How To Quickly Bond With A German Shepherd: Easy 10 Step Beginners Guide
Do you know how to bond with a German Shepherd to create an unbreakable attachment for life?
A highly bonded German Shepherd is not only a joy to own, but your connection will have a positive lasting impact on the quality of your life together.
If you dont know how to bond with your dog you could just hope for the best in your relationship and wing it.
You could walk away knowing easy tried-and-true steps that help your German Shepherd pick you as their person.
How can you beat that?
So, lets get to work!
Can You Help Your Gsd Run Faster
Yes you can! German Shepherds react to their environment and many other factors to change their performance. Sluggish training and lack of a proper diet will limit their success.
You play a significant role in improving and maintaining your GSDs physical capabilities. If you want to help your German Shepherd live long and run fast, we have you covered.
Follow these five tips to help your GSD run quicker:
German Shepherds have a strong desire to run, play, and bond. By following these helpful suggestions, you can give your dog everything they need to enjoy their life and run as fast as possible.
If your GSD is overweight or anxious, their speed will be limited. Regular visits to the vet will prevent underlying issues and promote a healthy lifestyle.
Related: Is My German Shepherd Overweight? Heres How to Tell
Are Gsd Mixes Fast
We know that German Shepherds are quick, but what about mixed breeds? German Shepherd Greyhound mixes are an ever-growing breed that continues to gain popularity.
This breed is quick since it combines the speed of of a Greyhound with the muscle and agility of a German Shepherd. Its easy to understand why this mix would be so quick.
We have an in-depth look at this breed for you in this excellent article linked below:
On the other hand, the Shug is much slower. Shugs are a combo of a German Shepherd and a Pug. As you could imagine, pugs arent the quickest breed. In fact, they can only run at about 5 to 10 miles per hour.
While they may not be able to run fast, these dogs are nonetheless amazing companions take a closer look at the Shug in this informative article that weve written for you linked below:
Alaskan Shepherds are incredibly fast. Depending on their genes, this mix may be faster than a pure-bred German Shepherd. Thanks to the Alaskan Malamutes desire to canter for countless miles through varying terrains, they have excellent endurance as well.
Note: Much like every other dog breed mix, you cant predict the top speed or acceleration of German Shepherd mixes. Speed depends on their parents, the total percentage of each breed in their blood, and a number of other traits.
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Practice Bonding On Your Daily Walks
Walks arent just for exercise!
There are walks, and there are super walks!
You know its unquestionably important to have a dog that knows how to walk nicely on a leash.
However, its also important to allow a German Shepherd to have time to explore its surroundings. Dogs see their surroundings with their noses and are amazing at processing information through sniffing.
You can help your dog associate you with fun and fulfilling things by using your walks as a bonding activity.
How To Walk A German Shepherd To Build Your Bond
Dont worry about hurrying along on your walk simply to get from point A to point B. In a relaxed manner walk casually, letting your German Shepherd stop and sniff all the fascinating smells on your adventure. This is fun and also a great way for a stressed-out puppy or newly-adopted German Shepherd to de-stress.
Always carry a bag of highly-scented soft treats with you because crunchy biscuits arent always exciting enough to keep your German Shepherds attention. As your dog turns to give a check-in with you, offer them a soft treat and praise for a reward.
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How Big Are German Shepherd Puppies Vs Adults
A fully grown German Shepherd usually is two to three years old and stops growing after that this applies to its physical growth and its emotional and psychological growth.
Female GSDs would be lighter and smaller than their male counterparts. Females aren’t supposed to be fully grown until they are two to two and a half years old, while males take longer to mature and are not considered adults until they are three years old. When a dog becomes fully grown, its weight will better fill its body.
Other German Shepherd breeds, such as the King Shepherds, have substantially larger heights and weights. The King Shepherds are a mix between a Shiloh Shepherd and a standard German Shepherd. It takes longer for German Shepherd dogs to attain full adult size in the chest and abdomen and reach full height.
