Color Genetics: What Causes The Liver Coloration In Gsds

Liver German Shepherds get their light brown coat from a recessive liver gene that occurs on the B Locus gene.

For a German Shepherd to manifest this color, its parents must carry and pass on at least one liver gene to the puppy.

Generally, eumelanin is responsible for a dogs black coat. Given that the recessive B locus gene blocks eumelanin pigmentation, the standard black color turns into a liver except for the eyes. Any German Shepherd with the recessive liver gene cannot have a black coat.

In some cases, one or both parent dogs may not be liver in appearance, but they may be carriers of the recessive liver gene. They can pass on this gene to their offspring, and in turn, theyll exhibit a liver coat.

When a puppy inherits two copies of the gene, the GSD is expected to be homozygous for the mutation from its parents. Its coat will then take on a reddish-brown hue.

Rest assured, the liver gene will only affect your dogs color. There is no scientific proof showing that the recessive gene affects a GSDs temperament or its personality.

Also Check: How Are German Shepherds With Cats

Do German Shepherds Like Other Dogs

Most German Shepherds are fine with other dogs if they are introduced when they are young. Sometimes, they can be unsure or aggressive towards other dogs, but proper training can avoid any of these problems you may find in a German Shepherd.

Early socialization is the key. They do not become friends with other dogs if they see them as a threat.

Expose your German Shepherd to other people, family, and pets. This need to be done in a positive way. If done well, they will grow up to be loyal, obedient, and loving dogs.

Below is a good way to get your German Shepherd on the right path for socialization.

The best way to ensure that your German Shepherd gets along with other dogs is to introduce them to another dog in neutral setting.

Once they are introduced, take them for a walk together so they can get acclaimed with each others company. It is a good idea to keep them a few feet apart on the first walk.

If you are still in a neutral territory after their walk, have the two dogs smell each other before letting them play. If you find that they are getting along well, let them play for a few minutes.

It is very important to let playtime end on a happy note.

Gsds Provide Constant Companionship

In truth, German Shepherd owners are never lonely because their loyal canines are always by their side. Although GSDs are sometimes slow to warm to strangers, they are gentle and loving with their families. Their affectionate and dedicated personalities are a bonus of the breed, and they can be particularly fond of children. This means your GSD wants to spend time with you rather than being left alone all day, every day. Allowing your German Shepherd to be with you as much as possible will bring out the best in your dog.

You May Like: Are Eggs Good For German Shepherds

Food Allergies In German Shepherd

Like other dogs, German Shepherds are sensitive to food allergies. Itching is a common symptom of food allergies. Its crucial to figure out whats causing your itchy allergy before getting treatment. In most situations, your veterinarian will be able to assist you with this.

A dog might be allergic to various dietary allergies, some of the most frequent of which are soy, meat, dairy, wheat, maize, and others.

Finding out what kind of food your dog is allergic to might be difficult, so get assistance from a veterinarian.

Your veterinarian will provide you an elimination diet plan to determine which foods your dog is allergic to. At the start of the elimination diet, your dog only needs to eat one meal. Other meals will be gradually introduced until an allergic response occurs, at which point you may quickly eliminate the allergic food element from your dogs diet.

How To Recognize Rough Play From Fighting

I get asked this question quite a lot from other concerned dog owners, Are those two German Shepherds playing or fighting? The secret is to understand and recognize your dogs body language and take it into context. Despite the overlap in behaviors, some clear differences exist between play fighting and real fighting

Differences in Play Fighting and Real Fighting in the Canine World

You May Like: Do German Shepherds Like Other Dogs

Training A Rescued German Shepherd Dog To Be Friendly

Socializing and training a rescued german shepherd can be challenging if it has an abusive past.

If the previous owner has abused the GSD, then socialization and training process can become difficult.

Rescued dogs usually are not puppies, and they are fully grown dogs. They could have had good and bad experiences in their past lives.

If your GSD has been abused by the previous owner or had some horrible experiences, then it can be difficult for him to trust you and trust other people entirely.

Be patient with these dogs, wait until it is entirely comfortable with you and its new surroundings.

Start to introduce him to your Family members and close friends slowly. Carefully look at its reactions.

Whenever you introduce him to a new person, and he behaves in a friendly way, then reward you GSD with his favorite treat to encourage its behavior.

You should also ask your friends and family members to spend more time with him and treat him with love.

When he starts to get comfortable, then you can bring him out to see other new people and pets.

Always be aware of any sign of aggression shown by your GSD when you introduce him to new people. A German Shepherd is a big dog, and it can badly hurt someone. If you see any sign of aggression, then take him away from the situation.