What To Do With German Shepherd While At Work

Going On Scavenger Hunts

Scavenger hunts are similar to hide-and-seek, but involve things rather than people. Training them to play this game works best if you start with one of their favorite toys.

Place the toy somewhere in plain sight, hold your hand out, and command your GSD to find. When they take the toy to you, reward them with praises and treats. If theyre play-driven, you can throw the toy across the room for a quick game of fetch.

Repeat the same steps but try going further and further away from your dogs starting point. When youre confident in their understanding of the find command, you can make the task increasingly difficult by using some obstacles or hiding it in another room.

Make sure you reward them generously whenever theyre successful. At first, your dog might lose their way or become distracted. But as you keep practicing, their focus and scenting abilities sharpen and they become better and better at it.

Eventually, you can try this with other toys to transfer the command to anything you might want to use during your scavenger hunt.

Why Should You Keep Puppies With Mothers For Longer

German Shepherds have an instinct to bite as puppies. The easiest way to discourage them is to keep them with their litter until they are eight to twelve weeks old. This allows puppies to be on the receiving end of their littermates and to understand that it is painful. In turn, this reduces the chance of the puppies biting humans.

Signs Of Separation Anxiety Common In German Shepherds

Some of the behaviors of active dogs can lead to accidents to the dog itself, and the people around it. The separation anxiety can be triggered by the dog seeing signs that the owner is leaving.

Depending on how severe the anxiety is, your German Shepherd will most likely present the following symptoms:

• Howling is arguably the most common sign of separation anxiety in German Shepherds. Giving treats and toys to chew on during its alone time can go a long way in resolving the issue.
• Excessive barking and/or whining, especially when the dog notices signs that you are about to leave, is another symptom of separation anxiety. Remember not to show them too much affection at these moments as it only makes matters worse.
• Frequent accidents and misbehavior despite being trained.
• Excessive licking.
• German Shepherds do not drool that often, so if you notice your dog is drooling a little more often than usual, its probably going through separation anxiety.
• Attempting to escape from home, especially after your departure, is one of the most common signs that your dog is experiencing separation anxiety.
• Some German Shepherds exhibit separation anxiety by biting their paws often.
• Frequent change of position or pacing can also show signs of separation in a German Shepherd.

The German Shepherd is famous for being one of the most loyal dog breeds. This, however, comes at a price since the dogs could get sensitive and emotional about being left behind.

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How Can You Reduce Resource Guarding

German Shepherds may also become aggressive due to resource guarding where they are extra sensitive about their food, toys, and other belongings. The first thing to do is to make sure your dog is confident that their resources will remain their own.

This can involve feeding your dog on a regular schedule. If there are other dogs or animals in the house, let your dog eat in a separate room so that they dont feel threatened. After this, you need to focus on desensitizing your dog to peoples presence around their resources.

Address the resource guarding the moment you notice it. The sooner you do this, the easier it will be to get your dog back on track.

These are some tips to follow to keep yourself safe in the event of a German Shepherd attack. There are also steps you can take to discourage aggressive behavior in your dog in the first place, reducing the risk of an attack.

German Shepherds Are Strong And Active

Originally developed as a herding dog, the German Shepherd Dogs are bred to work for and with humans. German Shepherds are herding dogs that require plenty of physical and mental exercises every day.

They need to be out and about to have long walks plus a variety of fun activities for stimulations.

For adult German Shepherds, the American Kennel Club recommends at least two hours of exercise daily. That being said, you and your family should be prepared to be active with your GSD.

If you love exploring different places, enjoy jogging, running, biking, hiking, camping and the likes, a German Shepherd will be your ideal companion.

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Experience Level For Owning A Black German Shepherd

We only recommend these dogs for experienced dog owners. Preferably, you should have owned at least one dog before. It is recommended that you have some experience with more active dogs, as well. A Shih Tzu isnt going to do much to prepare you for a German Shepherd.

These dogs are quite active and tend to be high-energy. Without the appropriate amount of exercise, they can easily become destructive. In fact, most of the destructive behavior associated with a German Shepherd is due to a lack of stimulation.

German Shepherds require extensive training as well, so it is best if they have a handler that has previously trained dogs. They are quite easy to train, so you dont have to be an expert by any means.

If youre interested in owning a German Shepherd, we highly recommend taking your time to consider just how much work these dogs require. They will take up a few hours a day as puppies and require as much as an hour or two of exercise alone. These arent dogs for the casual dog owner.

