Letting Your German Shepherd Puppy Explore The Garden
Besides the gnomes and questionable garden furniture you may have, letting your puppy explore your own garden is a great and safe way to start showing them the sounds, lights and wonders of the outside world.
When theyre outdoors, theyll be able to experience what wind, and rain and sunshine feels like, as well as get familiar with walking on different surfaces.;
PRO TIP: Gardens are the perfect toilet areas for puppies. Teach your puppy where the toilet area is in your garden, by rewarding them when they go for a pee or a poo, and also by rewarding them simply for being outside just so they get fully on board that its a fun place to be.;
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How Much Exercise Does A Senior German Shepherd Need
As your German Shepherd ages, they wont need as much exercise as they once did. Its important to monitor how much they are getting and to make sure they arent overdoing it.
If you use the PitPat app, well set an age appropriate exercise goal for your dog that decreases as they age. You can also set your own goals manually in case they have higher or lower exercise needs.
Best Time To For Leash Training
Many people make the mistake of trying to do leash training as a substitute for or combined with regular exercise time but its actually best if you set a dedicated time for training.
The most ideal time to engage in leash training is after exercise or active play.; This is when your GSD has already expended excess energy and is going to better listen and focus.
As per my example in the beginning of the article, if I had tried to leash train puppy Allie before her walk when she was all excited and worked up, both she and I would have gotten frustrated.; But after her walk she was much calmer because her energy had been expended so it was easier to get the desired behavior from her.
You always want to set your dog up to be successful and trying to train a rambunctious energy filled GSD puppy isnt going to yield that result.
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Healthy Safe Activities For German Shepherd Puppies
Moderation and taking activity slow for the first 12 months of your puppys life should be your standard. Dont choose any rough and tumble games, or activities that will cause your puppy to twist their hips and body quickly.
There are plenty of other ideas to try with your new baby German Shepherd.
Keep reading for a German Shepherd puppy exercise chart and specific, step-by-step fun games to keep your new pup happy and healthy.
What Exercises Do German Shepherd Puppies Like
German Shepherd puppies;usually like;fun outdoor and indoor exercises.
Managing the;exercise sessions;of a;young puppy;can be quite easy if you have the proper knowledge.
If your pet is small, that is 8 to 12 weeks old, no extra exercise is needed except a;daily walk.
Taking your pet out for a;puppy play;is enough as;over-exercise;can cause various health problems.
Puppy exercises;are usually different from the adult dog exercises.
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German Shepherds Will Explore Everything With Their Noses
Youll find evidence of their very thorough sniffing everywhere walls, doors, windows, and more. All dogs have a better sense of smell than humans 10,000 to 100,000 times better in fact thanks to having millions more scent receptors. But compared to other breeds, the GSD ranks near the top in scenting ability. Its no wonder they make such great police and detection dogs. Among many other jobs, GSDs are known for their bomb and drug sniffing work, tracking, and Search and Rescue.
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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How Often Should You Take A 2 Month Old Puppy Out
So if your puppy is two months old, they can hold it for about two hours. Dont go longer than this between bathroom breaks or theyre guaranteed to have an accident. Take your puppy outside frequentlyat least every two hoursand immediately after they wake up, during and after playing, and after eating or drinking.
Why Do German Shepherds Roll On Their Backs
Dogs may roll on their backs on different occasions. This German Shepherd behavior might occur when he is playing with you or other dogs.;The dog in the below photo is clearly having a super time playing in the snow.
We will often interpret a roll on the back during dog play as being submissive. However, research has shown that rolling on the back is a winning rather than a losing position. Your German Shepherd will roll over when playing with other dogs for two key reasons:
- To avoid a nape bite
- To launch an attack
But German Shepherds will also roll over to scratch their back since they cannot reach it with their paws. This could just be normal scratching, but it could also result from a flea/tick infestation. Check your dog and take measures if you find out that they are rolling over because they have fleas! Also, ensure their flea prevention treatment is up to date.
When playing with you, dogs will roll on their back to get a scratch on their belly. Granting his desire reinforces your GSDs behavior. So, avoid it if you do not want him to always ask for it!;
German Shepherds that rest or sleep on their backs for a short while feel very relaxed with their environment and are at ease exposing their belly. They feel safe and secure in this position.
