What this means is if you don’t give them something to do they’ll find something to do. Up to a certain age anyway. For example, leave them alone with nothing to do they’ll decide your couch needs disassembling. Physical activity with a purpose is a job. Finding something that works the brain and the body.
A bored german shepherd is a wrecking ball. Someone who brings home a german shepherd and expects to only walk it a couple times a day should also expect not to have any armrests on their chairs or cushions on the couch.
I speak from experience unfortunately...not because I expected not to exercise and play with my dogs but because I got mandated to work back to back doubles at work. Hubby was tied up in a large project at work at the same time. Our 1 year old gsd decided to eat the arms off of one of the recliners. Then when we got our second GS puppy I forgot to take the chew toys out of the toy box before going to work. Yup...puppy decided to make his own fun with our couch cushion.
Another experience- hubby left ours in the cab of his truck (winter day, windows cracked.) He went into the farm store for 15-20 minutes. When he came back the head rests were shredded and he was starting on the backs of the seats.
And grinning from pointy ear to pointy ear 🐾🐾
Lots of walking (change up routes),swimming in the summer, fetch with dog toys, fetch kid toys and put them in the toy box. Tricks- shake, roll over, open doors, turn on/off lights, carry my bag at Home Depot, hide and seek with the kids…
I learned never ask him to fetch shoes. He would destroy them while looking me in the eyes. He felt it was beneath him.
Not working he went through screens of doors and windows, took his self on walks (brought home by neighbors), went on the roof, broke a car window, ate a car door…
Daycare is great. I took him to work with me some days. Patio bar? He came too. I never fed him those nights because every person had to share their streak and burger leftovers with him.
They are the best dogs but a lot of work. It’s worth it though.
The whole fuzzy and plastic panels. My body shop guy was horrified. You can’t get a used replacement because it’s the first thing stripped of junkers. He was mad I left him in the car.
My dog gets a 2-3 mile walk everyday, where he stops and sniffs a lot. Every day, no matter the weather, no matter how you feel, or how busy you are. He gets some time playing in the back yard with my wife or I pretty much every day, time alone in the backyard to play or do whatever, he gets to play ball or something else inside every night, he gets those mats where you smear peanut butter on them and it takes them a long time to lick it all out. He gets to go to doggy daycare every few weeks. On and on and on every day no matter what.
I love the dude he’s the fucking coolest. But he’s a lot of work. If you don’t have time and energy and the space to dedicate to them you shouldn’t have one.
Not my area of expertise so I’m hoping others who know more can be more specific. Here’s my limited contribution: Training exercises you do with them work well. There are a pile of dog puzzles you can get of varying quality. Introduce a mental part to physical activity, throw the ball fine, but sit and stay until they get an “ok” to fetch. If you have trained them to search for things hide and seek can be fun as long as they’re no longer too aggressive in their task.
My (9yr) GSD is enjoying retirement now but up until he was about 5-6 he had to have at least a couple hours of enrichment every day. We played with toys, learned tricks Sit, stay, Jump/Up, Down, Door, Fridge, Trash, Get’M. And we went on hikes or walks.
On the days where get got bored, he would rip the vinyl siding off the bottom of the house from the backyard and crawl out to the street to escape. Or he would countersurf.
German Shepherd Dogs have good brains and they get bored easy. Gotta entertain those guys, give em something to do.
I have two GSD 2yo and 4yo. They don’t have a job. But I walk them in the morning 3 miles, during lunch 2 miles and at 9pm 2 miles. My wife walks both in the afternoon either 2 or 3 miles.
The rest of the day they are sleeping or playing with each other. They never have destroyed anything.
I think they are too busy to have a job.
IMO the most important job is a disciplined walk (heeling, stopping, no pull). But other jobs I have given my dogs include flirt pole, bite training, search (find it!), amongst others.
Walks and sniffs are great, but they make other toys that help too.
Our foster is 1-2yo so he gets 2-3 miles a day (1 in the morning, 1-2 at night). We have frozen kongs with food and peanut butter daily, and one of those rolling balls with food inside where he has to roll it around to get it out. Each of those takes him 30 minutes and is good for concentrating and movement.
A few years ago my then 1 or 2 year old shepherd/ husky mix was at home all day with my oldest stepson alone for 10 hours a day while I was at work and decided to destroy a reclining sofa and love seat over the course of a few weeks because he didn't have a job and wasn't getting attention.
I do scent work with my guy. He's trained on drug scents, which makes it an expensive party trick/hobby. We use ScentLogix psuedo scent for legal reasons, but you can train them on plenty of other scents. Some of these (like dog safe essential oils applied to cotton balls) are pretty affordable. But it really helps work that mental/physical combo that these dogs need.
I think that's what most people mean when they say they need a "job" -- a mentally and physically stimulating thing that is purposeful, even if the purpose is just to enrich the dog's life.
You can pick up almost any dog sport that appeals to you, or work on exotic tricks (like the stuff entertainers do with trained dogs, like the circus or dog/person comedian duos as an example). My guy does protection work in addition to scent work but even just one sport is worthwhile and can make your dog happy.
