German Shepherds are considered as ideal family dogs because of their calm and caring nature. Once you get attached to them, there is no turning back.
They can give good companionship.
It is best to own them as puppies so that you can train them accordingly. If you are looking forward to know how to train them and how much exercise does a German Shepherd puppy need, keep on reading.
How much exercise does a German Shepherd puppy need according to their age?
Exercise is a necessity for dogs. It not only keeps them in good shape but also improves their well-being and behavior. But we have to keep in mind that we do not overdo. A puppy cannot exercise as much as an adult dog does. We have to tailormade the exercise according to their age.
We should follow some guidelines when it comes to exercise.
- 10 minutes of exercise is ideal for a 2 months old German Shepherd.
- 3 months old German Shepherd should not do exercise for more than 15 minutes.
- 4 months old German Shepherds can do exercise for 20 minutes.
- 5 months old German Shepherds are able to do exercise for 25 minutes.
- 6 months old German Shepherd can do exercise up to 30 minutes.
Read: How to take care of your German Shepherd’s health
Best exercises for German Shepherd puppies
Walking is the best exercise to start the day. But only walking might become a bit boring for them. Here are some fun exercises/games suggested for you to play with your dog.
1. Easy pole course
Place a few plastic poles over the ground and make them walk over a couple of poles. It teaches balance, improves coordination, develops their spatial awareness and encourages them to learn their stride.
2. Gentle slope walks
Choose a slight slope and make them go up and down. It is to get them used to the incline. This exercise is good for balance and strength building.
3. Puppy tug
Get down to your dogs height, match their strength and start pulling. It helps in building their strength.
4. Low impact obstacles
You can make the obstacles with whatever you have in your house and make your dog complete the task.
5. Hidden treasure search
This is one of the best game for dogs. It improves the mental stimulation and also improves the thinking process.
6. Play fetch
You can play fetch through ball with them in your yard.
7. Socialize
You can also take them to the park where he can meet other puppies and play and interact with them.
How long should a German Shepherd puppy walk a day?
Walking should be the first physical activity a German Shepherd puppy should be doing as a form of exercise. Walking is a low impact exercise which is not too tiring and doesn’t affect the bones of the puppy, making it an ideal exercise for them.
You can take out your puppy for a walk everyday and it is absolutely safe. Just make sure that your puppy should not get too excited and overdo it.
A short walk for 5-10 minutes is enough for a puppy. You can increase the walking time according to their age.
Read: How much exercise should an adult German Shepherd get
For example, you start with 5 minutes of walking when your dog is 2 months of age, then with each month you can increase the time by 5 minutes.
Why it is important to make a German Shepherd puppy exercise everyday?
There are not one but many health benefits of exercising. Not only dogs but exercise keeps your pet healthy.
- Exercise will help build up your dogs muscle.
- It will help your dog have healthy and strong bones.
- Regular exercise also helps your puppy defecate and wee properly so they will not get constipation or urinary infection.
- Exercise provides them mental stimulation.
- Exercise will keep them active.
- Exercise also helps them socialize.
- Exercise will make them ready for future training as most of the German Shepherd dogs are used in police and military.
- If puppies do not exercise, there is big chance of them being obese or lazy.
The do’s and don’ts when exercising a German Shepherd puppy
The list of do’s
- Before going for exercise, check if your dog is having any physical issue.
- Walk your puppy at a normal pace.
- Keep taking rest in between.
- Allow them to run freely in a safe environment.
- Stop immediately if your puppy seems exhausted.
The list of don’ts
- Never over exercise your puppy; it may hurt the bones of your puppy.
- Avoid forced exercise like jogging, running.
- Avoid walking your puppy home; it might be too tiring for them.
Conclusion
Exercise is a part of their training, make exercise a habit so that they get used to it at a very early stage.
Make sure you keep in mind how much exercise they should get according to their age. Follow the German Shepherd puppy health charts to know more details about it.