Youre The Boss Or Theyre The Boss
German Shepherd are generally extremely muscular and independent dogs. However, they love their owners and their families way too much. Hence, they might show submission by putting a paw on the parent.
However, this could also mean quite the opposite. This might also be their way of showing dominance to their family members.
Your German Shepherd Just Likes To Be Around You And Wants Attention
You might find your German Shepherds clinginess to be a bit annoying. But, how would you feel if we told you that your German Shepherd wont leave you alone purely because he loves you and craves your attention? After all, a German Shepherd cant have two masters and he has chosen you!
Well, why wouldnt he? Youre the one that feeds him, pets him, cuddles him, takes him for long walks, gets him his favorite toys, and spends hours a week playing with him!
When German Shepherds feel that theyre not getting enough attention, they tend to do whatever it takes to get that attention from you as found in a recent study.
During this study of three dog breeds, researchers found German Shepherds as one of the breeds to have become needier during a feeding experiment. They displayed high levels of human-gazing defined as where a dog looks to its owner for encouragement, comfort, and support, which is connected with dependency and clinginess.
You might find it a little extreme that your German Shepherd wont even give you a few minutes alone, but hes not necessarily doing it to be annoying. He just wants to spend more time with you as thats just his nature.
Tip! Never let your German Shepherd sleep on your bed with you, as this may encourage even more clingy behavior! Heres my thought-proving article on whether you should let your German Shepherd sleep with you.
German Shepherd Dogs Are Known For Their Versatility
If you need any job done, just ask your dog. GSD owners understand their dogs were developed as working dogs. In fact, the ideal German Shepherd has a body and gait suited to the hard work that is considered its primary purpose. This means your dog can excel at almost anything. From dog sports like rally, agility, scent work, therapy work, to service dog work, German Shepherds can do it all. The only thing holding your dog back is the time and energy you can commit to training. Its no wonder people always think your dog is a service or police dog.
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German Shepherds And Children
Adult German Shepherds can range from being calm and patient to bouncy and boisterous, depending on their personality, training and socialisation. Some can make great family pets in homes with children of all ages, but dogs should always be supervised around young children.
Make sure you can recognise the signs of unhappiness or anxiety in your dog to help avoid any conflicts. German Shepherds can be nervous of strangers so make sure theyre never left unsupervised. Be careful if you are introducing a German Shepherd to younger children or adults unfamiliar with the breed as they often dont know their own strength.
You Reinforce Their Behavior
Some German Shepherds learn to follow you everywhere because you rewarded the behavior, even if you didnt do it on purpose. When they follow you and you start to pet them, give them treats, or pay any attention to them in any way, they learn that this is how they receive your love, and theyll continue to do it until you train them to stop.
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Bonus: After Your German Shepherd Eats Poop Do This
If you found out, your German Shepherd just ate poop, clean his mouth as soon as possible. It will remove the taste of feces, and he wont look for it anytime soon.
Heres how to do it:
- Give your dog some food and water. This will make him salivate, allowing him to naturally wash his own mouth.
- Let your dog chew on a dental stick or treat. This is an effective way of cleaning your dogs mouth, as well as clear his teeth from debris.
- You can use a wet cloth to clean your dogs mouth. Just be careful not to push your fingers too far in or your dog might gag.
Gsd Circling As A Herding Behavior
According to Leerburg dog trainers, the circling behavior has some roots in a newer style of sheep herding that has come out of Germany.
This herding style is called Herdengebrauchshund, or HGH for short.
HGH herding style is quite different style from how Border Collies herd sheep. Collies are used to round up the sheep and drive them in the desired direction.
But with tending or HGH style, German Shepherd dogs are used instead of Border Collies.
And the GSDs job is to become a living fence of sorts, nipping at the heels of any sheep that are tempted to break formation.
These dogs are trained to control flocks of as many as 800 sheep using this exact type of circling and nipping behavior .
In many ways, when your German Shepherd dog repeatedly circles you, your dog is simply creating a living fence or protective perimeter around you to keep you from being harmed.
