How Much Attention And Activity Does A German Shepherd Need
In order to help you make an informed decision about getting a dog and the amount of time that you can commit to it, lets look at how much attention a German Shepherd needs at the different stages of its life.
Be aware that a new dog of any age will generally require more attention for the first few weeks in your home. It will need plenty of reassurance and interaction while it gets used to you and the new environment, so plan around this and consider taking time off work if necessary to help your dog get settled in.
This may help even if you are bringing an adult German Shepherd into your home . Your presence will make the transition smoother and more successful for the dog, which will form a strong bond with you and may feel anxious if you arent around.
Dont leave a new German Shepherd alone in your home for longer than is strictly necessary for the first few weeks.
What Does Gsd Like To Play With
The German Shepherd is also very intelligent so it is important to challenge their minds.
They learn new skills quickly making them easy to train with the right guidance.
Playing games of any kind with your German Shepherd is really good for them and builds up your relationship.
Remember, first of all, dogs are social creatures by nature and playing is one important element in developing and maintaining their social relationships.
Playing games is a proven fundamental way of modeling real-life behaviors and can be beneficial to their overall quality of life.
Tracking Agility And Herding
Tracking, a technique used by hunters to get their hounds to hunt it up, is based on the premise that a happy nose makes for a happy dog. Teaching your dog to track does not mean you are teaching them to hunt by any means.
Use a hot dog and drag it along the ground in a figure-eight pattern for your dog to follow. At the end of the pattern hide a piece of the hot dog under a box to give your dog a treat once he has taken you on the adventure.
Agility courses are becoming more prevalent in dog parks across the country. Agility courses provide a host of obstacles for your dog to play on. Using guided play while at the dog park can be hard to do when there are other dogs in the park so let your dog practice his herding skills unless you have the park to yourself
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How Much Exercise Does German Shepherd Dog Need A Day
10 years ago, when I had my first German shepherd dog, I was very concerned about his daily exercise needs for good health. Then I started reading blogs, books, and consulting dog trainers.
German Shepherd has excellent stamina, and it will require 1 to 2 hours of exercise each day. Exercises like swimming, playing frisbee, running, hide, and seek are beneficial for a German shepherd Dog. Exercising is the best way to keep your German shepherd Healthy.
Our dog companions are amazing natural athletes, and they need daily exercise to stay healthy, happy, and fit.
German shepherds will love going for walks or engaging in any activity with their guardians several times a day, as well as playing with other dogs.
Disciplined exercises will help to exercise both their body and brain and burn off their daily energy reserves so they can be happy and content.
For example, if you find your German Shepherd is chewing inappropriate items around the home, or it is demanding you to play with him. This is because it is not being exercised enough each day to consume all their reserves and energy.
A healthy, German shepherd will love when being walked several times each day and will enjoy playing and being engaged in different forms of discipline activities.
1 obedience exercises3 sprints4 agility workout.
German Shepherd is one of the most intelligent and energetic dogs that require a lot of exercise outside of the home.
Walking Time And Amount Chart
| Puppys Age | |
|---|---|
| only 25 minutes of slow walking at a time | |
| 6 months old | only 30 minutes of moderate walking at a time |
If you must use a collar, then use a safe break-away collar that will release your pup in case of an emergency. This type of collar could save their life if they were to get hung up on a branch or indoors.
Choose your collars and harnesses with care.
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How To Identify A Working Line German Shepherd
To identify a working line German Shepherd, the dogs topline will be straighter than a show line dog, with an arched structure and extremely angled hindquarters. Working lines will have less broad heads and less bulky bodies, and show lines will have longer and thicker coats.
Certain traits show up on a spectrum among working line German Shepherds. By looking for their presence, youll be able to tell that your GSD is a working line dog, and by noticing how prominent said features are, youll know how well-adjusted your German Shepherd is for work.
Play Hiding And Seeking With Your Dog
GSD are brilliant dogs and very curious. Hide and seek is a great game for any Dog.
Even old and very lazy dogs get up and play this game. I think this is one of the most loved games from the dogs.
It is a good exercise for the body and the brain of your pet.
You Can follow these simple steps to train your dog to play Hide and seek.
First of all, start easy, for example, call your dogs name and run and hide in simple and easy places.
For example, under a table or behind the chair and let your Dog see you. It makes it easy for him to start understanding the game.
