German Shepherd Care: Training, Exercise and Health Checks

By Dr Duncan Houston

A German Shepherd's intelligence can make everyday life rewarding, but it also means the dog learns quickly from whatever happens around it. Calm routines, clear rewards and appropriate activity matter more than trying to be the “boss”.

Quick Answer

German Shepherds need regular companionship, physical activity and reward-based training matched to the individual. Ask about hip and elbow screening and understand the limits of degenerative myelopathy DNA testing. New hindlimb weakness, weight loss or digestive changes need assessment rather than assumptions about a breed tendency.

Does a German Shepherd suit your lifestyle?

Originally developed as herding dogs, German Shepherds now appear in many working and companion roles. Different breeding lines and individual histories can produce very different energy levels, sensitivity and social behaviour. Meet adult dogs and discuss what a typical day looks like before committing.

A dog that is alert to people approaching the home needs thoughtful management. Teach a comfortable place to settle, prevent uncontrolled access to visitors and avoid encouraging threatening behaviour as a desirable sign of loyalty. Fear, frustration and pain can all contribute to reactive behaviour.

Families need supervision around children, safe separation when adults are busy and time for the dog's own rest. First-time owners are not automatically unsuitable, but professional training support and realistic expectations are valuable.

Training that builds reliable everyday behaviour

1. Reward checking in with you during quiet walks before increasing distractions.
2. Teach lead walking, recall, a release cue and comfortable handling in short sessions.
3. Introduce unfamiliar people and environments at a distance where the dog remains comfortable.
4. Build short, relaxed periods alone rather than suddenly leaving for a full working day.
5. Teach settling as deliberately as active skills. More excitement is not always more enrichment.

AVSAB recommends reward-based methods. A large, strong dog does not require harsher training. If lunging, guarding or fear is becoming difficult to manage, arrange qualified behavioural help and a veterinary assessment.

Exercise, coat care and nutrition

Use varied daily movement: walks, sniffing, suitable play and training. Build strenuous activity gradually, and adapt for heat, age and joint health. Avoid repeatedly throwing a ball until the dog is exhausted. Observe recovery afterwards, including stiffness the next morning.

The double coat needs regular brushing, with more attention during heavy shedding. Check behind ears and around long-coated feathering for tangles. Bathing should follow dirt and skin needs rather than a compulsory schedule. Examine itchy skin and smelly ears instead of repeatedly washing them.

Feed a complete life-stage diet and monitor body condition. Large-breed puppies need controlled growth and appropriate mineral balance; do not add calcium to a complete growth diet without veterinary advice. Adult food choices should match actual activity, not an athletic breed label. The WSAVA nutrition resources support individual nutritional assessment.

Which health risks deserve attention?

Hips and elbows: dysplasia can affect comfort and mobility. Request parental screening records, keep the dog lean and have recurrent limping examined. A dog that resists stairs or play may be painful even if it does not cry.

Degenerative myelopathy: this progressive neurological disease is associated with inherited susceptibility. A DNA risk result is not a diagnosis and cannot tell you exactly whether or when an individual will develop disease. The German Shepherd Dog Club's explanation of test limitations is useful when interpreting results.

Hindlimb weakness can also result from painful spinal disease, joint problems or other neurological conditions. Do not label a dog with degenerative myelopathy from its breed and a video alone.

Digestive disease: persistent weight loss despite appetite, frequent bulky stools or ongoing diarrhoea deserves investigation. German Shepherds are among the breeds affected by exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, in which too few digestive enzymes reach the intestine. Parasites and other intestinal disorders can look similar, so testing matters.

When is it an emergency?

Repeated unsuccessful retching, a swollen or painful abdomen, drooling and restlessness can indicate gastric dilatation-volvulus. Go immediately to an emergency clinic. Do not wait for every sign or try home remedies. The American College of Veterinary Surgeons explains why GDV needs rapid treatment.

Collapse, severe breathing difficulty or sudden inability to stand also requires emergency care. Discuss preventive gastropexy with your vet where appropriate; meal routines cannot guarantee protection from stomach twisting.

Common mistakes and a better prevention plan

• Using punishment to suppress fear or warning signals.
• Calling new reluctance to move “laziness”.
• Assuming a genetic risk result proves the cause of weakness.
• Feeding performance calories to a dog with ordinary household activity.

Keep vaccination, parasite prevention and dental care current. Review mobility and weight regularly, and bring records or safe videos of changing signs to your vet. Early investigation often offers more useful choices than waiting for major disability.

Frequently asked questions

Do German Shepherds need two hours of exercise daily?

There is no universal target. Age, health, conditioning, environment and the type of activity all matter.

Does a positive DM test mean my dog will become paralysed?

No. It indicates genetic risk, and results need interpretation alongside examination and other investigations.

Can a German Shepherd live in an apartment?

Some can, when activity, company and quiet rest are provided. Access, noise triggers and the individual dog's needs matter.

Is a sensitive stomach normal for the breed?

Persistent digestive signs or weight loss should not be accepted as normal. Several treatable problems may be responsible.

The goal is a dog that can move comfortably, learn confidently and relax at home. Training and preventive care work best when they respond to the dog in front of you.

ASK A VET™ can help you organise questions about your German Shepherd's routine, behaviour or changing health signs.