German Shepherd Exercise – German Shepherd Strength Training

Not only humans but dogs also need physical activities in their life. Precisely German Shepherd exercise is an important factor contributing to your German Shepherd’s health, and exercise and other activities are extremely important for high-energy breeds like German Shepherd Exercise.

German shepherds, along with other dogs, cannot afford to be lazy, and laziness can impact their health in a bad way. Exercise can help keep your dog in good shape and improve mental well-being.

As exercise improves your dog’s mental health, it will also behave well with you and others.

German Shepherd Exercise – How much Exercise Does a German Shepherd Need?

As we all know, exercise is good not only for humans but also for dogs. German Shepherds are very energetic dog breeds, and to spend their energy, they need some activities to do. Additionally, it is important for your German Shepherd to at least do 2 hours long exercise every day.

An average of 90-120 minutes is best for German Shepherd exercise. It is not necessary to do a straight 2 hours of exercise. You can split the exercise routine into morning and evening.

Always start with smaller goals and slowly proceed to larger goals. Moreover, give time to your GSD for warm-up. Avoid going out in too much heat and too much cold environment. Choose a time when there is not too much heat or cold outside.

German Shepherds are generally very intelligent, and they pick up things quickly. Hence, it is easy for GSD to learn new training and other high-energy activities. German Shepherds are bred to perform high-endurance activities and training, and they are also part of police and military work.

Are Exercises Different for an Adult and Puppy German Shepherd?

The exercises for German Shepherd puppy differ from adult German Shepherd. An adult GSD needs 2 hours of extreme and high-energy workouts. In comparison to this, the puppy GSD does not need any heavy activities. For puppy German Shepherds, a 5-10 minutes walk is enough.

Moreover, the activities for puppy German Shepherd must be at a slow pace. Since the bones of puppy German Shepherds are not fused and are weak, a heavy endurance activity can cause a problem. The bones of a puppy German Shepherd are weak, so they are prone to breakage easily.

Your little friend roaming around the house is all the activity it needs. Additionally, short walks can help understand the environment and social interactions for later life. Puppy German Shepherd exercise can include:

• Playing in the backyard.
• Running around the house.
• Playing with other puppies.
•  5 minutes walk per age.

To summarize, a 1-month puppy should have 5 minutes of exercise, a 3-month-old puppy needs 15 minutes of exercise, and a 9-month-old puppy needs 45 minutes of exercise daily. Keep in mind that do not go on heavy exercises with your puppy.

What are the Different Exercises a German Shepherd can do?

German Shepherd exercise will have a very positive impact on physical and mental well-being. As you know, the German Shepherd’s brain is very sharp, and they are quick learners. Hence teaching them new mental training and physical exercises is easy for you.

There are different exercises and games that your German Shepherd can engage in:

1. Walking:

Walking is the easiest and the most common form of German Shepherd exercise. Additionally, a long walk for your high-energy breeds is always the best. Since walking is also a physical activity, it will help keep your dog in shape.

Normally an adult German Shepherd should have 40-45 minutes of walk in a day. Walking will prevent several health diseases like heart diseases, obesity, etc. Such diseases can impact the lifespan of your dog, and this is not limited to just German Shepherd but also other breeds as well.

If you want to know how the lifespan of any dog breed is affected by several factors, please look at our guide to the lifespan of a German Shepherd.

2. Running:

German Shepherds are the second most popular breed and are very loyal and obedient. These beautiful, energetic animals love running, and German Shepherd can run long distances depending on their age.

Moreover, German Shepherds are high-energy breeds, and running is an efficient way of using their excess energy as they are loyal, so they will not go away from you while running. The German Shepherd has excellent stamina for very hard exercises and physical activities.

The average running speed of an adult German Shepherd is 30 mph. Just be careful with your puppy German Shepherd as they cannot do such hard running activities.

3. Hiking:

It is a fun-loving activity for German Shepherds. Hiking involves a lot of uneven pathways, and your German Shepherd can maintain a good shape by moving on hills and rocks. Moreover, hiking can increase the muscular stamina of your dog.

While hiking, be around your dog as they can get hurt because of uneven terrain. Additionally, always carry a first aid kit with you when hiking.

If your dog loves exploring new places, then hiking will be an enjoyable journey for your dog.

4. Swimming:

Along with German Shepherds, all dogs have webbed feet to some extent. The webbing or the extra layer of skin around the toes helps paddle through the water. Swimming is an excellent exercise not only for humans but also for dogs.

The best approach is to take your dog with you when doing swimming. As a result, you will have a great bonding time with your dog. Moreover, swimming will strengthen your dog’s limbs and help in using excess energy.

In addition to swimming, the webbing in toes helps in running and walking, even on marshy and slippery terrains.

Do you know all the dog breeds and German Shepherds have webbed feet? If you want to know more about webbing and its benefit, please look at our other guide on webbed feet of German Shepherds and other dog breeds.

