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Where To Get A German Shepherd Puppy

Ways To Exercise Your German Shepherd

What to Know When You Get a German Shepherd Puppy!

German Shepherds were bred to be working dogs, accordingly, they are very active and require regular mental and physical stimulation. Without exercise, they are easily bored, and boredom can quickly turn into mischief.

Like other working dogs, GSDs with too much-unexpended energy are more likely to destroy things, bark unnecessarily, and pester you for attention. Having a regular exercise routine for your German Shepherd will help prevent boredom.

German Shepherds should get at least two sessions of exercise each day. For puppies, the general rule for the duration of each session is 5 minutes per month of age.

This means that a 3-month-old pup should only be getting a maximum of two 15-minute sessions of exercise per day while an 8-month-old should be getting a maximum of two 40-minute daily exercise sessions.

At 1 year old and above, The Kennel Club recommends at least 2 hours of exercise each day. Please note that these are just general guidelines for the breed. As the pet owner, it would be up to you to observe and stick with what your dog can safely handle.

Exercise time offers some of the best bonding moments for you and your dog and there are plenty of activities you can engage in so you dont get tired of doing the same things repeatedly. Here are a few activities that can be incorporated into your German Shepherd exercise routine:

Purebred German Shepherds From Breeders Can Be Costly

German Shepherd puppies are adorably pretty but they can cost a pretty penny when bought from a quality breeder.

Thats because most breeders would spend around $7,500 for a whole litter of GSD puppies on average. As a result of that, the price of a single puppy for the wanna-be-GSD-owner can range between $500 and $5,000.

Finding the right breeder is vital, of course, as bad dog breeders wouldnt have taken good care of the puppies, wont give you a health certificate, and so on.

So, how can you find a good local GSD breeder?

With lots of time and effort. There are plenty of at adequate prices but youd still need to do thorough research.

How Much Are Gerberian Shepskies Worth

You might be able to find a Gerberian Shepsky in a local shelter to adopt for a small fee, or you can opt to find a dedicated Shepsky breeder.

If you choose the latter, you can expect to pay anywhere from $400 to $1,200 depending on where you live and the quality of the breeder.

If you are intending to buy your dog from an experienced Shepsky breeder that is controlling for characteristics such as eye color and temperament, you can expect to pay around $1,000 for your pup.

Read Also: How Long Does It Take To Potty Train A German Shepherd Puppy

How To Train A German Shepherd Puppy The Ultimate Guide

Fully Qualified COAPE Behaviourist and Registered Training Instructor with The Animal Behaviour and Training Council

In this article:

So you have your new German Shepherd puppy at home, we see.

Glad to hear theyre doing well puppy eyes shining bright, and tail that doesnt seem to stop wagging.

Weve also heard they have gained a special liking for your living room carpet as the perfect place to go for a wee. Oh, and your favourite shoessorry to hear theyve been chewed on. Apologies to your neighbour Alfred too we heard his favourite pair of trousers were left muddy after your puppy showed such enthusiasm to say hello.

Wed love nothing more to see you both become a wonderful duo one that has overcome the hiccups of starting fresh, and only see bright days of licks, treats, and cuddles ahead.

In this training guide, youll learn everything to tackle those first 8 weeks with your German Shepherd puppy and be as well prepared as possible.

Every question youve asked yourself is pretty much covered. What you do need to know is that everything will be just fine only happy days lie ahead of you.

Learn What Motivates Your German Shepherd To Pay Attention

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In order to have the most effective communication with your dog, begin by finding out what motivates your dog.

Most of the time, its going to probably be a tasty, delicious treat.

But it can also be another thing they find rewarding, like a favorite toy such as a ball or tug rope.

Most importantly, make sure these rewards are high in value to them. This means your dog would practically sell his soul to get them!

So, you should only give them to your dog on special occasions. Dont leave the special toys around the house for play.

Only use them for training your dog to listen.

The same goes for the treats. Make these treats so special that your dog knows you mean business when you get them out for your training.

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Training A German Shepherd Doesnt Happen Overnight

Shepherd pups want to please and have order in their home. Create more consistency for them and youll see fewer German Shepherd puppy problem behaviors.

To do this, stick with your training. Dont confuse your dog by having different rules for different days or times.

Begin with a plan in place and disciplining your GSD will go smoother from the start. Dont give up when your pup doesnt understand what you want the first few times. Persevere with your training and discipline.

Remember that your German Shepherd is highly intelligent and needs your help to get the best from them.

If you feel like giving up, take a break from training for a day or two. Its OK and your dog will still learn by having an owner who is more relaxed and calm than one who is stressed and frustrated.

