Exercising Your Dog

In this chapter

• Giving your dog the best exercise
• Recognizing the perils of outdoor life
• Knowing what to do when your dog’s dogs are dogging him
• Swimming and hiking with your dog
• Finding the dog who gets away

One of the greatest joys of being a German Shepherd is running and running and running until everyone else around has dropped from exhaustion — and then running some more. One of the greatest joys of owning a German Shepherd is watching this show of athleticism.

One of the saddest sights, however, is a German Shepherd held permanent ­prisoner in a small pen or on a chain. The only sadder sight is a German Shepherd hurt — or worse — because his owner wasn’t careful enough to make sure that he exercised in a safe place.

In this chapter, you can find out how to give your German Shepherd the exercise and play he needs without feeling like you’re running a marathon yourself. And because the number-one reason for exercising your dog is to keep him healthy, I explain how to exercise and play with your dog safely — and what to do if your dog does come up lame.

Giving Your Dog the Runaround (Or Walkaround)

You’ll probably find yourself walking your Shepherd for exercise. Walking a dog is excellent low-impact exercise for both of you, and is especially good for elderly dogs or dogs recovering from injuries. If you pick a regular time of day for your walk, you’ll have your own personal fitness coach goading you off the couch like clockwork!

For a walk around the neighborhood, use a 6-foot non-chain leash or a retractable leash. (See Chapter Shopping for Dog Stuff for information about buying leashes for your dog.) Retractable leashes, as shown in Figure 15-1, are great for walks because they give a dog the freedom to explore beyond the sidewalk, but be especially vigilant when using them because the dog can still dart out into the path of traffic.

Tip

The best way to hold a leash securely is to insert your entire hand through the loop and grasp the leash just above the loop handle. Never hold a leash with just your hand or fingers around the loop — at the first sight of a squirrel or other critter, your dog could pull the leash right out of your hand.

As you walk, keep up a brisk pace, and gradually work up to longer distances. An adult German Shepherd should walk at the very least half a mile daily — walking several miles a day is better. Don’t ask older or obese dogs to walk farther than they can comfortably manage, however. If your dog begins to limp, pant heavily, salivate, or slow down or lag behind you, you’ve gone too far.

Remember

Jogging on leash can be fun for an adult dog, too, but keep the following cautions in mind:

• You must work up to longer distances gradually.
• Avoid jogging in hot weather. Dogs can’t cool themselves as well as humans can, and heatstroke in jogging dogs has taken the lives of far too many.
• Avoid jogging your dog on hard surfaces, which are jarring to the joints.
• Check the dog’s footpads regularly for abrasions, tearing, or blistering from hot pavement, and remove any gravel you find.

MARATHON DOGS

If you’re into both marathons and titles, your German Shepherd can strive for the AD (which stands for Ausdauerpruefung) title, signifying that he passed an endurance test. This test involves completing a 12½-mile marathon in which he trots next to a bicycle, with a ten-minute break halfway through. See Chapter Showing Off Your Dog for other title-earning activities in which you and your dog can participate.

• In winter, check between the pads for balls of ice, and rinse the feet when returning from walking on rock salt.

Tip

You can prevent the formation of ice balls by coating the dog’s pads with Vaseline or butter; just be sure to wipe them off before going back in your house!

• Never jog, jump, or overexert a puppy, whose bones can be overstressed and damaged. Let a pup run until he’s tired, but absolutely not a step farther.

FIGURE 15-1: For safety’s sake, keep your dog close at hand when he’s on a retractable leash.

If you want to train your dog to be a marathoner, use the same conditioning techniques that you would for any marathon athlete. Build up gradually, and take a day off between long jogs for the muscles to recover.

Playing It Safe

You probably think that your German Shepherd is smart, trustworthy, and reliable off lead. And you’re probably right — until the unpredictable occurs: another dog attacks or a cat runs underfoot, for example. Whatever the reason, the trustworthy dog forgets himself for just a moment, and that’s all it takes for him to run in front of a car. Trust is wonderful, but careless or blind trust is deadly.

Remember

Keep the following cautions in mind when you take your dog on an outdoor adventure:

• Never allow your Shepherd to run loose in sight of traffic, even if that traffic is a mere speck in the distance. A German Shepherd can travel a great distance in a short time.
• Never unhook your dog’s leash until you know the area well. For example, are there so many squirrels and rabbits that your dog could be lured farther and farther away while chasing them?
• Deer are a grave danger because they’re irresistible to most dogs and can lead them on a merry chase that may end in tragedy. If deer may be in the area, keep your dog on his leash.
• Watch for poisonous snakes, alligators, or other animals that could attack your dog, and for small animals and dogs that your dog could attack.
• Look out for cliffs, roadways, and drainage culverts. The danger of falling off a cliff or running into a highway is obvious, but drainage culverts also can be deadly when they fill with fast-moving water after a storm. They can sweep away a dog who just wants to cool off.
• Avoid wilderness areas during hunting season. Hunters are generally a careful lot, but an errant shot could mean tragedy for you and your dog.
• Although it’s tempting to be lazy and jog your dog beside a bicycle or car, doing so is dangerous. Your dog could see a cat or squirrel and either pull you over or run into your path. If you do elect to try the lazy way out despite these warnings, train your dog to understand “Heel” before you start, and have your dog in Heel position (except farther from you) when on the move. Attachments that tether your dog to the rear of your bicycle enable you to keep your balance much better if the dog pulls and also keep him away from your wheels and chain.

