Three Methods To Stop German Shepherd Chasing Habit ASAP!

Having a German shepherd chasing constantly on vehicles, animals, and human beings can be very embarrassing, annoying, and worse, frustrating. You are an owner and you are faced with this particular problem again and again and again. Do not blame yourself and think of ways to stop, or at least minimize this, instead, before it's too late.

While performing ways to alleviate German shepherd chasing concerns, there is one thing you must observe all the time- think like a dog! Therefore, as an owner, you must be equipped with sufficient knowledge about the dog breed and you must enter into his mindset. This way, you will be able to understand the behavioral traits associated with German shepherds.

First, we must look at the reasons behind the German shepherd chasing habit.

German shepherd anxiety

German shepherd chasing aggressively may be brought about by German shepherd anxiety. However, when everything does not seem to work anymore, seek professional help immediately. When they see joggers, bikers, cats, vehicles, and other moving objects, they would either run away or bark to make them go away since they are perceived to be threats.

Your German shepherd may also look at strange things as preys, that is why he would keep on German shepherd chasing at them
Variation sentence 1.

Playful nature

Any type of dogs, not only German shepherds, do chase a lot. On some occasion, your Shepherd puppy may perceive strangers as probable playmates. Hence, they would be inclined to join in the game of running or hiding. Then, German shepherd chasing follows.

Since German shepherds are, by nature, playful and athletic, German shepherd chasing is not always intended to harm others. However, whatever the reason may be, it is important to control this action to ensure everybody's safety.

Being aware of the possible causes of Germans shepherd chasing issues, then, let us now proceed with three methods to stop it. Remember to provide positive reinforcement for every successful job.

Get your German shepherd's attention

While training German shepherd to stop German shepherd chasing, make sure that he is free from distractions so he could focus his attention on you. Make sure he understands at his own pace what you are trying to tell him.

Call your German shepherd with his name so he would get comfortable with your companion. If he does a good job, offer him his favorite food or a chew toy. It may take some time to get the necessary connection with the animal, but keep on practicing until the goal is achieved.

German shepherd obedience training

Set yourself as a leader to your German shepherd puppy so he would have someone to guide him along the way. When you take him out for a walk, instruct him to sit calmly by your side, especially when there are passersby or anything unfamiliar that is approaching him. Do not forget to reward him for a job well done.

If you are consistent at all times, your German shepherd dog will get used to being well-behaved in public. In the coming days, you can go outside of the house anytime without worrying that German shepherd chasing cars and cyclists will occur.

At four months old, your German shepherd dog is ready for German shepherd obedience classes where he could learn useful lessons and will provide him opportunities to interact with other canines and people.

German shepherd leash training

The leash is one tool that can help you control your German shepherd's rebellious actions, particularly German shepherd c hasing. You too can make use of a simple, perfect-fitting collar, but see to that it is not harsh to the Shepherd puppy.

As soon as he reaches ten weeks of age, leash training your German shepherd can be initiated. Every time your German shepherd is about to chase a bicycle or a person, hold his leash tightly, stop and say "No" to him sternly. If he realizes that you are not pleased with his action and stops, lavish him with praises and give him loads of treats.

Solving the German shepherd chasing habit does not happen over night. Be patient enough and in due time, you will see the fruits of your toil. However, when everything does not seem to work anymore, seek for professional help immediately.

Six Common German Shepherd Health Problems You Should Look For

German shepherd health problems do affect German shepherds, just like any other dog breeds. Despite the fact that this breed is healthy and fit and has a life span of 12-15 years, these can sometimes be expected. That is why it is necessary to purchase only a healthy German shepherd puppy from a reputable breeder.

Some German shepherd health problems are hereditary while some are non-hereditary or bacterial in nature. If you are a German shepherd owner, you should be alert with any warning signs of diseases or ailments. The veterinarian as well as the breeder can help identify if you are dealing with normal health issues or behavior of your canine.

You may also consult the vet with the German shepherd health problems that can be vaccinated to protect your pet from common illnesses in the future. Around 8-10 weeks, your German shepherd puppy may undergo vaccinations. Yearly worming and treating ticks or fleas are also recommended.

To keep your German shep herd fit, provide him a healthy diet. Feed him foods that are only suitable to him. Definitely no sweets and other foods that will rot his teeth. Moreover, German shepherds are sociable dogs so they need to bond with their family and have plenty of exercises. Spend quality time with him to show your love and support to him.