My Personal Experience With German Shepherds

As with any breed, theres the whole range of different personalities and characters and temperaments that you can come across. But today, I want to share what my general experiences with German shepherds has been like.

I can confidently say that the breed description given to German shepherds is pretty accurate. I have encountered many German shepherds who are physically and mentally strong, courageous, and often have a hard time backing down.

Of course, not all German shepherds fit this description. Ive come across many who are very fearful and nervous. But mostly, Ive seen the confident, strong-willed shepherds.

Whats fascinating to me with German shepherds is that, despite a strong personality, they do seem to want to work alongside you. They all seem to have a deep desire to connect with you, work for you, and do a great job.

Its almost like they want to be your partner rather than work independently. However, this means, if youre not sure what youre doing, they will very quickly step into the driving seat, which is a problem. You really dont want your German shepherd in charge of making the decisions!

Thats where theyre not a dog for everyone, because German shepherds play this game of Whos in charge, me or you? at a very high level. I call it the dog code.

Since then, Ive fallen in love with German shepherds. I could certainly see myself ending up with one in the future. And yes, I would fully trust this breed around my kids, my wife, and my other dogs.

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Are German Shepherds Good With Kids

Whether a German Shepherd is good with kids comes down to temperament, training, and socialization. If you adopt a young German Shepherd and raise them around children, they should get along quite well. If you adopt an adult shepherd, you may want to be more careful find out their background to see if theyve had any negative experiences or behavior and what kind of temperament they have. The dogs temperament will matter a lot here if theyve been bred to be herders, for example, they might end up trying to herd young children and accidentally knock one over. Generally speaking, though, if brought into a home while still a pup and socialized early, German Shepherds should be excellent with kids.

Swimming: A Healthy Activity For Large Breeds

The first time we put Sultan in water, she freaked out. She was only a year old at the time and she had absolutely no concept of floating. She knew how to swim instinctually, and she could get herself going, but if she could not feel the bottom underneath her feet, she would start panicking and climb up the person closest to her. As with most things, getting a dog comfortable in a situation is all about exposure.

The more we took her to the lake, the more she enjoyed the water. Eventually, she would swim and fetch just about anything. We kept her on her long, extendable leash while she was learning and started her out in the shallows. Once she was acclimated to the water, we started taking her out farther and giving her more leash. .

Swimming, especially in the cool lakes around where we live, was a perfect summertime activity, and when combined with fetch or a game of search, she would be extremely happy for the rest of the day. We couldn’t go as often in the fall, winter, and spring, so we had to find other activities to occupy her during those months.

Swimming is an excellent activity for dogs and it is easy on their joints.

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How Do I Know If My German Shepherd Is Shedding Too Much

How much do german shepherds shed? A lot!

But even then, there is such a thing as shedding too much!

Since there are skin conditions that can cause your dog to shed more than normal its important to know what to look for.

While entire patches of missing fur is obvious, there are some other signs that may not be as plain to see.

Here are some things to watch for:

• Skin that is inflamed and red
• Skin that is flaky and dry
• Any wounds on your dogs skin
• Discharge coming from the skin
• Missing patches of fur
• Excessive shaking and scratching

If you notice any of these symptoms, or suspect that your dog may have an underlying condition call your vet and make an appointment.

Its always better to err on the side of caution where your dogs health is concerned.

Maximum Skin & Coat.

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Other Dogs Can Be Fun

If your GSD is used to being your only dog, then this tip may not be a good match. However, if your German Shepherd likes the company of other dogs, why not let him have a playdate?

Even better, if you have the room and the love, get another dog to keep your GSD company while youre gone.

This tip works best with highly socialized dogs and those who were raised around other dogs.

If your GSD has spent most of his life as an only dog, bringing another one home might cause more stress than happiness.

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Play Hard Before You Leave

A good way to help prevent separation anxiety and to help your dog stay happy while youre gone is to play hard before you leave. This can be a long walk or job, a rousing game of fetch, or a few rounds on an agility course.

Whatever it is that your German Shepherd likes to do for fun with you, do that before you need to leave for work or school.

Begin this routine well before you have to start leaving your GSD alone every day.

Follow up your hard playtime with alone time, and youll b sending a message to your GSD that this is a good, healthy, and positive way to behave.