In order to avoid training frustration, remember that just like you a German Shepherd needs time to learn the rules of the house and new commands. This is true especially of puppies or rescue dogs.

If you want to take a break from training and have fun, then include a few days a week of puzzles. You can read more about the best puzzle toys for your German Shepherd and find a few you like so that you and your dog dont get burned out on training.

Hope You Love Dog Hair Everywhere

Theres a reason people call them German shedders. Enough said! German Shepherds have a double coat, which equals twice as much fur all of your floor, your sofa, your clothes, etc. You also cant win with your wardrobe if you end up with a classic black-and-tan German shepherd, they have black, brown, tan, and sometimes white hair on them, so no color of clothing is immune!

Read Also: How Long Does A German Shepherd Stay Pregnant

How We Build This Programme: Push Drop Stick

Heres a good resource for you to have the Push Drop Stick game. I like to use this game to see whether puppies are ready to move on in their training, or if they need to spend more practice runs.

Did we need to remind you how intelligent German Shepherds are? Make sure to keep them stimulated by progressively making their exercises more challenging. They really do need to be given a job to do rather than allowing them to be self-employedwho knows how that can end up.

What is Push, Drop, Stick?

Push, Drop, Stick, is a way of systematically raising the difficulty of an exercise or behaviour.

If exercises are always kept too easy, then dogs will keep doing them correctly because they are being rewarded . However, progress will be slower as theyll get stuck at this level.

If lessons are too hard, then its likely that theyll give up since treats wont be coming as easy. Looks like theyd be quite good businessmen as humans.

Push Drop Stick can help avoid both scenarios by maintaining enough momentum: It will keep your puppy winning enough times to keep them interested and not quit, but not so much that they arent thinking about how to be rewarded by trying harder.

How does it work?

Push Go to the next level of difficulty

Drop Back to the previous level of difficulty

Stick Stay at the current level of difficulty

3 or 4 out of 5 Do another set of 5 at this difficulty He doesnt need you to drop, but he isnt quite ready to be pushed yet.

Be Watchful For Signs Of Shyness

How to start protection training with a German Shepherd puppy

Many German Shepherds, especially American-line dogs bred for show/companionship, tend toward shyness and anxiety. If not addressed, this shyness can transform into fear-based aggression. For this reason, socialize that puppy from the minute he comes home with you, and dont stop throughout his lifetime.

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Working Lines Vs Show Lines

The German Shepherd was originally bred as a working dog. Since his original use as a shepherd dog however, he has filled many different roles from guarding properties over being used in the show ring to participating in Schutzhund and IPO trails.

Depending on which lines your German Shepherd Dog comes from, the prices can vary a lot!

Show line German Shepherds are the dogs that are bred for conformation shows. These are the type of dogs you should decide on if you would like a shepherd puppy as a pet and companion animal.

If you are interested in using your German Shepherd as a protection dog and to participate in IPO trials, you should pick one from working lines. There are a lot of highly successful working line breeders both in North America and Europe. Some of them sell so-called started dogs, which means dogs that have already received some obedience, protection and tracking training. Started dogs can be as pricey as $5,000-$7,000.

Working German Shepherds that have been fully trained can be extremely expensive, up to $20,000. For this price, you get an absolutely flawless dog with extensive skills and perfect obedience.

Teach Your Dog To Speak

  • First, make your dog excited until he makes a lot of noise. You can give him toys, treats or anything that he likes. The goal here is to make your dog gets as much as excited as you can.
  • Now open your hand in front of his nose and say the word speak.
  • Reward and praise him every time your dog barks.
  • Now you have associated open hand signal with speak
  • Read Also: How Much To Feed A German Shepherd Puppy

    Catch Your Dog Being Good And Reward Them Out Of The Blue

    See your puppy acting the way you want? Reward them out of the blue!

    Its easy to get caught up in scolding when your pup when they are getting into trouble, but rewarding him out of the blue for being good shows them theyre doing the right behaviors .

    Keep small bits of treats in jars around the house out of reach of your pup and use any opportunity your catch your pup doing good to reward them.

    Here are some ideas for opportunities to reward your dog:

    • If theyre lying calming on their mat, give them a piece of a treat. But dont make a big deal of the situation or youll wind them back up.
    • When theyre playing with the toys you want them to chew, drop a tiny bit of treat out of nowhere.
    • If they sit and wait at the door, instead of dashing out ahead of you, reward them!

    Discipling your German Shepherd isnt always about catching bad behaviors, but also about rewarding good things your dog does. Dogs like to do things that you reinforce, even if you dont think they worked for the reward its still part of training.

    If you only worry about punishment and corrections, then youre missing out on the opportunities to reinforce positive behavior.