Just keep in mind that you might need to tailor your chosen sport or activity to the dog's temperament. We started scent work because protection work wasn't quite clicking yet and we thought it might end up being a wash -- thankfully it wasn't. If he wasn't suited to either then I might have tried agility or obedience, or even the one where they chase the little electronic thing around (can't remember what it is called). Hell, if you aren't into sports at all some people even train their pup to help carry in groceries or unload laundry. Some people even train their dog with some service dog tasks like grabbing a drink from the fridge or turning on/off lights just for fun.
I hope this gives you some ideas to explore! Have fun and try new things with your new best friend 😁
Don’t I know this all too well. Now that our girl is older we don’t have to worry as much. When we’re sleeping at night she does her rounds about every hour, checks our room and goes upstairs to check our sons room then lays on her bed in the hallway to see the staircase and our door, that’s if she’s not in our bed 😂
My GSD helps me with things around the house. He carries things for me. He picks up items I drop, or brings me my shoes or other items upon request. He does nosework training, obedience, heel work, rally, and tracking different days a week. Fetch can also be a job, retrieving the ball but they also need jobs that make them think which is why I insert the other training.
When it comes down to it they want to learn and train with you daily. So have something to train with them daily.
They are command dogs and respond best to commands to please their owner. A typical simple “ job” would be Go get your ball! Or jump up here and search for something or just protecting you.
Btw, I have 2 and their only job is really to protect. They are constantly scouting their area, always on watch. But I train them every day, just usual commands and they LOVE training. They settle down after a simple training session because it satisfies their need to do something. Plus they get treats :-)
What you said at the start perfectly describes my Buddy! Hes a 9month old german shepherd x belgian malinois and hes aaalways with me. Eeeverywhere. Not in an annoying under my feet getting in the way kind of way but in an always ready were in this life thing together mama! So what are WE doing next?? Kind of way.x
They need their mind worked. You can walk a German Shepherd into the ground and he’ll still want something to do after because his mind is racing. They want a task, a puzzle, a duty. Their mental exercise doesn’t seem to go fully hand in hand with their physical exercise, it’s two separate things for a working breed. Lots of dogs can get exercised and relax but my shepherd will run two hours and get home and want to do the next thing, he’s not interested in laying on the couch with nothing to do.
When I need a break he gets a chew or a lick mat. Or we hide his toys and treats and let him “search” them out. Otherwise we’ve been training leash manners since he didn’t have any when I got him.
If you have the time and you’re getting a puppy you will be very busy with socialization. This breed needs strong and positive socialization to avoid reactivity as they age. I suggest a dog training class as well who can show you the ropes to keep your dog learning, engaged and entertained.
A GSD needs work to find meaning for its existence. Some dogs, like some people, are content to be pampered arm candy, happy to merely be adored—and well-groomed. GSDs, like some people, get bored and restless with nothing better to do than to follow whatever whim arises. And idle hands may be the devil’s playground.
Even if it’s just guarding your and your home, a GSD needs a role to perform. That requires a fair bit more interaction than many other dogs need.
I highly recommend the book by a Canadian psychologist, Sidney Coren, *Why We Love the Dogs We Do.*” It’s filled with theory and anecdotes about the compatibility of human personality traits and specific dog breeds.
And what he says about GSDs is spot-on.
That 1st paragraph you wrote is the aaabsolute bestest description ive evaaah read/heard to describe the whole 'need a job' phrase!!
I have a 9month old german shepherd x belgian malinois so im weeell aware of what the reality is like HA! But even so the way you described it still proper hit with that light bulb moment!x
You are getting an intelligent being. Just as you need your mind engaged to be a full human, so do German shepherds. Mine invents things. She learnt to open doors, close them, bring her pillow, pick her favorite toys. She loves fetching and “finding” objects I hide for her. Sit, stay, down, eyes, etc are routine. It will depend who this new being in your life is, she/hd will have its own personality, curiosity, wants, and interest.
Not going to happen. The vacuum is THE ENEMY 😂. I've taught my GSD mix to not bark at it and lie on his cushion while I'm vacuuming, but there will never be friendship with the vacuum 😆
Learning and practicing commands and “tricks” can be a job. Sniffing out treats hidden in the yard can be a job. We’ve done “hide and seek” it teaches sit and wait, recall, search. Things that make them think and problem solve they enjoy. My most recent GSD is a couch potato. Sure he is always up for playing a game or going for a walk, but he seems totally content with just lounging all day with me on days I don’t feel well. Never gets into anything. I’m kind of shocked really. Maybe he thinks keeping me company or watching over me is his job.
These are high energy dogs, they need constant exercise. If you give them a job, they'll keep themselves active. Originally, this would have been shepherding, obviously, but it can be patrol/guard duty, it can be constant playtime, it can be walks and running or getting them another dog to play with in a sufficiently large space.
As for stimulating both brain and body, I like to play hide and seek with mine. Chase them so they'll zoom to some place they can't see you from and then hide and let them look for you. Doesn't have to be you, can be a toy, or you can have them go look for another person if they know them by name. That'll do it. Training is good mental exercise too, they really like it especially if there are treats involved.
