How Long Should You Walk A German Shepherd

How Much Exercise Does A German Shepherd Puppy Need

German Shepherd puppies wont need as much exercise as their adult companions. In fact, its important not to over exercise your puppy, as it could lead to joint and mobility issues in later life . This is especially true for this breed since they are prone to conditions like hip dysplasia.

As a rule of thumb, puppies will need five minutes of formal exercise for every month of their age.;

These walks should be opportunities to explore their environment, work on training and good behaviour outdoors, and socialise with other people and dogs in a controlled manner.;

Your puppy will also get plenty of exercise from tearing around the house and playing, just make sure theyre getting enough sleep and be prepared to interrupt play for naptime if needed.

The easiest way to keep track of how much exercise your puppy is doing is by using a PitPat dog activity monitor. Its small and light so they wont notice it on their collar, and itll record all the activity they are up to in a day;; from playing with you to pottering in the garden.;

Leash Training Your German Shepherd The Easy Way

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You take your German Shepherd;for a walk and cannot seem to control its movement. This is a common problem that many GSD owners face and often avoid taking their dogs for a walk for that very reason.

Leash pulling is normal behavior of a dog that can be controlled through continuous training and lots of patience. Make sure you are not getting frustrated and yelling at your dog because this will only make your dog react badly.

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What Is Trick Training And Why Your Dog Needs It

After you have established engagement in training and your German Shepherd has the basics under the belt. You should consider stepping things up with trick training.

Trick training will boost your dogs confidence. It is also a great motivator and builds a strong bond between owner and dog.

Trick training will stimulate and challenge your German Shepherd. Remember, a German Shepherd has the capacity and intelligence to do just about any trick you can imagine.

Just check out this video:

Lets look at three of the most important obedience skills you should teach your German Shepherd straight off the bat:

Without these three skills, youll struggle to train your German Shepherd. Master these and the skys the limit

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Hiking With Your German Shepherd

Hiking with your Dog can be a great workout. If you and your Dog are new to this, you should prepare your Dog physically for the trip.

Start with practicing by taking small hikes ahead of time.

Start small with simple and short walks. See if your Dog has enough stamina for these walks and how it reacts.

Then start to increase the distance and time of hiking slowly to build up his stamina and strength.

Your GSD Dog Must Be Trained To Hear Your Commands

Your German shepherd dog should always be close enough to hear and follow your commands.

While practicing hiking your pup should follow, the sit, stay, and come commands.

Take in mind that a whistle can be heard 400 yards away.

Jogging And Running To Increase Endurance

German Shepherds love to run off-leash.

Jogging and running with your German Shepherd is a great way to get in both your and your dogs cardio fitness and exercise.

Warning: Your puppys bones must totally fuse before you take your dog for this high-intensity activity. Bone fusing occurs around 12 to 18 months, so dont run with your puppy!

Many German Shepherds love to run for fun with their owners. Your breed is built to move long distances over grassy, rocky, hilly terrain, and this shows in their desire for running.

Running also has benefits for your German Shepherd Dog, such as:

• Strengthening large muscles
• Naturally keeps nails short and filed
• Increases strength in long bones, tendons, and ligaments
• Conditions and slowly hardens their pads

But remember

While you can put on your special athletic shoes to cushion your joints, your dog cant!

Consider the impact on your dogs joints if you run or jog on asphalt roads or concrete sidewalks frequently. Look for softer surfaces to include with your daily exercise routine.

Vary your surfaces for maximum health benefits. Try soft grass and dirt trails for variety and to give your dogs bones and muscles a break from concrete and asphalt.

Also, running and jogging at a set pace is very repetitive on joints.

A change of pace is beneficial in terms of both pleasure and exercise value as the variety keeps your dogs muscles and brain working differently and can increase the health benefits.

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German Shepherd Walking Time

The daily walk is essential for a German Shepherd not only to release some pent-up energy. The walk allows your German Shepherd to stimulate the mind with the sights, sounds and smells they come across.

The length of the walk is only limited by your time and energy as a German Shepherd can go all day long. Ideally, the minimum should be 30 to 45 minutes daily. This can be just once a day, or two walks a day would be better if your schedule allows. Dogs also like routine, so try to schedule the walk for around the same time each day. Daily walks are much better than nothing all week and a big walk at the weekend.

If your German Shepherd has good recall and comes on command, walks at the park off the leash are ideal. Alternatively, you can use a retractable leash to allow them more freedom while maintaining control. In general, German Shepherds are obedient and usually have good recall if trained.