Here are six illnesses that can be seen in German shepherd dogs that you need to be aware of:

Bone or joint dysplasia

Developmental dysplasia of the hip or elbow joint is a German shepherd health problem that is also common in large dog breeds. Initially, your German shepherd dog may display no symptoms at all. Nevertheless, this can result to severe pain and lameness or difficulty in walking.

German shepherds suffering from hip dysplasia may be cautious with their movement. If you notice your canine having difficulty in moving around, then, take him to the veterinarian right away.

Epilepsy

Sometimes, German shepherd health problems are very hard to deal with as they begin to show symptoms. They may even cause you to panic and feel helpless. Among these terrifying disorders is the epilepsy. It can cause seizures and convulsions to your German shepherd dog and this is seen quite often in this breed.

Although this can be alarming, epilepsy can be controlled with medications. Therefore, if this happens, contact a dog professional right away to help you with eliminating the seizures and give you advice on proper diet to control the condition.

Visual problems

Always keep an eye on German shepherd problems that may affect your German shepherd's eyes. Cataract may develop but can be easily removed with surgery. A certain condition called P annus is an inflammation in the cornea and can be detrimental to your German shepherd dog's optical health.

In other cases, the German shepherd's eyelids may not develop properly which can cause irritation and infection. If you notice your animal squinting, having excessive tearing or discharges, redness or any growth in his eyes, immediately have him checked with a veterinarian.

Bacterial infection

German shepherd health problems may also be brought about by bacteria. Pyoderma is a good example. This is a bacterial infection in the German shepherd's skin. Its cause is unknown but is said to be due to immune deficiency.

Watch your German shepherd dog for any sores, hair loss, redness and other abnormal skin conditions. In serious cases, Pyoderma may cause loss of appetite and lethargy.

Hemangiosarcoma

German shepherd dogs may also suffer from cancer diseases, just like human beings. Hemangiosarcoma is a cancer of the cells in the interior lining of the blood vessels and may affect the skin, heart, liver and spleen. Common symptoms are weakness, light-colored gums, abdominal distention and even unconsciousness.

Hemangiosarcoma is a fatal disease. Routine dog check-e ups will help you discover the disease at an early stage.

Anal furuncolosis

Anal furuncolosis is a German shepherd health problem which is a deep penetrating infection around the anus of the German shepherd with an unidentified cause. However, it may be partly due to the German Shepherds large bushy tail, which curves down over the anus and prevents ventilation of the area.

This condition can be treated surgically or through antibiotics, although these may be costly. If not eliminated early on, there is a big tendency for this to recur.

German shepherd health problems can be prevented by proper diet, exercise, and frequent visits to the veterinarian. You cannot afford to see your German shepherd dog too much, so save his life and enjoy his company longer.

Five Most Effective German Shepherd Training Tips You Shouldn't Miss!

It is important for owners to be knowledgeable about the German shepherd training tips. Why? Because this dog breed can be very useful in the society. Raising them does not happen in just one day. However, growing such adorable, well disciplined canines will be very rewarding.

German shepherd training tips will guide you on the effective ways that your Shepherd puppy can become a talented and skillful one. More than a hundred years ago, this dog breed was developed to herd sheep, thus the name German shepherd. Owing to their versatility, they can be easily trained and they are among the popular choices for buyers in pet shops.

Five German Shepherd Training Tips You Shouldn't Miss:

German Shepherd Training Tip One:

Begin German shepherd training during puppyhood. While your Shepherds are still young, they are eager to learn and their attention span is longer than those that have reached adulthood. They are able to absorb what is taught of them just l ike a sponge.

If you remain consistent with your German shepherd training methods, your three-month old Shepherd puppy can already be instructed advanced lessons. The German shepherd training process should be taken slowly and should take into consideration that your Shepherd puppy is still developing.

German Shepherd Training Tip Two:

German shepherds are like humans who need constant interaction with their fellow beings that is why it is important to properly socialize them while they are young. As they mature, their behaviors are more likely to become stable.

A reputable German shepherd obedience training school is a good venue for assimilation and will give them the chance to be handled by professional dog trainers. The more they get acclimated to different canine breeds, people, and environment, the lesser will be the chance for them to develop German shepherd aggression problems in the future.