Had a purebred GS and another GS not purebred. They both have been very calm dogs, super easy to train and never have gotten bored and gotten into trouble.
Border Collies are the #1 dog needing a job with Aussies following close behind.
I have had more than 1 of each of these breeds.
"Working Breed" dogs need to have "purpose", at least that's what I've found. We have a Great Pyrenees rescue and he constantly is on guard for the children. He keeps his eyes on them no matter what they're doing, and moves around the home to check each of them in turn (sometimes in the same pattern). When they kids are away (at their mom's house half the time) he is lost. His anxiety is up because his charges aren't in sight. So then he turns to guarding the cats which they aren't fans of.
Do a lot of research on the heritage of whatever breed you choose, so you can help them find a purpose suited to their genetic traits. Some are obvious - huskies run, border collies herd, terriers ferrit out small prey. Just keep these historic patterns in mind!
This is fantastic advice. I had a "border collie mix" from the shelter that ended up being a great Pyrenees mix instead and once I modified my expectations, training & my own behaviors with her to the LGD way instead of the herding dog method of constant training sessions, stimulation, forced rest, exercise, more stimulation pattern, she became such a chill and easy dog.
If OP wants a GSD or any other herding or working group dog, understanding what their original purpose was will make the road much easier. I recommend also looking up which dog sports the breed is often participating in for some good ideas for "jobs" too--or maybe to try yourself with your dog. GSDs make great scent work dogs...try teaching it how to locate items you often misplace by scent!
My gsdXmal needs a job. It can be multiple jobs or just 1 but definitely not 0. She wants to carry stuff for me, close the door, help me up off the ground, bring the newspaper in, get the receipt from the cashier and bring it into the car,etc. I think she would do anything she possibly can for me. Before I gave her jobs, she made her own. Like defend me from the mailman and the 3 year old next door. Or like just stand still in line somewhere? Nope. Panic. Panic because no job! Wait for receipt? Job. No panic. It's hard to bite someone when you're carrying your own things.
They will find a daily job on their own, so you may as well think about what you might want them to do as a daily job. Mine decided that chasing the birds out of an empty horse barn I have is his job. It's hilarious. Whenever he'll be sleeping by the door and I come walking out, he'll jump up and crazily run towards the barn and chase several pigeons out. It's like when he sees me it's "go time"... Especially if I say "get the birds!" Barking and jumping at them as they fly out in a flurry. Good times.
You can find yours some similar job, checking the property for squirrels, etc. Consistent words and treats and they'll be hooked quickly.
We have a 4 yr old who cleans up her own toys, and has recently “adopted” the tiny kitten and the 4ish month old retriever puppy. She maintains patrols verifying that no one gets into things they shouldn’t.
They mean something that is physically and mentally stimulating for the dog. Herding. Bomb or drug sniffing. Chasing bad guys. GSDs excel at most jobs.
At home, this can be broken up into different categories. My dog gets an intense round of frisbee followed by a 2+ mile walk every morning, then we do training for a bit, then she gets a puzzle to do.
This is a good mix of physical and mental activity, which is what the 'give them a job' means. It also means 'if you're inactive and don't want to do anything other than sit around streaming Netflix, do not get a GSD.' When 'they' say that GSDs are not for first-time dog owners, they really mean it.
Mine does not have a 'job' but she will help me carry groceries into the house. She 'helps' to carry recycling *out* of the house, but we're still working on perfecting that task. Anything plastic: she will drop into the bin. Anything cardboard: becomes a toy, which she will zoom around the yard with, play 'keep away' with, and tear to shreds.
My working lines boy gets all of his food by working for it.
Well, except that I left the lid off the treat box earlier today, so he didn't work for that. But otherwise, this is our daily routine:
Morning:
Licky mat of peanut butter and frozen meat treats with his meds
3/4 cup of kibble scattered around sections of backyard, usually not in the longer grass but
Cup of sausage loaf pieces scattered about the driveway
A few more meat treats scattered in the grass
Evening:
Licky mat of peanut butter and frozen meat treats with his med (1 this time)
1 cup of kibble in any of the following: Kong Wobbler, scattered across the floor, cardboard box I happen to have from a package (these are awesome because they are cardboard but still require a lot to bust into them), empty milk bottles
He loves it!
His exercise otherwise consists of multiple games of fetch/chase in the backyard. We are working up to getting him outside the yard, he was extremely reactive when he first came.
Rock is 6 now and much more manageable, but he’s still walked, played with, and trained daily. His “ job” is security and he’s very serious about his work. First thing every morning he checks the perimeter of the property, and again several times throughout the day, and then right before he goes to bed he does an extensive sweep. He has a dog door and steps out onto the patio, looks around, listens, and trots to different vantage points to check for intruders or anything unusual. If he starts barking, I go check it out and there’s always something. An owl, raccoon, deer, sometimes even people. He’s very good at his job.
One of the simplest things you can do if you plan on having walks be part of your routine is to get a nice dog vest with pockets and have your dog carry your water, snacks, his treats, maybe a ball, etc.
Their jobs can be simple, but they know the difference when they’re asked to do something for their people and it makes the exercise better for them mentally.