Warning!

• Foxtails are barbed seeds that can cause serious problems for dogs. Once embedded in or inhaled by a dog, the seed’s barbs allow it to migrate through the dog’s body, sometimes causing abscesses and sometimes even entering vital organs. Symptoms include localized infections or apparent pain; irritation to the nose, eyes, ears, or feet; and strange behaviors in which the dog rubs and licks parts of his own body. Foxtails usually have to be removed under anesthesia.
• Don’t let your dog walk on thin ice. A dog — especially a fairly large dog like a German Shepherd — can fall through just as easily as a person can.

Don’t let this list of caveats scare you away from the great times the great outdoors has in store for you and your dog. Just bring your common sense and a sharp eye with you — and of course, your happy partner in adventure!

Hiking with Your Dog

German Shepherds are great hiking partners. Hiking carries with it certain risks for dog and person, however; you need to know what they are to ensure that you both have a safe and fun adventure.

For example, dogs can fall off of cliffs or mountainsides. Not only do dogs scamper about with little regard for their safety, but dog paws lack the grasping ability of human hands, and once they begin to slip, dogs can do little to stop themselves. To make things worse, mountain and foothill areas may be home to abandoned mineshafts and their air vents. Know your hiking area!

Warning!

LIVING OFF THE LAND IS NOT A GOOD IDEA

Most dogs will avoid eating poisonous plants, but don’t take any chances: Don’t let your dog sample the green cuisine when hiking. And one more warning: Although dogs don’t react to poison ivy or poison oak, they can carry the irritants on their fur and transmit them to you when you rub it. Keep your dog away from these plants for your own good! A highlight of going to the shore for dogs is the chance to sample the dead fish. Unfortunately, every year hundreds of dogs in the Pacific Northwest get so-called salmon poisoning from eating raw salmon, steelhead, trout, and other species that are infected with small flukes that in turn contain Neorickettsia helminthoeca. A few days to weeks after eating the infected fish, the dog gets progressively sicker. Left untreated, most dogs die within two weeks. If you visit streams or rivers in areas of northern California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, or Alaska, do not allow your dog to scavenge along the shore. The smallest freshwater threat comes from those things in the water you can’t even see. Giardia is a microscopic organism found in many water sources; it is nicknamed “beaverfever” because of its propensity to be carried by beavers. When your dog drinks that seemingly pristine water straight from nature, it may ingest Giardia and can become ill sometime later with stomach cramps and loose, mucous stools. Giardia is a common condition in dogs who sample wilderness waters, but water doesn’t have to be from the wilds to carry microscopic dangers. Pollution, especially in agricultural, industrial, or even residential areas, is a much-too-common threat. Avoid water that has a peculiar odor, color, or surface oiliness or that is obviously fed by runoff from polluted areas. Always bring water and a collapsible bowl for your dog when you hike.

Although your German Shepherd may think that he can best any wild animal, a few animals can get the better of him. Porcupine quills continue to work their way ever deeper into the flesh with every movement. Skunks can make you and your dog miserable. Poisonous snakes, and especially rattlesnakes, are high on most people’s lists of dreaded animals encountered in the wild, and their venom has proven fatal to many dogs.

Don’t deprive your German Shepherd of outdoor adventure, but don’t take chances with his safety. Before you unhook the leash, be absolutely certain that you know where every road, every cliff, and every conceivable danger to your dog is. Never go into the field unprepared. Always have a first-aid kit available, along with a means of transportation to and communication with an emergency clinic. Of course, it’s just as likely that your German Shepherd will rescue you from an accident! They’ve saved many a hiker, but try not to put your dog to the test.

Warning!

