How To Deal With Your German Shepherds Floppy Ears
Whats the bottom line?
If its been over eight months and your German shepherds ears still arent standing upright at all, then this is an indication that there might be some kind of problem.
At this point, you can start taking steps to fix their ears if you want.
However, unless your German shepherds floppy ears are being caused by some sort of serious medical issue, you dont have an obligation to try and fix them.
Floppy ears on their own dont cause your German shepherd to suffer at all, nor do they cause any sort of hearing issues.
If you just want your German shepherds ears to stand up for aesthetic reasons, there are a few things you can do to help this happen.
When You Look At Free German Shepherd Puppies For Adoption You Should Also Think About The Temperament Of The Puppies
These dogs have a very strong and vibrant temper, especially if they have been raised in small cramped quarters for their entire lives. Make sure that you carefully consider whether or not your puppy has any behavioral issues such as extreme energy or self-destructive behavior. Some of these behaviors can lead to future health problems. Dogs who are adopted from free facilities may also come from abusive circumstances. Before adopting a puppy from any facility, you should ask to see the portfolio of past pets that were cared for there.
Finally, make sure that the pet adoption center you are looking to take good care of the German Shepherd puppy you are buying. Check out the facilitys records and read up on the history. You can also find out if the center has received any awards for its good work. If you choose a facility that has been a long-standing facility for adopting and caring for dogs then it probably knows what it is doing. Otherwise, it is a good idea to go with somewhere that is less established or has no reviews online.
How Can I Get My German Shepherd To Gain Weight
To avoid excessive protein in your dogs diet while helping him gain weight, consider adding sweet potato and pumpkin to his food. Boosting their diet with fat and fiber will help your dogs digestion along with weight gain. You can buy canned sweet potato and canned pumpkin from your local grocery store.
Also Check: Drawing A German Shepherd
How Much Should A 1
The average weight of a 1-year-old female German Shepherd Dog is 58.5 lbs .
The typical weight range of a 1-year-old female German Shepherd Dog is from 47.8 lbs to 69.2 lbs .
The average weight of a 1-year-old male German Shepherd Dog is 75.1 lbs .
The typical weight range of a 1-year-old male German Shepherd Dog is from 65.1 lbs to 85.0 lbs .
However, a recent research study on dog weight shows that 1-year-old female German Shepherd Dogs can normally weigh as low as 37.2 lbs and as high as 84.5 lbs
Correspondingly, 1-year-old male German Shepherd Dogs can normally weigh as low as 43.7 lbs and as high as 98.3 lbs
Skeletal Health And Supplementation
Musculoskeletal disorders are debilitating conditions that are often associated with genetic makeup, malnutrition, and stress-related events. Some breeds like the German shepherd, are predisposed to a variety of different skeletal disorders, including but not limited to: canine hip dysplasia, Cauda equina syndrome, and osteoarthritis. These conditions can be a result of poor breeding or induced by intense exercise and poor diet.
Canine hip dysplasia is an orthopedic condition resulting from abnormal development of the hip joint and surrounding tissue causing the instability and partial dislocation of the hip joint, resulting in pain, inflammation, lameness, and potentially osteoarthritis of the joint. German shepherds are genetically predisposed to CHD and the University of Veterinary Medicine in Germany found its prevalence estimated to be approximately 35% of veterinary cases associated with the disorder.
Osteoarthritis is one of the main contributors of musculoskeletal pain and disabilities that commonly affect German shepherds. Mechanical stress, oxidative damage and inflammatory mediators combine to induce the gradual degeneration of the articular cartilage in the joint, resulting in reduced muscle mass, pain, and locomotion.
Vitamins such as A and D also have crucial roles in bone development and maintenance by regulating bone and calcium metabolism. Adequate levels should be incorporated into a German shepherd diet to promote a healthy musculoskeletal system.
You May Like: How To Draw A Cartoon German Shepherd
Want More Help With Getting A German Shepherd To Listen To You
Whether you have a puppy or an adult, you can train your German Shepherd to listen to you with the right steps.
With highly intelligent dogs like the German Sheperd, remember they can sometimes become bored or turn their attention to something else entirely as they lose interest in you.
Instead of becoming frustrated with your dog for not listening, use this easy brain training program to keep their smart minds active and engaged.