German Shepherd Training Tip Three:

For you German shepherd dogs to become loyal family pets, they need a consistent leader throughout the entire German shepherd training course, and that is you! Dogs, in general, have pack instincts and when in group, they have their sole master with whom they will follow just like in the wild.

As a leader, you must load your Shepherd with solid support and your commands should be well-founded. You have to assume the role of a leader during the early stage or else, the he will dominate you. Remember that German shepherds have large body built and it would be hard to control them if t hey are unable to establish trust on their owners.

German Shepherd Training Tip Four:

Keep your commands short and simple. Basic tricks that you may teach your German shepherd puppy includes sit, heel, stay and other one-word commands. Repeat this everyday until he masters them and stick with them to avoid confusing your German shepherd.

Furthermore, take note of the voice tone that you are going to use with the German training method. To be able to capture your Shepherd puppy's attention, your tone should be calm and soothing while giving directions, and never yell at him.

As he grows older, you may proceed with the advanced level of dog tricks. Ideally, at about three months old, German shepherd dogs can be taught more difficult commands. An obstacle training course is a very effective tool for agility and protection training.

In this method, you may set up simple barriers and place an object at the end of each obstacle. This will assist him t o navigate through barriers and to search for missing objects. At six months, the German shepherd's mind and body are already able to deal with more complex tasks. This signals his readiness to be employed in military and police operations.

German Shepherd Training Tip Five:

In every German shepherd training procedure, bear in mind to load your pockets with treats. This will serve as reinforcement for him to repeat the same acceptable behavior again and again and again.

This technique also works in other kinds of dog breed. In fact, research shows that the more dogs are rewarded, the more they are inclined to follow certain commands.

The above German shepherd training tips are proven effective and will help you overcome any burden while dealing with your German shepherd house buddy.

How to Train Your German Shepherd-6 Hot Tips

German Shepherd dogs are one of the finest pets for dog lovers.They were mainly breed as herding dog but they also have an excellent temperament for guard dog.To successfully control and train German Shepherd here are top six tips-

* Realize your dog that you are his master.It is very important because German Shepherds are generally very dominating dogs so this should be checked at the puppy stage.

* Grab your dog's attention.While giving training to your dog make sure that he is not getting distracted by the surrounding otherwise it is very difficult to train.
* Be consistent. Your German Shepherd is eager to please you, but in order to do so she must understand what you want. If the rules are constantly changing, he will be confused and frustrated because she will not understand what he do to please you.

* Teach your dog the basic obedience earlier at about four month of age.Train her the basics such as sit, stay, down and come, stop etc.

* The next tip is that socialize your GSD because lack of proper socialization can make your dog more aggressive and difficult to control.

* Reward your dog. Who doesn't love reward? same is also true with your Dog. when your pet accomplishes some task reward her with small gifts such as biscuit or his favorite toy. Pat on her back love her. this not only encourages your pet but also strengthens the bond between the Master and dog.

By following the above steps anyone can train their Pet dog quite easily.

Five Sure-fire Successful Tips To Train German Shepherd Puppies

German shepherds are observant and intellectually gifted. To train German shepherd canines does not only necessitate adequate education, but also sufficient skills, perseverance and longer patience. Owners who possess the following qualities are likely to grow good house dogs and guard dogs at the same time.

It is crucial to be fully aware on how to train German shepherd puppies to become working dogs when they mature to maximize their advantage in the society. This type of dog breed is often employed in search and rescue operations and they can be trained to detect bombs and other harmful objects as well. Untrained Shepherd puppies are difficult to handle and will be out of control.

Here are five sure-fire successful tips on how to train German shepherd puppies to become useful dogs in the future.

Tip one: It is preferable to train German shepherd pups rather than the fully grown ones since it entails a shorter amount of time for the desired outcome to b e obtained. Adult German shepherds, also called Alsatians, need more patience from the trainer since they already tend to become hard-nosed, considering that they can grow into medium or large sizes. They may also have developed particular set of characteristics that are hard to ward off.

You may start German shepherd training informally at home as soon as he reaches three weeks old. This time, your Shepherd puppy is old enough to pick up new things quickly such as how to control German shepherd aggression.

Tip two: Know that socialization plays a major role when you train German shepherd dogs. This will aid in raising a German shepherd that you can safely take in public places such as dog parks. Therefore, owners should have full commitment from day one until the end.

