How To Get Your German Shepherd To Stop Attacking Small Dogs
There are a number of things that you can do to get your German Shepherd to be less aggressive towards small dogs that I will mention below.
You can look at the book Training Your German Shepherd on Amazon to get more tips about how you can train your GSD.
Train it to listen to you while on the leash
To get your German Shepherd to be less aggressive towards small dogs it will be very important to get it to listen to you while on the leash.
You would do this by training it to sit when on the leash. You can do this by getting some treats that it likes, saying sit and then waiting for it to sit and then giving it the treat. If you find that it doesnt sit, you would want to raise the treat above its head so that it sits naturally and then reward it with the treat. You would repeat this until you are able to get it to sit naturally.
Once you can get your German Shepherd to listen to you, it would be necessary to get it used to listening to you when other dogs are around such as is done in the video below.
If your German Shepherd lives with small dogs
If your German Shepherd lives with small dogs then the best option for you will be to separate them as much as possible since GSDs do have a strong prey drive.
However, to train your German Shepherd to get along with small dogs that it lives with youll do it in three stages. First, youll teach it to stay, then to stay when its being distracted then to stay when the small dog is around.
Keep it away from small dogs
What Can Be Done About It
First, its best to witness multiple signs over a span of days before concluding anything. And if you do see them, try to find a cause for it. Consider whether your GSD has a legitimate reason to be depressed maybe he isnt receiving quite the attention he used to, maybe hes left alone for the entire day while everyone is at work or school or perhaps another pet in the family has recently passed away. Once you have identified a likely cause, you are better able to help your GSD. Some causes, like bereavement, do not have a simple fix, and most of the time, its a matter of being there for him and giving him your undivided attention to help him recover. Other times, when its a matter of not receiving enough of your attention, or that his basic needs arent being met, the solutions are more straightforward. If you realize you have only been giving him 40 minutes of exercise per day and practically zero training, you can improve upon that area and see how it affects him.
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Are You Feeding Your Puppy The Best Quality Food
Your GSD puppy needs adequate nutrients in its diet for growth and to maintain a healthy weight.
GSDs are considered medium to large-sized dogs, and they need to be fed the appropriate breed-formulated dog food, especially as puppies.
At 1 year, your GSD puppy will weigh 95% of its full adult weight. If you are not feeding it the right formulation for its breed size, this can result in undernourishment and a skinny puppy.
Also, GSD puppies have a higher capacity for nutrient absorption than small breeds, so its important that you feed your GSD puppy a quality large-breed puppy food with the proper nutrients.
Above all else, make sure that your puppys food contains the following core components:
- Protein sources
- Vitamins
- Probiotics
Your GSD puppy needs these nutrients in order to support the development of their internal, muscular, and skeletal systems.
In addition to the proper nutrients, your growing GSD puppy needs to be consuming an adequate amount of calories. The amount of calories that your puppy needs will vary.
As a general rule, your GSD puppy needs to be consuming at least 500 calories per day. Speak with your veterinarian about the specific caloric requirements for your specific GSD puppy.
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Howling To Gather The Pack
While your dogs ancestors, wolves, would use howling as a way to signal a pack meeting, your dog has a pack also. However, as previously mentioned, your dogs pack doesnt consist of other dogs, or wolves for that matter. Your dogs pack consists of perhaps just you, or you and your family.
So if you return home from work and your dog is expressing himself by howling, he is simply showing you his excitement and joy that the pack has once again reunited. Even you being gone for a short time can seem like an eternity for your dog, so it is overjoyed every time the pack reunites.
Male Vs Female German Shepherds
What makes a female German Shepherd Dog different from a male German Shepherd Dog? As you will soon discover, there are many ways to examine and attempt to answer this important question!
For some people, aside from simple size, weight, and height considerations, there really is no important or measurable difference between a male and a female German shepherd. But for other people, even the subtle differences between a male and a female German shepherd can be sufficiently important to make one gender a preferable choice to the other in certain specific situations.
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Reasons Why Your German Shepherd Whines So Much + 7 Tips
Your German Shepherd is a big whiner.
They whine day in, day out. Happy or sad.
And now your eyes are like a pandas due to sleepless nights
Is this normal?
In this article, youll discover:
- 7 tips to stop your dog from whining.
