Marc Dubugras: How do I make a german shepherd happy in an apartment?
My apartment is fairly big and there's enough room for the dog to play with kids in the living room. There's garage with some even more space for kids to play with him. I live in front of a beach and i was planning to jog with the dog every 1 or 2 days, and there a park with a bunch of other dogs he could meet, so do you think a fully grown german shepherd would be happy?
Photo Credit: Jimmy Benson/Flickr CC
Answers and Views:
Answer by StellaStarfire
I think he needs more walking time than 1 or 2 days a week
Answer by Jesse Lopshire
Any dog can be happy in an apartment. I live in a small apartment with a smooth collie and a bluetick coonhound. Both are happy, calm, and quiet.
They key is to make sure they get enough exercise. A full-grown GSD? Every one or two days? Nope. That dog will become destructive. If you want a GSD, you must jog with him EVERY day. GSDs are a working breed and are not suitable to apartment life with a jog every couple of days.
On the days you don't jog with him (and it can't just be a short jaunt around the block) have you considered biking with him? If you bike with him, he can go at a brisk clip without you tiring out and holding him back. That way, the "walks" can be slightly shorter than your jogs because he will be able to go faster and expend more energy. We bike with our dogs every day. We bike until they start to slow down and then we ease up the pace and take our time getting back to the house. That way, everyone is kind of "cooled out" by the time we get home.
My recommendation is to keep the bike at a speed where he can briskly trot next to you.
The park is a great idea IF he is neutered and you know the dogs there. Be very careful at dog parks. Too many people take their dogs and let them off leash but don't have any control over them. That is when fights break out.
To be honest, if you change your amount of exercise time, I can see a GSD being very happy with you, especially if you have kids who love him and will play with him every day. I have never seen a dog happier than when he is playing with his kids.
- How do i get my German shepherd to not becoming afraid of strangers?
- Can a German Shepherd dog live outside in the backyard?
- How do I teach my German Shepherd to hunt with me?
Answer by Jojo
A fully grown German Shepherd dog needs at least 2 hours exercise EVERY day especially if kept in an apartment.
I hour of that should be off lead. They need mental stimulation as well like training basic exercises.
If the dog is from working lines it will need more mental stimulation than if it is from show or pet line breeding. SO try to find out the breeding if you plan to get a gsd.
Overall it depends on the basic nature of the gsd as to whether it will be "happy" living in an apartment.
If you plan on getting a fully grown gsd it will be wise to ensure it is used to kids before trusting it to "play" with them.
Also, check that it is well socialized with other dogs before expecting it to meet other dogs at the park.
Not sure if you are thinking of getting a pup or an adult so my answer is based on the assumption that you are getting an adult.
Know better? Give your own answer to this question!
Bellejcrazy says
Yes, I think he would be happy as long as you walk him at least once a day everyday, take him to the park often to play, at least 2 or 3 days a week. Also the beach is a wonderful idea for exercise and getting his energy out. As long as you take him for walks, exercise him, brush him, and feed him proper food amounts and the right kind for him; he should be very happy.
Bonzie12 says
sure, as long as he gets enough exercise and mental stimulation he should be fine. i'd be jogging with him every day as well as letting him socialize with the other dogs on a daily basis. as they age, they tend to need less exercise as well.
Susan says
Hi
While under a year, you should walk it everyday for only 40minutes. But spread the 40 minutes into 4 ten minute walks. Even if you walk your dog everyday and play with it in the living room, it still needs to run freely; german shepherds never ever seem to get tired when older so a place where he/she can roam free is essential. Roaming inside an apartment isnt ideal; you should find an enclosed isolated field for him/her to run free everyday.
Also, when older. he'll need vigorous workouts if he's going to live in an apartment.
Walking is a MUST when you have a gsd. Along with walks, he/she needs room to stretch and run.
When they hit a year, that's when you need to start walking him/her more everyday. For example, when a puppy it's fine to keep the walks short (10-15 minutes) because of the chance of hip dysplasia, but after a year, they should start walking at least 3 hours (one hr in the morning and one in the evening)
Of course, don't just start walking him her for 40 minutes then all of a sudden jump to three hours, but build up it's stamina.
If you want a sane gsd, you need to give him lots of exercise and training.
So yes, it is possible to keep a gsd in a apartment but it's not easy work bc you need to find a good place where he can just run and play fetch.
Saba says
hey I have a GSD (4-month) living in our terrace (50 m2) not completely with us.we have dogwalks twice a day and I spend time with her around 1.5 hor aday with exersiecs,Is she happy in your idea?
there are no other dogs available in the park to be amused with.
Grazia
admin says
She's okay. Just don't forget that German Shepherd is a working breed that needs to know and obey its master, as well as early socialization.
Peg says
Sure! I bet they would love the visits to the beach.
Courtney Reddin says
If you exercise it EVERY day, it should be fine. Not the best breed for an apartment though.