Why Do German Shepherds Prick Their Ears
Since German Shepherd Dogs ears arent generally floppy , you can barely notice the movement whenever their ears stand up. Still, it is essential to know why German Shepherds prick their ears.
German Shepherds prick their ears whenever they are alert, interested, excited, or curious about what theyre hearing. Since sudden alertness is sometimes followed by aggression in canines, German Shepherds ears also prick up when theyre about to attack if they feel threatened.
To know whether your dog is alert or aggressive, you should watch out for other signs, such as growling, showing the teeth, sniffing, and considering his current environment. Your GSD may simply prick his ears forward and tilt his head if you make a peculiar sound.
Below is my German Shepherd showing her ears in the pricked position. You can see how alert and interested she is. She is focusing intently on something in the street, probably another dog passing by!
When a German Shepherd pricks up his ears and looks around or sniffs, you can conclude that he is alert. You should tighten your grip over his leash . This way, you can make sure he doesnt become aggressive towards another dog or person unprompted. If the dog is growling or showing his teeth while his ears are pricked up, you should assume hes in an aggressive state.
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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:
At What Age Do Puppies Calm Down
Puppies are big balls of energy! Whether they’re following your every move around the house or they’re off in the corner getting into some trouble, your pup’s high energy levels are quite endearing. It’s one of the most enjoyable parts of raising a puppy! They’re always down to clown!
That said, there’s going to be some times when you just wish your pup would calm down.
No matter how much you love your dog’s penchant for play, we can only take so much! Not only that, but all that energy often leads to some trouble. Puppies are notorious for using that pent-up energy to destroy things and test their boundaries.
Those high energy levels are to be expected. But at what age do puppies start to calm down?
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Final Words Of When Will My German Shepherd Calm Down
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?
Give Your German Shepherd A Proper Diet
Every breed requires a different kind of diet, suited to their age, activity level and their dietary requirements. A vet can chart up a good diet plan for you to follow if you are so inclined.
A balanced diet will give him just the right amount of energy he needsno more and no less.
Make sure your German shepherd gets enough protein to build his muscles and keep up his energy. But too much protein in his diet will not only make him excessively energetic, but it will also affect his kidneys.
The same goes for his sugar and carb intake. Dont overdo it when it comes to giving him treats, no matter how big his puppy dog eyes are.
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Do German Shepherds Mellow Out
Yes, a German Shepherd mellows out when all his needs and securities are fulfilled. GSDs mellow out when owners properly train them against the situation of separation anxiety and hunger issues.
When an owner spends his time with his beloved pet, he gets mellow out. High testosterone level causes aggressive behaviors. After getting neutered or spayed, the hormonal imbalance of testosterone-like hormones gets correct and GSDs calm down.
Contact the nearest veterinarian for spaying and neutering.
What If My German Shepherd Is Over Weight
If your German Shepherd is overweight, he is at risk of developing serious health conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. It will also put too much pressure on his joints, causing arthritis and immobility. The heavier he is, the harder it will be to move and to lose the weight.
Look at his food It should be high in lean protein, low in fillers and fat. Then, exercise your dog. Do not over-exercise or starve him to get him to lose weight. It will take time and patience to get him to a healthy weight.
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What Is The Life Expectancy Of German Shepherds
Because German Shepherds are large-breed dogs, they do not live as long as smaller dogs. On average, you can expect your German Shepherd to live anywhere from 9 to 13 years.
This will be dependent on his tendency for health issues as well as the type of lifestyle he lives. His life can be prolonged with good food and exercise.
It is impossible to know for sure how long your German Shepherd will live for, but keeping him vaccinated against harmful diseases, taking him to the vet at least once a year, and keeping him on a good exercise routine can increase his life expectancy.
Lack Of Mental Stimulation
Did you know that German Shepherds are the 3rd smartest breed?
This is based on Stanley Coren, a famous dog expert. And its one of the reasons why they do well as police dogs.
So, if theyre not given enough mental exercises in a day
They might find another outlet to use their minds. And this is where the chaos starts.
What to do?
Engage your dog in more challenging activities. Both physically and mentally, such as:
- Agility.
- Dock diving.
- Learning tricks.
Theyll also enjoy scent works. So, hide some treats or toys with catnip inside a room. And make your dog find them using their nose.
Interesting fact: Experts say that German Shepherds have around 225 million smell receptors. This is why theyre excellent in detecting odors. While Fox Terriers have 147 million. And Dachshunds only have 125 million.