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Encourage Your Dog To Eat And Drink Slowly
If your German Shepherd has a tendency of eating too fast you can implement a few methods to regulate this. Buy dog dishes that are designed to slow your dogs eating which will allow them to eat their food at a time.
We recommend the JasGood Slow Dog Bowl from Amazon for large dogs which is a slow feed bowl. It is best for both wet and dry food and also holds water as well as being easy to clean and is dishwasher safe.
Change The Feeding Routine And Slow Down Speed Eating
You can also change your dogs feeding routine by spreading their meal times and providing smaller portions throughout the day which helps them eat smaller amounts of food at a time.
This provides fewer chances for intestinal bacteria to react with indigestible substances in their food.
For fast eaters, you can also use slow feeding bowls that allow your dog to eat smaller portions of food and prevents gulping of food and air which causes flatulence.
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Use Desensitization And Counterconditioning
Certain things trigger your dogs separation anxiety.
For example, putting on your shoes and grabbing your bag means youre about to leave.
You can use this to slowly desensitize your dog to these actions. The goal is to make these actions irrelevant.
Heres a suggestion:
Put on your shoes, grab your bag, then go sit on the couch. Do this a few times.
Counterconditioning, on the other hand, also works wonders. Its showing your dog that positive things happen when you do the actions.
Try putting on your shoes, then give your dog a tasty treat. Immediately leave for a few seconds.
Repeat a few times. Then lengthen the time that youre gone.
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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Why Does My German Shepherd Always Lay On My Head
Its no secret that German Shepherds are large breed dogs. However, that doesnt stop them from trying to cuddle with you as if they were ten times smaller than they actually are! They want to build on their bond with you, and they feel comfortable and relaxed in your presence.
If you let your German Shepherd sleep with you, it might be a nuisance for him to lay on your head every night, but they do it for a few reasons.
Here are three reasons why your German Shepherd lays on your head:
Reasons Why German Shepherds Are More Than Just Dogs
As the second most popular dog breed in America, and one of the most popular globally, German Shepherds certainly are exceptional. While all dogs are lovable, theres something special about a German Shepherd that makes breed enthusiasts want no other type of dog. Heres just a few of the reasons why:
1. Every German Shepherd is breathtaking.
At the dog park, at dog conformation shows, and on the street, German Shepherds always stand out. That unmistakable saddleback coat is easy for most people to recognize, even those who do not consider themselves to be dog people. A German Shepherd carries himself proudly, like a wolf, and has a graceful gait you wouldnt expect from a dog their size.
2. German Shepherds are deeply loyal.
Like most herding breeds, the German Shepherd has an unwavering focus on their job for most, this might just be keeping a protective watch over their family. They dont rush to make friends with everyone they meet, though theyll happily warm up to good people once theyve passed the German Shepherd Sniff Test.
3. German Shepherds are problem solvers.
4. Theyre total drama queens.
Most people think German Shepherds are tough, even scary, but you know better. Your German Shepherd is a big baby, especially when it comes to pooping outside in the rain, or hearing a clap of thunder outdoors.
5. German Shepherds hear everything.
6. They are great work out buddies!
German Shepherds can participate in almost any dog sport
9. They adore children.
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Why Your Dog Barks At Certain Dogs
Below are some common reasons why your dog might bark at certain dogs and not others.
Excitement
The reason why it does it might be that it is excited. This would be more likely if it does it when the other dogs are not being threatening and if your own dog shows signs of excitement in its body language.
Signs of excitement could include wagging its tail, licking and having wide-open eyes.
It would also be more likely if it does it when the other dogs are dogs that it has played with in the past or if the other dogs are showing signs of excitement around it themselves.
Mistreatment
The cause might be that it was mistreated by those dogs in the past. This would be more likely if it only barks at dogs that it has interacted with before and if it shows threatening body language towards them. These signs could include showing its teeth, a curled nose, pulling its lips back and a stiff tail.
It feels threatened by them
Another possible cause is that it considers the other dogs as being threatening. This would be more likely if it does it when the other dogs are showing threatening body language, if they are large dogs and if your dog is showing threatening body language towards them itself.
