Your German Shepherd Likes Grass
Many cats have a well-known preference for catnip, a special type of grass that often produces hyperactivity or sleepiness in pet felines.
But there is no known equivalent to catnip for canines at least not yet.
However, it is possible that your dog simply likes the way grass tastes, as weird as that might sound.
Or, as we mentioned in the previous section here, perhaps what your dog likes most is the mouth feel, the texture and rhythm of chewing on the fibrous grass stems.
Another possible explanation is that the grass your German Shepherd is chewing on has been peed or pooped on by another dog or a cat or some other animal.
German Shepherds and all dogs have a well-documented affinity for rolling in things no human would ever want to roll in.
We are not sure exactly why they do this, although here again there are lots of theories.
But you can test out whether this theory might be the explanation by watching where your German Shepherd goes to eat grass.
Does your dog always seem to nip at grass in the same location? Or is your GSD eating grass right where you picked up a steaming pile of some other animals poop the other day?
Did you see your cat pee on the grass right near where your dog is going to town?
It could be that your German Shepherd is simply engaging in full-sensory immersion in all the other scents that that particular patch of grass is offering up.
Why Do German Shepherds Walk Weird
Besides the lower back, the other main difference between straight back and sloped back German shepherd is the gait of the latter.
The old-fashioned or the straight back German shepherd performed its functions perfectly all day long for which it was bred-trotting. Working on farms and assisting in herding cattle/sheep and never getting tired.
With the development of show line or slant back German shepherd, modifying of the body skeletal & muscular structure to lower the back, impacted the gait.
The difference is not in the spine or back but rather in the hips and hind legs. This produces a different gait.
Although not a defect, but this angulation does not help the dog to perform for long hours in the field doing shepherding jobs, or jobs requiring stamina and power.
What To Do When Your Dog Has Eaten Carpet
Okay, so youve discovered your dog has eaten carpet. Now what? The first thing to do is to determine how much.
If it is only a small amount, observing your dog and waiting for it to pass may be all thats necessary. Your dog may also vomit the carpet back up after some time has passed. Call your vet first just to make sure.
Even if vomiting does occur, its important to monitor your dog over the next few days and contact the vet if you see any changes in appetite, energy level, or bathroom habits.
If it has eaten a large amount, taking them to the vet is advised. The biggest concerns are blockage and infection.
The vet may want to do a physical exam, and possibly an x-ray, to determine if the carpet can be passed or if inducing vomiting will do the trick. In extreme cases, surgery may be necessary.
Carpet has some specific dangers that other foreign items may not. For one, the carpet fibers can become wrapped around the intestines, pinching off areas or creating a blockage. Carpet is also full of bacteria, which can lead to infection.
Observe your dog for signs of infection, such as fever, lethargy, and lack of appetite, and notify your vet if they occur .
One of the most important things to do when your dog has eaten carpet is to provide lots of love and comfort. Letting your dog know youre there for them with extra attention, love, petting, and hugs will help them feel better once the worst parts are over.
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How To Stop Your German Shepherd Whining
There are many different reasons that your German Shepherd might be whining. Sometimes they are happier reasons like they are excited and are greeting you when you get home, but other whines are more dangerous such as when they are in pain. If you are looking to stop your German Shepherd from excessive whining then you can try one of the possible solutions below:
- Give them more exercise and attention
- Comfort them when there are loud noises or when they are scared
- Use positive reinforcement to help stop their whining
- Give them a toy to distract them when they are nervous or scared
- Use a dog trainer to help improve their behavior
Why Are Sloped Backs A Desirable Trait In German Shepherds And Other Breeds
A working line or straight back German shepherd cannot perform its job well with a sloped back structure. It is not a desirable trait and has been observed practically.
The desirability for the sloped back is purely a personal preference. The idea of some breeders is a walk with bouncy movements as if floating, produced by sloping back.
The sloped back German shepherd is purely a show dog, not meant for heavy work like for herding, rescue, police, military, or the like.
The slope back or angled back German shepherd is more suitable for light duties like being a home dog, emotional and comfort partner, handicaps guide & assistant.
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Why Do German Shepherds Pee When Excited
Excitement urination in dogs is especially associated with puppies, and its expected that they will grow out of this behavior with age.
When you scratch your GSDs belly, arrive home from work, or a visitor greets them, all these can cause them extreme excitement, and your puppy may pee small amounts of urine. Of course, this is a problem if your pup is on the carpet or lying on your new couch!
According to UCDavis Veterinary Medicine, excitement urination in dogs may also be triggered by a few other causes:
- Accidental reinforcement this means that you sympathize with and excuse your German Shepherds inability to always hold their urine, and they begin to use it as a way to find sympathy from you.