Then slowly start hiding in more difficult places to find and start calling your Dog so he can discover you by hearing your voice.
Then when your Dog finds you celebrate his win to show him that you appreciate his effort. In this way, he will not be discouraged during the game.
Involve your family in the game! It will help the Dog to be more involved. For example, I let my children hide and encourage my Dog to find them. My German Shepherd loves it.
To avoid dog frustration, make it easy for him to find you at the beginning and then start doing difficult tasks when your Dog gets more involved in the game.
Hide and seek is a useful game to create a strong connection between you and your Dog.
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Do German Shepherds Require Lots Of Exercise
The short answer is yes! German Shepherds require plenty of exercise, and by that we mean not just short trips outside for potty.
Exercise for German Shepherds means long walks for 30 minutes to an hour, and a variety of activities to provide new sources of stimulation.
Because German Shepherds are big dogs, it is only crucial to exercise them daily to prevent them from becoming overweight and developing hip and joint issues.
Exercise also helps to prevent boredom as it stimulates their brains and gives them something do. German Shepherds were bred as herding dogs, which is why they like to be on their feet most of the time.
That being said, you should be prepared to be active with your dog.
If you have an active lifestyle to begin with, this shouldnt be a problem. Your GSD will be your perfect exercise companion.
On the other hand, if you have a sedentary lifestyle, this responsibility can overwhelm you.
On another note, you can take advantage of this opportunity to start becoming more active yourself. However, if you have an illness that will limit you from being physically active, you may benefit from getting a breed that doesnt need exercise much.
As a rule of thumb, GSD puppies require less exercise than adults. Ideally, your puppy should get at least two sessions of exercise each day, with each session lasting for 5 minutes per month of age. For example, your 3-month old puppy should get two 15-minute sessions each day.
German Shepherds Have Sensitive Digestive Tracts
If you are looking for a bowl-of-kibble-twice-a-day dog, a German Shepherd is not the dog for you.
They are picky eaters and prone to food allergies and the incredibly dangerous condition known as Gastric Dilatation Volvulus .
GDV is also known as bloating, but in German Shepherds, it involves torsion of the stomach and loss of blood supply to various digestive tract organs. It is a medical emergency that can quickly result in death if not treated.
You will have to pay attention to what, how, and when your dog is eating to note any adverse reactions. You might also have to investigate alternative diets and home-cooked meals.
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How Much Exercise Does Your German Shepherd Need
- by Sacha Parent
German Shepherds are active dogs that will require a great deal of exercise. Just as humans, they need to do physical activity and cognitive work to stay healthy and happy. Thus, if you have a GSD or consider adopting one, its essential to know how much exercise such an energetic dog breed needs!
Most German Shepherds should ideally get at least 2 hours of exercise per day. It should include daily walks , purposeful activity , and mental stimulation . To figure out how much exercise your dog needs, you also have to consider his age, health, and energy level.
Bred to perform multiple tasks and work with humans all day long, the GSD is an excellent companion for active people. With proper conditioning, training, and preparation, this energetic breed can be the ultimate partner for running, hiking, and other sports.
However, there are many things you should know to exercise your German Shepherd properly.
West German Working Line Vs Ddr Working Line Vs Czech Shepherd
As covered above, working line German Shepherds can vary in utility across different dimensions. When choosing one that suits your needs, you must look at two factors: the context in which the dog was bred and how well the line was preserved. Lets look at each of these factors after comparing the breeds at a glance:
West German working line is more balanced in looks and working utility than DDR and Czech Shepherds. DDR GSDs are bred with a stricter emphasis on work, while the Czech line has recently become more appearance-focused. All working lines fare better in endurance compared to show line GSDs.
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Sprints While Playing Catch
Dont injure your dog by having them always slide into catching the ball on the ground, which twists their joints and bodies roughly. Instead, 3 to 4 times a week with rests during your sprints so they can catch their breath, aim for them to catch the ball from the air.
Puppies shouldnt jump until their bones are fully fused, so save this fun activity for adult GSDs.
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Caring For Your German Shepherd
German Shepherds are fantastic dogs and its easy to see why they are such a popular breed. However their size and strength means they arent suited to all families and need a lot of space to burn off their energy. Youll need to make sure you have a lot of time to spend with these dogs and you are committed to providing for their exercise needs every day.