Prey drive
Its being protective
The cause might also be that it is being protective. This would be more likely if it does it when the other dogs are approaching yourself, when they are on its territory or when they are showing threatening body language.
The Stressed Or Worried Pup
The situation your puppy is in when she is panting, as well as her other actions, can be cues to the cause of the panting. If sheâs licking her lips or hides her face under your arm or against your shoulder, she could be worried, stressed or even fearful. You may notice your pup pants during a thunderstorm or when she is at the vetâs office.
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Are They Trying To Herd You
German Shepherds were born to herd livestock. These instincts are still quite strong in many dogs of this breed today. Check whether your dog is attempting to push you in a particular direction as they are circling you. They may also attempt to nudge or nip your ankles.
What To Watch For
Any abnormal symptom could be a sign of serious disease or it could just be a minor or temporary problem. The important thing is to be able to tell when to seek veterinary help and how urgently. Many diseases cause dogs to have a characteristic combination of symptoms, which together can be a clear signal that your German Shepherd Dog needs help.
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German Shepherd Whine When They Cannot See You
German Shepherds have very strong guarding and herding instincts this is why they are the official guard, guide, search and rescue, and military dog. While at home, German Shepherds are very territorial.
It will follow its owner around the house and when it is locked in a room, the German Shepherd whines until it is opened for.
This is because it has an overwhelming urge to protect its owners. Hence, another reason your German Shepherd whines is when they cannot see you.
You may have noticed this behavior in public. Your German Shepherd may turn and discover you are no longer in their line of sight this may be very distressing for the dog as it cannot protect you. The dog may vocalize this distress by continuously whining.
Clearing Up A False Positive
The USDA also put to rest the possibility that another dog, a pug named Winston, had become the first dog to test positive in the U.S. Researchers at Duke University announced in late April that they had detected the virus in Winstons saliva after his owners tested positive for COVID-19. The story went viral. Subsequent USDA testing, however, found that Winston had not contracted the virus.
John Howe, president of the AVMA, told the New York Times on Wednesday that Winston could have licked something or someone with the virus, causing him to test positive, but that did not mean that the virus was in his bloodstream or his respiratory tract, which would have made him infected. A dog can have the virus in their mouth, but not in their system, he said.
The Duke University research team announced Winstons positive result before the USDA had conducted confirmation testing. The announcement was widely reported in media and on social media, with headlines stating that the pug was the first dog to test positive for coronavirus in the U.S. By contrast, the Bronx Zoo held back from announcing the first tigers positive test until after the USDA had confirmed the result.
A key insight may be that reporting positive tests in animals before cases are officially confirmed can lead to confusion, among both media and the public.
Researchers on the Duke study, had not responded to a National Geographic request for comment by publication time.
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Train Your Dog The Quiet Command
The Quiet command will stop your dog from barking or howling when you dont want then to be. Heres how to train it.
The best way to train the Quiet command is to start by asking your dog to come and play with you. Once they start to howl, point your finger and say quiet, then give them their reward after a few seconds of silence or howling has passed. Keep repeating this process until the dog knows how to quiet down when they see the signal from you.
Why Does My German Shepherd Lean On Me
Why does my German shepherd lean on me? German shepherds are very protective of their home, family, and owner. Despite being large, they are very gentle and loving of those closest to them. Leaning into their owner and other family members shows affection but also protection.
Their breed background is that of a working dog used to herd and protect their flock of sheep. Today they are working dogs that assist in the military and police. They also make great therapy and assistance dogs.
Owners may find that this breed leans into them more when they are outside, in public, or places other than the home territory. This protective leaning can also follow through into following their loved ones around and staying close beside them.
For potential dog owners looking for a dog breed that forms a strong bond with them while being loyal and affectionate, the German shepherd is their dog!
Other potential reasons for a German shepherd to lean on those they love include feelings of fear, comfort, and attention. In certain other instances, they will do this to show dominance.
One might find it hard to believe that such a large dog needs comfort or fears, but they do just like other dogs. Regardless of size, the German shepherd, like other dogs, needs security. Historically, their background had them spending a great deal of time around their owners or families as they went about their work.
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