Preparing For The Newborn
The most effective way to deal with jealousy issues is by addressing it before it develops. For a German Shepherd, this means establishing daily routines, setting limits, and getting into the right emotional space for the dog to tap into.;
Here is what you can do:
- Set up the house a few weeks before the baby comes so that the dog gets used to the new layout of things and new sights such as the crib, baby toys, etc.
- Since newborns tend to cry a lot, you can get a crying doll. This way, your pet isnt distressed when they first encounter it.
- Your German Shepherd should be up to speed with basic commands such as stay, leave, sit, come, drop it, and so forth. It helps especially when their toys start getting mixed up.
- Consult a behavioral specialist: Since the dog is part of the family, the ideal situation here is to make the transition smooth and effortless. This specialist is familiar with how dogs react, they can give you tips on adjusting.
- Setting clear limits and boundaries: German Shepherds are very obedient and highly trainable. Set no-go zones, like the nursery and other places. They will most likely obey.
- Let them get used to the scent: Make sure your dog becomes familiar with the babys scent before you bring your child home. You can do this by using a piece of clothing or a burp cloth.
Do German Shepherd Ears Stand Up On Their Own Or Do They Have To Be Cut Or Taped To Make Them Stand Up
Ah, you’re thinking about cropping, a surgical procedure to make the ears stand up. That’s done with Doberman Pinschers, but not with German Shepherds. A Shepherd puppy’s ears prick up naturally they’re never cropped.
German Shepherd puppy with perfectly normal ears at this age. If the pup inherited normal genes, the other ear should come up shortly.
But German Shepherd puppies aren’t born with pricked ears. In some pups, the ears start to prick up at 6 or 8 weeks old, while others don’t start until 12 or 14 weeks old.
Often the ears don’t go up smoothly. In other words, they don’t suddenly pop straight up. Typically one ear will go up halfway, and stay like that for a few days. Then the other ear may start to prick while the first ear straightens all the way up. A few days later, just as the second ear straightens up, the first one suddenly flops back down.
This can be a trying time for new owners who worry that their pup’s ears will never stand properly. Rest assured, it’s normal for German Shepherd puppy ears to go up and down for a month or two, especially during the teething period.
Unfortunately, some puppies do inherit poor genes for ear strength and often those ears will never come all the way up. They’re called “soft ears.” Sometimes taping a weak ear can help it stand erect, but often not.
I had a German Shepherd with one soft ear. It flopped sideways on top of his head, while the other ear stood up beautifully. Of course I loved him dearly anyway!
How Can I Teach My Kids To Be Gentle With The Dog
If your kids are old enough to understand boundaries with the dog, then its important to start showing them the right way to pet them. Weve all seen the pictures and videos on the internet of babies and small children lying on top of the dog, riding the dog, or pulling their ears or tails. The general opinion is, Wow, what a good dog! This is wrong on many levels.;
The dog may be good in that hes not openly hostile to this behavior, but that doesnt mean he should endure it. Consider if your child was exhibiting this behavior to another child at the park. Pulling their hair, lying on top of them, slapping them, or taunting them. Youd put a stop to that immediately. With the dog, he cant tell you he doesnt like this. Sometimes there are signs that maybe the dog would prefer this to not be happening.;
Pay attention to very wide eyes, ears that are back and flat to the head, and an attempt to leave the situation. If these signs are shown and ignored, the next way the dog will attempt to stop this from happening is to growl. This will eventually lead to a bite. People are very quick to cart their aggressive dogs off to the shelter because they growled at the child, but what was the child doing before the growl? A dog is not a creature that has to endure anything your child wants to do to him. Hes a part of the family, and as such, he should be treated like one.;
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The Importance Of Socializing Your German Shepherd
For you to truly have a German Shepherd that is well-adjusted, calm, good with people and other animals, and able to be around kids, proper socialization is a must. Socializing means introducing your dog to new people, places, things, and experiences.;
This socialization needs to happen as early as possible while the dog is still young. If your dog safely enters into new situations with you and knows from a young age that it will always be okay, youll have a dog with a great temperament who trusts you to keep him safe. Showing your dog the world and making new experiences a regular part of his life will also help him gain confidence.;
When dogs act shy or aggressive, its usually out of fear. Improper socialization creates scared and insecure dogs who hide behind aggression as a way to keep themselves safe. They dont know the world doesnt have to be a scary place.;
How To Introduce Our German Shepherd Puppy To Our Infant
Bringing a baby home from the hospital is an exciting time. Not just for you, but for your German Shepherd puppy as well. For most new parents, though, the thought of that initial introduction is a bit nerve-wrecking.
