Consideration #1 The Apartment
The first thing you need to take into account is the type of apartment you have or will be living in.
Most apartments have a pet policy that includes a weight limit for the dogs, especially if youre living above someone else.
Another issue with finding the right apartment for a German Shepherd is that many apartments put shepherds on the restricted breed list, meaning:
The apartment owners forbid the renters from having German Shepherds on the property because they are believed to be an aggressive breed of dog.
Its best to find a dog-friendly building, but in the chance that you arent able to find a building that allows your German Shepherd, you may be able to work it out with the building manager.
If you express to the manager how friendly your dog is, or even take the time to let the manager meet the German Shepherd and get to know them before moving into the apartment, the manager may vouch for your dog and allow a pass.
The size of the apartment might play a part in whether you want to get a German Shepherd or not as well.
A larger apartment would obviously give your dog more space to roam around and stretch their legs, so to speak.
But most larger apartments are more expensive, so you can get around this by making sure to leave space in rooms such as a large dog bed for your German Shepherd to lounge out on or a large empty space on the floor for playtime with toys and the like.
Training Them To Go Outside After Using Pads Indoors
While I generally use a crate to house train my German Shepherd puppy I also totally understand that you might prefer to learn how to potty train a German Shepherd puppy using a puppy pad .
Im not here to judge and I love that you want to help your pup learn his potty routine quickly by reading up on this training!
How To Take Care Of A German Shepherd
This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 53 testimonials and 96% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 847,856 times.
German shepherds are large and active dogs that are highly intelligent and loyal companions. They require thoughtful care and consistent training in order to live long and happy lives. German shepherds need to be fed and housed properly, in addition to requiring regular health care and exercise. With some effort and care, your German shepherd can live a long and happy life and will be a steady companion for you for years to come.
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German Shepherds Are Obedient And Easy To Train
German Shepherds have high intelligence, thus they can be trained for various purposes. German Shepherds are obedient, making them easier to train compared to other dog breeds. Not only do German Shepherd perform well in task training, obedience training wouldn’t be any problem for them as well. They will listen and obey to your commands.
Is A German Shepherd A Good Family Dog
German Shepherds can be great family dogs if they are properly trained and socialized.
They are friendly and loving dogs and, above all, very loyal and protective of their family.
German Shepherds are very playful dogs. They enjoy childrens attention and, when properly socialized since they are puppies, are very patient dogs with children of all ages.
Although German Shepherds are very adaptable dogs, being very active dogs makes them an ideal breed for active households.
The German Shepherd dog needs a family that can offer him the care and physical activity that he needs to stay physically and mentally healthy.
Recommended Reading: How To Potty Train My German Shepherd Puppy
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.
What Is Obedience Training And Why Your Dog Needs It
The sole purpose of obedience training is to teach your German Shepherd how to act at home and in social settings.
Socializing, house training, and basic sit, stay, and recall commands will fall into this category.
Obedience training is essential to avoid the development of behavior problems early on. It’s also the only way to fix bad habits and behavior that have already developed.
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Finding A Puppy Who Is The Best Fit For You
Finding a good, ethical breeder is one of the most important ways to ensure you are getting off to the right start in obtaining the puppy who will be the best fit for you and your household. Breeders observe their puppies personalities and drives and can match the right puppy to the right individual or family.
You may also wish to acquire a puppy from one of the breed-rescue organizations listed in the AKC Rescue Network currently, over 40 GSD rescues are listed, a testament to the popularity of this magnificent breed. If you choose this route, be sure to discuss with the breed rescue organization your needs and what you are looking for in a puppy they should also be able to help you find the puppy whose temperament and personality will be the best match for you.
Nadia Adams of Oher Tannen German Shepherd Dogs has been a GSD breeder for 15 years and comments, A well-bred German Shepherd Dog is highly intelligent, thriving on praise and wanting to please the owner. This combination makes them very trainable, which is one of the most appealing qualities of the breed.
