How Do I Know If My Dog Needs More Exercise
Signs Your Dog Isnt Getting Enough Exercise Becoming overweight. One of the tell-tale signs that your furry friend needs more exercise is weight gain. Destructive behavior. Another sign that your pet pooch is lacking exercise is destructive behavior. Restlessness. Being withdrawn or depressed. Stiffness. Excessing barking.
How To Exercise Your German Shepherd Puppy
The right amount of exercise will keep your puppy fit. You can exercise your puppy by taking it on walks, teaching it tricks, swimming, or playing fetch. It is also recommended that you take your puppy to obedience school.
This way not only will your puppy learn good behavior, but you will even understand how you can promote discipline with your pet.
Remember, we guaranteed you some pointers about the best types of exercise for your German Shepherd puppy? Well, its about that time. Heres a list of exercises, just like we promised.
Take Your Puppy On A Walk
Puns aside, a walk in the park is just the type of exercise a German Shepherd puppy requires. It not only allows your pup to get its exercise, but it also helps them adapt to new surroundings and strangers. Plus, walking is gentle on the pups joints and ligaments. This form of exercise is more suitable for puppies less than 5 months in age.
Take Your Puppy to Obedience School
Teaching Your Puppy Tricks
Another right way to exercise your puppy is to teach it tricks. You can start with simple tricks like sit and stay.
Slowly, when your German Shepherd puppy gets the hang of things, move on to another, more difficult trick like play dead. It might seem like an easy option, but trust us, itll be an excellent way to expend the pups energy and yours.
Run with Your Puppy
When your pup is disciplined enough to walk on its own, slowly introduce it to running. Remember the guideline though you dont want to rush it.
Hill Running With Your German Shepherd
Begin by exploring hill running only 2 times a week with plenty of rest in between hill runs to recover. Only use gently sloping hills and check the hills arent slippery with water, snow, ice, or pebbles and rocks.
You can gradually increase their routine to 3 to 4 times a week with longer sprints to keep their hearts in tip-top shape.
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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.
In Conclusion How Much Exercise Does A German Shepherd Need
The German Shepherd is high energy, strong and has good levels of stamina. They are also very smart and need to have their minds occupied as well. It is crucial to provide adequate physical and mental exercise and activity to release pent-up energy and prevent boredom. A minimum of 45 to 60 minutes a day of exercise plus purposeful activity including muscle strengthening and activities that provide mental stimulation is recommended. The cost of not doing so can be an unhappy and frustrated dog. This can lead to behavior issues such as barking, digging, escaping and destructive behavior.
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Problems Of Not Exercising Your German Shepherd Daily
Not making the time to exercise your German Shepherd daily will lead to bigger problems.
Your dog can develop a variety of problems when they dont receive enough opportunities for exercise.
These negative behaviors can cause issues for your family that disrupts your lives. Dont let lack of activity cause issues for your dog when its entirely preventable.
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.
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Weave Poles For Speed And Agility
Your herding dog loves to learn to pole weave!
Did you know that the German Shepherd holds the record for completing the fastest weave pole ?
Nature made your breed for pole weaving!
So dont leave this agility sport off the table when creating a great exercise routine for your German Shepherd.
Weave poles are easy to teach by luring your dog through with a treat. Its easier to use an adjustable weave pole to start since the poles move into a wide position for beginner training.
Like this durable, adjustable weave pole that is easy to set up and store away, or can be adjusted quickly for beginners to learn the exercise.
Heres how you can use your weave poles at home.
- Set up your weave poles in your yard. Adjust them so theyre wide to start since its the easiest way to teach your dog the weaving motion.
- Begin at one end of the weave poles and slowly lure your GSD through the poles. Reinforce their efforts with tasty rewards regularly.
- Practice slowly. Gently speed up after a few repetitions. Add in your command word to weave.
- Gradually phase out the rewards during the weaving and only reward a treat at the end.
Dont rush your early training and your dog will speed up quickly when they get the idea and the feel for the weaving motion.
Many Shepherds love the weave and will readily enjoy it when you increase the difficulty with more poles.
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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Is It Worth Buying A Trained German Shepherd Puppy
The best way for German Shepherds to have happy co-existence with people is by careful and thoughtful training. Pet parents can take this task on themselves, but sometimes the level of commitment and consistency required to train the GSD puppy can be overwhelming.
Choosing a fully-trained German Shepherd puppy can be an investment worth making. Though the upfront cost of training is more expensive than simple adoption, the advantages can offer tremendous peace of mind to this dramatic lifestyle change.
Professional trainers know how to teach your German Shepherd puppy how to behave in all situations from a very early age. Buying a trained German Shepherd puppylets you look forward to years of stability and loving companionship!