- Bladder sphincter this is a bladder dysfunction that comes with decreased bladder control.
- Genetic predisposition your dogs parents were predisposed or had the condition.
Excitement urination should be differentiated from urine-marking which is a behavior problem. Dogs will spray to mark their territory or communicate their belonging to you. You can learn how to deal with German Shepherd spraying here.
Why Do German Shepherds Eat Grass 4 Reasons
Weve all seen our German Shepherds eating on some grass at one time or another. The last thing that we think of German Shepherds as being are grazing animals, so whats up with this behavior?
Why do German Shepherds eat grass?
German Shepherds eat grass for a few different reasons:
Lets now take a further look into these reasons. This will allow you to understand just what is going through your German Shepherds mind when he or she is engaging in this unusual seeming behavior.
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What Human Foods Can German Shepherds Eat
While German Shepherds can eat human food not all human foods are safe for your GSD. They like chewing on the occasional raw bone, but should not be fed cooked chicken bones.
Avoid anything spicy or with sugar, and NEVER give your dog chocolate it can be fatal. In addition, steer clear of foods like grapes, raisins, and garlic.
Here are examples of some human foods German Shepherds like to eat:
- Cooked chicken breast
- Apples
They May Not Be Old Enough To Eat Dry Puppy Food
Theres also the possibility that youve given your puppy dry puppy food too early. If this is the case, then theyre going to have a tough time eating it and may avoid it altogether. Of course, the simplest thing to do here is to switch back to wet food until theyre old enough.
Fortunately, in most cases, theyll be weaned off puppy food before theyre sold to you, but if theyve been sold to you too early then this is maybe why theyre not eating.
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How To Stop Your German Shepherd From Eating Grass
If your German Shepherd enjoys more eating grass than a normal diet, add fruits and vegetables to your dogs diet. Dogs like to eat vegetables like carrots, broccoli, and Kyle.
Some dogs prefer cooked vegetables to raw ones. However, some dogs like to eat raw carrots because it releases their energy by chewing and cleaning the accumulated tartar on their teeth.
Other foods that can lessen the likeness to the grass include asparagus, strawberries, bell peppers, pumpkin, watermelon, and cucumber.
Some green foods that you should feed your German Shepherd in small amounts are cabbage, mustard greens, spinach, and celery.
You should avoid giving your dog garlic, onion, chives, and tomatoes as these are toxic for dogs.
You can also avoid this grass-eating behavior by giving your German Shepherd plenty of exercise. Excessive exercise will reduce their curiosity to eat grass it will also keep them healthy and protect them from destructive behaviors.
Similarly, when you take your dog to the park, keep him on a leash so that when he tries to eat grass, you can take him away.
German Shepherds Eat Grass Because They Like The Taste And Texture
While there is no scientific proof of this reason, most experts agree that German Shepherds may, in part, eat grass simply due to its taste and texture.
Have you ever chewed on something because the texture was oddly satisfying?
Some people chew straw straws or toothpicks habitually. Other people mangle wooden ice cream sticks as a bonus treat when the ice cream is finished.
We do this for the mouth feel, as there is no nutrition in these objects.
Similarly, to a German Shepherd, grass may feel pleasing in the mouth. Or maybe they like the feeling of ripping thick blades of grass from the ground.
Alternatively, they might like the taste of dewy, tender, and freshly sprouted spring grass . As mentioned, we cannot be sure of the exact reason for grass-eating in German Shepherds.
While grass-eating is not likely to become an obsession like tail-chasing, it can become a habit, and your German Shepherd may graze whenever they happen to be near a patch of grass.
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Is It Safe For Dogs To Eat Grass
If your dog does eat grass, for the most part, its considered safe as long as it doesnt cause them to vomit repeatedly, have diarrhea, or drink water excessively.
Grass can sometimes harbor intestinal parasites from the droppings of other animals. You should regularly treat your pup for intestinal parasites, but even more diligently if your pooch has a taste for grass.
Pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and other lawn treatments can contain ingredients that are not good for your dog to consume. Be conscious of what you put on your lawn at home if your dog eats grass in the yard.
Why Do German Shepherds Lick Themselves
Have you ever seen German Shepherd behavior where your dog licks his mouth just after looking at someone? If yes, check the person for an angry face.
Researchers in animal behavior in the UK and Brazil have discovered that dogs will lick their mouths in response to angry human faces. So, dont think your dog likes your angry face if he licks his mouth. He is just trying to communicate with you!
