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What Age Do German Shepherds Calm Down

Why Do German Shepherds Jump On You

At What Age does A German Shepherd Become Aggressive? When do GSD’s Calm Down?

Excitement. The most probable reason for the jumping is that it is excited. When German Shepherds get excited it’s common for them to express their excitement by jumping up. They do it because they want to greet you at the face and because their mother would feed them from the face as puppies and they would jump up.

Weeks Old To 16 Weeks Old

At this point, training should be a regular part of your puppy’s day. Chances are, your puppy is still as energetic as ever! Young pups tend to have short attention spans. So, you’ll need to be patient.

Keep those training sessions short. However, remain vigilant and keep up with your methods.

You can consider this age range to be the teenage years. Puppies will start testing their boundaries a bit to see what they can get away with. For example, they might ignore commands or go into places they aren’t supposed to be in.

Puppies at this age are notorious for getting into trouble. Keep a watchful eye and start cracking down on those bad behaviors.

Another important thing to remember is that most puppies start teething at this age. Their first set of baby teeth will fall out. This makes their mouth very itchy and uncomfortable.

To get relief, puppies will chew on anything they can get their jaws around. Make sure you have some chew toys on hand to avoid damage to your furniture.

When Can German Shepherds Safely Start Competing In Sports Or Going Jogging

You can also simply involve your German Shepherd in your own athletic activities. If you lead an active lifestyle, your dog will enjoy accompanying you for sure.

However, here you need to keep in mind that, as a large dog breed, the German Shepherd dog can take longer to grow up and mature than a smaller dog breed will.

This means the growth plates in your dogs bones may still be open and generating new bone growth. It can take up to 14 months or longer for these plates to close permanently.

Choosing to spay/neuter or involve your dog in intense athletics too early in life can cause a lot of damage.

It is important to talk with your dogs veterinarian to determine when is the right time to allow your dog to go jogging, hiking, or even on long walks with you.

You will need to wait for a confirmation X-ray to know for sure that the growth plates are closed and it is safe to enroll your dog in vigorous sports or go on extended adventures with you.

My German Shepherd Has Separation Anxiety Will He Ever Be Calm

German Shepherds have a tendency to get separation anxiety at a young age. ;We do not yet know why this breed is prone to this disorder, but it can be remedied.

We picked up our pup when she was 8 weeks old. ;The first night, she squeeked and yipped all night, until she fell asleep. ;The first time we left the house as a family we came back to a blanket ripped to shreds.

Over the next few weeks, we learned how NOT to treat our German Shepherds separation anxiety:

  • Dont punish your dog. They have a problem, you are the solution. Also, they have no idea what you are punishing them for, only that you are being mean.
  • Another dog or companion animal will not help. Their anxiety stems from separation from you. So adding another pooch into the mix may cause more issues.
  • Crating your dog. This may seem logical to do, but it may intensify the behavior. ;Your dog may hurt themselves trying to escape. Then again, Houdini may just show up in your house and more things get torn up anyway.
  • Unless you have trained your dog to cue in on the TV or radio as a safety cue, leaving these on only uses electricity and will not help your dogs anxiety.
  • More obedience training. Again, this is a disorder your dog has and is not related to obedience.

The key to getting the separation anxiety under control is to desensitization of your dog to your arrival and departure.

Some things you can do to habituate your dog to your coming and going :

What do you do with a more severe separation anxiety case?

Final Words Of When Will My German Shepherd Calm Down

What age did your GSD calm down (I have 7 m old)

Hoping you have known when your German shepherd is most likely to calm down. Also, some factors will make your German shepherd puppy hyper. Check them keenly, and perhaps they are the reason your newly rescued dog cannot keep calm.

Lets hear from you; what are your thoughts on this topic? Do you have any additional information?

Your German Shepherd Is Bored And Wants Attention

I cant stress how important it is for your German shepherd to get enough exercise and playtime to wear him out. If hes left to his own devices, with no one to play with, he will get bored, and a bored dog, especially an untrained and young one, will act out, and seek attention.

How? The usual waybarking, whining, zoomies, prancing, jumping and in general, being hyper-active albeit in different ways.

How Do You Calm Down A Hyper German Shepherd

You can calm down a hyper German Shepherd through physical exercise and mental stimulation. This could be in the form of short walks and play sessions. Other ways to calm them down include giving them a chew bone or puzzle toys.

Sometimes dog owners fall victim to misinterpreting a dogs behavior.

