German Shepherds are one of the most famous dog breeds. You are most likely to see them accompanying police officers or in rescue operations. Other than that, this breed is highly trainable, so it’s not surprising that many would choose to raise this dog. However, some fur parents are having problems in handling German Shepherds.
Today, we’ll discuss how to handle your German Shepherd’s energy and how to mellow them out. But before anything else, you should know that this breed is bred for doing intensive tasks. It’s one of the reasons why they have a lot of reserve energy for a domesticated dog. So, handling their energy also requires patience, support, and even an energized fur parent!
Why German Shepherds Are Full With Energy
Since German Shepherds are bred to do intensive tasks, usual dog playtime may not tire them at all. If their energy isn’t utilized, they may become bored because they’re not used to those light workouts or playtime. So, below are the following reasons why your German Shepherd doesn’t even feel tired at all.
They Need A Lot Of Workouts
German Shepherds are highly trainable dog breeds, but that doesn’t mean that they’ll automatically understand what you teach. They may just use their energy reserves to play around tirelessly, making training a lot challenging. So, you’ll still need to treat these active dogs just like any other breeds.
You should conduct their training regularly to use their energy effectively. Start with the basics, then gradually go to intensive commands and training. Don’t worry; we’ll discuss this further in a while to help you train your dog.
They Want To Get Your Attention
Nowadays, we get busier and busier maybe because of work or projects. It also means fewer playtime and training together with your canine friend. Because dogs are social animals, your German Shepherd may do many crazy things to get your attention. It really does cause a lot of trouble, especially if you’re working on something and get distracted by them.
Do note that if you entertain your dog’s crazy acts, they might think they’re doing the right thing. The best way to deal with it is to ignore them and then give your attention when they’re calm. You could also give verbal commands like “no” or “stop” to make them stop their wild acts.
Whatever you do, please don’t punish them physically as it can discourage them and be afraid of you. After everything, they just wanted your unconditional love and attention.
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A New Place
Well, fur parents know that dogs will inevitably run around if they see a large and spacious space. What’s more, if your dog has an excessive supply of energy like a German Shepherd can do with that space! So if you’re wondering why your canine friend is energized, then probably it’s because of a new location.
They Get Bored
German Shepherds are not just your ordinary dog breed that you can just leave them be. Remember that they can get easily bored because they’re used to active activities. You have to make sure that they get playtimes and exercises as well. It’ll keep you both healthy and strong while playing and doing training together!
What Should I Do To Get My German Shepherd Mellow Out Sooner?
In this portion, we’ll dive deeper into how to utilize your dog’s energy the right way. It’s important to remember that it’s more than just training and exercises. It’s also about disciplining and making them listen to what you say or command.
Avoid Giving Treats
We talked about your German Shepherd doing everything it can to get your attention, right? So, sometimes because we’re busy, we tend to give them treats to make them stop or calm down. It’s possible that they’ll calm down, but it’s not an excellent way to condition them. The reason is that they’ll think that when they do crazy stuff, they get a treat for it. You don’t want to train them unconsciously like that, right?
To solve it, train your dog to learn basic commands like “no,” “stop,” “stay,” and more. If they reacted to those commands correctly, give them a treat. In that way, you’re disciplining and training them to listen and control their energy.
Regular Exercise And Training
When you give regular exercise and training to your German Shepherd, they become obedient and behaved. The reason for that is they become tired, and they now know how to listen to you. So, you can both go jogging at the park, play fetch, or do an obstacle course challenge! Don’t forget those basic commands, which will be very useful at times.
Dog Crate Training
Crate training can help you manage your German Shepherd on times when you’re too busy to handle them. These crates will be your German Shepherd’s place where they can go by themselves. It’ll give them some space and air that’ll make them calmer.
SEE ALSO: What to Do if My German Shepherd is Too Friendly
Additional Things To Consider
Lastly, a few things that you should consider to handle your German Shepherd’s activeness. First is the age of your canine friend can significantly affect their energy levels. If they’re young, then definitely they have a lot of energy to spare. If your German Shepherd is old, they become more comfortable to handle and more disciplined than younger ones.
The second thing that you can consider is putting your German Shepherd in a dog daycare. You can entrust your German Shepherd to a dog daycare whenever you’re going to be fully occupied with your work. It may be an expensive thing to consider, but it can help you manage the activeness of your German Shepherd.
The third and essential thing that you must have is patience. Patience is the key to raising and managing your German Shepherd. You should know by now that this kind of breed requires a bit of action, movements, and other active activities. There will be times when you become interrupted by what your German Shepherd is doing. So, better pack a lot of energy and patience whenever you handle them.
Again, please don’t punish your German Shepherd if they’re stubborn during training or too crazy inside your house. Always be that fur parent who will guide, support, care, and love their dogs. Lastly, don’t ever forget to enjoy and cherish those moments together with your German Shepherd!
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