Other reasons that dogs may roll on their backs are when attention-seeking, as an expression of joy, or a show of confidence. They may also display this behavior to regulate their body temperature as it helps them to cool down.
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Why Do German Shepherds Nibble
Nibbling is the gentle bite your dog will make on your body, especially on your toes! This German Shepherd behavior is generally considered an instinctual behavior characterizing puppies of all breeds, especially during teething.
When young puppies play, you will have noticed that they will display behavior consisting of gently biting each other as part of the game. Your doggo can transfer this nibbling behavior to you or your furniture if no other puppies or pets are around, which is why teething toys such as the KONG Puppy Toy from Amazon are essential. You can even stuff it with treats or peanut butter to keep your GSD entertained.;;;;
But German Shepherd Dogs tend to bring this growing up behavior into their adult life. Naturally, newborn German Shepherd puppies will explore their world with their mouths before using their sight and smell. And it appears that this instinct is maintained throughout life for important reasons, as shown by some studies.;
A study investigating the meaning and emotion associated with nibbling in dogs concluded that the behavior is not related to negative personality traits. Instead, nibbling has two functions:
Despite these facts, nibbling behavior in German Shepherds can also be triggered by several other factors:
Ways To Give Your German Shepherd Attention
Walk it
If youre thinking of getting a German Shepherd then be aware you will have to walk it on a daily basis. Its important to give your German Shepherd constant aerobic activity that makes it use up a lot of its energy.
You should plan to have to walk your German Shepherd for an hour per day but you might find that it isnt enough.
If its not enough then there are some things that you can do to wear it out more while youre walking it.
You can teach it to come to you on command;so that you can walk it without the lead around the dog park so that it will wear itself out more by running around. You can take it on a walk where there are more hills and you could even make it wear a dog weight vest that is more than 10% of its body weight.
Play fetch
Another good way to give your German Shepherd a lot of attention while also giving it a lot of exercise ;is to teach it to play fetch.
Teaching your German Shepherd to play fetch is good because it will wear your German Shepherd out quickly since it will get it to do a lot of sprinting without much rest causing it to lose a lot of energy quickly.
It will also improve your relationship with your German Shepherd since it will get it used to interacting ;with you in a positive way and it will associate listening to you with positive things.
Train it
Another way to give your;German Shepherd lots of attention is to spend lots of time training it.
Teach it to swim
Play tug of war
Have it pull you
Things to consider
If its a puppy
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How To Get Your German Shepherd To Stop Walking In Front Of You
Below, Ill mention two ways of getting your German Shepherd to stop walking in front of you depending on whether it does it on a walk or at home.
Use positive reinforcement training to get it to stop walking ahead on the leash
Positive reinforcement training is where you reward the behaviors that you want to see from your German Shepherd.
To use positive reinforcement training to get your German Shepherd to stop walking ahead of you on the leash you would do as follows:
- Start walking it on the leash with some treats
- Stop when it is about to walk ahead of you and get it to pay attention to you
- Reward it for stopping and paying attention to you then carry on walking
- Repeat the above until it stops walking ahead of you
You can watch the video below to see how it is done
Use positive reinforcement training to stop it walking in front of you at home
To use positive reinforcement training to get your German Shepherd to stop walking in front of you at home you would:
- Avoid giving it attention when it walks in front of you
- Get it to pay attention to you when it is about to walk in front of you, reward it and then walk ahead of it
- Reward it when it does not walk ahead of you when it normally would
You can also give it lots of attention and exercise throughout the day.
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German Shepherd Mental Stimulation
German Shepherd mental stimulation games have so many benefits for your daily life.
Weve all heard that German Shepherds require plenty of physical exercises and must start obedience training at home from day one.;
But what about mental stimulation for German Shepherds?
What exactly is that?
Mental stimulation for German Shepherds are activities that engage their minds, keep them entertained using their senses, and are challenging and fun. In essence, its brain games and brain training.
There are plenty of ways to mentally stimulate your dog, and these brain games only take a few minutes each day. So, stimulating your German Shepherds mind is easy to fit into your busy schedule.