What they assume as a sign of happiness is actually hyperactivity. Thus, they end up rewarding and reinforcing unwanted behaviors.

Did you know that being hyper could lead to aggressive behavior?

More importantly:

At What Age Does A German Shepherd Dog Start Guarding

Most guard dogs, including German Shepherds, will start guarding at around 6 months of age. This is the age when they are becoming more independent, aware of their surroundings, and able to differentiate between threatening and non-threatening people or animals.

This desire to guard may stem from the fact that the earliest German Shepherds were bred to herd and protect livestock from predators. Generations after generations, this trait has been passed down, making them a very prominent guard dog.

A German Shepherds guarding instinct doesnt mean that it will always be hostile towards strangers. Depending on how socialized the German Shepherd dog puppy is, the training theyre received, and the way they were raised, your German Shepherd may just bark to warn you of a strangers presence rather than become hostile.

However, it is important that you teach your young puppy not to bite or attack strangers; otherwise, you could be facing legal issues and/or a dangerous situation on your hands.

Reasons For The Aggressive Behavior In Gsds

At What Age Will Your German Shepherd First Get Aggressive

As mentioned above, there are many causes of aggressive behavior in German Shepherds. This aggression can begin at six weeks of age. It is important for your puppy to socialize with other dogs and to receive proper training to prevent him from biting other people.

You should socialize your dog until he is 14 weeks old so that he can be friendly with other people. The aggression of a German Shepherd can be triggered by many factors such as genetics and heredity. Dogs that have not been spayed or neutered are more prone to aggressive behaviors.

Sometimes the aggression can begin with the need to create hierarchical order. Growling, biting, fighting, and posing are German Shepherd proficiency test results with other dogs.

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.

When Do German Shepherd Puppies Start Become Energetic

Your german shepherd is likely to become energetic at 3 months old. This is when theyre going to want to explore the world. Unfortunately, theyre also likely to stay energetic until theyre about 3 years old.

Between 6 months 3 years old your german shepherd is going to be the equivalent of a human teenager. Theyre going to be unruly and try to do whatever they want, whenever they want.

However, you can help calm your german shepherd down by using an effective training program. And while at three years old theyre still going to be energetic, you should notice that theyre energy levels taper off a little bit.

What Is The Best Age To Neuter A German Shepherd

The best age to neuter a male German shepherd is when they are done with their growing phase. Such phase in big dogs like the German shepherds occurs between 18-24 months. There are various health issues associated with neutering a German shepherd before this age.

According to a study done and published in 2016 in the journal veterinary medicine science, German shepherds neutered before the age of 1 year were reported to have high CCL injury or rapture incidences compared to dogs fixed past this age.

This retrospective study was done to evaluate the long-term effects of spaying and neutering a German shepherd.

What are the other risks involved with neutering a German shepherd before this age

Health Benefits Of Neutering:

Can A German Shepherd Be Left Alone? Our Ultimate Guide

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 If I Want To Breed My German Shepherd Before I Neuter Him

Its not a good idea to casually undertake to breed your dog. You may think hes wonderful and there should be more like him, but thats usually not a good idea unless you know what youre doing.

Dog breeding should only be undertaken by people who know what theyre getting into. Theres a lot more to it than just putting two dogs together and welcoming a batch of puppies 63 days later.

When you breed your dog, youre contributing to the millions of unwanted pets that fill the shelters at any given moment.

Your dog shouldnt be bred before you neuter him, either. You may be teaching him to desire breeding even after hes neutered because hes learned that he likes it, contributing to his problem behavior.

Without a clear understanding of the potential genetic problems of any puppies your dog might produce, such as hip dysplasia or spinal degeneration, you may end up helping to create puppies that carry on these negative traits instead of helping to breed these traits out.

You also need to have a solid grasp of what your dogs ancestry is, what the strong points versus weaknesses in his background are, and whether or not hes likely to pass those down to his progeny.

What Are Some Benefits Of Neutering My German Shepherd

One of the biggest benefits to neutering your german shepherd is that he will lose the drive to seek out a mate. Instead, hell stay home. He wont be digging, climbing, crawling, or sneaking out of your yard to fulfill his drive to breed.

This means your dog wont be at high risk for the dangers that the world at large may hold for him.

Hell stay home, safe from fighting with other dogs, safe from cars that can easily kill him, and safe from people who might throw things at him or even shoot him with BBs, shotgun pellets, or bullets.

