German Shepards are working dogs known for their strength, intelligence, trainability, and obedience, making them perfect for disability assistance, search and rescue, and other jobs. No wonder they are one of the most popular dogs in the United States. With so many of them in homes today, how do we know if they are happy?
German Shepherds show their emotions and feelings through body language, behavior, and eating habits. A cheerful dog will display soft, bright eyes with a relaxed forehead and ears. They will run around engagingly and playfully, showing no signs of stress or agitation. Appetite is also a good indicator of happiness as they will eat and drink heartily.
This article will help you understand your German Shepherd and know if they are happy. We’ll even provide some tips on how you may fix the problem if they are not.
Signs Of A Happy German Shepherd
Sadly, our German Shepherds cannot talk; otherwise, they would tell us what they feel and want — in some cases, that might be a good thing. We have to find other ways to understand our dog and tell if they are happy.
Body Language
Signs of a happy dog include a relaxed body. Their posture should not be stiff and tense, and their shoulders should be loose. Your dog may also roll over onto their back with a thoroughly relaxed body to show you they want belly rubs.
A happy dog may lean into you and put their snout under your hand, wanting your company and attention. German Shepherds love to cuddle, receive hugs and back rubs, and lick your face — all telltale signs that your German Shepherd is happy. (Source)
Other signs include soft, relaxed ears — if pricked upright, it means they are alert. The tail will be high and wagging to the right. Their eyes will be soft, without a fixed gaze, and their manner will be playful, possibly leaping around.
A Healthy Appetite
A healthy appetite is one key indicator of a German Shepard’s happiness. As food and nutrition play an essential role in the health and wellbeing of your German Shepherd. Here are some key considerations to keep them happy and healthy:
- They need approximately 1200-2100 calories a day, depending on their daily activity.
- They need lots of water to drink.
- Their food must contain a high meat protein of at least 18%-20%.
- Foods containing vegetable and fish oils provide healthy fats and Omega-3 fatty acids to keep your German Shepherd’s coat shiny.
- Follow feeding charts or consult with your vet to prevent overfeeding.
- Consider getting food that promotes joint health and protection.
Build a routine around feeding times to keep your German Shepherd happy as they love to stay in a routine. A solid routine will also prevent anxiety around feeding time. With such an active dog, you should feed them twice a day. Before you let your German Shepard do any strenuous activity, leave them a half an hour gap before and after eating to prevent bloat. (Source)
Signs Of An Agitated German Shepherd
You can tell if your German Shepherd is unhappy by looking for signs of stress or agitation. When stressed, their bodies tense up, they hold their heads low, tend to hide, and stand still without moving.
Other signs of stress include your dog turning their head away from you and refusing to make eye contact. Some German Shepherds might give you a quick lick on your hand or face before turning their head away from you to tell you they have had enough close company.
Other signs of stress include licking their lips repeatedly and yawning. They may start to pace back and forth or around the perimeter of the room or yard or begin whining and barking for no apparent reason.
Their ears are usually flattened against their head, and their tail is low, often tucked between their legs. A slow wag can indicate insecurity. They may display appeasement behavior such as rolling over on their back stiff, and they may even urinate.
What To Do If Your German Shepherd Is Agitated
German Shepherds are generally nervous around new people and animals, but they have little to no issue with them if they grow up with them. However, you may find your German Shepherd has issues with other people and animals in their homes.
In a situation where they are having problems, you may need to do a bit of training. Seek advice from a trainer or animal behaviorist if you are not sure how to help your German Shepherd on your own.
German Shepherds are obedient, extremely intelligent, and enjoy being active, making them easy to train. When you combine this with their confident and courageous temperaments, you have a perfect working dog.
For instance, they are perfect for police K9 units, where they have to think on the fly and handle high-pressure environments.
What About Rescues?
If you are adopting a rescue, you may want to take it slow with them as they are particularly reserved. It takes time for a rescue German Shepherd to adapt to their new environment, but they’ll be your best friend for life once they have adjusted. German Shepherds are also very affectionate and enjoy being near you.
German Shepherd Temperament
A German Shepherd’s temperament is its attitude towards people and other animals and is formed by environmental and inherited factors. A research team that included Juliane Friedrich and Erling Strandberg wrote an interesting paper entitled “Genetic dissection of complex behaviour traits in German Shepherd dogs”. (Source)
The paper expresses the relationship between environmental and inherited factors, both working together to play a role in the temperament of your German Shepherd.
For example, you may have a German Shepard with the genetic trait to be aggressive, but when you place them in a loving and happy environment, they will show no signs of aggression, and instead, they will be more relaxed and affectionate.
German Shepherds are not usually aggressive, nor are they easily agitated; rather, they are more reserved. They don’t make friends easily but are loyal to a fault when they do, being very protective over their family when threatened. This trait makes them excellent for watchdogs, police work, and military purposes.
Signs Your German Shepherd Is Sick
Health is linked to the happiness of your German Shepherd as no one is happy when they are sick. German Shepherds are prone to particular health conditions due to their breeding. You can help prevent or manage any illness if you catch them early. (Source)
Joint Dysplasia is a common inherited disease in German Shepherds, and some symptoms to look out for include the following:
- Limping or stiffness in the legs
- Not wanting to go for walks or play
- Swollen, puffy elbows
Bloat is a life-threatening condition that affects the stomach, causing it to twist and lose blood supply. Some symptoms to look for include:
- Swollen stomach and pain
- Retching or vomiting
- Excessive drooling
- Pale gums
- Collapsing
Perianal fistula (source) is a rectal disease affecting some German Shepherds. Symptoms include:
- Bloody stools
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty defecating
- Wounds around the anus, and licking the area a lot
Degenerative Myelopathy is a progressive spinal cord disease. Symptoms to look for include:
- Difficulty using hind legs usually wobbly on its back legs.
- Difficulty jumping and climbing.
- Difficulty walking long distances.
Megaesophagus affects the esophagus of the dog, making it hard for them to swallow their food (source). Some symptoms include:
- Regurgitation after eating or drinking
- Weight loss
- Excessive drooling
- Bad breath
German Shepherd Activity Needs
German Shepherds are herding and working dogs; they have a lot of energy and can get very bossy if they don’t have an outlet for it. They like to herd other animals and be kept active due to their high intelligence and curiosity.
German Shepherds need at least two to six hours of activity per day to keep them happy. When your German Shepherd is unhappy and bored, they can bark excessively, chew furniture, and may suffer from other behavioral problems.
With German Shepherds being so intelligent, they tend to get bored relatively quick. Be sure to give them plenty of physical and mental activities. Physical activities like walking, running, playing fetch, or mental activities like playing hide and seek, agility, and training these activities will keep there active minds and bodies busy. (Source)
Spreading the activities throughout the day and including low-impact activities like swimming is excellent. They love water, which protects their joints from further damage, as the breed often suffers from joint health issues.
When exercising your dog, make sure you give at least a half an hour gap before and after eating as this will prevent bloat.
Final Thoughts
How do you know if your German Shepherd is happy? Well, this is something only you might be able to tell, as you have this unique bond with your dog. There are signs to tell if they are happy, but you will need to develop your relationship with them so you can properly read them and understand why they are behaving in a particular way.
If you feel they are not happy, you may want to look at their health, nutrition, and activity level. This will begin to help you identify the problem and rectify it so that you have a happy dog.
A happy German Shepherd will always want to play and be close to you. They will exhibit positive body language, bounce around, ask for back scratches and tummy rubs, and lick your face. Take the time to understand your German Shepherd better so you can both relax and be happy together.