German Shepherds typically grow in phases, depending on age. Male German Shepherds stop growing in size when they become nine months old. Female German Shepherds stop growing in size when they grow eight months old and reach their full height. They may develop a half-inch or perhaps an inch more as they mature, but once males are two to two and a half years old and females are three years of age, they will stop growing altogether. Males typically attain a height of 5 to 5.4 ft , while females reach 4.5 to 5 ft . A few people have claimed that their GSDs grew to be 100 to 105 lbs .
German Shepherds History And Running Distances:
German Shepherds today come from a long successful line of herding dogs, dating back to the late 19th century. This means they have had many generations to improve their tolerance to long hours of running around herding farm animals.
Particularly those that are descendants of a working line. For more information on different breed lines please see our article on German Shepherd breed types compared.
This history of keeping up with livestock means that German Shepherds are naturally very energetic and with the right training to help build up their strength and stamina youll end up with a great running buddy who will be able to either keep up with you or egg you on to run further.
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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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How Much Should German Shepherds Run
German Shepherds are not very good at self-regulating. So, it would be up to you to keep them from overexertion. Puppies especially need supervision.
Generally, the rule for exercise duration is 5 minutes per month of age until theyre a year old. This applies to a single session and it is recommended for GSDs to have two exercise sessions per day.
Given this rule, a 2-month-old GSD should only run for a maximum of 10 minutes while a 10-month-old can run for 25 minutes. Doing this twice a day would keep them happy and fulfilled.
As for adult GSDs, how long they run per session will depend on their energy levels and physical conditioning.
Some will be pooped after a few rounds of fetch while others can run steadily for 30 minutes straight. It would be up to you to observe your own dog and determine what their bodies can handle.
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The Root Of The Behavior
German Shepherds were bred as herding dogs. They would spend their time rounding up sheep or other animals as a farm hand. In more recent years, they have become famous for their amazing ability to learn new tricks and trades. German Shepherds are loyal, obedient, and energetic dogs. These qualities make them great police dogs and theyre used in searches, often sniffing for lost people or illegal substances. They also train well as dogs for the blind, work with the sick or elderly to provide comfort, and serve in the military. These active dogs are ready for work and a purpose and have the energy to spare.
German Shepherds need to have a lot of mental and physical stimulation, otherwise, they become bored and can become destructive. Pacing is one of the ways German Shepherds show theyre bored. This behavior stems from their instinct to herd. The back and forth motion in a living room or around the house can simulate herding. Your German Shepherd might not be sure why he is pacing, but he is.
Dogs also pace when they are ill and are trying to tell you something is wrong. Usually, in this situation, their pacing is combined with other symptoms. Liver disease, Cushings disease, dementia, and brain tumors are all possible medical reasons your German Shepherd would pace.
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.
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Why Do German Shepherds Lay Down To Eat
Some people will say fatigue, aging, pain, and injury are reasons for this German Shepherd behavior. While these are valid, there is one reason that seems to be a more logical explanation of why your GSD lays down to eat.
In their wild nature, before we domesticated them, dogs had to hunt their food and protect it from intruders. This meant that keeping sight of their prey from the hunting stage to when the prey was ready to eat was important. Hence, dogs lie down to eat so they can see who is approaching from the front while they enjoy the fruit of their labor.
Below is a photo of my German Shepherd displaying this dog behavior.
What is most interesting is that a dogs natural laying position while eating is better for his health.
Feeding your German Shepherd from his usual bowl can affect your dogs oral and spinal health. This is because eating involves not only a dogs teeth but also other bones and muscles.
Eating the unnatural way can cause misalignments in these bones and muscles and disrupt the bodys acidic pH, which explains the health risks to the spine and the tartar, gingivitis, and loose teeth.
Next time your German Shepherd eats lying down, just smile and say, Well, my dog is being natural today!
For a more in-depth article on this behavior, check out my article, 5 Reasons Why German Shepherds Lay Down to Eat.