Most parents arent exactly sure how to facilitate the first meeting, what they can do to prepare, and what steps they can take to ensure long-term success.
Heres the good news: Preparing your German Shepherd for family introductions isnt complicated. A few quick steps like introducing your puppy to baby noises and new smells can help make your puppys first time meeting your baby a success. Weve highlighted some tips you can use for introducing your German Shepherd puppy to a newborn.
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German Shepherd Temperament Are German Shepherds Nice And Safe
The GSD is the second most popular domestic dog breed among dog owners in the US.
German Shepherds are were bred for their obedient fidelity to their master;and other;family;members.;
They tend to be very loving and protective towards the people they spend the most time with, especially kids, babies and young children who they are quick to befriend.
They are naturally;wary around;unfamiliar humans and animals.
It is important to note that whilst the above is the natural tendency of the GSD breed, there are several factors that an owner has a direct influence on that play a part in ensuring their dog develops and maintains a good temperament, particularly in a family environment.
Responsible breeding is also a big factor that can determine the temperament of your dog.
Make sure you find a good breeder, or adopt a sociable and loving dog not a dog with an unstable attitude or temperament that can be unpredictable around other animals and people.
In addition to the quality of the breeding of a dog, how they are raised and their environment, in addition to the individual personality of the dog can play a role in the temperament of a dog.
How To Know If A Gsd Is Jealous
Certain signs can indicate if your dog is jealous:
- A common sign of jealousy is that your dog tries to prevent someone from reaching to you by blocking him/her with his body.
- A jealous dog can also limit the movements of other pets to stop them from getting to you. But, it should be noted that GSDs are naturally a herding breed, so sometimes this behavior can be normal.
- Aggressiveness and possessiveness can also be the signs of jealousy. If your dog acts aggressively when some other pet or person reaches to you, then it can be due to jealousy.
- A jealous dog can also try to hold you back from your partner.
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Introducing Your Dog And Your Baby
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Introducing your dog and your baby is a very important process in socializing your pet to your new family member. In this article we’ll try and give you several tips on exactly what to do to make this a pleasurable meeting for all involved.
You’ve just had your baby and are probably concerned about how your dog is going to react to the new addition. That’s to be expected. Introducing your German Shepherd to your new baby is an important process that needs to be done carefully!
You want your dog to act appropriately around the baby when he/she comes home so lets break it down into 2 basic steps preparing your dog for the infants arrival and introducing your dog to your infant.
What To Do When Bringing Home A German Shepherd
Its not all about questioning if German Shepherds are good with babies. Its also about how well you set the grounds for the arrival of the dog or the baby.
If youre not sure what to do when bringing home a German Shepherd, weve got you covered.
- Ensure the dog is well socialized
Before you think of introducing a baby to a German Shepherd, you should make sure that the dog has exceptional social qualities.
Your baby shouldnt be the first to which youll introduce the dog. The dog should also understand that babies are not attackers, and theyre indeed a superior part of the pack.
If your dog has any potentially dangerous behavior, there is no better time to eliminate it; your babys safety should always come first.
- Introduce the baby properly.
You dont just keep a baby somewhere around the house and let the dog guess if its a friend or an intruder; that can be too disastrous.
Dogs have a great sense of smell, so theyd know immediately there is a new baby. You should introduce the baby as early as they notice to avoid disastrous guesses.
You should try to exercise your dog to fatigue before it meets the baby, as this will reduce aggressive tendencies. Also, you should restrict the dog from getting too near the baby until it learns how to interact with toddlers.
You can use dolls to train your dog on interacting with your baby. If its response is satisfactory, you shouldnt worry about having your German Shepherd dog around your sweet baby.
- Pay attention to the dog.
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Establish Yourself As An Assertive And Calm Leader
Since this dog breed is very strong-willed and a natural alpha, it takes a strong-willed and calm leader to establish the dominance order of your home. You have to make your dog understand that youre in charge, you set the rules, you set the boundaries, and your dog has to listen to you.