DANGEROUS WATERS

Even the best swimmers can’t overcome strong surf or undertows, nor can they predict the rogue waves that frequent certain beaches. In general, the waves of the Pacific Northwest are the least predictable and the least forgiving. If a sign says that swimming is unsafe for people, it is unsafe for dogs as well. You don’t have to be at the ocean to experience dangerous water. Fast running water in rivers, creeks, and ditches has killed more dogs than rough surf. Some calm mountain streams lead to deadly waterfalls. Normally placid creeks can swell into killer torrents from upstream rain, especially in desert regions. Many ditches have steep banks or bulkheads that dogs can’t climb. The aquaducts of southern California have drowned many a dog. Cold northern waters pose special hazards. Hypothermic dogs can lose the ability to swim with the strength necessary to make it back to shore. Dogs can break through thin ice. Ice that breaks under a dog’s weight will almost certainly not support yours, making rescue dangerous or impossible. Don’t forget that your dog may not be the only animal in the water. The cottonmouth, or water moccasin, lives in swamps, lakes, rivers, and ditches. It often basks on the shore during the day but is more active at night. You can identify this snake by the light coloration inside its mouth and its way of swimming with its head held out of the water. Its bite can be fatal. Even more widespread is the snapping turtle. Snappers are aggressive and have bitten body parts off of curious dogs with their sharp beaks. Snappers are found around muddy-bottomed fresh water with abundant plant life, although nesting females can wander far from water. The largest freshwater threat is the alligator. Alligators consider dogs an irresistible delicacy. Never allow your dog off lead or in the water in alligator territory! Don’t be scared off of enjoying water sports with your dog, however. By far the vast majority of dogs frolic in the water without a care and emerge perfectly safe. Just make sure that your dog is one of them. Enjoy water sports — but do so safely!

Going for a Swim

Many German Shepherds seem intent on proving that they can outdo retrievers when it comes to water sports. A body of water is great for keeping your dog exercised yet cool in hot weather. It’s also great for dogs with joint disorders or dogs who are recovering from injuries.

Warning!

Don’t send an exhausted dog out into deep water or into water with an undertow. Dogs do drown. Take the same precautions with your swimming dog that you would with a swimming child.

If your Shepherd is hesitant about swimming, you can use the following method to coax him into it:

1. Get into the water yourself.

2. Entice your dog into the water a little at a time.

The best way is to walk along in shallow water and only occasionally ask your dog to take a step or two over his head.

Tip

If your dog likes to retrieve on land, bring a favorite toy to use as an enticement into slightly deeper water.

3. Elevate the dog’s rear end so that his front feet stay under the water’s surface.

Most beginner swimmers try to swim by walking on water, reaching above the water’s surface with their front feet while their rear ends sink.

4. Be calm and comforting, and let your dog get out of the water several times.

Go slowly and avoid scaring your dog. Soon, your GSD will be cruising along.

Out of the Running: Treating Injuries

Like all athletes, your Shepherd may hurt himself and come up lame, despite your best efforts to prevent injuries. This section tells you what to do if your adventuring GSD does come up injured.

Limping

Limping may or may not indicate a serious problem. Complete rest and total inactivity are the best initial home care for any lameness. Rest your dog well past the time he quits limping. If the condition persists after three days, take your dog to the veterinarian for an examination.

Ice packs may help minimize swelling if applied immediately after an injury. The reduced tissue temperature lowers the metabolic rate and inhibits edema and the sensation of pain. Cold therapy can be helpful for up to a week following an injury.

Heat therapy can be beneficial to older injuries. Heat increases the metabolic rate of the tissue, relaxes muscle spasms, and can provide some relief from pain. Moist heat applied for 20-minute periods is preferable — take care to avoid burning. Other types of heat therapy are available that penetrate more deeply through the tissues, but because they also carry a greater risk of burn injury, only an experienced person should perform them.

In many injuries in which the limb must be rested, passive motion can be important in preventing muscle contraction and maintaining the health of the joint. All movements should be slow and well within the joint’s normal range of motion. Massage therapy can be useful for loosening tendons and increasing circulation. Exercise therapy is also important, but exercise must be controlled. Leash walking and swimming are excellent low-impact exercises for recovering dogs.

Many injuries are quite painful and may require drug therapy for pain relief. Orthopedic surgeries can be particularly painful and almost always warrant analgesics. Pain has a self-perpetuating aspect — it’s easier to prevent than to stop. Discuss with your veterinarian the pros and cons of various analgesics.

Warning!

If a dog is lame and also exhibits swelling or deformation of the affected leg, extreme pain, or grinding or popping sounds, he could have a break or another serious problem. Do not further traumatize the fractured area by attempting to immobilize it; when in doubt, leave it alone and seek immediate veterinary attention.

Foot injuries

Split or broken nails, cuts, peeled pads, and misaligned toes are all common sources of pain. Examine the feet of a limping dog for these ailments, and do the following to treat them:

• Split or broken nails: Cut the nail as short as possible and soak it in warm salt water. Apply an antibacterial ointment and then a human fingernail mender, followed by a bandage. If the toe becomes swollen or hot, take your dog to the vet.

Warning!

If the webbing between the toes is split, it will continue to split further. This condition warrants a trip to the vet.

