9 Of The Best Daily Exercises For German Shepherds
If you’re thinking about getting a German shepherd, get ready to move because they are very active dogs. If you already own one, then you know that they need plenty of exercise every single day.
German shepherds love to stay busy and are very athletic. They’re also smart, agile, and have lots of endurance. They need physical activities to keep them happy and to prevent them from getting into mischief.
German shepherds never take days off when it rains, you get sick, or when you just don’t feel like spending a couple of hours strolling around the neighborhood. But they make great companions if you like to stay active and spend time outdoors.
But when they don’t get enough exercise, look out. They’ll be sure to let you know it. They can get pushy and demanding about going outside. They’ll find things to do to keep themselves busy and burn off their excess energy (and it probably won’t make you happy!).
Providing a German shepherd with plenty of exercise isn’t optional for their health and well-being. They can easily get anxious and destructive when they’re bored and have no outlet for their energy. Sadly, this has landed plenty of active dogs in shelters through no fault of their own.
However, keeping your German shepherd busy and providing them ways to get exercise is a pleasure, and will help you bond closer with your dog, and keep you active, too.
Here are some great exercise ideas that you can do with your dog every day.
1. Take a walk
It’s not very unique but taking a long, brisk walk with your German shepherd is a great way to help them get in some exercise while benefiting your health, too. Walking works their mind and body, so it provides great mental stimulation. Taking a walk with your dog is a great opportunity to work on training, socialization, and is fun for your dog. By switching up your route and walking in new areas, you can keep things more interesting, which will help burn off more excess energy.
2. Go jogging
If your dog is over 18 months (after their growth plates have closed), you can condition them to go jogging, if they are in good health. If you decide to jog with your shepherd, start with slow conditioning and watch their body language closely to be sure your eager-to-please pup doesn’t overdo it and injure or overexert themselves. Always start with a warm-up walk and then work up to a short jog around the block. Slowly build their endurance and be ready to adjust your jogs according to how they feel, the physical health and condition they’re in, the weather, and the distance they're comfortable with.
3. Take a local hike
Much like jogging, you’ll want to condition your dog to go on hikes. The altitude, terrain, and weather will all play a role in how challenging the hike is. Since hikes are often taken a little farther from home, they require that you bring water, food, and a basic first aid kit along. But, with a little investigation, you can probably find some great hiking trails near your home. When you hit the trail, even close to home, plan to leave no trace and bring everything you need to clean up after your dog.
4. Chase a lure, flirt pole
For those times when you don’t want to go for a walk, a flirt pole is a great at-home option that will provide lots of exercise. Using a flirt pole allows German shepherds to get to experience the thrill of the chase so it satisfies their prey drive, it’s fast-paced so it expends lots of energy, it provides plenty of mental stimulation, and can be used to reinforce training (such as the release command). It’s also great for teaching impulse control, improves eye-body coordination, and sharpens reflexes.
5. Play fetch
Most German shepherds have crazy, high ball drive. They love nothing more than to chase after the ball and bring it back to you over, and over, and over again. Fetch is a game that satisfies their prey drive, is fun, and provides tons of physical exertion. Fetch is always a good go-to game that allows you to spend time with your dog while meeting their physical needs.
6. Use fitness tools
Fetch is always fun but you can mix it and make it more interesting by introducing new things for your dog to chase, such as this Puller Fitness Tool. The two rings allow you to play harder and faster and are safe and fun for dogs to retrieve. They are soft on teeth, gums, and your hands. Plus, they float so if your dog likes to retrieve in water, they’re great for that, too.
7. Take a plunge
Swimming provides great exercise for dogs that enjoy it plus it's gentle on joints so it’s perfect for dogs recovering from injuries or dogs who are older. Swimming works every muscle in the body while providing lots of mental stimulation. It’s also perfect for exercising your dog on hot days. There are also plenty of life vests on the market that will fit a German shepherd to help keep them safe.
8. Engage the nose
Your German shepherd has an amazing ability to search out and find scents. Searching for treats, toys, or scents that you train them to detect is challenging, fun, and provides lots of exercise. It’s also a game that is easy to play indoors when the weather is bad or you’re not up to a long play session. There are nose work kits on the market but here are some fun ideas you can start on today.
9. Tug work
Tug is another game that German shepherds love that also can easily be used to reinforce training or as a reward. Not only is tug super fun for them, but it is also something you can enjoy together. Tug can be played indoors when the weather is bad, on walks, during training, and while enjoying the outdoors. It’s truly a game you can take anywhere. There are also many tug toys to choose from, from balls on a string to jute tugs with handles, so your dog will never get bored.
We hope that these ideas have inspired you to get outside and enjoy your dog. We’ve tried to include a variety to do at home or outdoors and in all kinds of weather.
Although German shepherds do need a lot of exercise, which takes time. But the good news is they are happy to do almost any activity as long as they are with you. And that is one of the things that make them so special.
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