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How Can I Keep My German Shepherd Busy
Keeping your German Shepherd mentally active is as important as keeping them physically active. For those times when you need them to be calm in the home, there are lots of strategies you can use to keep them occupied.
Take a look at our enrichment games and activities article for lots of great ideas on keeping them busy, or check out our top 10 indoor games for those days when you cant get out of the house for a walk.
With the right exercise routine and plenty of mental stimulation, your German Shepherd will be happy and healthy. Keep track of how much activity they are doing every day with a PitPat dog activity monitor for just £39.
Running Or Jogging Exercise Routine
Introduce jogging and running with your adult Shepherd gradually. While your breed is a natural-born runner its best to limit their exposure to this physically demanding activity to 3 to 4 times a week if youre looking to add in distance.
Once your dog is more conditioned you can increase both the time and distance they run with you.
Give them plenty of time to recover so their muscles dont become overworked or fatigued. Check their paws daily after each run to look for any sores, abrasions, or cuts. Dont run with a German Shepherd under 18 months of age without your vets approval.
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How To Find The Best Activities To Give Your Gsd Enough Exercise
When is the last time you saw a German Shepherd just laying in the sun? Can you even picture one sitting on the sofa all day? Maybe you have seen a lazy GSD, but chances are, the dog was napping after a rigorous agility trial or is in his teens.
If you are familiar with a German Shepherd through a friend or because you own one, you know how energetic and driven the breed is.
Are you thinking about adding a GSD to your family or do you have a new puppy? How much exercise does a German Shepherd need? True to their stamina and fitness, German Shepherds need a lot of exercises every day. The exact amount varies by individual traits like age, personality, conformation, and joint health.
Do German Shepherds Need A Lot Of Attention
German Shepherds do need a lot of attention, yes. This is a standard characteristic of the breed and is something that you need to be aware of before you consider adopting one. You cannot train your German Shepherd to spend more time alone or leave it with other people because you are busy. It needs you to be there most of the time.
These dogs like quality time with their families, and you will need to be prepared to provide this if you wish to own one of these dogs. They enjoy being useful and having a purpose, and they are usually trained to work very closely with people .
Your dog will usually be happiest when it is with you, especially if you are focused on it. Plenty of playtime and training time, as well as long walks, are necessary parts of owning a German Shepherd.
German Shepherds that arent given sufficient attention can become destructive, badly behaved, and very difficult to handle. Your dog might chew things, break things, bark excessively, and refuse to listen to you in an attempt to get more attention, even if the attention is negative. A neglected German Shepherd is not easy to look after.
If you cant commit to the amount of time that a German Shepherd needs, look for another breed that is lower maintenance and does not require as much of your attention, for both your sake and the dogs sake.
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Dive In The Pool With Your Gs
Swimming is another brilliant idea for your GSs activity. Pick out entertaining activities that you love getting involved in. If you like to swim twice a week, take your GS along with you. It is even better to swim in your home-pool with your dog. Swimming is a great way of bonding and indulging with your dog. It is also extremely fun for a GS as it will love pushing its legs in the water. If you want to make this more fun, you can play fetch in the pool .
Activities For Your German Shepherd
Activities like Fetch, Frisbee, Jolly Ball, Fetch Pole can help in keeping your German shepherd active.
Fetch is a perfect toy for a German Shepherd to make it use the stored energy. Automatic Ball launchers can be of more use to train your dogs in a better way.
Frisbee is another great activity to train your dog as it requires more skill, coordination, and perfect timing. You can slowly increase the level of Frisbee from low to high depending on the pets coordination.https://www.youtube.com/embed/bxDh2w4cp7g?feature=oembed
A Flirt pole is a long handle wherein you rotate it and your dog tries to chase it. It works for the dogs overall strengthening of muscles.
Jolly Ball is another great activity to strengthen their muscles where the dog pushes and chases the ball.
You can also try running, biking, or skating with your dog.
As German Shepherds are highly energetic, they can be your good companions. Make sure you increase the distance of running or skating with time to avoid injuries.
You can also try to make your dog run up and down on a staircase. The faster your dog runs, the more energy is released.
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Playing With Other Dogs
Maybe you have a friend or two who also have dogs that get along great with other dogs? A playdate among friends can be a great idea with a German Shepard. Playdates are great for physical activity as well as working on their social skills. Some German Shepherds can be naturally aggressive, so be aware of your dog’s behavioral tendencies before allowing them to interact with other dogs.