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14 Posts
Hello all... this my first post here.
My wife and I got a GSD that we absolutely love. She does all the things that normal puppies do (both good and bad!), sometimes it's quite trying and other times it's just so rewarding.
My question is this: She's 13 weeks old. The energy level inside the house is utterly unstoppable; bouncing all over the place, running around constantly at top speed, chasing her tail knocking over everything for 10 minutes or more, all kinds of things. Sometimes she will get so fired up that she'll be laying on her side chewing on something for 10 or 15 minutes and then she'll start "running" in place on her side on the carpeting for several minutes. I know, GSD's have high energy, but there isn't anything we can do to keep her calm or even occupied for more than a few minutes at a time inside before she's jumping over 3 foot child gates or biting through walls (or hands). Obviously, the dog has limitless energy.
So how are you supposed to drain this energy out of her if you are limited to a relatively slow 5 minute walk at a time? The energy level is constantly this high all day long, from her 6am pee until 11:30 bedtime save for maybe 30 minutes or an hour of downtime during the day. Literally, 30 minutes of sleep.
We've taken her to the park and kicked a ball for her to chase running around the field to tire her out, but apparently even this is going to do damage to her body. We don't want to damage her joints and bones by overworking her, but unless we simply leave her locked in her cage all day and let her out only to eliminate and a few minutes of exercise she is a holy terror.
I don't want to come across as someone who didn't expect a high-energy puppy, but it seems unreasonable to expect to limit her exercise to the point where she is getting most of her energy burnt tearing around the house at top speed and jumping up on things instead of out on a walk or chasing down balls or swimming in the ocean.
I do appreciate your suggestions (especially on behalf of my wife, who is attempting to handle the puppy on her own for most of the day and is subjected to the madness). Thanks everyone!
My wife and I got a GSD that we absolutely love. She does all the things that normal puppies do (both good and bad!), sometimes it's quite trying and other times it's just so rewarding.
My question is this: She's 13 weeks old. The energy level inside the house is utterly unstoppable; bouncing all over the place, running around constantly at top speed, chasing her tail knocking over everything for 10 minutes or more, all kinds of things. Sometimes she will get so fired up that she'll be laying on her side chewing on something for 10 or 15 minutes and then she'll start "running" in place on her side on the carpeting for several minutes. I know, GSD's have high energy, but there isn't anything we can do to keep her calm or even occupied for more than a few minutes at a time inside before she's jumping over 3 foot child gates or biting through walls (or hands). Obviously, the dog has limitless energy.
So how are you supposed to drain this energy out of her if you are limited to a relatively slow 5 minute walk at a time? The energy level is constantly this high all day long, from her 6am pee until 11:30 bedtime save for maybe 30 minutes or an hour of downtime during the day. Literally, 30 minutes of sleep.
We've taken her to the park and kicked a ball for her to chase running around the field to tire her out, but apparently even this is going to do damage to her body. We don't want to damage her joints and bones by overworking her, but unless we simply leave her locked in her cage all day and let her out only to eliminate and a few minutes of exercise she is a holy terror.
I don't want to come across as someone who didn't expect a high-energy puppy, but it seems unreasonable to expect to limit her exercise to the point where she is getting most of her energy burnt tearing around the house at top speed and jumping up on things instead of out on a walk or chasing down balls or swimming in the ocean.
I do appreciate your suggestions (especially on behalf of my wife, who is attempting to handle the puppy on her own for most of the day and is subjected to the madness). Thanks everyone!