This breeds high level of intelligence and strong willingness to work mean your GSD must receive consistent and ongoing training from an early age. A bored GSD is a destructive GSD. That said, states Adams, the sky is the limit, if the owner ca devote a good amount of quality time to the dog, especially during the critical first year of life.
Get A Collapsible Crate
A crate is perhaps your biggest splurge for your German Shepherd puppy. But why need one?
Your puppy will soon learn crate training. Its actually pretty beneficial when used correctly.
- The crate becomes their safe place.
- It teaches your dog not to soil their crate.
- They learn to be comfortable in an enclosed space.
Its also helpful if you will be gone for a long period of time. Leave them in the crate so they dont chew anything.
Since your dog grows, an expandable or big collapsible crate is the best choice.
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How Do I Raise My New German Shepherd Puppy
You should have figured this out before committing to a dog.
Hire a dog walker.
Yeah- it’s not fair to a puppy to be caged all day. That’s a really long time. Since you made the commitment though you need to hire a walker or have a friend come play with your puppy and take it out. Poor puppy.
If you havent adopted the puppy yet, I would wait. Im also a full-time student, but I got my golden retriever puppy over our summer vacation so that I had about 3 1/2 months to spend with him and train him. Its going to be really hard potty training him if you arent there for most of the day. If you get your puppy as soon as the semester is over Mid-May, it will give you enough time to potty train him and correct his behavior before the next semester begins.
If you got him already, I would recruit a bestfriend/family member/significant other to go over to your place if they are free during 8-3 to look after him. Depending on how old he is, he may be needing to go potty very often during those hours and will get lonely.
You can try daycare after all shots/requirements of the daycare, and preferably out of the first fear period.
Otherwise, yes, 8-3 is a long time for a puppy. You didn’t mention how old the puppy is, but generally they can hold their bladder 1 hour for every month . You might be OK stretching it another hour beyond that.
You should hire a dog walker to come by. I’d say maybe even to come twice until closer to 3-4 months and doing well with house training.
Here Are Some Tips On How To Raise German Shepherds:
Buy the puppy from a reputable breeder. Ensure that the breeder gives you a health guarantee for at least 2 years. This guarantee will give you options in case the puppy is diagnosed with a genetic health condition later on. Also, make sure that the breeder has vaccinated the puppy and de-wormed it before you bring it home. Get copies of the puppys health record. Find out whether the puppy was socialized while living with the breeder.
Before bringing the puppy home, make sure that you take it to a veterinarian for a complete checkup. German shepherds are prone to hip dysplasia, allergies, pancreatitis and bloat due to indiscriminate breeding practices adopted by a few breeders. Make sure that you follow the vets advice on these common breed ailments. Stick to the vaccination schedules set up by the vet and use the visit to get the dog checked.
When you bring the puppy home, begin the socializing process immediately. Let family members hold and pet the puppy. If you are going to the park, pet store or a friends home, take the puppy along. Allow the puppy to experience different social settings, so that it gets accustomed to them. If you have neighbors or friends, who have friendly dogs and cats, try to get your German shepherd to socialize with them under supervision. Dogs that are not socialized tend to get timid and fearful of new situations, which can result in aggressive behavior.
Read Also: When Does A German Shepherd Ears Stand Up
What About Safe Play Inside An Apartment Space
Whether due to inclement or seasonal weather, your own health, or simply enjoyment of life together, it is also important to ask if your particular apartment unit will allow for safe play with your German Shepherd.
Even if you live in a very temperate climate and you have easy access to local dog-friendly parks or trails, there may be days when you want or need to stay indoors.
Your dog will still need the same level of daily activity to dwell easily in such a small space. So this may mean you are throwing a ball or playing tug-of-war inside your apartment to tire your dog out.
Taking a look at the layout of your apartment and the size of each room will give you a good idea of how hard or easy it might be to play with your German Shepherd safely and easily indoors.
Teach Them To Be Quiet
When you live in an apartment, be considerate of your neighbors. A loud dog isnt going to make your life easier.
Living in an apartment means you hear sounds from every direction. An untrained German Shepherd will bark at the slightest sound.