This comprehensive online training course teaches you how to meet the intelligence needs of your dog along with including fun games to teach your dog their basic obedience commands
All while teaching them to listen to you!
Getting your German Shepherd to listen to what you say doesnt have to be difficult when you know the right way to communicate with them.
What Do German Shepherds Ear Positions Mean
Seeing the changing positions of your German Shepherds ears could have prompted you to ask yourself questions like, is my dog trying to communicate anything? What does it mean when a German Shepherds ears are down? or Is my dog okay?
Just like how body language can tell you what is going through a persons mind, the position of your German Shepherds ears can tell you what is going through your poochs mind. Here are some GSD ear positions and what they mean.
Read Also: When Do German Shepherds Stop Changing Color
Don’t Miss: How Much Do You Feed German Shepherd Puppy
Your Dog Does Not Communicate Like A Human
Your German Shepherd will respond to many different stimuli. Your body language and tone of voice being the two most important.
In time, your dog will understand certain commands such as sit, stay and come, drop etc.
But, dogs only understand single direct commands. Use language your dog will understand. Calm, simple commands and body language will make your message crystal clear.
The Least You Need To Know
German shepherds tend to be too fat rather than too skinny.
A dog thats losing weight needs to go to the vet to see if there is a medical issue causing the weight loss.
Dogs lose weight due to malnourishment, illnesses like diabetes, stress, or old age.
Feed food high in protein and with fat to help put weight back on. Feed little and often to avoid getting the dog sick.
Also Check: When Do German Shepherds Ears Stand Up
Craigslist Reddit Or Facebook
Craigslist has people placing ads about their need to re-home pups from their dog who recently gave birth, and they will also include pictures for would-be owners. There are various dog breeds, and if you are lucky, you can find a German shepherd puppy looking for a new home.
It is the same with Reddit, where you will find information about puppy adoption.
For Facebook, there are also those who post looking for a new home for their pets. Sometimes these owners found out too late the energy they need to care for a German shepherd pup.
Common Health Problems In German Shepherds
German Shepherds are great dogs for the right owners, but they are at risk of certain conditions and illnesses common with the breed. Making sure the parents of your puppy have had the relevant health screening can reduce the chances of your puppy being affected by some of these upsetting conditions.
German Shepherds are in a group of breeds classed as Category Three by The Kennel Club, which is the highest category of the health concerns due to their conformation. This means that these types of dog have been bred over many years to look a certain way, but that these changes to the way they look have started to cause them health problems. For German Shepherds, this is mostly due to the shape of their back legs and hips.
Some of the conditions German Shepherds may develop include:
This list is not exhaustive, and there are many other conditions that German Shepherds have been shown to be prone to.
Read Also: German Shepherd Chihuahua Mix
Besides You Will Want To Decide How Youre Going To Take Care Of Your Dog If You Are Going To Use A Professional Then Be Sure You Check Their Credentials Ask To See Their Certification Or Licensing
Most dog trainers also have licenses. You will also want to ask about their training methods. You will be required to have this done before you can bring your new dog home.
Also, some shelters are run by local shelters and not national ones. Some of these shelters offer free adoption, but others do not. Some puppy kennels may have pet adoption specials so you may want to look into this as well. In the end, though, you should choose a place that is reputable and has a good reputation for the pets they accept.
Check out the size of the place and make sure you can fit a pup in there. Also, you should call the shelter to find out what the number is. Many times, this number will lead you to a number to your local shelter. You can bring your dog home right away. You may even want to hold off and see if you like the animal. Keep in mind, though, that once you get one, you will have to continue to provide pet insurance for the dog.
Remember, finding free German Shepherd puppies for adoption is not impossible. It just takes some time and effort on your part.
Common German Shepherd Behavioral Problems And Personality Traits
Over the years working as a dog trainer, Ive probably worked with as many German shepherd dogs as any other breed.
Most often, they are an incredibly loyal breed, are devoted to their owners, and have really sweet and fun personalities. And so, to those of you who love the breed and wouldnt consider anything but a German shepherd in the future, I understand!
Yet, some people are terrified of them and feel they are dangerous dogs to own.
To those of you that are wary of German shepherds, I understand where you are coming from, too! First off, they are very large dogs and can come off very intimidating.
Second, their instinct to protect their family or property is strong and can lead untrained German shepherds to becoming very protective, aggressive, and scary dogs.