Younger German shepherd puppies play a lot and can knock over people when they get extremely excited. Every time a strange object or person catches their sight, they may become aggressive such as German shepherd biting and German shepherd barking loudly. For these reasons, they need to be exposed to different people and environment so that they will become socially compliant.

Tip three: Authoritarian training is an effective strategy to make your German shepherd obey your rules. When he keeps on pulling the leash while you are going for a walk with him, immediately stop and say "No" to him angrily. In this sense, you should assume the role of the leader when you train German shepherd dogs.

Alw ays be consistent in giving directions and know that you are in charge of everything. If from the very beginning, your Shepherd puppy will treat you as his master, then, it is more likely for him to listen to you. Otherwise, you will lose his trust and will do things on his own even if they can cause danger.

German shepherds love to please their owners. When you have already captured their hearts, they will try to please you through refraining from German shepherd barking and German shepherd jumping on other people.

Tip four: When your German shepherd turns ten weeks old, you may now initiate German shepherd leash training. Being active and strong, he needs to walk properly on a leash or else, he will be free to do anything he wants, even if it means injuring someone or destroying something.

Sometimes, this German shepherd training method works better than the praise and reward technique. When he keeps on tugging the leash while you are going for a walk wit h him, immediately stop and say "No" to him sternly. Offer him praises and rewards if he complies.

Tip five: By the age of four months old, you may opt to take your Shepherd puppy to German shepherd obedience training classes where he can learn what is acceptable and what is not. It also provides opportunities for him to interact with other canines and their owners.

German shepherd obedience training school is a perfect venue for him to develop his skills as a guard dog in the future. Once he is already well-educated, he will have the capacity to protect your home and the whole family as well.

It takes an enormous amount of effort to train German shepherd puppies to become well-rounded house and guard dogs as they grow up. Not only do they make good companions, but they also have the capacity to serve mankind.

Learn How To Train A German Shepherd Without Too Much Difficulty - Shepherd Tips

German Shepherds are very smart dogs and are very easy to train. Their high intelligence and need to please makes them great dogs to train. German Shepherds are included in the herding dog classification therefore they have a strong desire to chase other animals as well as people. In this article I will give you some simple tips on how to best train your German Shepherd.

Get Free: German Shepherd Tips

First, because the Shepherd is such a smart animal you want to let him know who is the boss from the very beginning. You can not let your dog take control of the training. Too many of us let that happen.

How to: German Shepherd Information

Secondly, you want to bond with the dog. This means that one primary person will be responsible for feeding, walking, playing with the dog and making him feel comfortable with them. You must build a relationship of trust with the Shepherd. The better the relationship the quicker you will be able to train your dog.

Third, keep in mind Shepherds need a great deal of physical exercise. It is essential for your dog to get the right amount of exercise in order for them to let you train them. You must take your dog for long walks, let him run if at all possible, take them swimming and most important let them play with other dogs. If they have excess energy they could be difficult to train.

Fourth, it is good to take your dog with you everywhere when they are young. You want them to become familiar with other people as well as other dogs.

Fifth, you want to teach your dog all of the standard commands that all dogs should know and follow such as: sit, stand, stay, heel and come. If you can teach your Shepherd these basic commands you will have a well behaved dog.

Lastly, it is essential for you to enjoy being the owner of a German Shepherd to train your dog properly. They are large dogs who need to be able to follow commands at all times. Once you have trained your Shepherd properly you will have a best friend for as long as they live.

German Shepherd Coat Colors and Patterns Vary Greatly

Concerning the GSD and German Shepherd coat colors, the breed standard from the SV specifically states: "The color of the GSD is in itself not important and has no effect on the character of the dog or on its fitness for work and should be a secondary consideration for that reason. The final color of a young dog can only be ascertained when the outer coat has developed."



Of all undesirable things to try to eliminate and to consider in a GSD (aka the Alsatian), coat color should be at the bottom of the list. Good pigment should be sought after but many factors such as health and temperament, to name a few, should be much more important than coat color which should always be subordinate to structure, gait, type, and character and should never take precedence over the working ability of the dog. Eye color should be dark and nose pigment should be black as well.