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Stopping And Controlling Aggressive Behavior In Dogs
If your German Shepherd shows aggressive behavior after 14 months of age, when it has reached sexual maturity, you must address the problem immediately. First, make sure you have established yourself as the pack leader. Never reward your German Shepherd for aggressive behavior, even if he is scared.
Train your German Shepherd to respond to your commands, control feeding and walking times, and make sure that you are the pack leader in the household. If you allow your German Shepherd is to take liberties in your home, it will exhibit more potent aggression toward others.
If your German Shepherd is defensive-aggressive, they may strike out at a person in fear. These dogs may not have been adequately socialized. Keep them away from small children and attend a training session or behaviorist who can slowly acclimate the dog to a social atmosphere.
What Is The Best Way To Pick A German Shepherd Puppy From A Litter
Selecting your German Shepherd puppy from a litter
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Train Your Dog Using Positive Reinforcement
Using various management tools to train your hyper dog can prove to be an effective way to help them settle down over time. Positive reinforcement training involves preventing a dog from engaging in undesirable behaviors, then reinforcing that training using a reward system. For example, if your German Shepherd wont stop running around, you can use crates or pens to prevent them from getting into trouble. The crate or pen will also teach the dog how to be patient.
In addition to crates and pens, you can also use leashes or tethers as a positive reinforcement tool to get your dog to calm down. Leashing your dog allows you to provide them with constant supervision, which makes it easier to discipline undesirable behaviors.
Owning a German Shepherd is a big responsibility. Before making the decision to get one, make sure you commit to educating yourself on their various needs. This will allow you to raise a well-mannered and calm German Shepherd. If you dont enforce positive behaviors during their juvenile and adolescent years, you will have to work harder to keep them in check in their adulthood.
How Much Should German Shepherd Puppies Weigh
With my experience of breathing multiple litters of German Shepherds over the years. I like to take this question a little bit further, so you can have a better understanding about puppy weight. The bigger question should be It depends on how the Breeder feeds the puppies. Most good breeders feed puppies 3 times a day with dry food and wet food mixed together and Im not talking about cheap dog food. Were talking about high-quality dog food. They will always keep a good eye on how the pups are developing so they keep them healthy.
Here are a few pictures of puppies. These pictures are from my good friend Johns last litter. This was a great litter of puppies. Everyone puppy he sold the people were so happy with their puppy. All the pups had a super loving temperament and training comes easy when you breed good blood-line puppies.
5 week old Black Female Pup.
This is a black sable collar.
Roughly weight would be,
9-week old puppies weigh. 15- 20 pounds.
4 month old puppy weight. 25- 32 pounds.
6 month old puppy weight. 48- 56 pounds. I have had male puppies that weight up to 50 lbs.
How long do German shepherds live?
9 to 13 years.
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Four Months Old To Six Months Old
After four months, your dog should have completed their vaccination schedule. So, take this opportunity to provide even more exposure to new things. Hopefully, they’ve already seen a ton of people and environments.
Now that your pup is all vaccinated, you can take things a step further.
Energy levels are still going to be high at this age. However, your pup will be focusing a lot of that energy towards other dogs. It’s when they figure out the social structure. You might see play fighting, barking, and seemingly aggressive behavior. Don’t worry! This is normal.
What you do need to worry about is fearfulness, overt aggression, and overall anxiety. These are issues that you should address as quickly as possible.
If your dog loses his temper quickly and lashes out at you or other dogs, take action.
The same goes for unnecessary anxiety when you’re not at home or whenever they experience new things.
If necessary, get some help from a professional trainer. The goal is to divert your dog’s energy to more positive emotions.
Puppies can get riled up pretty easily at this age. The last thing you want is that energy going to unwanted behaviors.
Phase #: 5 To 12 Months
Just when you think that the previous months are the hardest
There comes theadolescent stage.
This is the age at which German Shepherds are most hyper.
Puppies will have so much energy that theyre only calm when asleep.
And at 5 or 6 months, theyll be sexually mature. So aside from being playful, they may also show other behaviors, such as:
- Humping.
- Being aggressive.
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Dangers Of Stunted Or Accelerated Growth
New dog owners might be concerned about whether their dog is growing too quickly or too slowly, especially when you are comparing your pup to the German Shepherd growth chart. The danger of stunted growth only arises in the case of malnutrition or extreme disease.