5. Frisbee:

Playing frisbee is an active part of German Shepherd exercise. Watching your dog running, jumping, and catching a frisbee is a treat to your eyes. Consequently, playing such games helps tone your dog’s muscles and increase stamina.

One important thing to consider is that the frisbee should not be made up of any hard material. Hence a soft rubber or latex material is good for your dog, and the soft material will not hurt your dog’s teeth and gums.

Dogs love playing around with different toys, whether you are indoor or outdoor. Want to know more about toys for German Shepherd? Please look at our review article for the best toys for German Shepherds.

6. Fetching:

It is a great bonding game between you and your four-legged partner. Fetching helps in improving concentration and focus. Moreover, fetching helps in stimulating the mental health of your dog.

High energy dogs, such as German Shepherds, need activities like fetching to calm themselves down and freshen up their mood. You spending time with your dog will help in boosting their mood.

Such focusing games can help decrease anxiety and stress in your German Shepherd. Additionally, such games can help relieve your stresses and anxieties after a long day at work.

7. Agility:

Agility is one of the best and growing training sports for dogs.

According to American Kennel Club, setting up obstacles in your dog’s way will increase their mental stamina and physical health. Agility training is a very entertaining game for your German Shepherd to play.

Be it indoor or outdoor, use some random stuff around you and make hurdles. The next step is to guide and train your dog to pass these hurdles. Since your dog will enjoy this entire process and you will be able to train and give a command to your dog.

8. Interactive Puzzles:

Puzzle games help build up your dog’s mental well-being. You can train your dog for good behaviors if you daily incorporate puzzles and other games in your dog’s daily routine. Puzzles can help with boredom and provide skillful and interactive games to your dogs.

No doubt, interactive puzzles provide brain exercise and increase your dog’s intelligence. Additionally, such indoor games can also be useful to your puppies’ mental health.

9. Hide and Seek:

Hide and seek is one of the most fun games for your German Shepherd to play. Dogs love problem-solving tasks, and the thrill of finding something excites them. Hide and seek involves mind and body, and that, in return, is good exercise for your dog.

Moreover, give your German Shepherd some treats as a reward when it finds you. Such actions can increase the excitement, and you will want to play more. Additionally, such a game will help make strong bonds between you and your dog.

What Happens if your German Shepherd is not having Enough Exercise?

German Shepherds have a lot of energy, and to release this energy, they need certain high-endurance exercises. If you are a person who is always busy, then you should think twice before having a German Shepherd as a pet. Your dog will tell you by its behaviour if he needs to ward off his excess energy.

There are certain signs that your dog will let you know that it needs activities to use its energy:

• Your dog will bark a lot
• Stiffness and tense muscles
• Not engaging with you
• Depression and anxiety
• Not interested in doing anything
• Increased weight
• Destructive behaviour

Can a German Shepherd Over-Exercise? What are the Side Effects of Over-Exercising?

German Shepherds need high endurance activities to use their energy. Above, we have mentioned the best ways to ward off the excess energy of your German Shepherd. Moreover, exercise is important for mental stimulation and the good physical health of your dog.

However, pet owners are also concerned with “Can I over-exercise my dog”?

The answer to this question is “YES.” Like humans, dogs also have their limits when it comes to any workout.

Signs of Over Exercising your Dog:

1. Sore Muscles and Stiffness:

German Shepherd is putting a lot of effort into running or going up or downstairs. All of this shows muscle soreness and stiffness due to over-exercising. You should engage your dog in slow walks for the next few days to ease the pain and stiffness in muscles.

2. Tiredness After Exercise:

You will see your dog lay in bed all day after an exercise session. Relaxing for some time is fine, but not coming out of bed all day is a sign of over-exercising. Whenever you see your dog in such a condition, try to reduce the time of exercise for your dog for the next few days.

3. Slowing Down During Exercise:

While running, jogging, or doing any other physical activity, stop right away when you see your dog slowing down. Take a break and give your dog some food and water. Moreover, head back to your house before your dog’s condition worsens.

There are additional symptoms of over-exercising:

• Heavy panting
• Confused and lacking focus
• Coordination loss
• Drooling excessively
• Bright red or blue tongue and gums
• Unconsciousness
• Conclusion

German Shepherd exercise is a key factor for determining the health of your German Shepherd. For mental stimulation and good physical health, exercise is important. The type of exercise depends on the age of the German Shepherd, and it is different for puppy GSD compared to adult GSD.

Above, we have mentioned some interesting exercises in which you can engage your German Shepherd. The activities can help strengthen the bond between you and your dog, with the right exercise that your dog needs will help your dog learn quickly.

Undoubtedly, German Shepherds are high-energy breeds, but they still have limits to their workout. Allow them to take a rest also. Don’t exhaust your dog with running and other exercises.

Exercise is an important regime that not only your dog, but you also should do regularly. Stay healthy and active along with your pet. Go out and explore new things and the environment with your four-legged friend.