Your german shepherd also wont howl or whine if a neighbors female is in heat, something that can sometimes happen even if the female lives some distance away.

A neutered male wont focus solely on his awareness of a receptive female and lose touch with everything else in his life until her cycle has passed. He will be calmer in general and easier to live with.

Neutering means that your dog wont be contributing to the problem of pet overpopulation.

According to the ASPCA, millions of animals are euthanized in the United States each year because there arent enough homes for them. Neutering helps to cut down on these numbers.

Why Are German Shepherd Puppies So Energetic

To really figure out why german shepherd puppies are so energetic it helps to understand how theyve been bred!

Theyre Natural Herders

German shepherds have been bred to be herders. Just think about how much energy it would take your pup to herd a whole group of animals effectively. Theyd need tons of energy otherwise theyd pass out!

So its no wonder theyre constantly running around. Theyre full of energy, but in a lot of cases spend most of their day not doing much.

And if they dont have anything to herd, then theyll probably end up trying to herd you. In fact, this is one of the reasons its so common for a german shepherd puppy to bite your ankles!

Theyre trying to get you where they want you to go. And theyre doing this because theyre bored and full of energy.

Theyre Guard Dogs

As well as being natural herders, theyre also guard dogs as well. Being a guard dog is a natural part of being a herder. They need to make sure the herd is staying safe, not running off or being attacked.

However, without a herd, you and your family are very likely to become the thing they feel the need to protect. This is also part of the reason they may bark at strangers that try to approach you!

And, of course, to guard effectively theyre going to need to stay alert all the time!

The Way Theyre Built

When you have a german shepherd you need to make sure theyre getting enough stimulation every day. Both mentally and physically!

Great Jobs For Energetic German Shepherd Dogs To Do

Calm your German Shepherd with GSM & Rachel

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.

Schutzhund training .

Obedience, Rally, and show dog competitions.

When Your German Shepherd Wont Stay Calm Because Of Health Issues

There may be times when all the training, behavioral reconditioning or teething aids in the world do not seem to successfully resolve your German Shepherds over-activity.

This is always the right time to consider whether there may be a medical health issue at the root of your dogs behavior.

As the Mid-Atlantic German Shepherd Rescue organization points out, German Shepherds can develop any number of health conditions that may cause your dog to become over-active.

Often, as with teething problems, your dogs discomfort is at the root of hyperactive or destructive behavior patterns.

This is always the right time to take your dog to the veterinarian for a health checkup. In fact, sometimes it makes sense to do this first before you look at possible behavioral or boredom issues.

This way, you can at least rule out any underlying health issues that may be triggering inappropriate or destructive behaviors in your dog.

Here are examples of health conditions MAGSR gives that are known to plague German Shepherds that may cause your dog to act out:

Are German Shepherds Good With Kids

German shepherds are generally known to be good around children of all ages, due to them being so calm and patient. However, a GSD that has not been socialized properly from an early age could be a threat to children. Additionally, larger dogs and toddlers may not always mix too well.

As cuddly as a teddy bear to those that care for them and cold as ice to those that don’t, German shepherds love friends, fun and food. They’re not too fond of lazy days, and they definitely don’t like knocks on the door. But they’re eager to please and even more eager to see what’s hiding in the bushes.

How To Train A German Shepherd For Aggression Control

Make sure you train your German Shepherd from an early age. Older German Shepherds can still be strongly trained, but it takes more time and effort to first untrain them of any unwanted habits already acquired.

  • Your German Shepherd must recognize that you are the alpha dog . Make sure youre acting like an alpha from the very first day that he joins your household. If you dont, then you may experience resistance at first when trying to assume that role.
  • First, wear a protective bite sleeve that covers your arms. This will keep you from bite injuries.
  • Never use humiliation, hitting, abuse, or rough corrections when dealing with aggressive behavior.;
  • Teach your GSD the word attack. Tell him to sit then tap his face using the glove on your arm. This will annoy your GSD and he will attack the glove. As soon as he attacks, say the word attack. Reward him by giving him treats.
  • Repeat this process until he understands the word attack. If he attacks your gloved arms when you say attack, it means he already knows the command.
  • Always reward good behavior during training. This is called positive reinforcement training and recognizes that most dogs especially intelligent ones like German Shepherds respond very well to encouragement and rewards. Harsh corrections such as loud angry voices, hitting or humiliation results in the dog switching off and not being able to learn.
  • Final Words

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