    Aim for one of these healthy treats that are the best for German Shepherds and pick carefully to ensure your dog stays athletic and fit.

    Recovery From Neutering Or Spaying

    What You Need To Know Before You Get A German Shepherd ...

    The recovery process after you neuter or spay a German shepherd is the same as with an injury.

    You avoid physical activities. You let them rest and so on.

    However, there are pointers to be followed after the neutering or spaying of a German shepherd. Its important to follow this strictly to help your dog heal in the most proper way.

    • Prepare a quiet place for your dog to rest, preferably inside the house. Restrict their interactions with other dogs as it may encourage physical activity.
    • A neutered/spayed German shepherd needs at least a month of no activity. Putting physical strain during recovery may result in complications.
    • Monitor your German shepherds opening from the surgery. Check for unusual characteristics such as swelling, bruising, and more. If you notice an abnormality, ensure that you reach out to your vet.
    • German shepherds are active dogs and can sometimes be unpredictable. Prevent your dog from hurting himself/herself by giving them a cone or collar.
    • Its important to find out when to take the cone off your dog after neuter/spay so you wont be stripping your pet off their freedom. The optimal number of days before you have to remove the cone is 5-8 days. However, its recommended that you wait until the stitches are removed.
    • A German shepherd that exhibits vomiting, decreased appetite, and diarrhea has a high chance of having complications. In this case, contact your vet immediately.
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    Where To Get German Shepherd Puppies

    German Shepherd puppies are really cute and German shepherds are a very popular dog breed because of their high intellect and their easy-to-train character. They commonly train this breed to assist police officers cause they aid in search and rescue missions. They are also great as herding dogs or police dogs, or even assistance dogs.

    This breed has high energy, and they need their exercise and will not be effective if they are just stuck at home without activity.

    Their owner should also know how to handle them and continue training them to keep them in line and not pick any bad habits as they grow.

    Before you decide to get this breed, you should know if you are up for it cause you will need to train them, and even if they are intelligent and smart, they still require a lot of your time and patience. You should consider the pros and cons before getting German Shepherd pups. See below for the advantage and disadvantages of this breed.

    A German Shepherd Dog Is Not A Golden Retriever

    Sometimes I feel like many people assume that a lab/golden retriever is just the default dog personality . Obviously, this is not true for every GSD, but shepherds tend to be one person dogs. Your shepherd doesnt think that every person she meets is her best friend, and thats part of her heritage. Shepherds are a bit suspicious of strangers. Also, be prepared for your shepherd to pick someone to be her person in your family. This can be saddening, but its also a trait of the breed.

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    German Shepherd For An Older Person

    Dear John,

    Some time ago, I was planning on getting a shepherd, it did not happen. I am now planning for that shepherd at the age of 65. Is this a good dog for me at my age? I have always owned Chows so am familiar with large strong dogs. I feel with the right help and accessories I can deal with a shepherd of any size. This is planned for spring so between now and then I would like to purchase your WadeCollar and whatever else I may need for the dog to be trained.

    Thank you John.

    Betty

    Hi Betty,

    Age is less a factor than is energy level, life style, and handling ability. When youre thinking of those factors you have to think in terms of the next 12ish years the approximate life span of a German Shepherd

    Another factor is that the bloodlines of German Shepherds have shifted a bit over the last decade or so, as the working lines that police have been importing for several years have seeped into the companion dog market and those dogs need to work, work, work. Theyre my favorite kind of German Shepherd but they make for poor companion dogs for most people. Youll want more of the watered-down version I should think.

    I cant say that a dogs physical and mental needs or its genetics vs a person are not a factor, however, lets face it, once a dog hits 10 weeks of age most are going to be faster and more agile than a human being of any age. Good training is a mind game as opposed to a might is right game or who has the best treats game.

  • Start House Training
  • Four Month Old German Shepherd Behaviour

    3 Things You Can Teach to Get your German Shepherd Puppy to Stay!

    The first four months of a German shepherds life is filled with excitement and energy. This time period can be described as an adventure, where the pup will learn many new things from his human family. As exciting as this experience may seem for both owner and dog, it can also be challenging at times to handle your pet during these stages.

    The behavior of a four month old German shepherd can be unpredictable at times. He may suddenly begin to exhibit temper tantrums or other undesirable behaviors that are hard to control, especially if you have never raised one before. These behaviours will vary depending on the dogs breed and its specific personality traits. However, there is still much you can do to help improve your German shepherds behaviour and make it easier to handle.

    The following are some of the most common four month old german shepherd behavior problems, along with their possible causes and solutions:

    Common Four Month Old German Shepherd Behaviour Problems & Their Solutions

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