Dealing With A German Shepherd That Bites Sleeves And Arms
It sounds like our writers two-year-old gets excited easily. This is very common for newly adopted dogs, working dogs, and two-year-olds. Our writer has all three of these!
Heres how to help:
Want more on teaching impulse control and other real-life skills? Weve got a product for that! Purchase our 29-page e-book, Polite Greetings and Life Skills 101.
Your Dog Does Not Communicate Like A Human
Your German Shepherd will respond to many different stimuli. Your body language and tone of voice being the two most important.
In time, your dog will understand certain commands such as sit, stay and come, drop etc.
But, dogs only understand single direct commands. Use language your dog will understand. Calm, simple commands and body language will make your message crystal clear.
Training A German Shepherd Puppy At 8 To 12 Weeks Old Yes You Can
A GSD pup of 8 to 12 weeks of age or older still needs positive reinforcement for the best behavior changes. Disciplining your GSD should not involve hitting, kicking, slapping, intimidation, or yelling. But you can and SHOULD start training a German Shepherd puppy when they first arrive home with you.
Do you want your German Shepherd puppy to stop their unwanted, bad behavior and turn into the sweet angel you want them to be?
Then follow these easy disciplining and training tips thatll keep your relationship with your dog strong, while still overcoming bad behavior. You can easily learn how to train a German Shepherd puppy if you work smarter
Not harder!
Don’t Miss: Why Does My German Shepherd Whine So Much
If It Doesnt Get Enough Exercise
Your GSD might be aggressive because it is not getting its daily dose of physical exercise. GSDs are active by nature and in the wild, they spend their time running around. They need time to exercise or else they become snappy. If you cannot take your GSD for a walk or run on a daily basis, try to take it out at least once in every two days.
GSDs are not used to stay all the time indoors. If you are living in a confined apartment and not letting your dog out, you are the one triggering its aggressive side. Take your dog to family picnics, parks, swimming, hiking, etc.overly-protective, so that it can stay active.
How To Discourage Jumping And Biting Behavior
Thankfully, there are ways you can curb German Shepherd jumping and biting.
- Be proactive. If I knew someone was coming over, I would put Allie in another room or in her crate. Once our visitor was in the house and the initial excitement had passed, I would let her out. By keeping her from greeting people right when they walked through the door, I could minimize her overzealous behavior.
- Teach a place command. This is a simple command that teaches your dog to stay in her place until you give a release command. This is another way to allow the initial excitement to pass and your German Shepherd to calm down a bit before greeting anyone.
- Redirect attention to a toy .
- Fold your arms and turn away. You can also use an off command when you turn. Keep turning until your GSD stops jumping, then praise them and use a treat as a reward.
This training method works great because youre refusing to give your German Shepherd what they want attention! Its best to practice this when you dont have guests over so that your pup knows how to handle excitement in advance.
Also Check: Best Age To Spay A German Shepherd
Offer Your Puppy Another Option When They Begin Jumping On You For Attention
Jumping on other dogs might be fine for play, but its not safe when a large, powerful German Shepherd jumps on people!
When your dog tries to get your attention by jumping on you, its best to either ignore them or better give them another option that you DO want.
Think about what your puppy is trying to get when engaging in jumping and bad behavior to determine when to ignore them.
When your pup jumps on you when you come home, they probably want your attention. Withholding your attention when they are acting out shows them they need to act differently to get your approval .
Instead, offer them pets and praise when they have all 4 paws on the floor. You can also place them behind a puppy gate until they learn not to jump in order to avoid them scratching or nipping house guests when they arrive.
After you teach them their basic obedience, ask them for a competing behavior like a sit or down when they begin to jump. Always remember to reward the behavior you want to see again!
Ultimately, your puppy learns that good behavior earns your affection and attention more quickly. Your dog soon understands that they get nothing from you when they act badly.
Search For A Local Breeder Online
You can also search for a local breeder near you, talk to them, deal with them, and then can bring the little dog to your home.
