German Shepherds are highly active dogs; physical activity keeps them happy and keeps their mental and physical health intact.
The amount of exercise required for a German Shepherd depends on the age of the German Shepherd. According to the age, we can decide how much exercise should a German Shepherd get?
How much exercise should a German Shepherd get according to their age?
A normal full-grown German Shepherd can exercise for upto two hours, whereas it’s not the case for puppies. Puppies around the age of 3 months can exercise for 15-30 minutes; 4 months old can exercise for 20-40 minutes, 5 months can exercise for 25-45 minutes, 6 months old can exercise for 30-60 minutes.
Vets recommend exercise throughout the day rather than doing it at once. Choose the exercises which you can do together with your dog. Taking a long walk is always the best and preferred exercise; it keeps the dog healthy and develops a strong bond.
What happens if German Shepherd does not exercise?
Lack of exercise can hamper their physical health as well as mental health. With physical fitness, mental fitness is also important, especially when it comes to German Shepherd. Training is a good mental exercise. Learning new skills with challenging dog toys are good for stimulating his brain.
If German Shepherd doesn’t exercise,
- they might get irritated,
- they might show signs of depression,
- they might feel lethargy,
- they might feel unhappy and demotivated.
Positive impact of exercise
- They feel happy
- They bark less
- The bonding between you and your dog improves
- They become friendly
- They are able to socialize more
Exercises for German Shepherd
There are multiple kinds of exercises you can try with your dog. It is better to set an exercise routine for your dog. Start with morning walks and running and then shift to intense exercise like playing with the dog, hiking, and jumping. German Shepherds are very active, fast, strong and tough. If trained properly, they can be good running partners.
1. Walking and Running
Walking is very good for German Shepherd. 30 to 40 minutes of walking or 2-5 miles per day is ideal for a healthy German Shepherd. Other than walking, you can try running as well.
2. Hiking and other sports
German Shepherds are mostly used for military and police. Hiking and other training is very useful for German Shepherd.
3. Other games
Tug-of war, hide & seek, fetch are some very popular games to play with your dog – you and your dog can enjoy it. It does not require much stuff – only a small rope and a ball. German Shepherds are social. If you play games like these, it is very good for your dog’s behavioral and social development.
4. Going to park
Nowadays, people are very busy, and it gets difficult to spend quality time with your pet. Take you dog to the park to play or more specifically try taking your dog to a park where there are many dogs so that your dog can play with them. In that way, you will be less tired and your dog will be happy at the same time.
5. Fun games
Playing with the hose, jumping in the snow, chasing bubbles, swimming are games that require no equipment and less physical stamina.
6. Dog’s sports
You can try dog’s sports such as agility training and bikejoring, tracking. These games are ideal for German Shepherds
Conclusion: German Shepherd puppy exercise chart
Puppies are different from mature German Shepherd. Their body structure is different, and their bones are also very fragile.
Read: German Shepherd Growth Chart (According to Age)
Games and exercises which we can play with a mature German Shepherd cannot be played with puppies. There are different games designed for puppies according to their age.
Read: How to take care of German Shepherds
We should increase a puppy’s walking time by five minutes each month for a basic understanding. For example, puppies around three months should walk for 5 minutes every day; you can increase 5 minutes every month. It can go from 5- 20 minutes. So take them for a walk two times a day it will keep them healthy and will not affect their body as well.