Our German Shepherd Weight and Growth Chart gives you a general idea of what to expect for both female and male GSDs.

German Shepherds stand as paragons of canine intelligence, loyalty, and versatility. These traits make them exceptional companions, work dogs, and family pets. However, to unlock their full…

German Shepherds are amazing dogs, but the right training is key. In this post, we'll explain how to train a German Shepherd puppy the right way.

The ultimate beginner's guide on how to train a German Shepherd puppy starting from they're 8 weeks old and carrying you through their first year or more.

We are obviously huge fans of the breed and even more fanatical about sharing experiences and advice from German Shepherd owners. These amazing dogs are fiercely loyal, make fantastic family pets, are wonderful protectors, and their intelligence cannot be underestimated. Their zeal for life, athletic, and mental capabilities are what endear us to the breed and those same traits, with lack of training and understanding, are also the reason so many German Shepherds, tragically, find themselves in shelters all across the United States. The statistics show: According to the US Humane Society, “every year between six and eight million dogs and cats enter U.S. shelters. Three to four million of these animals are euthanized because there are not enough homes for them. Twenty-five percent of all the animals entering shelters are purebreds. That is approximately 450,000 purebred dogs in our shelters EVERY YEAR. According to AKC 2003 registrations, German Shepherds are the 4th most popular breed in the US. In 2003, 43,950 or 4.8% of all AKC-registered dogs were German Shepherds. Many of the 450,000 dogs in our US shelters every year are German Shepherds.” To help prevent these incredible dogs from finding themselves in shelters, we’ve put together these simple tips and expectations for people interested in getting their first German Shepherd: Training. German Shepherds are highly intelligent and need firm, consistent leadership, and training or they will try to get the upper hand. On the other side of the coin, they learn quickly and are easily trained when they respect their owners. If you are not experienced with dogs, it would be wise to read up on training a working dog, such as a German Shepherd, or hire a professional trainer. Intelligence. They are very smart and need plenty of mental stimulation. Plan to spend considerable time on training to create a well-balanced dog. Socialization. German Shepherds can be suspicious and protective. They need plenty of socialization from the time they are small puppies to develop into well-balanced dogs that you can take anywhere. Exercise. They are very active and require about two hours of exercise a day. When you purchase your dog, find a dog that matches your lifestyle. Prey Drive. German Shepherds are herding dogs with a naturally high prey drive and some more than others. Choose your dog wisely, whether it is going to be a family pet, do protection work, or other dog sports, etc. Don’t make the mistake of trying to change a high-drive dog into a couch potato. Toys. Plan to invest in plenty of non-destructible toys that are appropriate for the dog through all phases of life, such as Kongs, Jolly Balls, Planet Dog toys, West Paw, etc. Family Interaction. German Shepherds bond very strongly with their families and need lots of quality family time and social interaction. They do not do well when spending lots of isolated time alone. Health. German Shepherds are prone to some health problems so avoid backyard breeders and do your research before purchasing. If you are on a budget, consider purchasing health insurance for your dog. Temperament. When looking for a German Shepherd, be sure to look for a confident dog that is not aggressive, fearful, or the offspring of very aggressive parents. German Shepherds are naturally protective and should be balanced. If you are looking for a dog for protection training, the same rule applies-you are looking for a sound balanced dog that can be trained as opposed to a time bomb waiting to go off. Puppies. Puppies require considerable time and training. They begin teething around 5 months old and can be a handful during their adolescent years and they require lots of consistent training. If you have the time and energy to invest, this can be an amazing yet frustrating time. If you don’t have the time for a puppy, the good news is, there are plenty of dogs available that are past the puppy stage and looking for their forever homes and will bond readily with their new owners. In a nutshell, German Shepherds make wonderful pets for people who are willing to invest the time, training, and energy they require. Those that do, will receive a lifetime of unmatched loyalty, love, and devotion from their dog. We hope this article was helpful. Please leave a like and share. You might also like: What I Wish I Knew Before Getting A German Shepherd

How to stop German Shepherd puppy from biting. German Shepherd biting does not mean your puppy will grow up to be a vicious dog.