- How to comfort your dog with the anxiety wrap.
- 11 reasons why your German Shepherd whines so much.
- Whether your dog shows their love for you through whining.
- And much, much more
What Is The Average Adult German Shepherd Size
German Shepherd dogs will no longer grow in height after 36 months of age, or three years.
You should know theres about a 25 percent weight difference between males and females.
Just remember that the numbers weve given in this article are averages. Your dog may be under or over, and its fine if thats the case!
Dont feel the need to be exact. Dog individuals vary, just like human individuals do.
You can ask your vet for a weigh in and a check up to discuss any concerns.
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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.
Your German Shepherd Is Anxious Or Afraid
A German Shepherd that feels anxious or afraid may act out in any number of ways, including by groaning.
The best way to figure out if this is why your dog is groaning is to look for other situational triggers.
Some things to look for may include a thunderstorm that is brewing, holiday fireworks going off, a strange person or dog in the vicinity, or something else that might be frightening your dog.
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How Many Puppies Do German Shepherds Have
While it can vary greatly from dog to dog, on average, German Shepherds have about 8 puppies at a time. 8 is a common amount for large breeds, but your dog could have less or more than that.
Beyond 8, you run the risk of puppies being too small or less healthy, since nutrient was being distributed thinly during gestation.
Generally, if you have kept your German Shepherd healthy and well-fed, you are likely to get more puppies. The number is also smaller if your dog gets pregnant on her first or second heat cycle.
Choose Foods With A High Protein And Fat Content
Look for foods high in protein for a healthy weight gain program.
If your German Shepherd eats normally but isnt gaining weight, you may need to switch to different food. Look for foods that have a higher percentage of fat and protein than your current food.
Adults and seniors should eat about 20 to 25 % of their daily calories from protein and 25 to 50 % from fats. The rest of the calories should come from carbohydrates.
Those are mainly the essentials, so if you arent feeding your German Shepherd this amount fix this issue immediately.
Read Also: How Many Puppies Can A German Shepherd Have First Litter
How Big Will A German Shepherd Grow To Be
A German Shepherd is a medium-sized dog that can sometimes grow to be fairly large.
As far as weight goes, for a male German Shepherd, they will typically weigh between 65 to 90 pounds, or 30 to 40 kilograms, at the end of their growth. This could happen around 2 1/2 to 3 years of age.
For a female, her average weight will be from 46 to 70 pounds or around 22 to 32 kilograms.
As for their height, an adult male German Shepherd will usually be around 24 to 26 inches, or 60 to 65 centimeters tall. A female will be around 22 to 24 inches, or 55 to 60 centimeters tall.
For all of these measurements, their growth should be done by three years old. At a year old, the growing is actually mostly finished, but there will be about another 5% left to gain in both weight and height from the year to the three-year mark.
It is important to note that all of these numbers are averages. There may be some individual German Shepherds that are smaller or larger than these numbers indicate.
That is perfectly normal. As long as the dog is healthy, can still run around and play, and doesnt have any noticeable issues, there is no need to worry, even if your dogs numbers dont seem to match these.
If you get obsessed with the numbers and think your GSD puppy must match them exactly, then you will probably never be completely happy because I can almost certainly assure you that your German Shepherd Dog puppy will never perfectly match the numbers.
Its Their Special Way To Make You Feel Better
Another reason why German Shepherds whine is because they are empathizing with you.
Have you ever noticed that whenever youre sad, your beloved pet comes to you for a cuddle?
They whine as if they are telling you that you are not alone.
Dogs are very intuitive animals. They sense our emotions so they try to make us feel better with their presence.
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What Is The German Shepherd Dwarfism
This is a rare inherited genetic disorder that results from breeding two purebred German Shepherds.
A German Shepherd with dwarfism, though significantly smaller , will exhibit the token characteristics and mannerisms the breed is known for. It will also look like a typical Shepherd, except with shortened limbs.
This is one way to procure a smaller than normal Shepherd, but there will be extra health issues to deal with, such as allergies and thyroid issues. It is common for these dogs to bald as they age as well.
Here is a cute video that gives a glimpse into what life is like for a German Shepherd with dwarfism.