But dogs will also lick themselves for medical reasons, especially pruritus. You should, therefore, seek the intervention of your dogs vet if you notice the first signs of excessive itching in your dog.
Some of the medical conditions that will cause your German Shepherd to lick his paws and other parts of his body include:
- Allergies
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Sarcoptic mange and bacterial/fungal/parasite infections
- Injury and arthritis pain
- Some prescription drugs
- Hormonal imbalance
Note, however, that dogs will often lick their paws as part of self-grooming, and those who are obsessive groomers may do so a bit exaggeratedly.
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When Should You Take Action
If you notice them eating grass more frequently or excessively, be alert of potential underlying illnesses that your dog is attempting to self-treat. Also look for vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, decrease in appetite, blood in stool, lethargy, or lip licking.
Always monitor your dog when there are house plants nearby, as certain varieties can cause toxicity if theyre chewed or ingested. While chewing on the lawn is a common behavioral action in many canines, you can train your dog out of the behavior to help provide peace of mind.
Its always best to consult with your vet if you think your dog has chewed on a toxic house plant or possibly ingested too much grass or small amounts of chemicals. The vet will be able to perform assessments like fecal samples, blood tests, or even physical exams to determine underlying conditions. If your dog doesnt exhibit any symptoms, but you feel that they may have ingested too much grass, keep them hydrated and allow time for potty breaks. Have your dog fast 8-12 hours before introducing food slowly. After 12 hours if your dog continues to show signs, check in with your veterinarian.
How Do I Solve This
If your German shepherd whines continuously in public when you are out of sight, consider following this process to minimize this behavior.
STEP 1: When taking your dog out for a walk, be accompanied by a friend, and allow them to hold the leash.
STEP 2: As you walk, place a little more distance between yourself and the German Shepherd. Continue to increase the distance watching the dogs reactions.
STEP 3: Change direction, if necessary, and increase the distance, monitoring the dogs reaction to ensure it is not overwhelmed. With time, you will be able to move away until you are out of sight.
STEP 4: If the dog does not whine, allow your friend to reward this behavior by giving them a treat. You are slowly conditioning the German Shepherd to keep calm even when they cannot see you.
Note: You can also do this at home when your German Shepherd is too clingy. Lock the German Shepherd in a room and give them a few minutes alone. Increase the time limit each day. This slowly conditions your German Shepherd to be comfortable alone, and also that the fact that they cannot see you does not mean you are in any danger thus, reducing anxiety over time.
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The Facts About Dogs Eating Grass
- Many dog owners worry that their dog eating grass is a sign that theyre sick.
- But dogs eating grass is actually quite common behaviour.
- Dogs often eat grass simply because they like the taste.
- In many cases it is not a cause for concern.
- Make sure they dont eat grass treated with pesticides
- And ensure they are protected against lungworm, which is passed on by slugs and snails.
- But if your dog is eating grass and being sick repeatedly, not eating their food or lethargic, contact your vet or your nearest emergency vet.
Does Your Dog Eat Grass
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Does your dog eat grass? One of my dogs eats grass like a cow. This habit of hers doesnt bother me at all, since it seems to have no ill-effects on her whatsoever.
However, whenever Im standing outside in the cold waiting for her to relieve herself its hard not to hop impatiently from foot to foot while she enthusiastically eats at least five to seven mouthfuls of grass. Unless your dog’s digestion is suffering unwanted upheavals from his grass-eating habit, it’s not really a problem.
What I would suggest you do is to keep an eye on your dog around recently treated lawns, or anywhere where pesticides, snail bait, or rat poison could be, especially since most garden chemicals are highly toxic to dogs.
Dogs have been eating grass since the dawn of time with few ill-effects, aside from the odd bout of vomiting – and really, this is one of those things that seems to bother owners a lot more than their dogs most dogs, will simply re-ingest the vomitus and go about their day unfazed.
Does your dog eat grass? Overall, grass eating is nothing to worry about its a life-long habit with many dogs, and if yours does decide that its no longer in his best interests, hell simply stop eating it all by himself.
* Supervise him whenever he’s around grass.
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Working German Shepherd Dog Breed Line
A true working German Shepherd dog is going to have a markedly different temperament than the German Shepherd most people keep as a family pet.
These dogs are intensely high-strung and difficult to work with. The working GSD is definitely a dog for experienced dog handlers and trainers only!
Some of the traits that are closely associated with a working GSD include these:
- High level of aggression.
- High prey drive.
- High tolerance for pain.
- Smaller body size and less even conformation because they are bred for temperament rather than appearance.
Owners and breeders that work with true working dog German Shepherd breed lines also say these dogs are less trustworthy around kids, other pets, and strangers.