Theyre Not Ideal For First
German shepherds can be a handful. They require consistent training and a level of experience that makes them a poor choice for first-time dog owners. If you do choose to adopt a GSD for your first dog, make sure you work with an experienced trainer so that your GSD does not develop any potentially dangerous or destructive habits.
Carry Your Stuff Command
Even though this job is called Carry Your Stuff, meaning that youll be teaching your dog to pick up their own items off the floor, you could also use it when you need your German Shepherd to help carry some of your items, such as things from the grocery store.
This task is pretty simple to teach, although we will say that you should only make sure that you tell your German Shepherd to pick up stuff that wont be too heavy, and will be small enough to pick up in their mouth.
Alternatively, you could even give your German Shepherd a little bag to carry in his mouth that you could fill with toys or something similar, and then ask your dog to carry it for you.
Even though this job sounds pretty mundane, as a working dog, this will no doubt be extremely rewarding to your German Shepherd, especially if you make sure to give your dog lots of cuddles and praise after he has performed it.
Just like the Close The Door task, youre going to need to make sure that your German Shepherd is already familiar with target training.
Carry Your Stuff Instructions:
To teach your German Shepherd this task, all you will need to do is place a target on the object or bag you are going to be training him with and then repeat the command Carry your stuff every time he picks the item up in his mouth.
In addition to speaking the command, make sure that you are giving your German Shepherd a treat after performing the job correctly, and keep repeating until the command has been learned.
German Shepherds Are Members Of The Herding Group
So, if you own this breed, youre no stranger to a nose nudging you. Whether its a nose in the back, a nose on your leg, or even a nose in your face, your dog is just doing what comes naturally. Although this breed isnt often used to herd anymore, that herding heritage remains. So, along with the herding traits of independent thinking and intelligence, its perfectly normal for your GSD to herd human family members. Your dog might also show following ahead behavior walking in front of you while looking back to ensure youre walking in the right direction.
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What Do German Shepherds Do Now
Though you can still find German Shepherds herding sheep around the world, their resume has quickly expanded to include quite a few other jobs. With their exceptional intelligence and athletic builds, they can fill all kinds of rolls.
Below is a quick list of the top jobs that German Shepherds have nowadays. However, most of the GSDs are simply family companions today.
Their Size And Body Was Not Designed By Accident
German Shepherds, on average, weigh between 75 to 95 Ibs. Males generally stand at 25 inches tall and females at a slightly smaller average height of 23 inches. German Shepherds are longer than they are tall, enabling them to take long strides. Consequently, German Shepherds will trott to their destination, rather than take their time getting there. The hindquarters are well developed and muscled, enabling German Shepherds to travel distances quickly and the ability to jump incredible heights. German Shepherds used by law enforcement swat teams are often trained to leap into attics and other high areas where suspects might be hiding, sometimes by using a swat officers shield as a launch point. They are also capable of scaling walls and leaping over fences.
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Everything You Need To Know About German Shepherd
German Shepherds are devoted, loyal, hardworking dogs. They make excellent members of a family and can be trained as personal protection dogs.
If youre thinking about adding a German Shepherd to your family, its important to know about this dedicated breed. If youre not prepared, inviting this k9 into your life might be more than you can handle.
To ensure that doesnt happen, heres a breakdown of everything you need to know about German Shepherds.
Contents
Wolf Vs German Shepherd Size
German Shepherds are known to be big dogs, but the largest of them is like the weight and size of the smallest wolf. On average, the height of wolves ranges from 26 inches to 32 inches while German Shepherds range from 22 inches to 26 inches.
The weight of a small female wolf is around 51 pounds and a big male wolf weighs around 180 pounds. Like dogs, male wolves grow longer, heavier, and taller than females. On the other hand, according to our German Shepherd size chart, they weigh between 49 pounds and 88 pounds.
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Carry Your Stuff Activity
Your German Shepherd is the perfect candidate to follow you around and carry your things for you.
Its a simple enough task to teach as long as the things arent heavy and your dog has convenient handles to put in their mouth.
You could even have a special bag you place items in as you walk around your house and let your dog carry for you. This simple task of carrying things is hugely satisfying to a working breed dog driven to do a job for their owners.
How about training your dog to carry in the grocery bags from the car for you?
