Get Your German Shepherds Full Attention
You must have your dogs full attention before hell learn anything. Pick a quiet place, with little or no distractions.
To begin with, your back yard is the best place since the smells are familiar and so also the surroundings.
If you were in a park for instance; you have no control over the distractions. Like other dogs and their owners, the scent of other animals, children playing, or a Frisbee whizzing by.
Once both you and your dog are confident in the training, then you can step it up by moving it to a place with more distractions.
Encouraging Good Behavior Through Training
No one likes a hyper dog.
My sons biggest fear about dogs is them jumping on him. ;So when we were looking for puppies, we let him make the selection. ;Looking back though, our dog chose us.
She is not your typical German Shepherd. At 8 weeks old she didnt jump on people, but at times would use people as a walking board to stand on her hind legs. ;She seemed very calm Until we got home that is.
German Shepherds were bred to be workers.;As such, your dog needs a job to do.
Start training your GSD as soon as possible. ;Everyone in your home must be on board with the training regimen.
Remember: Your dog is a reflection of you. ;They will act as you teach them to act.
If your dog is jumping around, acting hyper and excited, you must stay calm and ignore the dog.;Interaction with your dog while excited will only cause more excitement in the dog. This will teach the dog that being hyper is okay, and that is not the message you want to send.
A few tips to train your dog to be calm:
- Reward your dog for good behavior. ;A belly rub and pat on the head when your dog is laying down reinforces that behavior.
- Teach your dog the basic commands of sit and stay. ;
- Set aside time to play. ;Make it part of a routine.
- Socialize your dog with other dogs and children through store and park visits.
When Do German Shepherds Calm Down
Even though German Shepherds are active and energetic, they will normally calm down as they mature and get older. This is a gradual process so you should train them while theyre still young.
If your German Shepherd is currently not very calm, find out the reason why hes not calm and do something about it.
Below are some of the possible reasons:
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Will My German Shepherd Calm Down
If you have recently got a German Shepherd and it is hyperactive youre probably wondering if it will calm down. This post will help you to figure out if it will calm down and what you can do about it.
So, will your German Shepherd calm down? German Shepherds will generally calm down a bit as they get older. The amount that it calms down might not necessarily;be as much as you want. To calm it down more you will need to make sure to give it lots of exercise and training so that it is properly stimulated.;
If your German Shepherd is currently not very calm then there are actually a number of things that you can do about it.
How To Help Your German Shepherd Puppy Stay Calm
Hearing that it may take up to 14 months for your GSD puppy to fully grow up may feel disheartening if you are coping with the all-go, no-stop activity level of the typical German Shepherd puppy!
As the American Kennel Club points out, there are specific training programs that are designed for German Shepherd puppies.
The STAR program is one such program. STAR stands for Socialization, Training, Activity, Responsible Ownership.
STAR teaches both the GSD puppy and their owner how to manage the exuberance and energy levels of a German Shepherd puppy by setting up a daily activity and exercise schedule.
This is not to say you have to use this particular training program to achieve these results.
Instead, it is simply to suggest that, if the current schedule your GSD puppy is on is not providing the results you hope for, you can sit down and create a different activity and exercise schedule to see if your puppy naturally becomes calmer.
Sometimes there may also be environmental issues that are triggering excessive activity, crying, whimpering, barking, or other undesirable puppyhood behaviors.
Here are some of the most common triggers that may be causing your German Shepherd puppy to act out in ways not unlike how a human child might overreact!
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The Key Takeaways Here Are:
- For effective German Shepherd training, you must be a good leader in your dogs life.
- Leadership is about using brains and NOT brawn to train your German Shepherd.
- Understand what your dog is not , learn to speak your dogs language, and get inside his head.
- Always be patient and consistent with your training and reinforcement.
- Aggressive methods are not effective when training your German Shepherd. You will see little to no results, it will cause trust issues and youll break your dogs spirit. Always be kind!
- Positive reinforcement and training will bring quicker, long-lasting results. And build a strong relationship of trust and love between you and your German Shepherd.
Check out this article to learn how to teach your German Shepherd not to jump on you or your guests.
The part of your article that mentioned consistency and why it matters when training dogs was definitely one part that was helpful to read. The last thing I want to happen is that my dog would be let loose thinking that they would behave and they suddenly act aggressively towards my family because we gave the wrong command. Ill make sure I focus on this aspect of training when I find a dog trainer in the area that can help me train my german shepherd.
Hi Roylena,
Im so sorry, I totally forgot to drop the link to my article on jumping here for you to check out. Here it isHow to stop a German Shepherd from Jumping on You.
