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Do German Shepherds Get Jealous?

german shepherds get jealous

Have you ever wondered if German Shepherds get jealous ? Are they more prone to jealousy than other dog breeds? Here’s everything you need to know about jealousy in German Shepherds and what to do about it.

Do German Shepherds get jealous? German Shepherds get jealous. Although they are not as likely to feel that way as some breeds, they are more likely to show jealousy than many other dogs. German Shepherds bond closely with their person and are intelligent, making jealousy a real possibility.

Learn what you need to know about your German Shepherd’s possible jealousy, the signs that jealousy is occurring, and the ways you can deal with it.

Signs Your German Shepherd Is Jealous

The German Shepherd is a highly intelligent breed that bonds closely with their persona, so it should come as no surprise that they are prone to jealousy at times. Be aware that your German Shepherd may be jealous of other people, dogs, cats, and other animals in his life.

Some dogs can even get jealous if they show affection for a toy or are too engrossed in an activity. Here are some indications that your German Shepherd may be experiencing jealousy.

Body lock

One of the most common signs of jealousy in your German Shepherd is if they prevent someone from reaching you by putting their body between you and them.

If you find your Shepherd getting in the way when your partner tries to kiss you or when you call another dog to be your pet, there is a good chance that you will see jealousy.

Limiting the movements of a person or an animal

Sometimes a jealous dog not only prevents people or animals from reaching their favorite person, but can also restrict their movements in general. If you discover that your German Shepherd keeps his other dogs or cats in a specific part of the house or tries to shove his children out of a room, it could be jealousy that is at fault.

Keep in mind that German Shepherds are a herding breed, and therefore sometimes this type of behavior is just instinctive, while other times it is indicative of jealousy. Look for other signs of jealousy to see if that is what is wrong with your dog.

Showering with affection and cluttering up your space

If your German Shepherd showers you carefully and tries to climb onto your lap every time someone else enters the room, jealousy or fear is very likely at play. Some dogs respond to a fearful situation by seeking comfort, but the anxiety of jealousy can also result in similar feelings.

Acting hurt when told to back off

If when you tell your German Shepherd that you need some space or that you want to pay attention to your child / partner / other dog, your Shepherd gets a little hysterical or leaves the room, you can assume that they cannot bear to see you interact with other animals and complain or remove themselves from the situation so as not to react inappropriately.

Aggression

It can be difficult to tell the difference between a dog that is jealous and one that is possessive. Jealousy generally refers to the dog’s reaction to other people and animals, while possessiveness speaks to the way the dog looks at you all the time.

If your dog growls or pinches only other people when they approach you, you can expect jealousy. If your dog also growls or nibbles at you when you try to push them away from you, possessiveness is more likely to be the culprit.

Urinate or defecate inside

We’re not sure why, but some dogs urinate or defecate inside when trying to keep someone or something out of their space. They may also urinate or defecate on things that they associate with you to claim you and your associated objects as their own.

Common reasons for jealousy

All types of dogs experience jealousy, but sensitive dogs that tend to bond closely with their owners, such as German Shepherds, can be particularly prone to this unflattering emotion.

Dogs are generally jealous when they believe their relationship and special place with their favorite human is being threatened.

The threat may come from your partner, family members, your children, other pets, or even a hobby or toy that is particularly attractive to you. Anything that takes your dog’s attention away can be a source of jealousy.

How to avoid making your dog jealous?

Preventing your dog from being jealous can be challenging, and you may never be able to completely eliminate your German Shepherd’s feelings of jealousy . That being said, you can do things to keep them from acting out as a result of your jealousy.

The most important thing to do to stop your dog from acting out of jealousy is to physically separate from them. Your German Shepherd is probably very close to you, if not on top of you, while acting out his jealousy.

Teach your dog to go to your place or to lock him up. It is essential that you not only separate yourself from your dog when other people or animals are around, as this can only increase your dog’s assumption that these people and animals are keeping him away from them. Instead, control your dog’s access to you at all times.

Just allow your dog to come up and sit near or on top of you when you call and be careful to call out at all times, even when and when other animals and people are around. If not, your dog must remain in place, which may be in plain view of you but you are not touching him or is so close that he may act defensive.

If your dog is jealous of another person, it can also help that person spend more time bonding with your dog.

Do dogs really feel jealous?

Experts used to believe that the jealousy that pet owners thought they saw in them was actually a sign of social hierarchy.

But understanding of canine social structure has progressed, and studies show that domestic dogs show similar signs of jealousy when their owners interact with another dog as human babies do when their parents interact with another baby.

So it can be concluded that dogs actually feel and act out of jealousy.

Are German Shepherds Protective of You?

The line between protection and jealousy is very thin. To understand the difference, it is important to consider motivation.

Dogs that act out of jealousy try to keep people and other animals away from you for their benefit, while dogs that are protective may try to keep people and other dogs away from you because they really think they can hurt you.

German Shepherds have been bred and trained to be protective throughout their history, so this breed is more likely than others to be protective even when protection is not needed.

The tactics for teaching your dog not to be protective are similar to those for teaching them not to be jealous, so have a similar plan of action no matter how your dog feels.

Do German Shepherds bond with just one person?

German Shepherds are known to be excellent family dogs that get along well with all members of the family. They are usually tolerant of children and get along well with other pets as long as they are raised around them or introduced slowly.

Shepherds are not as well known for bonding with one person as some breeds, such as the Akita or the Chihuahua, but they are known for being the type of dog that can bond very strongly with just a few people.

Your dog is likely to bond with everyone in your family, but if one person provides the most care and commitment, your German Shepherd may only bond deeply with them.

Dogs being trained for service work, such as guide dogs or bomb-sniffing dogs, can be encouraged to bond only with their Handler, and they often develop an incredibly powerful bond with that person.

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I love the animals. Reading and writing about them, their customs, their peculiarities or the attention they require is exciting, and I also believe that it makes us better people. I share articles that solve the questions that dog caregivers face on a daily basis.

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