German shepherds are gorgeous and adorable. They are also intelligent and have their own unique personality traits. Some of their behaviors can be entertaining, some dogs seem to have a sense of humor, and sometimes their actions can even be frustrating, especially when they don’t get enough exercise. Many of their behaviors develop due to how they are raised, their training or lack thereof, the environment they live in, other dogs in the house, and their breeding. However, some dog behaviors are more innate and instinctual, such as these:1. Head tiltSome experts believe dogs tilt their heads to get a better visual but when it comes to German shepherds, their head tilt appears to happen when they’re listening. According to Jill Goldman, Ph.D., she believes that when dogs tilt their head, it may involve them listening to frequencies and inflections in our voice or other sounds, and that the dog is trying to locate and gather information. 2. Leading the wayGerman shepherds are working dogs bred to herd and guard sheep. It is natural for them to be out in front to lead and protect the flock, or you, their owner. When they walk in front of you, they are doing their job and staying between you and any threats that may come along.3. Intense staringIf you’ve ever seen your German shepherd lock onto something with their eyes, you know how intense they can stare. If you see your dog staring with intense focus, it’s time to stop and pay attention to what they’re staring at whether it be a person, animal, or object. The stare can signal that the dog is ready to bolt toward something, bite, or that they are in guarding mode. This intense stare may be the only warning they give before taking action.4. Softly gazing at youWhen your German shepherd gazes at you, they are reading your body language, watching you for clues, and communicating how much they love you. They may be waiting to see what you’re going to do next or where you’re going but their soft gaze is a gesture of adoration and their desire to be close to you.5. SquintingWhen your German shepherd squints at people or other animals they are sending a message that they’re not a threat. It can mean they are desiring attention yet at the same time, are relaxed and not going to do anything.6. Showing the whites of their eyesIf you see your dog’s eyes open wide with the white crescent showing, that is called whale eyes. Dogs can open their eyes wide like this when they are nervous, stressed, or anxious. If you see your dog looking at someone or something with whale eyes, it means they are highly uncomfortable and you should intervene in the situation.7. Yawning when they’re not tiredYour German shepherd may yawn when they’re sleepy but if they are suddenly yawning out of context, it can mean they are nervous, anxious, or uncomfortable. Next time you take your dog to a new place, to meet new people, or to the vet, notice if they begin yawning. If they do, you’ll soon learn to recognize that this behavior indicates they are a little stressed by something.8. Butt scootingIf your German shepherd starts scooting their butt along the ground it could mean they have full anal glands, an infection, an itch, irritation, worms, or that want to wipe their butt. It could also indicate pain, such as with an anal fistula so it’s probably a good idea to check their butt out if it’s not normal behavior.9. Spinning before going poopIf your dog is picky about its spot then spins before going poop, you can look to science for the reason. Apparently, dogs use the magnetic field of the earth to determine where they go. According to the study published in the Journal Frontiers in Zoology, dogs prefer to poop in a north-south axis. The study examined 37 dog breeds, 5582 urinations, and 1893 defecations before coming to this conclusion. 10. Comforting youIf your German shepherd comes over for a snuggle or offers you comfort when you’re upset, they are showing you empathy. They are experts at reading body language and moods and are known to be very in tune with their owner’s feelings.11. Sleeping on your clothesGerman shepherds are fondly called Velcro dogs for a reason. They love being close to their owners. When they can’t be close to you, if they can find your laundry or bedding, they will often lay on it until they can have the real thing, you. 12. Following you to the bathroomGerman shepherds like to follow their owners everywhere, including the bathroom. It’s their way of being close to you but they are also doing their job of watching out for you or guarding you. Notice if you close the door, you’ll often find them nearby, keeping an eye out until you are done.13. Twitching when they sleepGerman shepherds can dream when they reach REM sleep, much like humans. When they begin to twitch or move their paws in their sleep, they are probably dreaming. Wouldn’t it be interesting to know what they dream about?14. Licking youGerman shepherds are very loving and often give their owners kisses. It can also be their way of grooming you or licking salt or lotion off your skin. Some biologist believes this licking behavior is an instinct left over from wolves, whose young will lick them to cause them to vomit up a meal for the pups to eat.15. Curling up in a circle when they sleepIf your German shepherd sleeps in a donut shape also known as the fuzzy bagel, they might be cold and trying to keep their vital organs warm. They also may instinctively be protecting those same organs from predators, while they sleep.16. Destroying furniture or their crateWhen German shepherds don’t get enough exercise or interaction with their family, they can easily become anxious, frustrated, lonely, and bored. These dogs also are prone to separation anxiety and their destruction of furniture or their crate can be a sign that they need more from their owner and their needs are not being met.17. Bringing you giftsIf your dog brings you a toy or bone, they are giving you a gift. It’s their way of showering you with attention and love or telling you they’d like to play with you.18. HowlingWhen a dog howls, they are communicating or responding to a sound. They can also be trying to attract your attention because something is amiss or they need help. They may also howl when they hear a siren because siren sounds are on the same frequency.19. Sitting on your feetWhen your German shepherd sits on your feet they may be just trying to be close to you. However, they might also be sending a signal to other people and dogs that says, this human is mine, go get your own.20. Licking lips or flicking tongueIf your German shepherd starts licking their lips or flicking their tongue for no apparent reason, you need to pay attention. This is a nervous behavior that is saying, back off, I’m uncomfortable, I’m confused, I’m worried, or I’m feeling very anxious about a situation. 21. Sighs and huffsGerman shepherds are super smart and great at communicating. Just like people, they will sigh and huff when they’re tired, getting impatient, or are tired of waiting on you. It’s their way of saying, enough already.22. Rolling in the grassHave you caught your German shepherd rolling in the grass after a nice bath? No worries, it’s just their way of trying to replace all the pleasantness you put on their fur with the earthy stink you just washed off. The grass may also be scathing an itch and when the ground is warm, it feels good.23. Hunched overGerman shepherds are confident, bold dogs and not usually found hunched over. If you suddenly find your shepherd is hunched over, it could mean that they are trying to make themselves appear smaller, are feeling shy, are scared, or are feeling abused. However, it can also mean they are in pain so you’ll want to observe your dog for signs. 24. Eating poopIf your German shepherd eats poop, it may mean they need something in their diet. Dogs don’t eat poop because it tastes good so they may be craving undigested food in the poop, bacteria, or enzymes. It can also be behavioral. Some dogs that have been punished for pooping in the wrong place may associate pooing as something bad and they’ll eat their poop to hide it. Dogs that live in squalor are also more likely to eat poop. We hope you’ve found some of these entertaining or interesting. Please pass them along to your German shepherd loving friends. You may also like: 10 Dog Behavior Myths Debunked