If your puppy has not had proper nutrition or is having another affliction, there is a risk that he will not grow properly. Likewise, diet can cause your pup to grow too quickly.
In this case, the growth is not related to their bones, but their weight. Excess weight can harm a puppys growth and cause other health issues.
From A Newborn To 10 Weeks Of Age
After a puppy is born, you’ll experience the most dramatic change in behavior. When they first come out of the womb, puppies are helpless creatures that rely on their mothers for everything. They can’t even see! Your puppy’s eyes won’t open until about the two-week mark.
Even after their eyes open up, puppies are still going to be relatively shy and reserved. They will need to rely on their mother’s milk for sustenance. Thus, they tend to stay pretty close by.
As they start to move a little farther from the nest, the mother will usually bring them right back until she feels that they are ready.
When that time comes, be prepared for a big bundle of energy! Once puppies are able to walk and run on their own, they will take full advantage of it! They will start to learn social cues and play with others in the litter.
If they’re alone, you might see them biting at your fingers to play fight! It’s an adorable stage, so cherish it!
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German Shepherds Have Strong Protective Instincts
Genetic predisposition: It is ingrained in them, ingrained in the genetic code passed on from their ancestors who were herders, hunters and guard dogs, to protect and take care of their packyou and your family in this case. Your German shepherd is the product of his kind.
Instincts and caution: His protective instinctslike running around you in circles when youre walking, not letting you go to even the bathroom alone , jumping in front of you or constantly dragging you by the leash to sniff after some scent he caughtare all his way of assessing possible threats.
Some of it is just him being a big puppy, but most of it is his instincts flaring up mixed with caution.
While it may come across as him just being hyperactive, there is a good chance that your German shepherd is trying to do what his ancestors did: track, hunt and if youre with him, protect.
This is what makes him a great guard dog, as long as his instincts and energy are honed by training to become a skill and not end up being a nuisance. They are sociable as well, which makes them wonderful friends and champions for your children.
The Importance Of German Shepherd Obedience Training
Ive mentioned the importance of training your German shepherd and the role it plays in making him well behaved and mild-mannered, as opposed to aggressive, hyperactive and noisy. So here are the basics of how you go about it.
Noise training: Reacting to your dog barking at something by yelling or shouting in return will only aggravate them, or make them think that youre scared and that there really is a threat. First, stay calm.
Bark on command: Teach your German shepherd how to bark on command! Oddly enough, this has proved to be an effective way to teach your dog how to be quiet after hes learned when to bark.
Get your dog excited, a definite way to get him to bark. The minute he does, mark the bark. Mark the bark with a command like speak or just bark and then reward them with a treat. Remember to praise them.
Continue to mark the bark until he associates your command word with speaking and will bark on command
- A good guard dog will naturally and instinctively alert you to trouble by barking.
- If youve noise trained him to bark on command, then when he barks out of turn and then follows it up with growls, and you simultaneously notice his hackles raise and his ears cock, there is a good chance that there is danger approaching.
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When Do German Shepherds Calm Down
If you have a young German Shepherd, Im sure youve thought when do German Shepherds calm down? I know that was something I thought all the time when Allie was a young pup.
Unfortunately, every German Shepherd is different so there is no exact answer that will work for every GSD but this article can give you a guide.
How To Control German Shepherd Aggression
If your German Shepherd shows aggressive behavior after 14 months of age, when it has reached sexual maturity, you must address the problem immediately. First, make sure you have established yourself as the pack leader.
Never pay your German Shepherd for aggressive behavior, even if he is scared. Train your German Shepherd to respond to your requests, control feeding and walking times, and make sure that you are the pack leader in the household.
If you allow your German Shepherd is to take alternatives in your home, it will exhibit more energetic aggression toward others. If your German Shepherd is defensive-aggressive, they may strike out at a person in fear.
These dogs may not have been adequately socialized. Keep them away from small children, which they may see as direct threats and attend a training session or behaviorist who can gradually acclimate the dog to a social atmosphere.
Socialize Your German Shepherd
Introduce your GSD to your family. Then you can introduce a few friends. You need to go for a walk with German Shepherd along with those people who are randomly your visitors. Slowly but surely, invite more friends and more newcomers to accompany you and your GSD.
Daily Exercise
Your GSD needs a daily walk, a high-intensity activity, and mental stimulation. Take him running, hiking, skating, and biking with you. You can also play games, such as Frisbee toss.
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