When do German Shepherds Calm Down?

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Is your German Shepherd Dog bouncing off the walls? If yours is anything like mine, you’re probably wondering when do German Shepherds calm down. I get home from a long day at work and my GSD is ready to go, go, go! Sometimes he takes matters into his own paws while I’m away and “rearranges” my house. So I talked to my vet and here’s when you can expect your dog to settle down.

When do German Shepherds calm down? German Shepherd dogs will typically calm down between 6 months and 3 years old. This range takes into account two key factors: training and spay/neutering.

If you want a calm German Shepherd, the first this you need to do is make sure to train him (training this bred is easier than many breeds) and a job to do. By the time your dog is one year of age, if you do not have plans on breeding them, it is best to have them spayed or neutered.  This will aid in the calming process as well as prevent a host of diseases.

When do German Shepherds calm down?
Lack of regular exercise is one of the main causes of a hyper German Shepherd

Encouraging Good Behavior Through Training

No one likes a hyper dog.

My son’s biggest fear about dogs is them jumping on him.  So when we were looking for puppies, we let him make the selection.  Looking back though, our dog chose us.

She is not your typical German Shepherd. At 8 weeks old she didn’t jump on people, but at times would use people as a walking board to stand on her hind legs.  She seemed very calm… Until we got home that is.

German Shepherds were bred to be workers. As such, your dog needs a job to do.

Start training your GSD as soon as possible.  Everyone in your home must be on board with the training regimen.

Remember: Your dog is a reflection of you.  They will act as you teach them to act.

If your dog is jumping around, acting hyper and excited, you must stay calm and ignore the dog. Interaction with your dog while excited will only cause more excitement in the dog. This will teach the dog that being hyper is okay, and that is not the message you want to send.

By being calm, you teach your dog to be calm.  If you act excited when they act excited, then they will learn that their excited behavior is okay.

A few tips to train your dog to be calm:

  • Reward your dog for good behavior.  A belly rub and pat on the head when your dog is laying down reinforces that behavior.
  • Teach your dog the basic commands of sit and stay.  
  • Set aside time to play.  Make it part of a routine.
  • Socialize your dog with other dogs and children through store and park visits.

My German Shepherd has Separation Anxiety, Will He Ever be Calm?

German Shepherds have a tendency to get separation anxiety at a young age.  We do not yet know why this breed is prone to this disorder, but it can be remedied.

We picked up our pup when she was 8 weeks old.  The first night, she squeeked and yipped all night, until she fell asleep.  The first time we left the house as a family we came back to a blanket ripped to shreds.

Over the next few weeks, we learned how NOT to treat our German Shepherd’s separation anxiety:

  • Don’t punish your dog. They have a problem, you are the solution. Also, they have no idea what you are punishing them for, only that you are being mean.
  • Another dog or companion animal will not help. Their anxiety stems from separation from you. So adding another pooch into the mix may cause more issues.
  • Crating your dog. This may seem logical to do, but it may intensify the behavior.  Your dog may hurt themselves trying to escape. Then again, Houdini may just show up in your house and more things get torn up anyway.
  • Unless you have trained your dog to cue in on the TV or radio as a safety cue, leaving these on only uses electricity and will not help your dog’s anxiety.
  • More obedience training. Again, this is a disorder your dog has and is not related to obedience.

The key to getting the separation anxiety under control is to desensitization of your dog to your arrival and departure.

Some things you can do to habituate your dog to your coming and going (for minor separation anxiety):

  • When you leave the home, leave a piece of recently worn clothing with your dog.
  • Teach your dog that you will be back by using a word or gesture.
  • When you arrive do not make contact with your dog until you have been home for a few minutes.
  • Use calming collars or other over the counter calming products.

What do you do with a more severe separation anxiety case?

Start with positive reinforcement while teaching simple commands like sit and stay.

Major separation anxiety takes time and patience to fix:

  1. The first step is to start with steps above listed under minor anxiety.
  2. Teach the dog you will always come back by confining your dog to a room.  Have them sit and stay while you leave the room.
  3. When you come back to the room, reward your dog.
  4. Repeat this making the intervals longer with each time your dog successfully stays.
  5. While you are gone leave toys do distract your dog.
  6. Establish a coming and going routine.

Some things that may trigger anxious behavior:

  • Leaving your dog alone for the first time or after extended time with you.
  • Changes in your family’s routine.
  • Traumatic events, such as getting a new owner or being at the kennel for the first time.
  • Loss of a family member or another pet who they were close with.

What Behavioral Changes Should I Expect as My Dog Grows?

Each German Shepherd has its own unique personality.

Ideally, you will get your dog between 8 weeks and 6 months, because:

  • Any younger and your dog could end up with unforeseen health problems.
  • Any later, you may get a dog with more behavior problems than you expected due to lack of socialization.

When you get your dog during the 8 weeks to 6 months time frame, this is the socialization period. This is your window of opportunity to introduce your dog to as many new sights, sounds, smells, people, and animals as you can.

Proper socialization during this time helps your dog make the connection that you are the boss. It also teaches your dog that it does not need to be suspicious of everyone and everything that approaches.

Between 3 months and 6 months, Shepherds enter a juvenile period.

Just like children, they have a tendency to just want to have fun. Proper obedience training during this time will help keep your dog remain calm when he needs to be calm.

Between 6 months and a year is the best time to have your GSD spayed/neutered.

This will prevent wanderer syndrome and early unexpected pregnancy. After the spay/neuter you will notice a decrease in the energy of your friend.

This 6 months to a year time is when your dog will reach its sexual maturity. If they are not spayed/neutered, you can expect them to wander and be rebellious just like your teenage daughter. At the start of this period your dog should have all of its adult teeth.

By 2 to 3 years old, your dog will reach its maximum size and mental maturity.

Socialization of a Shepherd after it has reached peak maturity will be difficult.

It is important to understand that these stages are ranges of range. Each dog is different and will mature at different rates.

What Causes Hyperactivity In My Shepherd?

Boredom is the leading cause for hyperactivity in the German Shepherd.

These dogs want to constantly move and be working. Proper training teaches that their job is to sit or lay by you.

Lack of regular exercise will exacerbate the problems of hyperactivity.

These are big dogs that need to move. They were bred for guarding and herding. Make sure they have plenty of daily exercise.

This means more than just 2 walks a day.

Shepherds need both mental and physical exercise. Treat toys that make your dog work for the treat, are a great way to help stimulate your dog’s brain.

Don’t be afraid to wrestle with your dog. If you start while the dog is young they will learn how to play with you. This will provide mental and physical stimulation.

A poor diet will lead to both mental and physical problems including hyperactivity.  Give your GSD the highest quality dog food that you can afford.

Related Questions

Are German Shepherds aggressive?

No. German Shepherd dogs get a bad rap for being aggressive. But they are not aggressive dogs, it is just in their nature to be protective. They are great for guarding a home as it is in their nature.

Are German Shepherd Dogs good with children?

Yes. Because of their high energy, Shepherds are great with children. Children can help maintain a healthy exercise level for your dog. Also, your dog will look after your children as if they are its own family. It will protect them from other dangers they may encounter such as strangers or wild animals.

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