Neutering And Testicular Implants
To some people, this might seem like a strange concern, but lots of dog owners worry about how losing their testicles might impact their dog. For this reason, testicular implants were created, or neuticles as they are sometimes known. Some people worry that male dogs might be emotionally impacted by the loss of their testicles. If you are worried about this affecting your dog, you might choose to give them testicular implants.;
These implants arent cheap, and for this reason, it is arguable that they exist more for the owner than the dog. Most dogs arent phased by the loss of their testicles as they dont really do much, but a lot of owners struggle with the loss of this masculine feature.;
If you are phased by your dogs lack of testicles and want to get implants for them, then this will cost you around $500 on top of the cost of the neutering surgery. The neuticles are made using silicone and look just like regular testicles, so once they are in, you wont be able to notice the difference.;
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Go For A Dog Walk To Redirect Dogs High Energy
If your dog has a lot of built-up energy, a really vigorous dog walk is another excellent way to redirect it where YOU want it to go. Once youve burned that extra energy away, your dog should be pleasantly exhausted and too tuckered out to jump and nip. Without that frustration, hell find it much easier to relax.
Lack Of Mental And Physical Stimulation
One of the most common reasons that a dog will struggle to be calm is because it is lacking in physical and mental stimulation. Dogs already need a lot of exercise, chew toys and other things to keep them occupied and happy. German Shepherds take this a step further because they have a lot more energy than the average dog breed.
If your dog is hyperactive, then the best thing you can do for it is to give it a routine. Having a routine gives your German Shepherd something to focus on, and do. They will know when they are going out to play, going out for walks and when they will be fed.
Without a normal routine, or a lot of stimulation, your German Shepherd will find other ways to occupy themselves, such as destroying a shoe, or jumping up on top of you when you are on the couchor pacing around the house for hours.
As we have stated, a German Shepherd requires a lot of exercise in order to function. For instance, your German Shepherd should have at least 90 minutes of exercise every single day, as well as intensive exercises once or twice a week.
If your dog is not able to expel all of their energy through exercise, then they are bound to be hyperactive and energetic around the house, which can cause you a lot of stress and other problems.
German Shepherds are also used as Police Dogs and working dogs, and are incredibly intelligent creatures. This is why they also need mental stimulation.
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How To Get German Shepherds To Calm Down
Being a pet parent is one of the joys of life. The delight of waking up to a wagging tail is incomparable. Things turn out more fun when you have a lovely and loyal dog like the German shepherd. Talk of loyalty, intelligence, confidence, and trainability, and definitely the GSD is one of the dog breeds that wont disappoint in either. They have a larger than life personality, and thats what makes them among the most famous dog breeds, not only in the United States but also on the entire planet. Now, like any other dog kind, to deal with your GSD effectively will need you to first have a deeper understanding of them. For instance, you need to know how to train them effectively, their daily basic requirements, demeanor, and of course, how to calm them down!
Having that said, how exactly can you get German shepherds to calm down? Well, the fact is that these dogs are a bundle of energy and will more often display some undesirable behavior. However, by taking a few necessary steps, its possible to calm your GSD to the dog youve always wanted.
Your Dog Is Not A Person Your Dog Is A Reflection Of You
Your Dog is a Reflection of You!
As humans, we personify everything we love including our beloved dogs. ;And in my opinion, there’s nothing wrong with that.
As long as we remember that our dogs operate on instincts. ;And our emotions affect those instincts.
For example
There’s this Staffie names Apollo that has hydrotherapy on the same day as Charley.
Now, Apollo and Charley hate each other. ;None of us are sure why though!
So, a few weeks ago Charley was at her weekly hydrotherapy session when Apollo strolled past her massage mat.
The moment I saw him I tensed up. ;And within a split second Charley, who has just had hip surgery, jumped up on all fours and started barking madly.
She’s never had a problem with any of;the other dogs around there. ;Even the owners 2 Jack Russell’s hang around her with no problems.
Both myself and the therapist never saw it coming. ;But looking back now, I should have known
Charley was reacting to her instincts.
But
My emotions played a big role in her final reaction. ;Charley was responding to me, but the results were not positive. Because I was tense and worried.
You may be wondering what you can do to encourage your GSD to respond to you in a positive way.
This brings us to the next golden rule
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Health Benefits Of Neutering:
According to the Animal Cancer Foundation, around 6 millioncompanion dogs are diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States alone.
In addition, a study published by the Journal of Comparative Pathology in 2008 revealed that 27% of unneutered dogs develop at least one testicular tumor.
Based on the research by the National Canine Cancer Foundation, testicular tumors make up 90% of canine cancers related to the male reproductive system.
Apart from preventing testicular tumors and cancer, neutering your German Shepherd would also prevent prostate problems as he ages.