Or what about getting them to help carry your newspaper or mail inside?
How about strapping a doggie backpack to them and letting him carry his own treats and water on your next walk?
Did you know that adding an easy to put onadventure backpack like this on daily walks can provide your German Shepherd a job and activity that may help manage their bad behavior?
Not only does this give your GSD a job to do, but the slight extra weight, as long as its not too heavy, will help tire him out.
But dont add weight to a puppy, as this might harm their joints!
Safety Notes For Gsds Left Alone
We like to believe that our dogs are smart enough to stay safe and make good decisions while were not around.
Unfortunately, accidents can happen to even the smartest and most well-behaved German Shepherds. For that reason, its imperative that you consider safety issues while youre away from home.
- Take a quick look around your house before you leave.
- Are the outlets covered?
- Have you tied up all strings from blinds and curtains?
- Are your dogs toys in good condition, with no loose or potentially broken parts?
- Are all the windows and doors shut tight and locked?
Heavy chewers may enjoy a good chew toy while youre gone, but there is a small chance of choking. Puppies and older dogs are more prone to this, but all dogs run a risk of choking.
For this reason, you may want to leave chew toys out of reach while youre gone. Good alternatives include sturdy treat-dispensing toys.
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Do German Shepherds Like Having Jobs
Maybe youre thinking
But these jobs look like games.
I didnt want games! I wanted an actual job for my German Shepherd!
Well, isnt work supposed to be fun for you and your dog?
And
What did you expect your German Shepherd to do?
Cook your breakfast? Drive the kids to school?
Write out your grocery list? Tell you who to vote for?
Hes a dog thats now living in a world far removed from his original job. So, you make adjustments and give activities that suit his more modern lifestyle.
These jobs are supposed to be games that encourage him to work for his rewards and entice him to use his mind and body in a different way.
White Swiss Shepherd Dog
The White Swiss Shepherd Dog is a variety of the German Shepherd bred in Switzerland. It descends from the American White Shepherds the first stud dog of what became the breed was an American dog born in 1966 and imported to Switzerland. The variety was recognised by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale as a separate breed in 2003, and it is now recognised by a number of national kennel clubs.
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Juvenile Period 3 Months 6 Months
Between months 3 and 6, the puppies go through the juvenile period. The baby phase will have come to an end. They should be able to eat easily, interact with others, and should be on the brink of being housebroken. They will continue to grow steadily and are ready to be trained.
They will begin to lose their milk teeth during this period as well, so keep an eye out for the risk of chewing items that you might not approve of. Having dog-approved chew toys on hand can help both the puppies and the owners get through the teething phase without frustration.
Do Male German Shepherds Go Into Heat
It is a common misconception that male dogs also go into heat. While its simply untrue, it does make a bit of sense why someone might think they do. Heres why.
Because male German Shepherds are sexually active year-round , they are highly attuned to any in-season females in the vicinity.
When they sense a female in heat, they will begin to act strangely, becoming aggravated, agitated, and may even develop aggression.
Theyre trying to get to the female to fulfill their natural-born dutyto impregnate the female.
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What If The Dogs Heat Cycle Isnt Regular
Irregularities in a dogs heat cycle are much more normal than irregularities in a humans menstrual cycle. Mother Nature works in weird ways.
Sure, you can write down the day she begins her heat cycle and the day you think it has ended all you like, but this wont determine how long it will take for her next cycle to arrive. Especially as German Shepherds are such large dogs, the time between cycles is mostly unpredictable.
As dogs cant vocalize when they are going into heat, you must look out for the warning signs instead. Some dogs might have a streak of cycles over a couple of years that are very regular, like clockwork. Others will go into heat randomly.
Its important to note that if your German Shepherd has a litter, this will also affect the regularity of her future heat cycles. Theres no point doing anything by the book you kind of just have to go with the flow.
Generally speaking, your dog will develop some sort of regularity with her heat cycles when she is around 4 or 5 years old. Dont hold us to that, as each dog is different!
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They Require More Training
German Shepherds with proper training already have issues with barking, but take a dog that isnt trained or socialized, and the problem only becomes worse. These dogs are strong-willed. It takes someone who knows what they are doing to teach them the difference between right and wrong behavior. Ongoing training and socialization are essential to keeping their barks to a minimum.
