German Shepherds have become a prevalent breed in the United States; with their easy trainability and intense loyalty, it’s easy to see why. However, can German Shepherds be inside dogs?
Yes, a German Shepherd can be an inside dog as long as you give them adequate exercise and the training needed to set them up for success. Being indoors, your dog will be healthier and less prone to developing separation anxiety as well as other illnesses such as joint disease.
Having established that you can keep your German Shepherd indoors, let’s discuss the benefits of keeping your canine companion indoors versus outdoors.
An Indoor Vs. An Outdoor German Shepherd
German Shepherds can be inside dogs, but be sure it is the right choice for both of you. Before deciding inside versus outside, keep in mind there is more than one benefit to having your dog live inside, such as preventing allergies and lowering their anxiety. In fact, many dog trainers advise you to keep them indoors. (Source)
Indoors
A German Shepherd can be a lot less problematic over smaller breeds due to their easy trainability and constant desire to please their owner.
Keeping your dog indoors, even if it is a large breed dog like a German Shepherd, will prolong your dog’s lifespan since you’re protecting them from the elements and other health issues that may develop from living outdoors.
By keeping your German Shepherd indoors, you also lower your dog’s risk of wandering from your property, thus, protecting them from being hit by a car or otherwise injured.
Another risk is the possibility they could attack another animal or human if they feel threatened, potentially leading to legal issues and medical bills, along with in-home quarantine, or worse, having to put your beloved pet down.
Outdoors
While keeping your German Shepherd inside is ideal, there may be reasons you want them to be outside.
Many people own German Shepherds because they want a watchdog. However, living outdoors exposes them to extreme heat in the summer months and cold, often frigid temperatures during the winter months.
In the instance that your German Shepherd is to live outside, you will need to provide them with adequate shelter to protect them from becoming ill or developing joint or bone issues. An outdoor kennel and enclosure is an additional, but necessary, expense to consider when making your decision.
Freedom
Just as it is crucial to shelter your German Shepherd, they must have freedom in the yard. Many outside dogs are chained with little room to move, which is cruel, and the lack of freedom may lead to vet visits or your dog becoming aggressive.
German Shepherds need regular mental stimulation, and without it they can become unstable.
Allergies
Dogs are prone to allergies from exposure to pollen and grass, and living indoors lessens their exposure. This is not to say they will never develop allergies, but lessening their exposure may prevent costly vet visits to ease their symptoms, including but not limited to constant licking, hair loss, and chronic ear infections. (Source)
Anxiety
German Shepherds quickly form a strong bond with their owners. In the case of prolonged separation, they can potentially develop separation anxiety. Having your dog indoors with you provides them with a stable environment and the security of knowing you are not far away.
There is the added benefit that having your German Shepherd right by your side will reduce any anxiety you might be feeling.
Studies have shown that dogs reduce stress, lower blood pressure, relax your muscles, and slow your breathing. When you pet your German Shepherd, the cortisol levels in your blood drop and your oxytocin levels rise. (Source)
Housebreaking
If your German Shepherd is not housebroken, you may have the issue of them going to the toilet inside the house, leaving you with a mess to clean up. Your initial reaction may be to keep your German Shepherd outside and avoid this problem altogether.
However, your German Shepherd wants to please you; they are very intelligent and easily trained. Before you put your dog outside, consult your veterinarian or a licensed trainer. Chances are this behavior can be corrected.
Watchdogs
Having your German Shepherd as a watchdog outside is not as beneficial as you may think. An intruder can easily poison or harm your dog and gain entry to your property. If they are indoors, you are protecting them, which, in turn, allows them to notify and protect you.
Outside Activity Needs For your German Shepherd
There are not many negative aspects of having an indoor German Shepard as long as you provide them with adequate training and activity.
German Shepherds require a great deal of physical and mental stimulation. Pent up energy and boredom can lead to negative and destructive behaviors. If you keep them indoors, here are a few suggestions to provide them with activities to expend energy and stimulate their mind.
One benefit of having an indoor German Shepherd is to your health. Just taking a short or long walk around the neighborhood or the local dog park gives you both much needed social interaction and the added benefit of keeping you both fit.
Your German Shepherd needs socialization. If not properly socialized, new situations will be stressful for them, and many dogs react to fear with aggression. As a result, taking them to the vet will be difficult, and many owners forego proper care due to embarrassment or fear their dog will cause someone harm. (Source)
German Shepherds love to chew. Providing them with appropriate chew toys and bones will not only help maintain their dental health by scraping away plaque buildup, but it will keep them from chewing your favorite shoes.
The minerals in the bones benefit your German Shepherd’s diet; however, bones can splinter. Chew toys also present a choking hazard, so make it a habit to closely monitor your dog to ensure their health and safety.
German Shepherds need both physical and mental stimulation. Playing “Hide and seek” and giving them puzzle toys is an excellent way to provide them with both.
Agility training is a very mental and physical task for your shepherd and can be fun for both of you as it gets you out and about. You can also have lots of fun competing in agility competitions.
Tracking is an excellent activity to stimulate your dog’s mind and nose. Teaching your dog to focus on one object might prove to be fun for both of you. If your dog is really good at it, you can enter them in tracking competitions. It can also be useful when you need to find lost items.
Another activity to ignite their sense of smell and activate their mind is to take them for a drive. Dogs love car rides. The constant change in their surroundings keeps them alert.
Indoor Behavior Issues
German Shepards exhibit fewer behavioral problems when kept indoors instead of outside; this is due to a few key factors.
When your dog is inside with you, it makes training them easier. You can observe your dog and consistently reinforce positive behavior while correcting negative habits quickly.
If your German Shepherd is indoors, you can easily pick up on strange behavior, or something that may indicate a health issue.
When you keep your dog indoors, they will learn that being calm, especially around visitors, is the behavior the pack leader finds acceptable and, therefore rewarding.
When kept outdoors, your German Shepherd can become uncontrollable around people due to the lack of constant human contact.
Some German Shepherds are okay with being left alone outside, but it is not common with this breed. If left alone outside for an extended time, they may start barking and digging — not to mention chewing things in the yard; often, your garden hose is the first target.
If you still wish to keep them outside, knowing this may be an outcome, you may need to go through training to teach them it’s okay to be outside.
Coat Problems And Grooming
German Shepherds require quite a bit of grooming as they are thick-coated, large breed dogs, but there are only a few small differences with their grooming when kept indoors.
Clipping their nails will need to be done more frequently when kept indoors as they don’t get to wear them down from running around the garden and through constant digging.
Maintaining a German Shepherd coat requires a lot of grooming, whether you keep them indoors or outdoors because of that double coat. The main difference is in managing their coats when indoors because their shedding will be more noticeable, so you will need to brush them more often.
Many people don’t like dog hair all around the house, especially if they’re allergic. If you have allergies due to the large amount of hair they lose, you may want to keep them regularly groomed by a professional, or keep them outdoors.
Final Thoughts
German Shepherds thrive in the indoor environment. They want to be close to their humans, which reduces their anxiety and chance of exhibiting unwanted behaviors. You also benefit from reduced stress and anxiety.
There are many other benefits to keeping your German Shepherd indoors. Training takes less time because you can give them consistent affirmation or redirection. You are also protecting your German Shepherd from harm’s way, allowing them in turn, to protect you.