Theres even a handy schedule for you, found below the list of ideas, to help get you started!
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Can Your Gsd Exercise Alone & How Do I Do That
Your GSD can learn to exercise alone provided youve socialized him or her properly and given them enough things to otherwise keep busy. Providing your dog with plenty of toys and both mental and physical challenges will encourage them to exercise and burn off energy even when youre not around.
Start by training your dog with something like a flirt pole, so that they learn how to run back and forth by themselves. Depending on how agile your dog is, you might consider putting together an obstacle course or other kind of structured designated play area.
Over time, you may even be able to train your dog to work through a regular exercise routine the way that the German Shepherd Man did:
If you have more than one dog, then you could teach them to play keep away with one another by having them share a toy. While you shouldnt ever get another dog just to keep your first one company, this can be a great way to have them exercise alone if you already have a couple of GSDs.
What Dog Makes The Best Emotional Support
Labrador Retriever. Labradors are known to be some of the gentlest breeds around, so they make perfect ESAs. Yorkshire Terrier. Yorkies are the sweetest of the sweet lap dogs. In addition, Beagle, Corgi, Pug, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Pomeranian, and Golden Retriever are a few other dogs that are the best for emotional support.;
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The Best Exercise For German Shepherd Puppies
The best exercise for your German Shepherd puppy is off-leash walking and exploring. Until your vet clears your dog as having their bones fully fused activity should be cautious and slow-paced. Up to twelve months of age, natural free running is the best way to exercise German Shepherds. With free running, your dog is off-leash and can stop or slow as they wish and want.
When your dog is on a leash, they will keep with your speed because they wish to please and keep up with you. Limit and monitor on-leash walks and activity while your German Shepherd is growing.
When walking on a leash, allow them to
- Walk at their own pace
- Stop and start as they please
- Sniff around leisurely to explore the grass, flowers, and trees
- Lay down, roll around, and dig in approved digging places
Use a no-pull harness with a design that allows for natural shoulder movement to avoid unnatural gait development.
Try this padded no-pull harness on your German Shepherd to avoid any neck injury to her while young. This design also limits pulling and helps teach nice leash walking manners.
The handle on the back of the no-pull harness makes it easy to grab your pup to stop them from running into a hazard or just to catch them!
Read more helpful information on the benefits and disadvantages of using a harness or a collar to help you choose the right equipment for walking your new puppy.
Are German Shepherds Easy To Care For
As youve probably noticed by now, German Shepherds require a fair amount of training to ward off any aggressive behaviors, etc., which means you will need to dedicate a lot of time to them. Because they are active dogs, youll also need to spend time each day to exercise them a long walk or run or a few games of fetch, plus challenging games to stimulate them mentally. Too little activity and your dog will become bored, which could lead to behavioral issues. Its important to have plenty of time to devote to your German Shepherd.
As for grooming, these dogs shed constantly. Giving them a good brushing each day can help, but be prepared to break out the vacuum cleaner a lot. On the plus side, you wont need to bathe your dog much since their coats are reasonably dirt-resistant; in fact, if you do bathe them too often, you can end up depleting essential oils from the skin leading to the appearance of issues such as eczema. You should also regularly brush their teeth and trim their nails.
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Pointers For Feeding German Shepherds
Improper feeding practices can lead to serious health problems for German shepherds. Most of the time, these problems linger throughout the dogs lifetime.
You should remember this before doing something reckless, such as altering your German shepherd puppys feeding amount.
An owner is responsible for taking into consideration the age and weight of a German shepherd before feeding them. So here are some tips that can be applied according to your dogs age and weight.
How Can I Teach My German Shepherd Puppy To Be Ok On Their Own
Its a fair question and were here to help you see through those puppy dog eyes and help your puppy cope from the very beginning.
TIPS
Take it slow: It works much better than trying to speed up the process. If they seem worried by you leaving, stay in view, and just pop right outside their confinement area.
Keep it short and sweet: No need to stay away for long, 60 seconds tops will do for now.;
Repeat: Do this at least once a day to make progress go steady and smoothly.;;
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