At What Age Will My German Shepherd Calm Down
Each dog is different, and somehow they also have a different timeline for calming down. Keep in mind that German Shepherds probably will not learn to be calm before other dogs.
Hence, they can calm down at around 5-7 years old, but they will never calm down fully. However, this range has to take into account two key factors: Training and Neutering.
If you want your German Shepherd to calm down, the first thing you should do is to train him or her. It is because training this kind of breed is much easier than another breeds.
Also, neutering can make them calm. If your dog reaches the age of one year, if you have no plans to breed them, it might be best to spay or neuter them if you believe in that sort of thing.
This can help in the calming process and might also prevent them from getting a disease.
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What Is The Temperament Of A German Shepherd
German Shepherds are well known for a truly steady temperament. They have a calm, self-assured demeanour and tend to be protective of their family.
Tala is a big fluffy, soppy bear. She is a registered therapy dog with a lovely calm temperament and copes well in any environment. Like most German Shepherds, shes fiercely loyal. – Judith, Owner of Tala
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.
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When Is A German Shepherd Fully Grown
German Shepherds go through distinct developmental periods just like other dogs do. The first few months of a German Shepherds life are a time of rapid development.
Both male and female German Shepherds will reach a full height at about 18 months. They still have some weight to gain before they have reached their adult bulk.
Remember that these are averages and may vary slightly. Female German Shepherds dont get as heavy as males. They usually reach full adult weight at about 2 years.
Pro Tip: The best way to determine how big the German Shepherd will get is to take a look at their parents.
If your German Shepherd is underweight or very skinny, the possible reasons could be:
- Genes:
If your German Shepherd has always been skinny, it might be due to its genetics.
- Diet:
Your German Shepherd might not be getting enough nutrients and there is an issue with its diet.
- Picky eater:
If your German Shepherd is a picky eater, then this might be another cause of weight loss.
- Exercise:
This dog is highly energetic and needs a lot of exercises daily. Your German Shepherd is skinny because it might not be eating the right amount of calories to match his physical activities.
- Ailment:
Your German Shepherd might be skinny due to an illness. If it seems to be sick, the best option would be to take your dog to a vet.
- Parasites:
Your German Shepherd may be losing weight because theyre suffering from certain parasites.
- Anxiety:
Your German Shepherds Daily Routine For Fitness And Health
Having a German Shepherd daily routine for exercise keeps your dog healthy and happy.
If you own an adult German Shepherd Dog his exercise tolerance will be almost limitless!
Unless youre a triathlete, marathon runner, or competitive sprinter youll find that you wont exceed the exercise your German Shepherd needs daily. This breed suits very active families and prefers lots of exercise daily . They can become bored easily without a suitable daily routine.
Its essential that your dog has an adequate amount of exercise daily, and not just on weekends.
Your German Shepherds daily routine ideally includes:
- The right type and variety of exercise
- Obedience training at home
- Mental stimulation
- Bonding activities
- Rest and recovery
A daily quota of 2 hours of exercise is mandatory for your lively, active, intelligent breed. At least 90 minutes of physical activity meets your GSDs daily activity needs, with the rest of the time spent on brain and mind games, mental stimulation, and training.
Planning your exercise routine can assist you in meeting your dogs daily physical needs and helps make his life more consistent. If youre flexible and creative you can work around your own schedule while meeting your German Shepherds daily routine.
Take a few moments to consider if you are meeting your German Shepherds desire for physical activity and consider some of these exercises for German Shepherds.
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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.
Walking Your German Shepherd Daily For The Right Amount
Walks are easy on most German Shepherds and are essential for dogs who spend much of their day indoors.
Walking a German Shepherd is the most popular form of exercise for fitness and health.
- Walk your German Shepherd at least twice for 90 minutes
- Preferably split into 2 sessions in the morning and evening time
- Avoid extreme cold and heat to keep both of you safe
Vary the surface you walk on to avoid damage to their joints from repetitive motions.
For example:
- Dont always walk on concrete sidewalks
- Avoid continues use of asphalt roads
- Watch out for broken glass, sharp stones, or slippery surfaces
Instead, look for:
- Green grassy areas which are softer on their paws
- Sandy beaches or trails to offer them an alternative to concrete
- Dirt paths and trails that are softer on your GSDs hips and joints
If you have any nature paths or trails nearby, use them and allow your dog to enjoy sniffing around and exploring the trees.
Are you avoiding walks because your German Shepherd pulls you along wildly and youre afraid of falling?
I know
Ive been where you are, too!
But, dont neglect daily walks since theyre necessary for not only your dogs health but also to help use up their energy for better behavior while living indoors with you.
Invest in a no-pull dog harness, which is easier on your dogs neck and your shoulder. Try this no-pull harness to have more control on your walks.
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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.
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