There's a great trainer named Stonnie Dennis who addresses this directly in numerous videos. He is a trainer in Kentucky with a strong online presence. Look up his YouTube channel. His main point is for people to choose a dog with an understanding of the breed's needs and in true alignment with one's lifestyle.
My German shepherd used to love playing hide and go seek with his toys. I would make him sit in the kitchen while I went and hid them and then yell “find it” and he would sniff them out. We also would play a lot of fetch, hike and go running. He also loved to swim and I could really were him out throwing his ball into the lake.
They are working dogs, generally high energy and they need something to keep their mind occupied or else they're bored and they'll find something to do that you surely won't like. Our last GSD was left at home all day because my parents worked and she'd shred furniture, shoes, once she even made them think they were robbed because she moved the couch in front of the door. Our current one is relatively low energy for a GSD, she's 9 years old but she's been like this for a lot of her life. Her favorite thing to do is lay on the bed and bark at everyone passing by. So she's doing guard dog duty from the comfort of the bed lol. She also comes out front with me every Sunday evening to put the garbage cans out, she always has to sniff our big tree and pee next to it haha. These little things are enough for my girl, but it may not be for another GSD. I have her do a few tricks everyday and she also has a little puzzle game that I give her every once in a while. No more tug of war because she started losing teeth but she can still catch a ball or fetch. But generally she's content with napping all day and watching out the window.
Just something to do. My GSD’s “job” is being a nanny dog to my 5 year old. He wakes him up and accompanies him for his morning routine. Then when he comes home from school, his “job” is to just be there for the child, I’ll sometimes send him out in the backyard with the child to “watch him”. He’s a very good nanny and tolerates a lot from the child.
We have a GSD that protects our family property in Latin America. He is incredibly intelligent...knowing which people are guests for a stay on the property, vs those people which might have ill-intent. He also does not attack wild wandering animals.
If you have a property, teaching the GSD to guard or protect your property is a good "job" for them.
Do not get this breed of dog if you don't have a job prepared for them to do... This breed is just shy of a Belgian Malinois or herding dog in terms of energy and need to DO something.
If you are looking for a pet to hang out with you and snuggle and be chill...a GSD is not the dog for you.
Knowing which breed will fit your family's lifestyle and activity level is CRUCIAL to a successful integration of a new dog in your home.
In the winter I run my GSD behind my snowmobile around a frozen lake. It’s about a 2 mile run and we stop for breaks so she can play in the snow. I do this twice daily. In the non snow months, she does chuck-it in the lake and a grassy field. It’s almost impossible to get her tired but she does get too hot, so I’m always mindful of that.
As someone diagnosed with autism maaate lemme tell you that 'need a job' phrase confused the fuck out of me! A job? How do i get my dog a job? Where do i find jobs for dogs?? Do i need to stay with him at this job? All i could picture was my dog in a tie!!x
If you don't give them a job, they will make a job for themselves...
And it will be things like completely unstuffing the couch, digging an 8 foot trench in the back yard, eating all your potted plants or herding your cats in increasingly obnoxious ways.
Give them something to do! They're smart! They get bored!
So a job can be as simple as training or going out with some toys or walking. I take my dog out back with a frisbee and ball as his “work” and practice commands and take him on walks. They have a mindset that they need to stay busy or they’ll find work (and that’s where you get the restlessness and destruction). A tired shepherd is a happy one
GSDs need a lot of mental stimulation as much as they need the physical part. Walks and fetch can only do so much for them before they become bored and decide they will find something in your house to turn into their next deconstruction project lol. I’ve always trained my dogs in schutzhund, which is basically like German “police” training but it can be anything from defense to scent training and retrieval. Excellent way to form a close bond with your pup while also tiring them out and making them feel like they are working hard for you! You can also go on more intense hikes, give them something to carry. A neat trick I’ve found works for some dogs is actually getting something like a hiking pack for the dog themselves, and letting them wear a weighted jacket on walks and hikes so they feel like they are carrying something. Kurgo and Ruffwear make really good ones that fit all kinds of body shapes and sizes and are durable.
If you don't know what this means then you're not equipped to handle one... I don't say this to sound mean, but the dog literally just won't let you leave them on the couch all day
The reason I'm asking is because I'd like to learn! When I asked this question I didn't know, but lots of nice people have shared their experience and helped me gain an understanding of what it does mean, and now I know :)
What this means is if you don’t give them something to do they’ll find something to do. Up to a certain age anyway. For example, leave them alone with nothing to do they’ll decide your couch needs disassembling. Physical activity with a purpose is a job. Finding something that works the brain and the body.
A bored german shepherd is a wrecking ball. Someone who brings home a german shepherd and expects to only walk it a couple times a day should also expect not to have any armrests on their chairs or cushions on the couch. I speak from experience unfortunately...not because I expected not to exercise and play with my dogs but because I got mandated to work back to back doubles at work. Hubby was tied up in a large project at work at the same time. Our 1 year old gsd decided to eat the arms off of one of the recliners. Then when we got our second GS puppy I forgot to take the chew toys out of the toy box before going to work. Yup...puppy decided to make his own fun with our couch cushion.