Concerning the coat, the SV breed standard states the following: "The normal (stock) coated GSD should carry a thick undercoat and the outer coat should be as dense as possible, made up of straight hard close lying hairs. The hair on the head and ears, front of the legs, paws and toes is short. On the neck it is longer and thicker, on some males forming a slight ruff. The hair grows longer on the back of the legs as far down as the pastern and the stifle, and forms fairly thick trousers on the hindquarters. There is no hard or fast rule for the length of the hair, but short mole-type coats are faulty." "No good dog is a bad color" -- Max von Stephanitz (breed founder of the dog) concerning coat colors.



Ask just about anybody to describe a German Shepherd Dog and they will almost always mention the "saddle Back" markings. It is also just as possible for the GSD to be one solid color such as black (solid white is considered a conformation disqualification for showing by the AKC) or sable. Sable coat colors are easily identified by multi-colored individual hairs all over the body. Sable GSD's may also be masked by dark or black guard hairs.



Alsatian coat color patterns may include any of the following: black & tan, black & red, black & cream, solid black, solid white, (considered a conformation disqualification), sable (also called agouti or wolf gray, in various colorations), black & silver, liver (rare - conformation fault) and blue (rare - considered a conformation fault).


Richer pigmentation is preferred, color wise. While I won't delve deeply into the science of genetics (feel free to do that on your own if interested), just know that the liver color comes as the result of matched recessives in the black series and the blue color happens as the result of matched recessives in the dilution series.



Coat colors and inheritance in the GSD is very complex and controlled by several series of genes. Following is a very brief description and summary of the various gene series in the GSD responsible for color based on information from "The German Shepherd Dog: A Genetic History" and "Practical Genetics for Dog Breeders", both by Malcom Willis. Both of these books should be considered as required reading for any serious fan and even more importantly for breeders. Another suggested resource is "The German Shepherd Today" by Winifred Strickland and James "Jimmy" Moses.



THE AGOUTI SERIES



The basic body color of the GSD is controlled by the genes. The order of coat colors dominance is as follows: golden sable, gray sable, saddle marked black and tan, bi-color* black and tan (bi-color is where the dog only has tan on the legs and face, not on the body), and black.



Additionally, know that the black gene is recessive to all the other colors in GSD's. Solid black German Shepherds bred to solid blacks German Shepherds will only produce blacks. The sable colors are dominant over the other colors and patterns in the breed.



THE BLACK SERIES



This gene controls the black pigment formation on the GSD, not the hair color. The German Shepherd coat colors order of dominance is exactly as follows: Black pigment including nose, eyerims and pads; Carrier for liver color; Liver color - brown black colors, brown nose, eye rims and pads.



Note: most GSDs are considered black pigment including nose, eyerims and pads.



THE WHITE SERIES



White coat color in the German Shepherd Dog is recessive to all other colors. In order to get a white coat color in the German Shepherd, both parents must carry the white gene (either be white themselves or be carriers.) The order of dominance is as follows: Melanin is produced. (Standard GSD's colors have this); Partial albinism (not seen); White coat with dark eyes and nose (not albino); Yellowish coat collar (proposed).



THE COLOR SERIES



This controls the intensity of the non-black coloration. The order of dominance is as follows: Lightest tan (cream); Intermediate tan (tan); Darkest tan (red).



The intensity of the color series determines whether GSD's with color (i.e. not all- black or all-white recessives) will be black & cream,black & tan or black & red.



Coat Lengths in GSD's



Short-coated German Shepherd's maintain a short coat, which lies close to the body. These dogs usually have less undercoat.



"Plush" Coated GSD's have a medium length coat with a thin, fluffy under coat. These dogs do not have any feathering as in the long coated GSD's.



Long coated German Shepherd's have much longer fur around their ears, on the backs of their legs, chest and tail (feathering) than other German Shepherd's.



THE DILUTION SERIES



This controls how intense the black pigment will appear on your German Shepherd. The order of dominance is as follows: Dense pigment; blue dilution.



Black pigment combined with blue dilution will produce a blue coated German Shepherd which looks as though it has a dusty or flour sheen.



THE MASK SERIES



This controls whether or not a mask appear on your German Shepherd.The order of dominance is as follows: a black mask on the face; dark coat with no mask; Brindle (rare, will be seen as striping on the legs); clear tan.



All these genes put together determine your own German Shepherd's coat colors.

Buying Black German Shepherd Puppies? Read This!

