If you have a German Shepherd dog then you know that of all the large breeds this dog is highly intelligent and extremely loyal. However, the German Shepherd is very energetic and needs to have work to do. This is a working dog, and for that reason they are best as seeing eye dogs and police dogs. It is not usually recommended that they be used as family pets.

If you want a German Shepherd dog as a pet then choose a puppy that comes from a line of show dogs, because it would have less of a drive to work. A puppy from a show line would still grow to be the same size, would still be a beautiful German Shepherd, and would still require the same amount of exercise to keep it less destructive.

If left home alone, German Shepherd dogs can be very destructive. Their destruction is carried not only to digging up the couch and knocking things over, but they will go so far as to chew up the baseboards and other structures.

The German Shepherd can suffer separation anxiety when left alone which leads not only to destructive behavior but continuous barking and howling as well. They are very sociable dogs and need the company of their owners most of the time.

If you must leave your dog alone for any length of time, here are some things you can do:

• If your dog is social you can take him to a doggie day care center.

• Since dogs are animals that like dens, the German Shepherd is no exception. Confine your dog to a crate while you are gone. Be sure it has water, and a soft rug or blanket to lie on. Your dog will feel safe in such a confined space.

• Get a dog walker. German Shepherds love to have people around them and a dog walker can fill the time with a walk and a play time with your dog.

• You can keep your dog entertained with a new toy and a place to look out of the window. Also, leave your TV set on, and a radio playing softly in another room. This gives the dog the feeling that it is not alone.

• If you have a regular pattern of doing things that the dog will associate with being left alone, change those habits. These habits may be as small as leaving something near the door to pick up when you leave, or if you kiss your wife and the children. Something as simple as putting on a pair of shoes that you usually would wear when you go out of the house will trigger knowledge that it will be left home alone.



By: Bijon Kumar Pramanik

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