Neutering is also believed to reduce the risk of diabetes as well as perianal fistulas, a medical condition thats relatively common among German Shepherds.
What Causes Hyperactivity In My Shepherd
Boredom is the leading cause for hyperactivity in the German Shepherd.
These dogs want to constantly move and be working. Proper training teaches that their job is to sit or lay by you.
Lack of regular exercise will exacerbate the problems of hyperactivity.
These are big dogs that need to move. They were bred for guarding and herding. Make sure they have plenty of daily exercise.
This means more than just 2 walks a day.
Shepherds need both mental and physical exercise. Treat toys that make your dog work for the treat, are a great way to help stimulate your dogs brain.
Dont be afraid to wrestle with your dog. If you start while the dog is young they will learn how to play with you. This will provide mental and physical stimulation.
A poor diet will lead to both mental and physical problems including hyperactivity. ;Give your GSD the highest quality dog food that you can afford.
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Great Jobs For Energetic German Shepherd Dogs To Do
As the California Golden State German Shepherd Rescue organization explains, there is no longer a great demand for herding and livestock guarding dogs.
While some ranchers still do employ dogs in this type of job, the vast majority of herding dogs are now in demand in other types of fields.
For the German Shepherd, the main types of jobs these dogs do today include the following:
- Police and personal protection duty.
- Guard dog and military dog duty.
- Search and rescue duty.
- Nosework and scent work.Hunting and tracking.
- Guide dog and service animal work.
Other great avenues to give your GSD an outlet to burn up that considerable daily drive and energy include these:
Canine athletics such as dock diving, herding, agility.
Obedience, Rally, and show dog competitions.
When Do German Shepherd Puppies Calm Down
When do German Shepherds puppies calm down? If you have a puppy, then youve probably thought about this a lot. German shepherd puppies are certainly handful of excited, endearing pups. The initial bit of their training requires a lot of patience and dedication, but its worth it when you have a confident and dignified dog in later years. Requiring your German Shepherd puppy to calm down will require teaching them certain things early on.
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What Causes A German Shepherd Dog To Be So Energetic
If you have never owned a German Shepherd or any working dog breed before now, you may legitimately be unaware of just how different a working dogs temperament can be from a traditional pet dog breed.
This German Shepherd owner forum clearly highlights just how surprised some new, first-time GSD owners can be when their puppy keeps on growing up and the energy level stays at puppyhood level!
As the American Kennel Club points out, German Shepherds come from the herding group of working dog breeds.
Herding dog breeds are accustomed to putting forth high energy output often for many hours at a stretch. Their job duties include keeping a herd of livestock together and accounted for and defending the herd against predators.
German Shepherds have such intense energy drives precisely because herding isnt a job that can wait for any length of time for a nap or snack break. The dog always needs to be on high alert against stragglers or predators.
While it is true that an older GSD may experience a natural slowdown due to advancing age, right from puppyhood you can expect your German Shepherd to exhibit the characteristic intense focus and drive to work that this breed is known for.
Remember When Training A German Shepherd Puppy:
- Time out should not last over 1-2 minutes.
- Watch for when your puppy is calm and quiet for a very brief period .
- Then let them out quietly, without scolding them.
And dont close a door on a young puppy inside a room!
This can cause anxiety. Remember to use a pet gateto separate them off from the excitement that caused the unwanted behavior, while still allowing them to see you and not feel trapped.
Dont allow them out of time out while they are barking, whining, scratching, or otherwise acting out. This only serves to reinforce the unwanted bad behavior and doesnt discipline them effectively.
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Things To Do To Keep Your Dog Calm Around Visitors
When the doorbell rings, the last thing you want is an unruly or overexcited dog greeting your guests.; Whether the excitement is out of enthusiasm because friends have come to visit, or because they are being protective, its important to teach your dog how you want them to behave when company arrives.
The goal of teaching your dog how to greet visitors is to protect your guests, yourself and your dog.; Preferably, they should learn not to dart out the door, jump on the door or people.; They should also know how to sit, stay, and place when asked.; All dogs should learn that when they are calm, they can then happily greet their friends that come to visit.
Training dogs how you want them to behave should start when they are puppies.; From the time you bring them home, their training and socialization should begin.; When they are as young as 8 weeks old, puppies are capable of learning commands such as sit, down, and stay.
Young puppies respond very well to praise and positive reinforcement yet have short attention spans.; Short sessions of lure training using treats, gentle touching, and lots of praise are ideal for training and bonding with puppies.
Puppy training takes about 15 minutes a day and also should be reinforced throughout the day as opportunities present.; The training should be upbeat and fun.; Practicing training in different locations of the house, yard, and on walks will help the pup to feel comfortable and relaxed when asked to learn new things.