Teach Your Dog To Grab His Leash
Before we go for a walk I have my dog go and grab her leash, then she has to fetch me my boots and her harness. Its not asking much, but its enough to keep her focused and busy while Im getting ready. Before I taught her to go grab those items shed be spinning around, whining, and jumping while I got everything ready. As a bonus teaching your dog to go fetch their leash or harness is a nice way to get in some extra mental stimulation.
Do Not Offer Old Possessions As Chew Alternatives
Some dog owners think that it is ok to offer their German Shepherd old shoes, rags, or cast-off clothes to chew instead of the valuable ones still in use. Wrong thinking!
If you give your dog an old shoe to chew, you are reinforcing his preference for chewing shoes. Once the old shoe is all destroyed and no longer good to chew, your German Shepherd will look for your latest purchase to replace the consumed one! Dogs are dogs, and they do not know the difference between an old shoe and a brand new one!
Keep Your Cat Indoors To Protect The Environment
When youre playing fetch, youre simply throwing something for your dog to retrieve. Once they catch the thing or have to fetch it from wherever it landed, theyll usually bring it straight back to you. Then, you can throw it again or move on.
Sound simple? It is. There are a lot of different things that you could use to play fetch with. A couple of the most common are tennis balls and sticks, but youd be surprised at what your dog will be eager to chase and catch. Other fun things include frisbees or dog toys.
Pretty much anything you throw past your dog, theyll run to catch, if theyve trained how to. Some dogs do this naturally, others have to be encouraged to chase after objects by being provided with affection or treats.
Once youve played enough fetch, you can begin teaching your German Shepherd simple tricks like how to catch things that you throw at them or to do jumping tricks while fetching.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
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Why You Need To Entertain Your German Shepherd While Youre At Work
Nobody likes to be bored, not even dogs. As a human, you can leave the house and seek exciting new adventures all on your own when boredom rears its ugly head.
However, your dog is probably stuck at home when you have to leave for work or school. While it might be fine to take a nap or two each day while he waits for you to come back, there are still many hours left in the day where a bored GSD can get himself into some mischief.
Sometimes that mischief can result in expensive damage to your home and belongings!
Last Thoughts About How Much Exercise Does Your German Shepherd Need
Finally, anywhere between 1 and 2 hours of walking, purposeful activity, and mental stimulation per day is ideal to keep your dog in good shape.
This general guideline relates to a healthy adult German Shepherd. Each dog will have different exercise requirements according to his age, physical conditions, and energy level.
I hope my article has helped you to find out what your GSD needs to stay healthy and happy. Now its time for you to unleash him, go out there, and spend your energy together.
Good Workout & Dont Forget To Have Fun!
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Are German Shepherd Good For Novice Owners Good
Some dogs are easier than others. They are more patient and easygoing. Dogs are resilient and can bounce back from any mistakes or inconsistencies.
Dogs with high levels of intelligence, independence, and emotional intelligence may be more difficult to handle for first-time dog parents. Your dog-owning history will be a factor in your choice of a puppy.
Senior dogs are less demanding than younger dogs, so you might consider adopting one. To combat the effects of arthritis, you can keep your senior dog healthy well into old age.
How Do I Get My German Shepherd To Stop Shedding
Theres nothing you can do to completely stop your German Shepherd from shedding. However, here are several ways to reduce the amount of stray hairs in your home:
- Daily brushingShedding is basically dead undercoat falling out onto your floor. If you can remove this undercoat through brushing before it falls out, your dog will shed a lot less! Just 5 minutes of daily brushing will noticeably cut down on the amount of hair lying around.
- Keeping your dog insideEspecially if you live in a colder climate you should not let your dog be outside unsupervised for many hours a day. The more time your dog spends outside, the thicker his coat will grow. This means that when it is time for the season change, he will shed extra badly!
- Spay your female dogsFemale dogs are notorious for shedding badly after they have been in season. Unless you are planning on breeding your female, there are no health benefits of not having a spay surgery done once the dog is finished growing.If you are experiencing especially heavy shedding after your dogs heat, consider having her spayed.Male dogs often also get a lighter coat after their neuter surgery.
