If you must use a collar, then use a safe break-away collar that will release your pup in case of an emergency. This type of collar could save their life if they were to get hung up on a branch or indoors. At this age, gentle exercise should aim to help them with spatial awareness and the ability to sense their position and location in their environments.
Use activities to help your dog learn about their movements in their environment and to stimulate their brains. Place a few small plastic poles on the ground such as PVC poles or even a broom handle. Encourage them to walk over a couple of the poles. They must practice this new skill a few times before catching on to the way their bodies move when stepping over the pole obstacles.
Puppies are clumsy and your pup may stumble a bit. So use this game in a soft area, like a carpeted room or fluffy grass. Place the poles at different distances so they have to think about their paw placement and explore their body movement.
You can make this game more of a challenge by using more poles and moving them in different ways. Look for a gently sloping grassy hill near where you live.
The aim is to get your pup used to moving up and down inclines in a gentle, low-impact way. Encourage them to walk slowly and steadily up and down the slope. As they gain confidence in their abilities, their gait will change to a more natural climbing motion. In the beginning, they may take small steps and hold their posture and head low to improve their balance and footing.
But, as they grow in confidence, they will hold their heads higher and take more quick steps. Go up and down the small slope no more than two to three times at each outing. Keep in mind their teeth are tiny and may come loose if you pull too hard.
If you stand or sit higher than your pup, you may cause injury to their spine and neck as they strain to grab and pull the toy. Your pup must always give the toy back to you in the end. Use the same instructions that you did for the pole stepping activity but make more obstacles to step over. Later in the training process, you can add two or more different treats into the mix and follow the same steps.
This way your dog will help you assign values to the treats. Training that requires a higher level of motivation will need a higher value treat. With useful information from your dog about treat values, you can make the best choice for a specific level of training.
This is determined on a case by case basis and is highly dependent on the temperament and training of the dog in question. In general, you want to provide the opportunity for your German Shepherd to play with other dogs as much as possible. This is not only great to burn energy and stimulate their mind, but teaches them important social skills. Not all German Shepherds are dog-friendly however, so ensure yours is given ample opportunities to socialize to prevent the possibility of fighting or aggressive outbursts.
Playing games of any kind with your German Shepherd is really good for them and builds up your relationship. Remember, first of all, dogs are social creatures by nature and playing is one important element in developing and maintaining their social relationships.
Teaching your German shepherd new commands and tricks is also excellent to provide mental enrichment. A popular game that they will love and involves learning cues is to teach them the names of their toys then hide them and request they only retrieve toys by name.
Remember, the German Shepherd dog is high energy, strong and has levels of stamina beyond most of its owners. Dog owners who regularly exercise with their German shepherd dog develop better communication with, understanding of, and respect for, their loyal companion. Playing fun games, running or other kinds of training allow you and your German Shepherd a chance to blow off steam and spend a little bit of time together in an otherwise tedious week.
It is vital to provide sufficient physical and mental exercises and activity to release pent-up energy and avert boredom. This can lead to behavior issues such as barking, digging, escaping and destructive behavior. You must be logged in to post a comment. Do German Shepherd Dogs need a lot of exercise?
How to exercise a GSD? Daily walk- minutes minimum Purposeful High-Intensity- games, tug-o-war and agility training Mental stimulation- puzzles or obedience training One of the chief responsibilities of being a new dog owner is ensuring that Fido gets plenty of daily exercises to prevent unscrupulous behavior.
Running with Your GSD German shepherds make great running partners when properly physically conditioned over time. Over Exercised Dog Symptoms German Shepherds can go hard and keep going, often not knowing when to stop. Overexertion Signals Excessive panting during or after the exertion Extreme thirst Lagging behind Lameness, limping or a reluctance to move in usual ways Appearing overtired post-exercise or sleeping or laying down more than normal Reluctance to go out for a run Missing mastered cues or commands The most common dangers associated with exercising with your dog are heat stroke , pad abrasions, and muscle soreness.
Also, keep in mind that dogs overheat quicker than humans. Dogs that remain trim live longer and suffer less from osteoarthritis and other physical issues. Keep in mind that your German shepherd needs both physical and mental activity to stay happy and healthy.
Puzzle toys can be a helpful tool, though more energetic pups may prefer something like agility challenges. The idea is to give him a task that helps him feel satisfied and accomplished when he finally achieves it. These are some of the most common symptoms of a sedentary lifestyle:. Coming home to a room full of torn-up papers and other destruction is understandably frustrating, but it might also be a cause for concern. If chaotic behaviors seem to increase, especially suddenly, your pup might be redirecting the excess energy that would otherwise be released through exercise, work, or play.
In fact, a bored shepherd may even try to herd you! Dogs also bark when looking for a reaction out of someone in their environment. German Shepherds are highly active dogs , originally bred for working and guarding flocks of sheep, and more recently used by military and police forces. All this means that German Shepherds are amongst the most high energy dogs out there. Of course, their exercise needs can vary based on a number of factors including their age, fitness level, general health, their food intake and more.
That said, most German Shepherds will usually need at least 90 minutes of exercise per day. This can be spread out across the day and can include all sorts of high energy activity, like walking, running and playing. To get an exercise goal tailored to your dog, simply download the free PitPat app and enter their details.
This is especially true for this breed since they are prone to conditions like hip dysplasia. As a rule of thumb, puppies will need five minutes of formal exercise such as walkies for every month of their age.
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