Dogs are known for their loyalty towards their master. And a German Shepherd breed is ideal considering all aspects like smart, calm, intelligent, loyal, adorable, and energetic.
Being shedders in nature, if you are allergic to hairs, then this might not be a suitable breed for you otherwise, it is the best dog breed you can raise.
Don’t Miss: German Wolf Mix
German Shepherd Jumping And Biting
Whats worse than dealing with puppy biting? When your pup decides its a good idea to bite AND jump! This is something your German Shepherd may do when theyre excited or just seeking attention.
As a pup, Allie thought she should greet everyone by jumping in their face and nipping kind of like a kiss hello, but with teeth.
It didnt matter if you were 6 feet tall, she wanted to be in your face, and if you werent careful, she would get a good nip in before you could react. And as she got bigger, it was harder to control.
Of course, I knew this wasnt aggression she was just excited to see a new face! But trust me, it got old quickly. Again, this is pretty normal behavior for a puppy, but its definitely something you want to stop sooner rather than later.
Corens Dog Intelligence Criteria
In 1994, Coren requested the help of 199 obedience trial judges from North America. Based on his criteria, the obedience trial judges evaluated as many dog breeds as they could. That said, his criteria for dog intelligence is as follows:
Despite the enormous response, not all dog breeds made the final cut. For instance: only breeds that received at least 100 evaluations qualified for Corens dog intelligence list. Rarer dog breeds did not have a big enough sample size to qualify.
In addition, only dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club and Canadian Kennel Club participated in the trials. In other words, no hybrid breeds participated despite their popularity. Not even the Goldendoodle had a shot.
However thanks to the overwhelming popularity of the German Shepherd in America, they easily met both requirement. Plus, GSDs are recognized as a distinct breed with every kennel club in the world. Thus, they participated.
Read Also: Costume For German Shepherd
German Shepherd Dog: Breed Profile
German Shepherds are loyal, intelligent, and loving. Find out if theyre the right dog for you
German Shepherds are intelligent medium-to-large sized working dogs. As well as being popular pets, they have found a strong place in the hearts of many professionals. Their ability to learn quickly and respond well to training is coupled with strength and loyalty. But since they love to play and are highly energetic and active, they do need care and attention: these are dogs that really dont like to be left alone.
Once known as Alsatians, the dogs were originally used in Germany to herd and guard sheep. They were also bred for use in the German military, and they served in the trenches during the First World War, where they were able to assist wounded soldiers, carry supplies, and detect enemy movements. Returning soldiers were full of praise for the dog, and they became popular across Europe. Rin Tin Tin was rescued from the battlefield, and became a Hollywood star.
Life expectancy: 9 to 13 yearsAverage weight: 65-90lbs/30-40kg Female: 50-70lbs/20-30kgAbout the same as: a nine-year-old childExercise level: High
What Does This Have To Do With How I Train My German Shepherd
Its a fair question actually. A dog is a dog is a dog right? But knowing the context and breed characteristics might help you train your German Shepherd puppy better and understand why they do certain things the way they do.
Here are a couple things to keep in mind:
PRO TIP: If your German Shepherd puppy switches off or starts acting silly they may resort to doing what they know best nipping or barking. Shift to some play, let them have some downtime and revisit training later we want training to be associated with fun, and not something they begin to dread.
Don’t Miss: Easy German Shepherd Sketch
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
Give Them The Right Amount Of Exercise
Challenge their physical abilities, but dont over exhaust them! German Shepherds are highly athletics and need the right exercise routine to give them the best possible health and keep their minds from becoming bored.
Want the best exercises for your dog?
Try these: 9 German Shepherd Exercise Routines
Read Also: Clipping German Shepherd Nails
German Shepherds Are Known As A Mouthy Breed
They tend to use their mouths as a hand thanks to that herding heritage. Its even right there in their name, ShepHERD. This mouthing behavior is natural, so expect your GSD to mouth you and chew anything that will fit inside your pets mouth. However, that doesnt mean you should let it go. What might be cute in your small puppy will get harder and stronger as your dog grows up. Training your dog not to chew your hand or the furniture is essential with this breed. Teach your German Shepherd to channel those instincts safely and appropriately.