The keyword here is untrained, as any untrained dogregardless of breedcan have the same problems.
Over the last decade I really feel like Ive come to understand German shepherds and have personally fallen in love with this breed. Ive also realized that theyre so misunderstood due to poorly trained German shepherds often ending up in the news and how they are portrayed on TV and in the media.
For this reason, I wanted to write todays post in hopes that, if you are someone who fears this breed, are looking for help and direction with your dog, or you know someone who is wary of German shepherds, then this honest truth about this lovely breed might change your mind.
Also Check: What Colors Do German Shepherds Come In
Reasons Why To Get A German Shepherd
The German Shepherd Dog is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world and for obvious reasons.He is a super-intelligent, skilled and hard-working dog whose dedication and courage are unbeatable. Whats more, he is incredibly versatile in every way.
The German Shepherd excels at a number of skills guiding the blind, chasing criminals, tracking illegal substances, serving in the military, visiting the sick or watching over grazing herds are just some of the jobs this versatile breed excels in today.
German Shepherds excel at anything you teach them: assistance work, police and military service, herding, tracking and rescue work, detecting dangerous objects, competing in obedience, and last but not least, being a loyal and very affectionate companion.
Below you will find all 17 reasons why you should get a German Shepherd. Also, check out out some of this awesome dog food from Chewy.com!
German Shepherd Breed Characteristics
- German Shepherds stand around two feet tall. Males can reach 24 to 26 inches and females between 22 and 24 inches.
- A medium-to-large sized working dog, male German Shepherds weigh between 65 and 90 pounds and females between 50 and 70 pounds.
- German Shepherds have a double coat. The outer coat is dense and can be straight or a little wavy, whilst the undercoat is thick but soft.
- German Shepherds are one of the most common police dogs used for everyday duties. The trainability and intelligence of the breed make it the ideal candidate for police work.
- German Shepherds are considered one of the most intelligent dog breeds, along with the Border Collie and Poodle.
- Contrary to popular belief, German Shepherds are very loving and protective pets of their owners. However, they can display aggression if their aggressive tendencies arent kept in check.
You May Like: German Shepherd Too Skinny
Benefits Of Training Your Gsd In Two Languages
Training your German Shepherd in two different languages can help them with context switching, especially if theyre trained both as working dogs and as household companions.
You can use English as a casual training language that allows them to be more relaxed. For work, you can use a more serious language like German so they know when they need to be more focused and precise.
Having Poor Communication Skills
Theres nothing worse than knowing your German Shepherd isnt listening, but you keep repeating the same behavior.
Your dog will often learn to simply tune you out if you persist in poor communication skills.
Maybe you call their name over and over
And you keep calling their name and expect them to come. Thats poor communication!
Instead, call their name and try luring them with a tasty treat, toy, or even by slapping your leg. Or, go to them and get their attention with the toy or treat.
When your dog doesnt listen theyre letting you know they dont understand you, whatever the reason. Maybe theyre not being stubborn, but need more training with better communication.
German Shepherds are adept at reading body language and are more prone to listen when you have a reward at hand.
This is where using positive reinforcement comes in!
You May Like: Rottweiler Vs Pitbull Who Would Win
Heres How To Get Your German Shepherd To Listen To You Using The Smart Way
STEP 1 Gather 50 very small pieces of training treat at the beginning of each morning. Make sure they are healthy and broken into very tiny pieces since you have so many and keep them in your pocket or a treat bag.
STEP 2 Watch for times during the day when your dog is behaving appropriately. This means they are lying quietly, sitting calmly, playing alone with an approved toy, or otherwise being what you would call a good dog.
STEP 3 Dont give them any commands, as a SMART reward isnt about performing a command you ask. Its about catching when your dog is being good and they least expect a treat.
STEP 4 When you see the good behavior, mark it . This is the core of the program.
STEP 5 Continue to look for good behaviors you want your dog to repeat throughout the day. Work through the 50 tiny treats. Repeat for a week and see if your dogs attention and listening has improved.
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.
Also Check: German Shepherd Pregnancy
They Are Called Land Sharks
This is an important point to consider if you are planning to buy a German Shepherd. The German Shepherd dog puppies bite or nip anything that comes their way. You should train them from a young age that even a nip isnt acceptable behavior. While they will still be young and the nip shouldnt hurt too much, they wont stay small for long and their bite will get more painful with time.