When you have a German Pinscher, you may very well know their temperament and energy. These wonderful dogs are energetic and intelligent, requiring a lot of physical exercise. That is why in this article, I’ll talk about the German Pinschers and their exercise requirements.
German Pinschers require at least 45 minutes of daily walking to maintain the most basic level of health. You can replace it with other interactive games such as fetch, but they should involve at least some running around.
Read on if you are out of ideas or just clearly lost on the exercise requirements for a German Pinscher. It will not only be helpful for your pet and yourself, but you will also find it incredibly insightful.
Getting Your Dog Moving: German Pinscher Exercise Requirements
Raising German Pinschers is no easy task, especially for a first-time dog owner. Here are a few tips to help you out with your GP’s exercise requirements.
- Give your German Pinscher at least 45 minutes of walking, at the extreme minimum. These dogs are athletic and want to run and use some energy
- 3 hours per day of physical activity with your dog once they’ve passed the puppy phase and are physically capable. When your GP is young, you should only take it out for 20 minutes at a time. It is because their bones are still growing.
- Know your dog’s limit. Never push a dog to exercise that is panting and wants to rest. Your dog will know when it is tuckered out and will let you know. But if your dog is a puppy, they may not know when to relax, and you might need to take it easy on them for their health and safety. Consult your veterinarian for the best advice for your specific dog (remember that, like people, each dog is different, and we shouldn’t just assume).
The German Pinscher is a dog that appreciates walking a lot. Not only does it allow them to make use of their muscles, but it also allows them to be socialized and mentally stimulated. As curious, intelligent dogs, German Pinschers love exploring new things and meeting new people and animals.
It is best to take your German Pinscher for 45 minute walks. Trust me, this breed needs 45 minutes minimum walking time. Note that this dog breed is extremely energetic, and if the GP does not get its required exercise, it will become disruptive and destructive. Two things we don’t want to happen.
Going through new routes, meeting new people, and mentally stimulating your German Pinscher are essential to make your daily walks with your pet more substantial and beneficial to your dog and you.
Appropriate Playing Room
The German Pinscher is a working breed, and the German Pinscher must move around daily. This dog breed does not appreciate being a couch potato. It wants to be intellectually stimulated and to be able to play a lot.
One thing to know about the German Pinscher is that they are not an outdoor or indoor dog breed. The breed seems to appreciate the balance between the two, and it is best to respect that preference.
If you feel that you can’t take care of your German Pinscher by taking it out on a walk daily, you can make it so that it can play along an expansive yard. However, you must ensure that you have enough games and stimulation set up when you stay in the yard.
Since they are curious dogs, they will literally chase anything that they come across as interesting. You may be surprised to know that they find many things interesting, such as falling leaves, a dress hanging out to dry, or even your neighbor’s cat!
You can also bring home plenty of toys (not one or two toys but a lot of toys) so that your German Pinscher will be entertained throughout the day. With this in mind, you can ensure that your German Pinscher can run around without a lot of problems, and they’ll be getting a lot of exercise.
Is Your Dog Crate Big Enough?
If you find yourself in an apartment with no yard, indulging in crate training as early as possible is best. Crate training can help your German Pinscher learn boundaries.
When crating your GP, ensure that the crate is big enough for your pooch. Your dog should be able to stand up and turn around in its crate. If the dog can’t move around, then the crate is too small.
Another thing you might notice is that your German Pinscher will not want to hang around on the areas of the crate where he might have defecated. It is another reason to make your crate considerably larger than what you think it should be. (2)
Again, I must share my thoughts on keeping your dog in a crate for long periods. I believe dogs should not be crated during the day when you go to work.
In fact, if you don’t have someone at home with the dog, then you should hire a dog walker to pop in and spend some time with the dog if you’re off at work all day. Leaving a GP home alone for more than an hour is a recipe for disaster.
If you have a GP and leave it to go to work, don’t be surprised if it gets into mischief and can suffer from separation anxiety.
Best to give it some space and toys and have that dog walker, friend, neighbor, or whoever you trust come by and give the dog some affection while you’re off making a living.
Trainers and walkers coming to your home and picking up the dog are great for this; just ensure they are fully bonded and insured.
Playing Fetch And Other Games
We’ve already established that your German Pinscher is more intelligent than most dog breeds. One thing to note about intelligent dogs is that they are not big fans of mundane, repetitive tasks. Therefore, you should mix up their exercise routine by playing fetch or other games with them.
Dog sports are a great way to bond with your GP while allowing your pooch to get the exercise and mental stimulation it needs. Agility, dock diving, and flyball are just a few dog sports that the GP excels at.
My GP Tucker has started Urban Rat Racing. This is a dog sport where the dogs have to use their scent to locate rats that have been hidden. The rats are in tubes and small cages fully secured so that a dog will not harm the rat.
Tucker did well in his first class, and we will likely get into it some more. I have also been eyeing agility and dock diving for him. These two sports will get him the exercise he needs and then some!
Three Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About German Pinscher Exercise Requirements
- Are German Pinschers hard to train?
Training a German Pinscher is no easy task as they require consistent mental stimulation and need to be trained daily at an early age. One needs to be devoted and invested in training German Pinschers to perform or execute the tasks properly.
However, German Pinschers are intelligent dogs that learn new tricks quickly. It would mean that German Pinschers will go through training lessons quickly, so having a training plan would be advisable.
When you train them properly, not only will they have a superb temperament, they can become guard dogs or watchdogs as well.
- What Other Activities Can I do with my GP?
If your German Pinscher is bored of repetitive games, you can stock on new toys for it to play with and keep stimulated. Another thing you can do is play tug of war with them, disc catching, agility, and puzzle games, just to name a few.
You can do a lot of positive reinforcement too! Training them with mental tasks and tricks will make them mentally stimulated while remaining close to you. It will help you form a better bond with your German Pinscher too!
- Do German Pinschers get along with other dogs?
Yes, German Pinschers can get along with other dogs if they have been socialized early. The GP does not typically get along well with other dogs and small animals. They are hunting dogs, so keeping small pets in your home is not a good idea.
Final Thoughts
The German Pinscher is an incredibly intelligent dog. Therefore, the GP needs a lot of mental stimulation and physical exercise to stay healthy. Walks with a GP should be 45 minutes(each)minimum for an adult and 20 minutes for a puppy.
Enrolling in dog sports is a great idea for you and your GP. Dog sports allow your dog to get all the exercise it needs and create a better and stronger bond between the two of you.
Sources
- https://content.tailster.com/blog/best-ways-to-exercise-your-german-pinscher/
