When the weather turns frigid and icy, whether it is snow, an ice storm, or a cold spring rain, even the heat and humidity of the summer can be hard on double-coated dogs like German Shepherds. When shepherds, especially high-drive dogs, are left inside without a "job," they become bored very easily. A bored dog is usually a bad dog – one that will chew your things unless it is a couch potato. Not many German shepherds are couch potatoes.

You can alleviate boredom by providing plenty of physical and mental stimulation. 

Why German Shepherds Require Physical and Mental Stimulation 

Other than relieving boredom, physical and mental stimulation keep your dog healthy. Physical exercise helps to keep your dog at an ideal weight and promotes muscle tone. It also tires them out so they sleep well.

German shepherd dogs (GSDs) are one of the smartest breeds, thanks to their breed traits. A purpose-bred dog, such as the shepherd, has instincts such as decision-making, concentration, and problem-solving bred into it. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC) breed standard, GSDs require a job that embraces these traits.

The job can be as simple as playing catch, or it can be as complex as doing search and rescue work or working as a service dog for the disabled. Police and other first responders, as well as the military, use German shepherds in their programs because the breed's mental acuity allows them to learn new tasks quickly.

Indoor Games for Dogs 

Keeping your GSD puppy or adult doesn't mean you have to provide stimulation for them 24/7. Five to 10 minutes of indoor play or training two to three times per day is enough for the average German shepherd. However, dogs with a higher drive may require more than two or three short periods or may require play or training for longer periods at a time.

Indoor Fetch

This can be a fun activity, especially if you have a long hallway, an open basement or a large living room. However, before playing fetch in the living room, make sure you throw the toy or soft ball in a direction where your dog won't slide into furniture and hurt itself. If you have carpet in the living room, that is ideal since your dog will have better traction and won't slide everywhere.

Obstacle or Agility Course

Set up household items to create an obstacle or agility course. You can use one large room, the basement or the whole house. Some items you can use include:

• Broomsticks for hurdles
• Cardboard boxes or blankets for tunnels
• Plastic cups or other non-breakable items for weave poles

Puzzles 

You can find plenty of puzzle toys on Amazon and in pet stores to help with mental stimulation. When choosing toys for your GSD, be sure you choose toys that do not present a choking hazard. Some toys for smaller dogs are not appropriate for larger dogs. You can choose from many types of mental stimulation toys, including:

• Food dispensing toys
• Puzzles that require two steps to dispense a treat
• Kongs that you can fill with peanut butter or other treats
• Dog talk buttons

You should have toys that you can rotate each week so your German shepherd doesn't get bored with the same toys all winter. If you switch them up, they won't be as apt to become bored with a toy. If you find a toy your dog never uses, take it out of the rotation. There's no sense in putting it there if your dog never plays with it – that's like having no toys. 

Scent Work 

Create a scavenger hunt with treats or toys. The reward you choose will depend on your dog's prey drive. Higher prey drive dogs tend to prefer toys over food. Figure out which toys have the highest value to your dog – the toys your dog goes for most of the time. Once you find a favorite, you can hide the toy or your dog's favorite treat and have it find the toy or treat.

Always switch up hiding places! German shepherds are smart enough to know where to look after they find a toy or treat in the same place a few times. If you use treats, be sure to use smaller treats so your dog doesn't gain too much weight.

To start the scent work game, hide treats in plain sight and point them out as you give the search command so your dog understands what you expect. 

Hide and Seek 

This is a great game, especially if your dog needs to work on the "stay" command. If your dog has a good stay, you can hide and then have your dog find you.

If your GSD needs to work on its stay command, have a family member hold the dog while you hide. Make sure the family member uses the 'stay' command. After the family member counts to 10 or 20, have him or her give the search command to find you. 

Other Jobs 

You can also brush up on obedience training or other types of training. While it might seem like more work than play to you, your dog doesn't care as long as it is mentally stimulated, so it doesn't get bored.

You can also teach your dog new tricks, such as learning hand movements, bowing, playing dead, rolling over, shaking hands, crawling and more. 

Visit Rosehall Shepherds 

If you are looking for a family-friendly, old-fashioned, straight-back German shepherd dog, visit Rosehall Shepherds for more information and to see our current litter and puppy litter dreams.