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Socialization is a key component to raising a puppy into a well established adult. Without it, the stresses of every day, modern, normal life is alien and disconcerting to our dogs. But most people get socialization wrong. Sometimes even to the point that they do more damage than reap the positive benefits of socializing their puppy. What is the right way, and how can we avoid making mistakes that set us back? Let's discuss it.The old school idea of socialization was to put a puppy on a leash and walk around, meeting and greeting new people, dogs, and seeing new places, sights and smells. If that all went perfectly, you had a dog that was comfortable in its environment. But there were drawbacks. The main drawback, even if everything went well, was that you now have a dog that is very excited every time it saw someone or another dog. Pulling issues could be created. Obnoxious dogs that rush up to strangers, including strangers who aren't dog people, don't want to be bothered, or are scared of an excited, out of control dog. Dogs who rush up excitedly to strange dogs who are less socialized, or who are serious dogs who don't play, thus starting a fight. The modern and better way of socializing is the idea that you want a puppy to get comfortable with people, places and things in the environment and to think of them as background noise. Something to ignore vs something to fixate on. We want our dogs to focus on us and look to us for guidance, leadership and direction instead of looking to people for free reward and looking for stranger's dogs for a fun play session (that as mentioned, can end badly). We want every moment of socialization to be positive. For that to happen, we have to control the situation and show our puppy that we control its life and routine. To do that, we start immediately with the 2 tools that allow us to do that: a leash and a crate. We also teach the puppy that we're the source of fun and attention, not other people, and not other dogs. We do this by giving treats and attention in the beginning stages of training when we train the mark. We do that by marking behaviors without any commands and rewarding with a treat. This is basically just teaching a puppy that a click from the clicker or a verbal

Effective ways to potty train German Shepherd puppies include: using the versatility of the crate, with puppy pads or train directly to outdoor elimination.

