Do German Shepherds Like To Play Fetch

How Much Exercise Does An Older German Shepherd Need

As a dog gets older they become less active and have lower energy levels. However, it is still important that they remain reasonably active to keep their joints and muscles mobile and to manage their weight. Read Dog exercise for a senior dog to learn more.

Many dogs develop arthritis as they age. Exercise for them becomes a balancing act. It is important to keep their joints mobile and manage weight, but too much can make them sore. Read How to exercise an arthritic dog to learn more.

German Shepherds are also a breed that is prone to hip dysplasia. Read Exercise for a dog with hip dysplasia to learn more.

The Dog Will Pick Up The Toy But Not Bring It Back

Certified dog trainer Penny Leigh says the most common problem she hears from owners is that the dog will run and pick up the toy but will not bring it to the owner. The best solution for this is to play the two toys game, says Leigh. The dog picks up one toy and you immediately show them that you have another toy and they want to return to get that toy or you can have treats and reward for giving you the toy with food. This way, the dog does not feel like they are constantly giving up their prize, and they are constantly getting something in return.

Why Arent German Shepherds Natural Swimmers

This question has a simple and direct answer- simply because they werent naturally bred to be swimmers!

German Shepherds perform better in a lot of different fields and possess a lot of different abilities. These dogs are mostly trained and bred for herding, and to be part of the police field or the military.

On the other hand, popular breeds such as Labradors and Retrievers were historically bred for preying, and this naturally adapted them to swimming.

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Consistency Patience And Proper Techniques Get The Job Done

The key to training a German Shepherd is to be consistent and patient, using proper training techniques. When disciplining your German Shepherd, never use physical punishment, yell, or use other aversive methods as this will only cause aggression, fear, and mistrust.

If you prefer, enlist the help of a trainer, and you and your companion will have a much better and calmer existence.

Brilliant German Shepherd Toys Your Dog Will Love

The German Shepherd is an active breed with a high level of energy! Since they are working dogs, play time is definitely essential for this canines overall well-being.

How do you romp with a GSD? Since they are large-sized dogs and powerful in stature, youll need dog toys that wont be shredded to bits in 5 minutes. They are also highly intelligent, so dont forget to add interactive toys to the list.

In this post, well cover 11 of the top German Shepherd toys specifically hand-picked to cater to what this breed needs to stay strong and fit.

See also:

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Top 10 Claims For German Shepherds

Like all dogs, German Shepherds can get sick or injured unexpectedly. The top 10 accident and illness claims received by ASPCA Pet Health Insurance^ for this breed are:

• Allergies*
• Lamenesswhich could indicate hip or elbow dysplasia
• Arthritis

*Pre-existing conditions are not covered. Waiting periods, annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit limits and exclusions may apply. For all terms and conditions visit www.aspcapetinsurance.com/terms. Preventive and Wellness Care reimbursements are based on a schedule. Complete Coverage reimbursements are based on the invoice. Levels 1-4 reimbursements are based on usual and customary eligible costs. Products, schedules, and rates may vary and are subject to change. Discounts may vary and are subject to change. More information available at checkout.

The ASPCA® is not an insurer and is not engaged in the business of insurance. Products are underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company , produced and administered by C& F Insurance Agency, Inc. , a Crum & Forster company. Through a licensing agreement, the ASPCA receives a royalty fee that is in exchange for use of the ASPCAs marks and is not a charitable contribution. C& F and Crum & Forster are registered trademarks of United States Fire Insurance Company. Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group is a trademark of United States Fire Insurance Company. The Crum & Forster group of companies is rated A by AM Best Company 2020.

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Play With Meaty Bubbles

Dogs love to play and chase Bubbles. You can Use ordinary bubbles for this but there are special ones available at dog stores.

• Shoot in the air some bubbles in the air.
• Let your dog chase them.
• When he gets the idea start shooting more
• Run around in the Garden and try to shoot them everywhere
• Your dog will try to chase every bubble and he will enjoy a lot running around.

Dont worry if he barks at the bubble because this is natural.

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Provide A Digging Area Or Pit

Many dogs love to dig including many German Shepherds. Provide an area or digging box for them so they can dig to their hearts content. Just be aware that if the weather is warm and you use sand, it may get hot. You can wet it down with the hose if it is. See Dog Toys for Diggers for more ideas on catering to a dogs natural digging instinct.