You can add extra resistance to the walk by using a;weighted vest;or;dog backpack. It is recommended that no more than 10% of their body weight be added. This is more than sufficient to tire them and strengthen their muscles without overworking them. Other ways of increasing the resistance on the walk are to walk on sand or include uphill sections in the walk.

A Flirt Pole Increases Endurance

A flirt pole helps exercise your German Shepherd in small spaces.

The flirt pole is a gift to worn-out German Shepherd owners!

It not only helps your dog improve their basic manners and impulse control, but it also gives them a workout. And in just a few minutes of play!

You dont have to do much work yourself, either!

Look for a pole with an enticing lure to excite and interest your dog. I prefer this fun tail-teasing lure flirt pole since its easy to handle and the fuzzy toy really encourages my GSD to chase it.

How a Flirt Pole Works

• Lure your dog to play by dragging the toy on the ground in a large arching half-circle pattern.
• They chase the lure while you move the toy in different ways to keep them moving.
• They catch the lure and tug.
• You give their release or drop command and start the exercise game again.

Its like a giant cat toy, but better because its for German Shepherds!

Avoid playing this game by moving the lure in tight circles or making your dog jump high in the air for it. Thats not the point of the game. Its made to mimic chasing prey along the ground in large movements.

If your dog is slipping frequently, definitely find another surface to play on. You dont want a German Shepherd, even an adult, making quick twists and abrupt turns that could cause them damage.

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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.

How Much Exercise Does Your German Shepherd Puppy Need

Your puppy does not need nearly the amount of exercise an adult dog does.

Adult German Shepherds require two hours or more of exercise every day. Within that time, Allshepherd.com points out that duration depends on intensity. Your dog would not spend an entire two hours performing high-intensity exercises unless in training.

A typical routine would include 20 to 40 minutes of rigorous exercises such as jogging, vigorous playing, or other activities. Some examples are practicing Shutzhund, preparing for herding or agility trials, or learning search and rescue.

The remainder of the time dedicated to exercise, you should spend on training, ongoing socialization, and moderate- and low-intensity activities.

You can include warmup and cool down in a moderate or leisurely walk. Keep in mind any puppy who is not full-grown does not need to engage in rigorous exercise for extended periods.

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What Happens If They Dont Get Enough Exercise

Having addressed the issue of how much exercise a German Shepherd puppy needs, you must learn about the dangers of not exercising your puppy enough. It will;help you look out for signs of inactivity.;

Watch out for any signs of lack of exercises such as lethargy and withdrawn behavior. You can easily avoid problems that accompany inactivity. If your puppy is getting overweight or developing restlessness, take them to vet and change their exercise routine.;;

Your German Shepherd puppy requires your love;and;attention to grow healthy and strong. Lets dive into more details.;

Restlessness;and;Hyperactivity Are Signs;of;Inactivity;

Have we covered that German Shepherd puppies are little bundles of energy? Of;course, we have. But it bears repeating that puppies get restless and hyperactive if their energy is;not;expended through exercise. Avoid getting awakened in the middle of the night by the scampering of little paws and make sure you give your puppy its daily dose of action.;;

Lack;of;Exercise Can Lead;to Biting;and;Barking;

Some puppies will bark, and others will bite when they do;not;get enough exercise. Adult German Shepherds have a powerful bite but do;not;underestimate German Shepherd puppy bites. Those razor-sharp teeth can leave quite an impact. If youve been neglecting your pups exercise, this may be the reason behind their aggressive behavior.;

Lack;of;Exercise Can Lead;to;Serious Health Problems;

Social Behavior Can Be Affected Due;to;Inactivity;

What Is Obedience Training And Why Your Dog Needs It

The sole purpose of obedience training is to teach your German Shepherd how to act at home and in social settings.

Socializing, house training, and basic sit, stay, and recall commands will fall into this category.

Obedience training is essential to avoid the development of behavior problems early on. It’s also the only way to fix bad habits and behavior that have already developed.

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What About Dog Parks For Exercising

Keep in mind that puppies are not fully vaccinated against common diseases found at dog parks until they have their first set of puppy vaccinations.

Dog parks are also troubling places for puppies because you dont know the personality of the other dogs. Some may have aggressive tendencies or play too rough.

Your pup is still developing its social skills. Dont risk a bad incident at a dog park that may traumatize your pup.

Stick to approved puppy playgroups in your area or known, vaccinated dogs good with young puppies.

Training Goal #1: Begin Obedience Training

The German Shepherd Dogs work ethic is legendary, and you can encourage your dogs best working traits with early and ongoing training. GSDs excel at obedience, so begin teaching your puppy basic commands like sit, down, and stay, as well as loose-leash walking, from an early age. Enrolling in a puppy obedience class can be extremely helpful both for teaching these commands as well as socialization, and its not too early to begin thinking about CGC training as well.