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Best Dog Brush For German Shepherds 2021
Posted: German Shepherd Grooming Best Brush For A German Shepherd Finding a dog grooming brush for a German Shepherd can be quite exhausting as there are so many choices available on the market. The different styles and different names can be confusing but when choosing your German Shepherd brush your first consideration should be what type of coat …
Work Sports And Activities
Posted: The German Shepherd Dog is ideal for active homes and working homes, and thrives in an environment where one appreciates the history and purpose of the breed. The German Shepherd does make a phenomenal family companion, but as a working breed they thrive when they are active and given some sort of job to do.
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German Shepherds As Service Dogs
Following the first World War, German Shepherds saw their first stint as service dogs. Specifically, they began being trained as seeing-eye dogs for war veterans.
They quickly picked up on the training and proved themselves to be excellent at the job. However, with the unpopularity of anything German at that period it took some time for their popularity to spread.
But once it did, they took off. Now, German Shepherds are one of the best options for service dogs of all kinds, ranging from therapy animals to seeing-eye dogs.
German Shepherd Dogs Are Known For Their Versatility
If you need any job done, just ask your dog. GSD owners understand their dogs were developed as working dogs. In fact, the ideal German Shepherd has a body and gait suited to the hard work that is considered its primary purpose. This means your dog can excel at almost anything. From dog sports like rally, agility, scent work, therapy work, to service dog work, German Shepherds can do it all. The only thing holding your dog back is the time and energy you can commit to training. Its no wonder people always think your dog is a service or police dog.
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Hire A Friend For Your Dog
If you can afford it, you may wish to hire a dog walker to be your dogs friend once or twice a day while youre gone.
Even if they stay for just a few minutes, that small bit of human contact may be just what your dog needs to stay happy and entertained until you get back.
The key to using a friend for hire or a dog walker is to make sure you introduce your pooch in advance.
There is nothing quite as upsetting to a German Shepherd as a stranger coming into his house.
Why Is It A Good Idea To Give Your German Shepherd Jobs To Do
If youre currently asking yourself this question, then rest assured that youre not alone.
As were sure youre already familiar with, German Shepherds have a lot of energy, and this mainly comes down to the fact that they were bred to be working dogs, herding flocks on farms.
Fast forward to the modern-day, and even though there might not be such a high demand for herding and guarding flocks, the German Shepherd breed is still characterized by their intelligence and high levels of energy which is why theyre so commonly used as service dogs, police dogs and, of course, as household pets.
So, seeing as German Shepherds have plenty of energy and are one of the most intelligent breeds of dog, it means that they require both mental and physical stimulation daily, otherwise they may begin to become naughty and bored due to their pent-up boredom and frustration.
Besides getting a physical workout every day from exercise and lots of playtime with their owners and other dog friends, its also a good idea to introduce the addition of jobs into a German Shepherds routine, as these simple yet engaging activities will help to give them a mental workout, too.
Not only will this have a positive impact on their overall well-being, but it will also help to improve their behavior.
Besides all of that, whether alone, with their owners, or spending time with other dogs at the park, German Shepherds absolutely love to play.
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Things You Should Know About The German Shepherd
Posted: Jun 17, 2019 · Watching your German Shepherds weight by avoiding overfeeding will also assist in keeping your German Shepherd healthier, especially in their adult years. Our article on the best foods for German Shepherds provides further information and details about specific diet concerns and recommendations.
You Cant Have Just One
Adopting a German shepherd might seem like a harmless decision. What you might not realize is that German shepherds are like potato chips. You cant have just one. You might find yourself owning German shepherds the rest of your life, which really means youve been adopted into the German shepherd family not the other way around.
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They Require Mental Stimulation
Long walks might tire out other breeds, but not the German shepherd. In addition to daily exercise, your new German shepherd will also require some mental stimulation. Obedience classes and dog sports can be especially helpful for rescue shepherds. Classes and training give you a bonding experience that builds trust and helps your dog figure out their place in your household, and it can help you diagnose any behavior problems early on.
What Jobs Can I Give My German Shepherd
Here are twenty-five jobs that you can do with your German Shepherd. Keep in mind that some of these may require training beforehand, so dont give up if it seems like its hard at first! Also, make sure to consult your dogs trainer or behaviorist if they seem stressed while doing any of these tasks.
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