Just because your neighbors love dogs doesnt mean they wont be annoyed. Whats worse? When your dog starts a barking chain reaction in the middle of the night! Youll have pissed off neighbors in the morning.
So teach your German Shepherd the command quiet.
To start, dont reward their vocalizations. For example, your dog barks because they want you to pet them. Wait for them to quiet down before petting them.
Now this is of utmost importance:
When they are barking, do not yell at them. It will only excite them and encourage them to bark some more. So now youre both yelling and annoying your neighbors.
Heres a way to teach them the quiet command:
- Tell them to bark .
- Quickly tell them quiet and hold a treat in front of them.
- Let them have the treat and give praises such as good dog.
Repeat until your German Shepherd mastered this trick. Try practicing it in other rooms of the apartment and outside as well.
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What To Know About German Shepherds Living In Apartments
As this popular German Shepherd owner forum highlights, there are lots of GSDs living with their human carers all over the world in apartment spaces.
Just as not all German Shepherds are the same, so too not all apartments are the same.
Some apartments are very dog-friendly while others are not. Some apartments even offer enclosed dog park areas where dog owners can take their pups for potty time and play. Others offer no such amenities.
Some apartments may be conveniently located next to large open spaces or large dog parks, and this can make playtime and exercise so easy and convenient. But other apartments may be located in densely populated areas where green space is hard to find.
As you are probably starting to suspect, the key to successfully living with a German Shepherd in a small space like an apartment is making sure your dog gets their activity needs to be met no matter what.
As long as you have the time and interest to take your dog for walks, have play sessions, and thoroughly tire your German Shepherd out each day, it really doesnt matter if the place you both come home to is enormous or tiny.
The Potty Training Basics
Before we get to the logistics of potty training your dog in a high-rise, lets review some of the basics of house training in general.
First, a good rule of thumb is that your puppy can hold their bladder for one hour for every month old they are. For example, if your puppy is 8 weeks old, they probably cant hold it for longer than 2 hours. When they hit 12 weeks, its around 3 hours. Puppies can usually hold their bladder for a little bit longer when theyre sleeping and will need to go very soon after eating or playing.
Its also important to supervise your puppy at all times to catch any accidents and keep them out of trouble until they get older. When youre home, use an x-pen or baby gate to keep your furry friend contained, but at night and when you have to leave the house for work or errands, consider crate training.
Crates are supposed to be spaces that keep your puppy cozy, so they shouldnt have a lot of extra room, but your pup should be able to stand up and turn around. When used properly, it becomes a safe place they enjoy being, so never use the crate as a punishment. Its okay to give your puppy breaks or time outs in there, just make it a positive experience and reward them for going in.
If you learn to watch carefully for their signs sniffing around more than usual, circling, suddenly running over to the corner or another room, etc. youll be able to catch your puppy before an accident happens.
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German Shepherd In An Apartment
Originally Posted By: dogsaverThe only GSD I can imagine being left alone in the house for 6-8 hrs at a time would be an older one who doesn t require much exercise but then again, will he be able to hold his bladder? Generally, I don t think GSDs should be in apartments or left alone for 6-8 hours.
Originally Posted By: dogsaverThe only GSD I can imagine being left alone in the house for 6-8 hrs at a time would be an older one who doesn t require much exercise but then again, will he be able to hold his bladder? Generally, I don t think GSDs should be in apartments or left alone for 6-8 hours.
Originally Posted By: DakariShedding may be an issue, but from what I understand if they are brushed daily they won’t leave as much hair around the house.
Originally Posted By: dogsaverThe only GSD I can imagine being left alone in the house for 6-8 hrs at a time would be an older one who doesn t require much exercise but then again, will he be able to hold his bladder? Generally, I don t think GSDs should be in apartments or left alone for 6-8 hours.
Originally Posted By: dogsaverThe only GSD I can imagine being left alone in the house for 6-8 hrs at a time would be an older one who doesn t require much exercise but then again, will he be able to hold his bladder? Generally, I don t think GSDs should be in apartments or left alone for 6-8 hours.