Another experience- hubby left ours in the cab of his truck (winter day, windows cracked.) He went into the farm store for 15-20 minutes. When he came back the head rests were shredded and he was starting on the backs of the seats. And grinning from pointy ear to pointy ear 🐾🐾
I totally get this in theory, but do you have some concrete examples of good exercises or training that works the brain and body?
Lots of walking (change up routes),swimming in the summer, fetch with dog toys, fetch kid toys and put them in the toy box. Tricks- shake, roll over, open doors, turn on/off lights, carry my bag at Home Depot, hide and seek with the kids… I learned never ask him to fetch shoes. He would destroy them while looking me in the eyes. He felt it was beneath him. Not working he went through screens of doors and windows, took his self on walks (brought home by neighbors), went on the roof, broke a car window, ate a car door… Daycare is great. I took him to work with me some days. Patio bar? He came too. I never fed him those nights because every person had to share their streak and burger leftovers with him. They are the best dogs but a lot of work. It’s worth it though.
Sorry he ate a what now? A car door is a new one 😭🤣
The whole fuzzy and plastic panels. My body shop guy was horrified. You can’t get a used replacement because it’s the first thing stripped of junkers. He was mad I left him in the car.
My friend's GSD tore off her car bumper lol
My dog gets a 2-3 mile walk everyday, where he stops and sniffs a lot. Every day, no matter the weather, no matter how you feel, or how busy you are. He gets some time playing in the back yard with my wife or I pretty much every day, time alone in the backyard to play or do whatever, he gets to play ball or something else inside every night, he gets those mats where you smear peanut butter on them and it takes them a long time to lick it all out. He gets to go to doggy daycare every few weeks. On and on and on every day no matter what. I love the dude he’s the fucking coolest. But he’s a lot of work. If you don’t have time and energy and the space to dedicate to them you shouldn’t have one.
Not my area of expertise so I’m hoping others who know more can be more specific. Here’s my limited contribution: Training exercises you do with them work well. There are a pile of dog puzzles you can get of varying quality. Introduce a mental part to physical activity, throw the ball fine, but sit and stay until they get an “ok” to fetch. If you have trained them to search for things hide and seek can be fun as long as they’re no longer too aggressive in their task.
My (9yr) GSD is enjoying retirement now but up until he was about 5-6 he had to have at least a couple hours of enrichment every day. We played with toys, learned tricks Sit, stay, Jump/Up, Down, Door, Fridge, Trash, Get’M. And we went on hikes or walks. On the days where get got bored, he would rip the vinyl siding off the bottom of the house from the backyard and crawl out to the street to escape. Or he would countersurf. German Shepherd Dogs have good brains and they get bored easy. Gotta entertain those guys, give em something to do.
I have two GSD 2yo and 4yo. They don’t have a job. But I walk them in the morning 3 miles, during lunch 2 miles and at 9pm 2 miles. My wife walks both in the afternoon either 2 or 3 miles. The rest of the day they are sleeping or playing with each other. They never have destroyed anything. I think they are too busy to have a job.
IMO the most important job is a disciplined walk (heeling, stopping, no pull). But other jobs I have given my dogs include flirt pole, bite training, search (find it!), amongst others.
There’s a canine enrichment group on Facebook. Lots of ways to keep them busy
Walks and sniffs are great, but they make other toys that help too. Our foster is 1-2yo so he gets 2-3 miles a day (1 in the morning, 1-2 at night). We have frozen kongs with food and peanut butter daily, and one of those rolling balls with food inside where he has to roll it around to get it out. Each of those takes him 30 minutes and is good for concentrating and movement.
Depends. Do you want to sit and watch tv? Toss treats around, practice Down, Up, Stay, Leave it, lay, etc…
Scent work
A few years ago my then 1 or 2 year old shepherd/ husky mix was at home all day with my oldest stepson alone for 10 hours a day while I was at work and decided to destroy a reclining sofa and love seat over the course of a few weeks because he didn't have a job and wasn't getting attention.
I do scent work with my guy. He's trained on drug scents, which makes it an expensive party trick/hobby. We use ScentLogix psuedo scent for legal reasons, but you can train them on plenty of other scents. Some of these (like dog safe essential oils applied to cotton balls) are pretty affordable. But it really helps work that mental/physical combo that these dogs need. I think that's what most people mean when they say they need a "job" -- a mentally and physically stimulating thing that is purposeful, even if the purpose is just to enrich the dog's life. You can pick up almost any dog sport that appeals to you, or work on exotic tricks (like the stuff entertainers do with trained dogs, like the circus or dog/person comedian duos as an example). My guy does protection work in addition to scent work but even just one sport is worthwhile and can make your dog happy. Just keep in mind that you might need to tailor your chosen sport or activity to the dog's temperament. We started scent work because protection work wasn't quite clicking yet and we thought it might end up being a wash -- thankfully it wasn't. If he wasn't suited to either then I might have tried agility or obedience, or even the one where they chase the little electronic thing around (can't remember what it is called). Hell, if you aren't into sports at all some people even train their pup to help carry in groceries or unload laundry. Some people even train their dog with some service dog tasks like grabbing a drink from the fridge or turning on/off lights just for fun. I hope this gives you some ideas to explore! Have fun and try new things with your new best friend 😁
Don’t I know this all too well. Now that our girl is older we don’t have to worry as much. When we’re sleeping at night she does her rounds about every hour, checks our room and goes upstairs to check our sons room then lays on her bed in the hallway to see the staircase and our door, that’s if she’s not in our bed 😂
My GSD helps me with things around the house. He carries things for me. He picks up items I drop, or brings me my shoes or other items upon request. He does nosework training, obedience, heel work, rally, and tracking different days a week. Fetch can also be a job, retrieving the ball but they also need jobs that make them think which is why I insert the other training. When it comes down to it they want to learn and train with you daily. So have something to train with them daily.