German Shepherds are working dogs that originated in Germany. Although they were bred to herd sheep and protect the flock from predators, today they perform many jobs, including law enforcement, the military, bomb, and drug detection, search and rescue, and much more.Because German Shepherds are so smart and loyal, they are incredibly versatile. They are also very loving and make great family companions. They love nothing more than to be close to and please their humans.However, they are very active dogs that require lots of time, training, and attention. They’re not content to be couch potatoes. Rather, they thrive on action, and challenges, and need lots of mental and physical stimulation. Since they are so clever, they are rather strong-willed and seem to have their own opinions about things. When you share your life with one, it’s obvious what they enjoy and what they don’t, which they will usually make crystal clear.There are tons of articles about what German Shepherds love as opposed to what they don’t. So, in this article, we’re going to focus on what the breed tends to dislike giving you an idea of how they’d fit into your lifestyle. 1. Being Confined to Small SpacesGerman Shepherds need lots of space to run and play. They are not only very active, but they are also very athletic and need room to stretch their legs and get in some good running time, games of fetch, and room to move and burn off their energy.Since they are so smart and have a great protective instinct, they also enjoy spending time exploring their yard, patrolling their fence line, and watching over their property. They don’t do well when confined to one area, a small yard, or a small home. Unless you have a workable plan in place that can provide them with a daily outlet for their mental and physical energy, they need a large home and yard. But keep in mind, being stuck in a small home all day and a quick walk in the evening doesn’t meet most of these dogs’ needs. They require much more activity than the average active dog and many don’t enjoy the dog park. 2. Being BoredGerman Shepherds like to be busy both mentally and physically. Since they are working dogs, it’s in their DNA. They’re not content to just sit around the house with nothing to do but look at their toys.They are also extremely smart so they require an outlet for the brains and brawn. Since most households don’t provide them with a job, you’ll have to come up with other ways to burn off their excess energy and stimulate their mind or they will develop behavior problems and can become destructive.To keep German Shepherds from getting bored at home, you’ll need to provide them with plenty of daily exercise, training, playtime, and enrichment toys. Their work ethic doesn’t give them weekends off so be prepared to invest in their activities seven days a week beginning at sun up. 3. New Places and Strange PeopleGerman Shepherds are naturally aloof and leery of strangers. Most of them are not super friendly with people they don’t know. So, when you take them to new places filled with strangers, they are naturally on alert.German Shepherds must be socialized from puppyhood and exposed to many places, situations, and all types of people to help them feel comfortable in new environments. This is especially true if you plan to travel with your dog.Keeping up this level of socialization is a lifetime commitment when owning a German Shepherd. However, it is possible to raise a dog that is comfortable and safe to bring out in public but even then, most German Shepherds are not social butterflies and prefer to remain by the side of their family rather than have strangers approaching or touching them, unless they invite the attention. 4. Raised Voices and ConflictGerman Shepherds thrive on the consistency and the calm temperament of their owners. They don’t do well in a house with lots of fighting, raised voices, tension, or conflict. Since they are naturally protective, home environments like this make them tense and put them on high alert.They don’t enjoy being yelled at, either. They have exceptional hearing and don’t need a raised voice to hear better and it doesn’t increase their understanding. It causes them stress because they won’t understand where the anger is coming from and do want to please you. This stress can lead to confusion, fear, and even aggression, if they feel threatened.German Shepherds are very sensitive to their environment and can get distressed due to stress, frustration, anger, etc., which can trigger anxiety, fear, confusion, and aggression. It is best to keep a German Shepherd out of the mix if there are a lot of emotional upheavals or fighting in the home. 5. Being IgnoredGerman Shepherds make awesome companions and are very loving. They live to please and protect their owners and love spending time with them. They want to be part of the family and don’t like being separated or left out of the fun.They can get demanding when they want your attention, need exercise, or want to play. But they are also super fun and love to go anywhere and everywhere with their owners when they are properly socialized. 6. Being AloneGerman Shepherds get very bonded with their families and like to be with them. They don’t do well when left alone for long periods. This is due to many of their traits, including their need for companionship.But it’s also in part due to their high energy level. When they have nothing to keep them occupied, they will find other outlets for their energy, such as destructive chewing, barking, and digging. 7. InconsistencyGerman Shepherds have a mind like a vault. This means they don’t forget anything. They are also experts at reading body language. So, they have a great need for consistency in their training. For instance, if they are allowed on the bed one day and then not the next, it not only causes them confusion. Then they can get pushy and test your boundaries. It’s frustrating to them to receive mixed messages, it not only causes confusion, but it also sets them up for failure.Teaching them the rules, rewarding them for following them, and being consistent is the best way to reinforce their good behavior. It also establishes you as their leader and you will earn their respect while fostering mutual trust in each other. We hope you enjoyed this article about what German Shepherds hate. What would you add to the list? Let us know in your comments on Facebook. As always, please feel free to share with your friends. You might also like: 15 Fun Games To Play With Your Dog

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