They Have A Guarding Instinct
All German Shepherds will have a natural guarding instinct, and this typically includes both your property, you, and the other members of your family. As a result of these instincts you may find your German Shepherd doing some funny things like laying in doorways and walking the perimeter of your yard.
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Why Is My German Shepherd Dog Getting Older
Late-age disorders such as arthritis and dementia can also indicate that your pooch is reaching their golden years. The onset of these diseases and disorders can take a toll on your dog and might make them show other signs of aging. If your dog develops these disorders earlier in their lifespan, they might act elderly sooner than other dogs.
10-year-old German Shepherd Unfortunately, a German Shepherds expected lifespan is between 9 and 13 years old, and their time left here is getting short. It is common for German Shepherds to face arthritis, skin problems, decreased activity, dental issues, weight gain or loss, or even cancer at this age and older.
Every Day Is A Brushing Day
Brush your German Shepherd for at least 5-10 minutes daily if possible.
Grooming your German Shepherds coat removes excess fur and redistributes your German Shepherds skin oils into its fur. This can prevent excessive shedding by moisturizing their hair and skin.
This can be achieved easily by using a Furminator that can reach the undercoat to remove loose hair easily.
Check out this video to see the real result for yourself:
Instead of letting the hair find its way around your house, this will directly minimize the amount of furball you have to pick up everywhere.
Furminator De-Shedding Tool for Large Dogs
Check out more suggestions from existing GSD owners in our: Shopping List for Shedding Dogs.
Brushing your dog could also be a way to bond with him. The touching, petting and cuddling involved can be the best way to show your love and care to your pet pal. Every owner should enjoy doing it.
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Working Vs Show German Shepherds Size Comparison
When adopting a German Shepherd puppy, you will need to consider whether you are looking for a working dog or a show dog.
While you might just be looking for a nice addition to your family, GS puppies have been bred for specific purposes for many years, resulting in dogs that are made to work and dogs that are not.
Working dogs need to have a lot more stamina and energy because they need to do a job. They do not have the same cosmetic attributes that you will find with show dogs, instead making up for it with incredibly athletic bodies that can move all day long.
Meanwhile, show GS are bigger and bulkier and a lot less energetic. They have thicker coats, more color uniformity, and are bulkier in size. These make for better family pets, because they do not require the same level of work to keep them happy.
Why Is My German Shepherd So Skinny
German Shepherds were originally used as herding dogs all over Europe. They have the power to herd cattle and sheep, and they like the sound of it. Now that we have our dogs like this, we want to know what can be done to give her some more weight.
Of course, it will be a problem if your German Shepherd losing weight rapidly because if we are not careful, it could be that your dog has health issues that can be fatal to their old age.
Some of the things below are causes for why the German Shepherd looks skinny.
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Bonus: Female Dogs Whine When Theyre In Heat
Its the time of the year again.
Male dogs, yet again, come up to your house.
Sniffing. Searching. Wondering where the prettiest female dog lives.
As the males look for their mate, the owner of a female German Shepherd gets sleepless nights.
Their dog whines non-stop. She pleads, hoping she can come outside to meet her Dog Charming.
They want to mate.
This goes on for about two weeks. 12 nights of constant barking and whining.
Good grief.
Twice a year, female dogs go through the heat cycle . When this occurs, female dogs can get pregnant if they are not spayed.
Has Your Puppy Been Traveling Regularly
If you feel that your GSD puppy is too skinny, consider if you have been taking it along for car rides on a consistent basis.
Many puppies experience motion sickness. This does not necessarily mean that they will vomit or have an upset stomach only.
Some puppies will do neither, and instead, decrease their eating to the point of losing weight. If this is the case, limit the amount of time your puppy spends traveling in a car.
If you are unable to do this, consider the following to make your puppys car rides more comfortable:
- Allow your puppy to ride next to you in the front passengers seat. This will allow your puppy to have you as a reference point and a distraction.
- Provide a small puppy bed on the seat. This will allow for your puppy to be cradled and supported and will limit how much it shifts around due to the cars movement.
- Make sure that the temperature in the car is neither too hot or cold.
- Pay attention to how you drive. Often times we take our driving for granted without considering the comfort of our passengers. Puppies can be especially sensitive during car rides, so be sure to take turns gently, and do not brake or accelerate suddenly.
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