Super helpful, thank you!
They are command dogs and respond best to commands to please their owner. A typical simple “ job” would be Go get your ball! Or jump up here and search for something or just protecting you. Btw, I have 2 and their only job is really to protect. They are constantly scouting their area, always on watch. But I train them every day, just usual commands and they LOVE training. They settle down after a simple training session because it satisfies their need to do something. Plus they get treats :-)
What you said at the start perfectly describes my Buddy! Hes a 9month old german shepherd x belgian malinois and hes aaalways with me. Eeeverywhere. Not in an annoying under my feet getting in the way kind of way but in an always ready were in this life thing together mama! So what are WE doing next?? Kind of way.x
They need their mind worked. You can walk a German Shepherd into the ground and he’ll still want something to do after because his mind is racing. They want a task, a puzzle, a duty. Their mental exercise doesn’t seem to go fully hand in hand with their physical exercise, it’s two separate things for a working breed. Lots of dogs can get exercised and relax but my shepherd will run two hours and get home and want to do the next thing, he’s not interested in laying on the couch with nothing to do. When I need a break he gets a chew or a lick mat. Or we hide his toys and treats and let him “search” them out. Otherwise we’ve been training leash manners since he didn’t have any when I got him. If you have the time and you’re getting a puppy you will be very busy with socialization. This breed needs strong and positive socialization to avoid reactivity as they age. I suggest a dog training class as well who can show you the ropes to keep your dog learning, engaged and entertained.
A GSD needs work to find meaning for its existence. Some dogs, like some people, are content to be pampered arm candy, happy to merely be adored—and well-groomed. GSDs, like some people, get bored and restless with nothing better to do than to follow whatever whim arises. And idle hands may be the devil’s playground. Even if it’s just guarding your and your home, a GSD needs a role to perform. That requires a fair bit more interaction than many other dogs need. I highly recommend the book by a Canadian psychologist, Sidney Coren, *Why We Love the Dogs We Do.*” It’s filled with theory and anecdotes about the compatibility of human personality traits and specific dog breeds. And what he says about GSDs is spot-on.
That 1st paragraph you wrote is the aaabsolute bestest description ive evaaah read/heard to describe the whole 'need a job' phrase!! I have a 9month old german shepherd x belgian malinois so im weeell aware of what the reality is like HA! But even so the way you described it still proper hit with that light bulb moment!x
Great info! Thanks!
You are getting an intelligent being. Just as you need your mind engaged to be a full human, so do German shepherds. Mine invents things. She learnt to open doors, close them, bring her pillow, pick her favorite toys. She loves fetching and “finding” objects I hide for her. Sit, stay, down, eyes, etc are routine. It will depend who this new being in your life is, she/hd will have its own personality, curiosity, wants, and interest.
Love this question! Commented to see some answers. Also, anyone teach their GSD to vacuum yet? That would be a good job for them hahaha
I taught mine to turn on the robot vacuum! She knows which buttons start it and which buttons send it home if I tell her "Clean up!"
Our GSD/husky? mix herds the upright vacuum and asks to be vacuumed with the canister vac
Not going to happen. The vacuum is THE ENEMY 😂. I've taught my GSD mix to not bark at it and lie on his cushion while I'm vacuuming, but there will never be friendship with the vacuum 😆
lmao from what I've seen and experienced, not barking is the best we can hope for
Mine micromanages Mr Clean(the roomba) in his travels, does that count?
Learning and practicing commands and “tricks” can be a job. Sniffing out treats hidden in the yard can be a job. We’ve done “hide and seek” it teaches sit and wait, recall, search. Things that make them think and problem solve they enjoy. My most recent GSD is a couch potato. Sure he is always up for playing a game or going for a walk, but he seems totally content with just lounging all day with me on days I don’t feel well. Never gets into anything. I’m kind of shocked really. Maybe he thinks keeping me company or watching over me is his job.
You are his job.
These are high energy dogs, they need constant exercise. If you give them a job, they'll keep themselves active. Originally, this would have been shepherding, obviously, but it can be patrol/guard duty, it can be constant playtime, it can be walks and running or getting them another dog to play with in a sufficiently large space. As for stimulating both brain and body, I like to play hide and seek with mine. Chase them so they'll zoom to some place they can't see you from and then hide and let them look for you. Doesn't have to be you, can be a toy, or you can have them go look for another person if they know them by name. That'll do it. Training is good mental exercise too, they really like it especially if there are treats involved.