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How Long Can You Leave German Shepherds Alone By Age

Leaving a newborn German Shepherd puppy alone for too long is not only dangerous but immoral and cruel. If youre worried about being away for several hours per day, you should definitely find someone who can come and watch them. Their natural curiosity can lead to all sorts of hazardous problems, especially if their mother isnt around to protect them.

On the other hand, its not so bad with older well trained and socialized German Shepherds . Senior GSDs shouldnt be left alone for too long as they may need more toilet breaks or if they suddenly become sick as serious problems can develop very quickly without the help of anyone around.

Lets review how long you can leave German Shepherds alone during their different life stages.

Training Goal #2: Crate Training

This is also a good time for crate training, which Adams recommends as well. GSD trainer and dog sports enthusiast Alexa Hagood, LVMT, agrees: Crate breaks, even when brief, can help the puppy become acclimated to going in the crate and having some alone time. She notes that this can help reduce the risk of a puppy developing separation anxiety, and recommends beginning with using the crate for feeding times , and at times when the owner needs to do daily chores.

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Can I Take My 3 Month Old Puppy To The Dog Park

Its safe to take your puppy to the dog park when shes had all her vaccinationsusually around 16 weeks of age. Any earlier, and shes still vulnerable to picking up a disease from the other dogs. Dog parks are a great way to socialize your pup to other dogs, which you want to start as early in puppyhood as possible.

Points To Be Understood By Master And Owner Of The German Shepherd

Always buy or bring a perfect size of leash or harness because it directly impacts on the walking style of your German shepherd. Check the perfect size of your dog and then purchase the leash.

A better option is to buy a short leash instead of a long leash but also make sure that your leash is not tight enough for the dogs neck.

When your dog is trying to pull the leash then you do not pull the leash. If you pull the leash at that time then it will harm your dog on his neck.

Always make or train your dog to walk by your side. If your dog is walking by your side then it is very easy for you to maintain is walking and running.

So, before taking your German shepherd for the walk then please go through the above tips because they are very useful for you. A German shepherd is an energetic protection dog and he always tries to walk and run in the open area. So, its your duty to ensure that he will not face any inconvenience in walking and running.

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Note On Skin Elasticity

According to dr. Jerry Klein, the chief veterinarian for the AKC, skin elasticity is probably the easiest way to check if your dog is dehydrated.

Dr. Klein suggests that you gently hold some of the dogs skin near his shoulder blades, raise it up, and then let it go. Watch carefully as it falls back into place. In well-hydrated dogs, the skin instantly will spring back to its original position.;The skin of dehydrated dogs, on the other hand, will take longer to fall back into place.

However, the best way to keep your dog from being dehydrated is simply to avoid dehydration in the first place. Always make sure that your dog has a clean supply of fresh water at all times.;

Because dogs have individual requirements, its a good idea to ask your veterinarian how much water at a minimum that your dog should be drinking.;

Though as a general rule, dogs should drink about an ounce of water per pound of their body weight per day. This will, of course, be dependent on your dogs activity level and how hot the weather is outside.

Additionally, make sure that your dog always has access to shade. Just like you seek out shade on a hot day, so does your dog. A dog kept in the hot sun without access to shade can quickly overheat and begin to dehydrate.;

What Can Influence Your German Shepherds Exercise Requirements

Even if dogs of the same breed have many common traits, they dont necessarily need the same amount of physical activity or mental stimulation.

German Shepherds have huge stimulation requirements because they are naturally hardworking, intelligent, and active life partners. Yet, other factors such as your dogs age, health conditions, or energy level can also change how much exercise he should have!

Disclaimer: The general guideline relates to an active and healthy adult German Shepherd.

Age.

The first element you must take into account to exercise your GSD properly is how old he is. Whatever age he has, physical activity and mind enrichment is still essential.

However, you should not do the same amount and type of workouts with a puppy, an adult, or a senior German Shepherd.

How Much Exercise Does Your Puppy German Shepherd Need?

Too much vigorous activity can be harmful to very young dogs, so you must be careful. Before 3 months of age, purposeful exercise is not necessary for your GSD puppy. Then, I highly recommend you to stick with the 5-minutes rule.

A puppy German Shepherd will need around 5 minutes of exercise per month of age up to twice per day. At 4 months old, he should get approximately 20 to 40 minutes of moderate physical activity. Puppy play, gentle walking, and fun games are great ways to exercise young German Shepherds.

How Much Exercise Does Your Senior GSD Need?

Health & Physical Conditions.

Energy Level.

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