For more information on strength and muscles conditioning activities check out Muscle building and Strength exercises for dogs and How to make your dog gain muscle

Is Chasing Balls Bad For Dogs

Hannah Capon, who founded the Canine Arthritis Management website, told the Daily Express that firing a ball at high speed from a ‘Nerf gun’, stick or ball thrower for our pets to chase can put unnecessary strain on their joints, muscles and cartilage. This can result in long-term health problems like arthritis.

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German Shepherd Exercise Routine

The German Shepherd is energetic, strong and has bucket loads of stamina. Ideally, you need to find activities that can burn energy in a short period of time and use these skills. This can include high-intensity games and strength training is recommended to keep their muscles in peak condition. By keeping the muscles strong they will support the joints and tendons preventing injury.

Providing the right type of toys for German Shepherd is also a great way to provide exercise and mental stimulation for them. For the best type of toys for German Shepherds see here.

These are some of the recommended activities and exercise ideas to play with your German Shepherd.

Buying Guide: How To Choose The Right One

To choose the right product for a German Shepherd, you need to understand that a pet toy should stimulate mental, physical, olfactory, visual, and tactile sensations.

When buying a toy for a dog, pay attention to some factors:

• Availability of ways to mentally stimulate your pet. If the toy cant stimulate the mental capacity, it wont bring any development for it. The dog can quickly lose interest in such a device.
• Safety. The toy should not have sharp edges or corners or small parts that the dog can swallow.
• Materials. Materials should be eco-friendly, such as wood, bamboo, cardboard, or paper. A toy made of such materials after breaking down will not pollute the environment.

When choosing an ordinary model for a puppy or an adult German Shepherd, you should not buy a childs toy. Such toys are not adapted to be gnawed, bitten, scratched, and stretched. Toys for children can be filled with foam, plastic, and other small fillers that the puppy can swallow. Special toys for puppies and adult dogs are made of durable materials that are designed not to break during even the most intense game.

Regularly check the integrity of the toys. If you find that the toy is damaged, be sure to replace it. In no case should you allow the dog to swallow the gnawed partsthis can lead to gastrointestinal tract problems.

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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

Self Playing Dog Toys

There are a variety of dog toys that your dog can use to play by themselves. These are great for times when your dog is home alone, you dont have the time or you are otherwise occupied. This way your dog can still get some physical activity and mental stimulation without your direct involvement. See Self Playing Dog Toys for some ideas.

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Are German Shepherds Good Swimmers

While German Shepherds can definitely be good swimmers because of their natural athleticism and bravery, theyre not natural-born swimmers, the way retrievers or other water dogs are.

But the physical build of a German Shepherd will help them to become a good swimmer. German Shepherds have long, muscular legs, which will definitely assist them in swimming. Their long snouts will also help them to breathe better as theyre swimming by helping them keep their head above water.

Lastly, their double coat will benefit them in swimming. The outside coat is water repellent, which means their coat wont become as weighed down with water, and theyll be able to move through the water a lot easier. Their inner coat also insulates against the cold which will help your German Shepherd enjoy swimming a bit more than short-coated dogs like pit bulls.

So, its safe to say that even if German Shepherds arent naturally bred for swimming, they can definitely still learn how to swim and thrive doing it!

Just look at this German Shepherd loving his time in the pool:

Dog Related Stories Poems And Other Writings

Below we will list links to some of the better writings we have found about dogs in general, and the German Shepherd in particular. Some are funny, some may be about fun and games, some are more poignant but all have one thing in common – they are all about our favorite animal, the dog.

“If you want the best seat in the house … move the dog” — Unknown

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When Does A German Shepherd Start Teething

German Shepherd puppies start growing their milk teeth when they are around 3 weeks old. By the time they are 9 weeks old, they have a full set of puppy teeth.

The timeline can vary from puppy to puppy. Some German Shepherds start growing puppy teeth as soon as they hit 2 weeks.

If you start noticing small splatters of blood on your German Shepherds toys or any other objects, it is likely that they have started teething.

You do not need to worry about the bleeding. It is completely normal for puppies to lose a little blood when their milk teeth fall out.

Do Dogs Enjoy Playing Fetch

But it’s also true that some dogs love fetch more than others. That’s because certain types of dog, such as the Labrador retriever, have been selectively bred for their ability to hunt down and retrieve things for humans. Dogs that were good at ‘fetching’ will have inevitably passed on these skills to their puppies.