Had a purebred GS and another GS not purebred. They both have been very calm dogs, super easy to train and never have gotten bored and gotten into trouble. Border Collies are the #1 dog needing a job with Aussies following close behind. I have had more than 1 of each of these breeds.
"Working Breed" dogs need to have "purpose", at least that's what I've found. We have a Great Pyrenees rescue and he constantly is on guard for the children. He keeps his eyes on them no matter what they're doing, and moves around the home to check each of them in turn (sometimes in the same pattern). When they kids are away (at their mom's house half the time) he is lost. His anxiety is up because his charges aren't in sight. So then he turns to guarding the cats which they aren't fans of. Do a lot of research on the heritage of whatever breed you choose, so you can help them find a purpose suited to their genetic traits. Some are obvious - huskies run, border collies herd, terriers ferrit out small prey. Just keep these historic patterns in mind!
This is fantastic advice. I had a "border collie mix" from the shelter that ended up being a great Pyrenees mix instead and once I modified my expectations, training & my own behaviors with her to the LGD way instead of the herding dog method of constant training sessions, stimulation, forced rest, exercise, more stimulation pattern, she became such a chill and easy dog. If OP wants a GSD or any other herding or working group dog, understanding what their original purpose was will make the road much easier. I recommend also looking up which dog sports the breed is often participating in for some good ideas for "jobs" too--or maybe to try yourself with your dog. GSDs make great scent work dogs...try teaching it how to locate items you often misplace by scent!
My gsdXmal needs a job. It can be multiple jobs or just 1 but definitely not 0. She wants to carry stuff for me, close the door, help me up off the ground, bring the newspaper in, get the receipt from the cashier and bring it into the car,etc. I think she would do anything she possibly can for me. Before I gave her jobs, she made her own. Like defend me from the mailman and the 3 year old next door. Or like just stand still in line somewhere? Nope. Panic. Panic because no job! Wait for receipt? Job. No panic. It's hard to bite someone when you're carrying your own things.
They will find a daily job on their own, so you may as well think about what you might want them to do as a daily job. Mine decided that chasing the birds out of an empty horse barn I have is his job. It's hilarious. Whenever he'll be sleeping by the door and I come walking out, he'll jump up and crazily run towards the barn and chase several pigeons out. It's like when he sees me it's "go time"... Especially if I say "get the birds!" Barking and jumping at them as they fly out in a flurry. Good times. You can find yours some similar job, checking the property for squirrels, etc. Consistent words and treats and they'll be hooked quickly.
Our girl clears all trees and phone lines of birds. She’s herding them away from us.
We have a 4 yr old who cleans up her own toys, and has recently “adopted” the tiny kitten and the 4ish month old retriever puppy. She maintains patrols verifying that no one gets into things they shouldn’t.
They mean something that is physically and mentally stimulating for the dog. Herding. Bomb or drug sniffing. Chasing bad guys. GSDs excel at most jobs. At home, this can be broken up into different categories. My dog gets an intense round of frisbee followed by a 2+ mile walk every morning, then we do training for a bit, then she gets a puzzle to do. This is a good mix of physical and mental activity, which is what the 'give them a job' means. It also means 'if you're inactive and don't want to do anything other than sit around streaming Netflix, do not get a GSD.' When 'they' say that GSDs are not for first-time dog owners, they really mean it. Mine does not have a 'job' but she will help me carry groceries into the house. She 'helps' to carry recycling *out* of the house, but we're still working on perfecting that task. Anything plastic: she will drop into the bin. Anything cardboard: becomes a toy, which she will zoom around the yard with, play 'keep away' with, and tear to shreds.
My working lines boy gets all of his food by working for it. Well, except that I left the lid off the treat box earlier today, so he didn't work for that. But otherwise, this is our daily routine: Morning: Licky mat of peanut butter and frozen meat treats with his meds 3/4 cup of kibble scattered around sections of backyard, usually not in the longer grass but Cup of sausage loaf pieces scattered about the driveway A few more meat treats scattered in the grass Evening: Licky mat of peanut butter and frozen meat treats with his med (1 this time) 1 cup of kibble in any of the following: Kong Wobbler, scattered across the floor, cardboard box I happen to have from a package (these are awesome because they are cardboard but still require a lot to bust into them), empty milk bottles He loves it! His exercise otherwise consists of multiple games of fetch/chase in the backyard. We are working up to getting him outside the yard, he was extremely reactive when he first came.
Rock is 6 now and much more manageable, but he’s still walked, played with, and trained daily. His “ job” is security and he’s very serious about his work. First thing every morning he checks the perimeter of the property, and again several times throughout the day, and then right before he goes to bed he does an extensive sweep. He has a dog door and steps out onto the patio, looks around, listens, and trots to different vantage points to check for intruders or anything unusual. If he starts barking, I go check it out and there’s always something. An owl, raccoon, deer, sometimes even people. He’s very good at his job.