• Cuts and peeled pads: Carefully flush the pad with warm water and then apply an antibacterial ointment. Cover the area with gauze and wrap the foot with Vet-Wrap (a stretchable bandage that clings to itself). You can also add padding to cushion the foot. Change the dressing twice daily (or anytime it gets wet) and restrict exercise until the wound heals.

Warning!

If your dog has deep cuts or extensive peeling, have your veterinarian check for foreign objects or tendon damage. A deep cut directly above and behind the foot may sever the ligaments to the toes, causing them to lose their arch and the dog to limp. Seek immediate veterinary attention for this condition.

Tip

If you need a quick fix for a minor injury, you can fashion a makeshift pad by adhering a thin piece of rubber or leather to the bottom of the pad with tissue glue, or you can apply a coat of Nu-Skin (available at drugstores) if the injury isn’t too extensive. Remember, too, that peeled pads are very painful. A local anesthetic such as hemorrhoid cream or a topical toothache salve can ease some of the discomfort.

Warning!

• Misaligned toes: Toes that are broken or displaced, or that have torn ligaments, can stick up or out at odd angles. They require immediate veterinary attention.

Persistent limping in puppies may result from one of several developmental bone problems and should be checked by a veterinarian. In an older dog, or a dog with a previous injury, limping is often the result of osteoarthritis. You can treat arthritis with buffered aspirin, but do so only under veterinary supervision. Your veterinarian can also prescribe better drugs that may help greatly. Anytime a young or middle-aged dog shows signs of arthritis, especially in a joint that has not been injured previously, have him examined by his vet.

If a toe is swollen, does not match its fellow toe on the opposite foot in shape and position, or makes a grinding sound when moved, or if the dog is in considerable pain, immobilize the toe and have a veterinarian check it. Mean-while, minimize the swelling by applying cold packs or placing the foot in a bucket of cold water.

I discuss other possible causes of lameness in Chapter Dealing with GSD Hereditary Health Problems.

Leg injuries

The most common non-foot injuries are muscle injuries, which usually cause little lameness but pronounced swelling, or can be felt as indentations in muscles. Torn muscles may require surgery to ensure a complete recovery. If your dog has a muscle injury, treat it with an ice pack followed by at least a week’s rest.

Knee injuries, especially of the cruciate ligaments, are common in dogs — ­especially overweight dogs. They can also occur when a dog is pushed sideways while running. Most cruciate tears do not get well on their own. Still, cruciate surgery requires a commitment to careful nursing and should not be undertaken casually.

Remember

Puppies are especially susceptible to bone and joint injuries and should never be allowed to jump from high places or run until exhausted. Both puppies and adult dogs should be discouraged from romping on slippery floors that could cause them to lose their footing.

Finding a Lost Dog

While you and your Shepherd are exploring the great outdoors, the unforeseeable may happen: You may get separated. In this event, you need to act quickly. Don’t rely on the dog’s fabled ability to find his way home — this phenomenon occurs a lot more often in movies than in real life.

Here are some pointers for rounding up your dog as soon as possible:

• Start your search at the very worst place you could imagine: usually the nearest road. If you’re in your car, drive carefully; you don’t want to drive so recklessly that you endanger your own dog’s life should he run across the road.
• If you must leave the area in which your dog was lost, try to leave his cage, his blanket, some of your personal belongings, or even your open car outside in case he returns while you’re gone.
• Gather pictures of your dog and take them door to door. Be sure to ask neighborhood children, who are often the first to notice a new dog.
• Talk to the delivery personnel who service the area.
• Post large posters with a picture of your dog or a similar-looking German Shepherd.
• Distribute fliers at the local animal control, police department, parking lots, and veterinary clinics.
• Take out an ad in the local paper. Mention a reward, but do not specify an amount. Some scam artists answer lost dog ads and ask for money to ship the dog back to you from a distance or to pay vet bills when they don’t really have the dog. If your dog is tattooed, you can have the person read the tattoo to you in order to positively identify it. Never give anyone reward money before seeing your dog.

Warning!

Never give out your dog’s tattoo number or divulge secret identifying marks. Some dognappers steal dogs so that they can collect large rewards. More often, scam artists read lost-and-found ads and claim to have found dogs they have not. Ask for identifying marks and for an address or phone number; if the person can’t provide either, he or she almost certainly does not really have your dog.

• If your dog is likely to run away if approached, mention that fact in your ad or flyer. Some well-meaning or reward-hungry people have run dogs away while trying to catch them.

Losing a dog is a heartbreaking experience, a loss without closure or explanation. Remember, the best time to find a dog is right after he gets lost. Too many people take too long to realize that their dogs are really not coming back on their own — time in which the dogs probably could have been found. This is one instance in which being an alarmist pays off. I’d rather cry wolf than cry tears over a friend I never got to say good-bye to.

by D. Caroline Coile, PhD