How Much Exercise Does A German Shepherd Need?
By Ales, AnimalFate.com
The minimum hours of exercise your German Shepherd needs every day is two hours. This exercise includes walks and off-lead exercise in a safe and wide area, with extra playtime and training.
As smart as they are loyal to their non-furry parents, it’s no surprise why German Shepherds are the fourth most popular breed that people want to adopt.
The German Shepherd is known for its incredible strength, intelligence, trainable mentality, and obedience. Because of their excellent training capacity, they are often used as assistant dog/guard dogs of police officers and military personnel.
Moreover, if you are adopting or fostering one, here are some interesting facts that we pulled together so that you can learn more about the German Shepherd.
How Long Should A German Shepherd Be Walked?
The length of walk that a German Shepherd can go each day is ideally around 30 to 45 minutes. You can do this once a day, but two walks a day are even better.
The daily walk is essential for every breed of dog like the German Shepherd to release their pent-up energy and stimulate their mind with the sights, sounds, and smells that they come across on every street, park and trail that you walk on.
Furthermore, dogs like routine as much as humans, so try to schedule a walk every day. Having daily walks is much better than having one long walk during the weekend.
How Long Should I Walk My German Shepherd Puppy?
Puppies are still developing their body and muscle. Even though they come from a healthy breed, they are still babies.
Ideally, for a three-month-old German Shepherd Puppy, they need only 15 minutes of walking time twice a day, while four-month-old German Shepherd puppies need 20 minutes.
So every month you can increase their walking time by 5 minutes.
How much Exercise Should A German Shepherd Puppy Get?
Puppies need to be kept occupied every day. Generally, whether it’s a puppy or an adult German Shepherd (like Freyja), they need 2 hours of proper exercise per day to make sure they don’t get bored.
The German Shepherd is an active dog. They may display anxious behavior, and they also pace when they get bored.
If you see your dog is not showing any visible signs of stress, it is probably bored. If this happens, this behavior may be followed with “zoomies,” meaning that your German Shepherd might run full speed around your house, causing damage to your items in your home.
They are letting you know that they are bored, and they want to have some walk time.
How Can I Keep My German Shepherd Busy?
If you plan to adopt/get a German Shepherd, you need to be aware that this breed is very hyperactive. That means they play a lot, they move a lot, and they want to be busy all the time.
Probably since you are a new fur baby parent, you may have no idea of how to entertain them. To keep them entertained, you should start by giving them lots of exercises to stimulate their active behavior and energy.
At What Age Will My German Shepherd Calm Down?
Each dog is different, and somehow they also have a different timeline for calming down. Keep in mind that German Shepherds probably will not learn to be calm before other dogs.
Hence, they can calm down at around 5-7 years old, but they will never calm down fully. However, this range has to take into account two key factors: Training and Neutering.
If you want your German Shepherd to calm down, the first thing you should do is to train him or her. It is because training this kind of breed is much easier than another breeds.
Also, neutering can make them calm. If your dog reaches the age of one year, if you have no plans to breed them, it might be best to spay or neuter them if you believe in that sort of thing.
This can help in the calming process and might also prevent them from getting a disease.
Best Exercise For German Shepherd
German Shepherds must have excellent health, vigor, and require two or more hours of exercise daily.
If you have no time to walk them for that length of time, at least give them half an hour of aggressive running.
Letting them do intensive exercise stimulates mental health, enabling them to be trained and follow your orders more effectively.
Below are the 5 best exercises for a German Shepherd that you should know.
1. Hiking
A lot of people love to hike on hills and rocky mountains, and dogs do, too. If you have plenty of time, take them on a thrilling hike. The German Shepherd is a curious dog that loves to explore nature. Giving them a thrilling experience helps them develop their cognitive and mental abilities.
This is why hiking is the best activity for your dog. You may roam around the valleys, hills, mountains, elevated paths, and more with your smart and furry friend.
2. Playing Tag
Playing Tag is composed of a lot of running. It is also a great activity because not just your dog benefits from the game, but you also. You are also exercising and sweating a lot, which is good for your health.
3. Pool Diving
Swimming is another brilliant idea for a German Shepherd activity. All you need to do is pick up any exciting thing and throw it into the water.
It is entertaining for German Shepherds since they love to exercise their legs in the water. You can also do this activity on the beach.
4. Find the Missing Object
Another fun activity that boosts your dog’s physical health is finding the missing object. Just hide your dog’s favorite toy in the ground, and then wait for them to realize that their toy is missing. Your dog will become excited, curious, and start to look for it.
5. Frisbee
This activity requires a lot of running and jumping. It would help if you had a frisbee plate for this activity. It is also an extreme activity for dogs since it needs a lot of energy to play it.
Summary
In summary, the German Shepherd is indeed an intelligent breed. They are loyal and easy to train. This is a common breed raised by policemen and militaries, partly because of their excellent sense of smell.
If you’re planning to get one, you won’t regret it because this breed will love you and never leave your side until its last breath.
Lastly, to bring out the best of your dog’s abilities, be sure to love and take good care of them.
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