Before you hop into that pet shop or visit the local breeder in hopes of bringing home those precious black German Shepherd puppies, you might first want to read more about what to take notice of when you're looking for that perfect dog.

The Real Deal with Puppy Mills

The reason why you should first arm yourself before buying black German Shepherd puppies is because of puppy mills. If you haven't heard of them, puppy mills are pet shops or even people who breed dogs for the sole purpose of selling them and the reason why they should be avoided, is because they seldom care about the puppies' welfare. Most of the time, dogs bought from Puppy Mills are sickly or are not cared for. There are also cases where the puppies come home with a disease with them, and chances of survival are very slim.

Red Flags Anyone?

The best way to avoid buying from puppy mills is to purchase a puppy from a credible, local club accredited breeder. If that option isn't available, we've prepared a list of red flags that you could look out for. If your chosen "breeder" has more than three of these red flags, then we suggest that you should run for your life and for you money.

Run like hell if:

1. The kennels are dirty and do not look sanitary enough for pet's welfare
2. Your breeder does not look as if he has taken care of his dogs
3. You do not feel any connection between the breeder and his pets
4. The breeder does not offer any contract or guarantee of some sort
5. The breeder avoids some of your questions
6. The breeder could not provide information about the sire and the dam
7. The breeder does not seem interested in their pet's welfare

A responsible and credible breeder would be seen by the words he speak. If he really knows what he's talking about, then there'd be no problem answering questions. All in all, follow the rule of thumb when looking for a breeder: If you don't feel comfortable, move on to the next!

Buying Black German Shepherd Pups? Read This!

So, you're thinking about buying black German Shepherd pups but don't really know where to start. Well, there's more to buying a dog than just shopping for one!

A dog is one of the best companions one can ever have. Depending on the breed and the reason why you actually picked on getting one, a dog can be a companion, a security guard, a toy of some-sort, and even just a simple pet. But regardless of why you plan to pick up or buy one, black German Shepherd pups, like many other dogs, are long term investments and you have to make sure that your investment pays back big time.

Here are several things you should bear in mind when you're shopping for that perfect dog of yours:

1)Research. Did you know that alot of owners are frustrated because they did not take time to read about their chosen breed? Yes, many owners go for just looks without exerting effort to research about any particular breed. Make sure that when you want an athletic type, read more about athletic dogs. Same goes with the toy dogs.

2)Ask the breeder ALL of your questions. You want to make sure that your breeder knows his pets as well as the things he talks about.

3)Ask that the pup be seen with its mother as well as its other siblings. This way, you can observe it's temperament

4)Know the health issues of the pup as well as it's medical history. Has it been dewormed? Microchipped?

5)Insist on seeing the papers. Pure Breeds must have papers. This is your guarantee that measures have been taken to maintain breed standards

6)Research on possible genetic health issues that your chosen breed might have. This is one way to prevent headaches and heartaches in the near future.

Three Tips - Why You Shouldn't Get A Black German Shepherd!

While the majority, if not all of the articles you've read online speak of how much fun it is to bring home your very own black German Shepherd, this article would tell you why you shouldn't be getting this breed in the first place!

Before anything else, you shouldn't get this article wrong. Black German Shepherds are adorable pets but different pets are for different owners! Hence, you should first understand what type of dog you would be getting in terms of attitude, temperament, and physical characteristics, before you even bring home your dog.

Here are top three of the reasons why you don't want to pick this breed:

1) You're not athletic

First, you should understand that this breed in general are big, athletic dogs and when I say athletic, that means they enjoy strenuous exercises and stuff like that. Therefore, you'd be obliged to take them out everyday to walk around the neighbourhood or even play with them. German Shepherds enjoy activities and require that they are always stimulated. If they're not stimulated, they tend to become aggressive and anti-social.

2) You have Kids or Elderly
German Shepherds are small when they're young but grow up to be very big dogs. That's why they're not ideal when you have kids or elderly at home. Most of the time, their big structures pose a problem to kids or old people that might get bumped or simply ran into.

3) You don't have a big house or lot
While having a big lot is not necessary, you should remember that your dogs are athletic in nature. Hence, they require a big area for exercise and stimulation. It's not always that you could bring them out for walks, so sometimes you just have to let them loose. During these times, a considerably large open space for running and playing is required for you dog. Other, smaller dogs, however, don't require these.