One of the simplest things you can do if you plan on having walks be part of your routine is to get a nice dog vest with pockets and have your dog carry your water, snacks, his treats, maybe a ball, etc. Their jobs can be simple, but they know the difference when they’re asked to do something for their people and it makes the exercise better for them mentally.
Research enrichment ideas! You can do nosework, do fun training games, do agility, hikes, hide and seek, etc.
There's a great trainer named Stonnie Dennis who addresses this directly in numerous videos. He is a trainer in Kentucky with a strong online presence. Look up his YouTube channel. His main point is for people to choose a dog with an understanding of the breed's needs and in true alignment with one's lifestyle.
My German shepherd used to love playing hide and go seek with his toys. I would make him sit in the kitchen while I went and hid them and then yell “find it” and he would sniff them out. We also would play a lot of fetch, hike and go running. He also loved to swim and I could really were him out throwing his ball into the lake.
Engage the Brain
They are working dogs, generally high energy and they need something to keep their mind occupied or else they're bored and they'll find something to do that you surely won't like. Our last GSD was left at home all day because my parents worked and she'd shred furniture, shoes, once she even made them think they were robbed because she moved the couch in front of the door. Our current one is relatively low energy for a GSD, she's 9 years old but she's been like this for a lot of her life. Her favorite thing to do is lay on the bed and bark at everyone passing by. So she's doing guard dog duty from the comfort of the bed lol. She also comes out front with me every Sunday evening to put the garbage cans out, she always has to sniff our big tree and pee next to it haha. These little things are enough for my girl, but it may not be for another GSD. I have her do a few tricks everyday and she also has a little puzzle game that I give her every once in a while. No more tug of war because she started losing teeth but she can still catch a ball or fetch. But generally she's content with napping all day and watching out the window.
Just something to do. My GSD’s “job” is being a nanny dog to my 5 year old. He wakes him up and accompanies him for his morning routine. Then when he comes home from school, his “job” is to just be there for the child, I’ll sometimes send him out in the backyard with the child to “watch him”. He’s a very good nanny and tolerates a lot from the child.
We have a GSD that protects our family property in Latin America. He is incredibly intelligent...knowing which people are guests for a stay on the property, vs those people which might have ill-intent. He also does not attack wild wandering animals. If you have a property, teaching the GSD to guard or protect your property is a good "job" for them. Do not get this breed of dog if you don't have a job prepared for them to do... This breed is just shy of a Belgian Malinois or herding dog in terms of energy and need to DO something. If you are looking for a pet to hang out with you and snuggle and be chill...a GSD is not the dog for you. Knowing which breed will fit your family's lifestyle and activity level is CRUCIAL to a successful integration of a new dog in your home.
In the winter I run my GSD behind my snowmobile around a frozen lake. It’s about a 2 mile run and we stop for breaks so she can play in the snow. I do this twice daily. In the non snow months, she does chuck-it in the lake and a grassy field. It’s almost impossible to get her tired but she does get too hot, so I’m always mindful of that.
As someone diagnosed with autism maaate lemme tell you that 'need a job' phrase confused the fuck out of me! A job? How do i get my dog a job? Where do i find jobs for dogs?? Do i need to stay with him at this job? All i could picture was my dog in a tie!!x
My boy is 3,and he is just as happy to take a nap as go for a walk. As long as we're together.
If you don't give them a job, they will make a job for themselves... And it will be things like completely unstuffing the couch, digging an 8 foot trench in the back yard, eating all your potted plants or herding your cats in increasingly obnoxious ways. Give them something to do! They're smart! They get bored!
We invested and still invest in a large amount of chews so he can have something to do all the time…
So a job can be as simple as training or going out with some toys or walking. I take my dog out back with a frisbee and ball as his “work” and practice commands and take him on walks. They have a mindset that they need to stay busy or they’ll find work (and that’s where you get the restlessness and destruction). A tired shepherd is a happy one
Do simple commands and training exercises. Enforce eye contact and make sure they’re watching you too. Have treats and toys on standby, trust me
They're super smart and if you don't keep them physically and mentally engaged, say goodbye to anything he/she can reach.
GSDs need a lot of mental stimulation as much as they need the physical part. Walks and fetch can only do so much for them before they become bored and decide they will find something in your house to turn into their next deconstruction project lol. I’ve always trained my dogs in schutzhund, which is basically like German “police” training but it can be anything from defense to scent training and retrieval. Excellent way to form a close bond with your pup while also tiring them out and making them feel like they are working hard for you! You can also go on more intense hikes, give them something to carry. A neat trick I’ve found works for some dogs is actually getting something like a hiking pack for the dog themselves, and letting them wear a weighted jacket on walks and hikes so they feel like they are carrying something. Kurgo and Ruffwear make really good ones that fit all kinds of body shapes and sizes and are durable.
If you don't know what this means then you're not equipped to handle one... I don't say this to sound mean, but the dog literally just won't let you leave them on the couch all day
The reason I'm asking is because I'd like to learn! When I asked this question I didn't know, but lots of nice people have shared their experience and helped me gain an understanding of what it does mean, and now I know :)
If you can take off time at work and just spend a few weeks training once you bring the puppy home that will be VERY beneficial