Never use negative or forceful behavior when youre correcting your dogs behavior because this can make them fearful. Correcting your dog in a;patient and calm way;can help to quickly earn your dogs attention, loyalty, and respect, and this can help your dog bond with your family as a whole unit.
Introducing Your German Shepherd To Your Baby
Your baby just arrived, and despite all the preparation, you are still concerned about your dogs reaction. That is normal. Introducing your German Shepherd to your baby is essential and should be done with care.;
German Shepherd, like other big dogs, have a pack mentality. They know who is in charge, and that person should be obeyed at all times. However, they will, from time to time, look to challenge your authority and see what happens.;
Once you have established that you are the alpha, you can proceed with the introduction. To make sure everything works out well, you may follow these steps:
- Before the newborn baby gets home, drain most of your dogs energy by going for a walk or playing.
- The baby can be brought into the house when you are out with the dog.
- When you come back home, make sure that the German Shepherd is in a calm and submissive state before you enter.
- Its also important not to get the dog too excited. The person holding the baby should be familiar with the pet, and they too must be calm and relaxed.
- From a safe distance, allow the dog to sniff and identify the babys scent.
- As time goes by, give your pet a chance to get closer to the baby. This bond will eventually enable the dog to acknowledge the baby is also a new master.
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German Shepherd Temperament & Personality
Another slight drawback is that German Shepherds have a longer-than-normal puppyhood. It usually ranges until around three years. In this time, theyre still adjusting to their size and coming to grasp spatial-awareness.;
There is always the risk that when a puppy German Shepherdlarge and powerfulplays with a youngster, they can accidentally hurt them from being too physical. This dont know my own strength phenomenon is an issue for all big dog breeds, and it needs to be addressed if young children are in the household.
The reality, however, is that while a German Shepherd should be supervised when in the presence of children outside the family, within the family, there is genuinely no better friend to your kids.
More so, their competence and energy level are a fantastic pairing when raised alongside children. As they age, they have the size and stamina to join the family on adventures, remain active with the children, and learn all sorts of skills if you do, please. You need to be careful when your German Shepherd is happy with the aggressive mood with the newborn baby.;
When dog and childrens compatibility is in question, its often easy to forget that outside of behavioral issues, what sort of experience is this canine going to allow the youngsters? A purebred German Shepherd offers a broader range of activities than typical breeds.
So Are German Shepherds Good With Kids
The answer to the question of whether a German Shepherd is good with kids is a simple yes, just as long as you understand the nature and temperament of the dog that you are bringing into your home. You must provide your GSD with a home that allows them to thrive in order to expect a safe and productive relationship between children and your dog.
German Shepherds have an array of qualities that make them so wonderful, such as loyalty and protectiveness, but these same qualities can cause problems if they are not approached correctly.
To help you better understand your Shepherd, lets now take a closer look at their specific qualities.;
When it comes to a specific breed being safe around children, its important to remember that each dog is a product of their environment. While each German Shepherd offers a number of qualities that would make them a wonderful addition to any family, these same qualities can be dangerous when they are not in a home that allows them to thrive.;
The German Shepherd can be a loyal and trustworthy protector for the children in your home as long as you understand what it takes to help your German Shepherd become the best version of themselves. Since this is such a wonderful canine to begin with, it really does not take much once you correctly offer your GSD the love they seek.;
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What About Mals And Other Family Pets
The Belgian Malinois is formally classified by the American Kennel Club as a herding dog breed.
Herding dog breeds retain a strong instinctive drive to herd anyone they regard as being under their protection, including you, your children, and other family dogs.
Belgian Malinois may nip at, nudge, lean on, bark at and use other communication cues to try to herd you, your kids, and any animals large enough to hold their own.
But where it comes to other family pets such as birds, small mammals or even cats, the instinct that is most likely to be activated in a Malinois is the prey drive and chase instinct.
There is a very strong risk that other family pets can be injured or killed by a Malinois that is just being who they were bred to be. For this reason, it is not advisable to add a Belgian Malinois to households with vulnerable pets.
Tips On Training A German Shepherd For A Baby
While having a German Shepherd is a great idea as they would be a great addition to your home it is important to make sure they are properly trained.
Although German Shepherds are great dogs to have around your kids, a German Shepherd that has not been trained on handling children can be considered a potential threat for your kids. Here are a few training tips to consider when training your German Shepherd for your baby:
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