Many owners decide to let a professional groomer take care of this. This can be a convenient way to reduce your dogs shedding without having to bathe and dry him at home! If you are planning on having a groomer work on your dog, you should introduce him to this as early as possible ideally as a young puppy.
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Make A Doggie Play Date
Does your dog have some nice dog friends? Invite them over for some play time. Its so satisfying to see dogs engaging in play with one another, and its pretty much guaranteed youll have one tired dog at the end of the day. Youll also have a chance to catch up on some chores while the dogs create their own wrestle mania in your living room.
Play The Which Hand Game With Your Dog
If youve been thinking about teaching your dog some scent work games this is a great game to get you started. The only thing youll need is some dog treats, and if dont any on hand you can use some chopped up fruits & veggies or make your own homemade dog treats.
How to Play the Which Hand Game:
- Place a treat in one of your hands.
- Close your fists and hold them out in front of your dog.
- Let the dog choose which hand its in.
- When your dog sniffs or paws the correct hand open it up and give them the treat.
- If he chooses incorrectly dont discourage him, it takes a few tries to catch on.
- A gentle touch command will be helpful.
Tip: Chopped up carrots make excellent treats for scent work games and training. Theyre low in calories, easy to prepare, and dogs absolutely love them.
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Teach Your Dog The Go To Command
Does your dog know how to go to the couch or to his bed? This trick is simple to teach and its helpful when youre making dinner or having guests over. If you tell your dog to go to his spot while youre making dinner enough times it will become a habit. No dog in the kitchen while cooking means you wont be finding dog hair in your dinner as often.
It Improves Your Connection
Training or playing interactive games with your German Shepherd allows you to observe how they think, how they solve problems, the best ways for them to learn, and what motivates them.
All of this will help you get to know your dog better and, consequently, be better able to meet their intellectual needs. Additionally, it enhances your connection and allows you to communicate with each other more effectively.
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Use A Stuffed Kong To Keep Your Dog Entertained
Stuffed Kongs are my favorite when it comes to relieving dog boredom because theyre so easy to prepare. If you want to keep your dog busy for awhile try stuffing a Kong with some of their favorite treats. You can freeze some peanut butter or broth inside, or just put some treats in there and give your dog something to work for. If youre not sure what to use heres a list of 39 healthy treats that are great for Kong stuffing.
Using a stuffed Kong is a great way to keep your dog occupied while youre at work. Put your stuffed Kong in the freezer overnight and give it to your dog in the morning as youre leaving. A frozen Kong will last 30+ minutes for most dogs much longer if your fill it completely.
I love using classic Kongs because theyre nontoxic, indestructible, and dishwasher safe. If youre looking for a great Kong alternative thats just as durable check out the West Paw Toppl toy they come in large and small sizes, and theyre just as easy to clean as a Kong.
Stuffing a Kong is an easy way to keep your dog busy & entertained.
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.
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Toy Time: Designate Dog
I cannot overemphasize the importance of dogs having their own toys, and, especially for German Shepherds, getting the right kinds of toys. When Sultan was a puppy, we got her a few toys that were basically stuffed animals. She destroyed them in hours, and strew fluff all over the yard and the house. We started looking for more durable toys, hoping to find her something that would last longer than a few hours. She powered through everything.
Eventually, we started investing in toys that were made specifically for German Shepherds and other large dogs. We had a stuffed rabbit made out of firehouse material for a little over two years. She finally managed to rip one of the ears off after quite a whilethats how good these toys are.
It is vitally important that a dog has toys that they know are their own. These are toys that they can play with when they are bored and can field the chewing habit that most dogs, especially during their teething phase, have. Plus, giving a dog a sense of ownership over something can make them happier.
Play Find The Treats With Your Dog
Nose work games are one of the easiest ways to tire out your dog. When you teach your dog some basic nose work games such as find the treats youre mentally tiring them out and helping them hone in on some of their natural skills.
Grab some treats and have your dog watch as you place them around the room. Give your dog the cue to find the treats and encourage your dog to pick them up, remembering to praise them every time they find one. After your confident that your dog understands what find the treats means you can making it a bit more challenging. Have them stay in another room as you hide the treats, and start hiding them in spots they have to sniff out such as under a rug.
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Try Some Free Shaping Games
If you havent heard of 101 things to do with a box youve been missing out on some fun training opportunities. Its a great foundation for learning how to practice free shaping techniques, and it only requires a box and a clicker.