Dont Miss: How To Train A German Shepherd To Protect
Redirect Bad German Shepherd Puppy Behavior
Does your puppy jump, nip, chew, bite, or dig and you want to know the right discipline?
When your pup is taking part in bad behavior, get your puppys attention by making a distracting noise.
Try clapping your hands, making a clicking sound with your tongue, or smacking your lips to get your pups attention to turn on something you DO want them to try like a squeaky toy.
The noise and disapproving tone distract your dog from bad behavior .
Now, redirect their attention to a more desirable behavior you want, for example:
- Coming to you and leaving what theyre doing by offering them a tasty treat and praise.
- Showing them a favorite toy.
- Offering them another option you would like that is more constructive.
Dont scold them when they come to you or youll make your dog scared of you later on.
Pay attention to your dogs behaviors when they are near known distractions so you can prevent the bad, unwanted action before it even happens.
You want to remember to watch out for:
- If your dog chews inappropriately on a pair of expensive shoes, get their attention by making noises or calling them to you and immediately offer the correct approved chew item.
- If you know your dog tends to bite you during play, have a toy nearby you can show them that you want them to bite instead of your arms.
- If you know they get wild and crazy in the evenings, have a list of these German Shepherd games to distract them and funnel their energy.
Don’t Miss: Length German Shepherd Height Chart
Pick The Right Equipment
Whenever youre training an aggressive German Shepherd, you have to consider safety first.
Depending on your dogs level of aggressiveness, you should think about a muzzle or a head halter.
It helps in more ways than you think.
When you have an aggressive dog, youre always on the toes how they would react around triggers.
Your German Shepherd can feel your anxiety, and it makes them nervous, afraid, and defensive.
If your dog is in such a mental state, training to lessen the aggressiveness will ultimately fail.
Your dog will never get used to their triggers if theyre stressed.
On the other hand, when you know that your dog cant injure anybody, you will be able to project calmness and assertiveness that will reassure your German Shepherd.
However, the muzzle is a tool to help you train your aggressive German Shepherd.
Its not a solution to your problem. Keep that in mind.
Besides safety, you should choose a training treat that will motivate your German Shepherd to behave.
You have to pick something delicious and irresistible and use it only when youre training your German Shepherd not to be aggressive.
Ways To Keep Your Dog Warm In Winter
Whether your GermanShepherd has a low cold tolerance, is young, old, sick, or underweight, it isimportant to keep them warm. A few things you can do to help with this include:
- Provide them a warm place to sleep. A comfy bed,like this Furhaven Pet Dog Bed,and some blankets will work nicely.
- Provide water. Hydration is important. Petsupplements with electrolytes may help improve muscle function when it gets cold.This DoggieWatervitamin and supplement is a perfect choice.
- Provide a healthy diet.
- Groom your dog often. Try to avoid the temptationto trim the hair when it is cold.
- Provide a dog Coat. An option like this SCPET Fog Winter Coatcan add an extra layer of protection when your dog needs to be in thecold.
Recommended Reading: My German Shepherd Is Skinny
Take Your German Shepherd To The Vet
If your German Shepherd is aggressive out of the blue, its time for a trip to the vet.
Thats because your German Shepherd might be sick even if they seem perfectly healthy.
When dogs are in pain, they are vulnerable and afraid and might growl or attack to protect themselves.
Underlying medical conditions that affect the hormones might also trigger your dogs aggressiveness.
So, any drastic change in behavior is a health warning sign.
Knowing how to train your aggressive German Shepherd is important so that you can avoid accidents and do the best for your dog.
Dont ever ignore aggression because its a symptom that your German Shepherd has a problem.
It might be something as simple as fear or as urgent as an illness.
What do you think about these 8 tips on how to train an aggressive German Shepherd? Tell us in the comments.