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Can German Shepherds Drown In A Pool

Yes, German Shepherds can drown in a pool, even if they grow to become strong swimmers. The following situations may result in drowning of a German Shepherd-

• He/she may become too tired if trapped in water
• A German Shepherd may panic in a strong current

Therefore, never leave your German Shepherd alone in the water!

Swimming: A Healthy Activity For Large Breeds

The first time we put Sultan in water, she freaked out. She was only a year old at the time and she had absolutely no concept of floating. She knew how to swim instinctually, and she could get herself going, but if she could not feel the bottom underneath her feet, she would start panicking and climb up the person closest to her. As with most things, getting a dog comfortable in a situation is all about exposure.

The more we took her to the lake, the more she enjoyed the water. Eventually, she would swim and fetch just about anything. We kept her on her long, extendable leash while she was learning and started her out in the shallows. Once she was acclimated to the water, we started taking her out farther and giving her more leash. .

Swimming, especially in the cool lakes around where we live, was a perfect summertime activity, and when combined with fetch or a game of search, she would be extremely happy for the rest of the day. We couldn’t go as often in the fall, winter, and spring, so we had to find other activities to occupy her during those months.

Swimming is an excellent activity for dogs and it is easy on their joints.

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How Long Can A Dog Play Fetch

Herding and working breeds such as Border Collies and Rottweilers need the most exercise. They will respond to lengthier activities, such as running or playing fetch for 30+ minutes. Don’t forget the lighter side or playing either, taking an hour or so out for walking or other low-impact activities.

The Snow Is Different

Another reason German Shepherds like snow is because it is a different new phenomenon for them. Most people dont live in a location where is snows all year long, if it even snows at all every year. Therefore, snow isnt something our dogs see every day.

Since most of our dogs dont get to experience the snow often, they get extra excited when they go outside and see that white fluffy stuff on the ground.

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Get Outside: It’s Good For You And Your Dog

Your dog doesnt necessarily need a planned or structured activity in order to have fun. Many German Shepherd owners believe that if their dogs arent competing or arent actively working, they wont be happy. The truth is, however, that most dogs just want attention and approval and plenty of exercise. If you can provide your dog with those three things, she will be happy and healthy.

Taking your dog for a long walk, a jog, a bike ride, or for play in the park, are all great activities. Dont underestimate the power of just getting out and doing something active together. German Shepherds do best in active homes, so if you have one, make this a priority. Excess energy will lead to misbehavior, dogs are like children in that regard. Give them something to do, something that helps them burn off that energy, and they will be happy.

Sultan doesnt always need to go down to the agility course or for a romp in the lake, shes more than happy with a run in the morning and a walk at night, especially as shes getting older.

Getting outside is good for both you and your canine companion.

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Do Portuguese Water Dogs Play Fetch

HIGH: A Portuguese Water Dog needs both physical and mental stimulation to be satisfied. Take long walks or jogs to help yours expel some of that energy. They also love to swim and will happily play fetch for as long as you can. PWDs who don’t get enough exercise are likely to become destructive out of boredom.

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What Is The Necessary Equipment Needed For German Shepherds Swimming Training

The necessary equipment needed for your German Shepherds swimming training are:

• Dog Life Jackets
• Dog Swimming Leash

Lets discuss each necessary equipment in detail.

• Dog Life Jackets A life jacket is necessary for your German Shepherd to avoid drowning. To avoid further problems, do check that the life jacket fits in perfectly.
• Dog Goggles It is recommended to buy goggles for your German Shepherd as his/her eyes are also sensitive to water
• Dog Collars If you want to have something to grab on to when your German Shepherd is drowning or if you want to spot your dog instantly, get your German Shepherd a collar now!
• Dog Swimming Leash With a Dog Swimming Leash, you can easily monitor your dog without getting wet. Just make sure that you dont make it so tight that your dog starts to feel suffocated.

Get Your Dog Swimming Lessons

Yes, there are swimming lessons for dogs. The place I took my girl too offers lessons, water therapy, as well as just free water play sessions.

The teachers know how to gradually get your dog comfortable with the water and they also have doggie life jackets for added security.

You may find your dog only needs a lesson or two before being comfortable swimming.

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