Why Get Dog Insurancefrom Pumpkin

German Shepherds are a generally healthy breed, but unexpected ruh-rohs can happen to any dog at any age. If your pup gets hurt or sick, pet insurance can help you say yes to the best care, even when its costly. When it comes to shopping for this breed, youll want to choose an insurance like Pumpkin that covers hereditary conditions German Shepherds are prone to developing, and that can be costly to treat. While a reputable breeder will conduct genetic testing on your pups parents to help minimize the chances of passing down hereditary conditions they cant always be avoided. Lets look at some common ones, and how Pumpkin Insurance could help cover the cost of care!

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There Is Hope For Gsds With Separation Anxiety

Keeping your German Shepherd active and busy can help relieve a lot of anxiety all on its own.

The tips below are designed to entertain, teach, and stimulate your dog even when youre not home. But they are also great ways to help anxious dogs feel safer and more in control while you are away.

Basically, youre giving them a job to do until you get back. And that is exactly what GSDs love most: working!

To learn all about German Shepherd separation anxiety and what you can do about it, make sure to check out this excellent article we have for you linked below:

How to Deal with German Shepherd Separation Anxiety

When Do German Shepherds Calm Down

December 6, 2021 by Andy

When do German Shepherds calm down? Do you secretly wonder how your German Shepherd has such vibrant energy all the time? As much as you adore the creature and cannot do without it, you might sometimes want it to tone down a bit.

It might get tricky when your dog is constantly jumping, running and requires something to be kept busy. If you are too facing the same trouble with your German Shepherd, this article will give you a detailed guide about the calming down of the animal.

Before scrolling down this guide When Do German Shepherds Calm Down, check out these related articles: How Much is a German ShepherdandGerman Shepherd Puppy Feeding Chart.

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Difference Between Mental And Physical Exercises

Physical exercises stimulate your dogs body, including their cardiovascular and muscular strength. On the other hand, mental exercises stimulate your dogs brain, strengthen their capacity to think and put their other abilities to work.

To some degree, you can also make physical exercise mentally stimulating. During walks, let your German Shepherd sniff around so they can navigate the world around them.

Also walks can be a great training time. Sometimes on walks I randomly stop and request a command. This reminds Allie to pay attention to me even when she is excited.

You can also include some structured training when playing fetch.

This might include running after the ball only when youve commanded them to fetch or placing the ball in a specified location once theyve retrieved it. No matter what type of exercise you do with your GSD, try to find ways to keep them guessing or keep them learning.

Nevertheless, dogs like German Shepherds were bred to work. Having a job to do is natural to them. As companion dogs, they might not have the same opportunities to work. In the absence of a job, they need activities that stimulate their brains.

Our Passion For Pets Shines Through

At Harbor Point Animal Hospital, our goal is to provide excellent veterinary care while ensuring a low-stress, fear-free visit. We are the only AAHA-accredited animal hospital in Mooresville, which ensures the latest and safest medical care for your pet. We are also the only Fear Free Certified Practice in Mooresville. We strive to make every visit as pleasant as possible to reduce any fear, stress, and anxiety that you or your pet may experience. We hope to prove to you that we are truly passionate about fulfilling our mission and changing the way pets see the vet.

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Create A Situation Simulating A Threat

There are many ways to do this, but my favorite is to create a fake intruder. You can use an old sweatshirt that you no longer wear or get a pair of pants from your dad. Stuff it with newspaper, then take some rope and tie it around the dummys waist. Have some friends pull up in the driveway or ring the doorbell and put the dummy near the front door. If your German Shepherd dog starts to act protective, youve done a good job training them. Remember to reward your dog with treats or a favorite toy for doing such a good job!

Problems With This Study

In the original paper, the authors appear to make some recommendations based on very limited evidence. I have published the original study data so you can see the actual numbers involved and decide for yourself.

The authors also do not mention the well-known increase in lifespan associated with desexing male and female dogs, which tends to counteract most concerns about specific cancers. The following comment in the paper is a clue that it might also have been true for this population:

Across all breeds the mean age of last entry in the record for neutered males was 5.5 years , for neutered females 5.7 years , for intact males 4.9 , and intact females 4.7

The study tries to also look at the rates of mammary cancer & pyometra in females, but cannot give an accurate assessment for two reasons:

Regardless of any concerns, the authors are to be applauded to bringing into focus one of the most common questions from dog owners. For the German Shepherd at least, theyve made the decision a lot easier.

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