Signs Of A Strong Bond
Do you notice any of the signs of a strong bond with your German Shepherd listed above?
Theres no mistaking a German Shepherd who feels a real emotional connection with you. From their happy greetings to following you around the house, this is how youll know if your German Shepherd is bonded to you.
When theyre attached to you, German Shepherds:
- Keeping tabs on where you are when theyre off-leash
- Making a big effort to find you when they want to engage in play
- A desire to be near you, even following you to the bathroom
- A high level of focus on you by frequently looking at you
- A love for physical interaction, such as petting and grooming
- Strong ability to understand when your dog communicates their needs, wants, and interests
Its best to schedule your bonding times each day so you dont forget.
Use the schedule below to help you fit in spending time with your German Shepherd.
Also Check: German Shepherd Nutrition Requirements
Why Do Sheps Bark And Growl
To anybody thats unfamiliar with dogs, certain noises, such as barking and growling, may be interpreted as aggression. However, that is not necessarily the case. Your German Shepherd will probably bark or growl when theyre having fun, interacting with others, and when they want to get your attention or alert you to something.
Of course, growling and barking can also signal aggression, but you should be able to tell whether or not a dog is on guard by looking at their body language. An aggressive German Shepherd will have a stiff, rigid body, a wide, fixed gaze, and possibly raised hackles. They may also wag their tail very slowly and show their teeth.
White Swiss Shepherd Dog
The White Swiss Shepherd Dog is a variety of the German Shepherd bred in Switzerland. It descends from the American White Shepherds the first stud dog of what became the breed was an American dog born in 1966 and imported to Switzerland. The variety was recognised by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale as a separate breed in 2003, and it is now recognised by a number of national kennel clubs.
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How Do You Know Why Your German Shepherd Is Howling
The truth is, you wont always know why your dog is howling. If you look for signs of obvious distress and cant find anything wrong, and she shows no signs of injury or illness, its hard to know what is in your pets head that is triggering this reaction.
Listen carefully for any sounds that might be causing him to howl. There may be a siren in the distance, or it may be something in the music youre playing or even a sound on television thats setting him off.
Since his hearing is so much better than yours, just because you dont hear anything doesnt mean he cant.
You may never know what is making your German shepherd howl, but it doesnt matter unless the source is some kind of pain or distress.
Look carefully at all of the triggers listed above. If you still dont know why shes howling, likely, youll never know.
One thing that you can count on is that your dog isnt howling at the moon. That myth seems to come from the fact that dogs tip their heads back when they howl, so it seems like their howling at the moon. According to scientific studies, they are not. You can read this article if you want to know Why Do German Shepherds Cry and understand this behavior.
In this guide, we go over:
- Preparing to adopt a dog
- Dog supplies you will need
- Choosing the right dog to adopt
- & much more!
Should I Train My German Shepherd To Stop Barking
Theres no need to stop your German Shepherd from barking unless it becomes excessive or its related to a behavioral problem. For example, if your German Shepherd barks constantly during play and doesnt respond to cues to stop, or their barking makes it difficult to concentrate on household tasks and neighbors have commented on the noise.
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How Long Should I Walk My Germanshepherd Puppy
You should walk your German Shepherd puppy 5 minutes per month of age. So a 3-month-old puppy can walk at a slow pace for approximately 15 minutes in one outing. Start off your walks slowly and at a leisurely pace. Gradually increase your walking time and distance as your dog gains stamina and endurance.
Dont pull or rush your pup.
Let them take plenty of sniffs and watch for signs of tiredness like lagging, panting and laying down. Provide fresh, cool water before, during, and after your walk.
The GSD is a fast-growing breed and too much impact too soon can cause irreversible damage.
Its better to take a slow and steady approach to long walks, rather thanrush your pup into exhaustion. You have plenty of time later to hike and runmarathons with your adult GSD.
Find a good walking routine that works for you and your dog. Heres an example of how you can include gentle walks into your puppys day.