The basic principle of shaping games is to encourage our dogs to try something new. They get to make their own decisions and increase their mental and physical flexibility. You start out with a box on the ground and without any cues let your dog investigate and decide what to do.
Shaping can be used with any item, not just a box. Heres a great video of shape training a dog to crawl under an object.
Leaving Your German Shepherd Dog Home Alone: The Gsd Is A Sensitive Breed
According to the American Kennel Club , German Shepherd dogs are the second most popular companion canine in the country. That is out of nearly 200 registered purebred breeds!
These popular dogs will quickly form strong bonds with their owners.
When you bring your new German Shepherd puppy or rescue dog home, you can expect them to want to be where you are, doing whatever youre doing.
This is also the nature of choosing a dog breed with a strong innate drive to guard, herd, and protect.
German Shepherds arent happy until they know everyone in the herd is safe and accounted for.
This means that a big part of the German Shepherd dogs appeal is their sensitivity and awareness. This breed is extremely attuned to people!
Its best to know beforehand that your dog wont do well if left alone, or even in the company of other dogs, for hours at a time.
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Why Your German Shepherd Might Be Clingy
Whether you love it or hate it, your German Shepherd absolutely adores you but sometimes he takes this to the extreme. Honestly, why else would he be obsessed with remaining at your side for every minute of the day? Were going to take a deeper look at your German Shepherds clingy behavior and this is where it gets interesting.
Were going to examine just how common separation anxiety is in German Shepherds and how to distinguish whether your dog has separation anxiety or just likes to be around you. Then, well touch on just how in tune your German Shepherd might be with your own stress and anxiety.
Finally, we will look at how genetics plays a part and give some examples of your dogs learned behaviors whereby YOU may be to blame!
Do German Shepherds Shed Constantly
Unfortunately yes German Shepherds shed constantly, year around. While their shedding is especially intense during the spring and fall, they can and will lose their undercoat during the remainder of the year as well.
Managing your dogs shedding will be an everyday task just like feeding and walking your dog. By making it a routine, it will be easy for you and your dog to keep up with it.
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German Shepherd Training: The 7 Golden Rules & Basic Commands
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Im sure youll agree when I say:
A well-trained dog is a pleasure to have around.
If you own an untrained pooch you know the frustration it causes.
Whether youve just brought home your first German Shepherd.
Or if youve finally decided its time to teach your old dog new tricks
Youve come to the right place to get the 101 on German Shepherd training.
It is a fact that German Shepherds are among the brightest and most intelligent working dogs.
Preceded only by the Border Collie and the Standard Poodle.
This is according to a book published by Stanley Coren in 1994 The Intelligence of Dogs.
You can read more about his study and the metrics here.
Thanks to their ability to understand new commands in less than 5 repetitions and obeying the first command 95% of the time or more.
And the desire to please you most owners can succeed at training their dog on their own.
Because of their intelligence, German Shepherds can sometimes be stubborn. They need a firm hand and a smart approach to their training.
Training your German Shepherd is exciting. But sometimes dog training can seem overwhelming if you donât even know where to begin.
So heres the deal:
Youve got to get inside your German shepherds head
And Im about to show you exactly how you can do this:
Aim For A Balance Of Mental And Physical Activities
Try to offer a good balance of activities for both mental and physical entertainment.
Its true that many German Shepherds would benefit from more physical exercise. But, its important to note that mental exercise and entertainment are just as important for your dogs health.
Instead of thinking about how long or far you need to walk your dog, consider all the ways you could also use these creative ideas to keep your dog from becoming bored and destructive.
When your German Shepherds brain uses fuel to figure out a new activity, it leaves them mentally tired. A combination of mental entertainment and physical activity helps to ensure that your dogs day is more balanced. The skills they learn during training, puzzle games, and interactive play give them an extra boost in their lives with you to keep them healthier.
You dont want to miss out on the benefits of mind stimulation. This post on super-easy German Shepherd mental stimulation is a must-read!
Your goal here is to mix both areas of your dogs life so that your dog becomes more tired and relaxed and you two spend more time together, which is EXACTLY what your German Shepherd wants and NEEDS.
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