Activities For Rottie Shepherds
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Prepare for unexpected vet bills
Introduction
The Rottie Shepherd is a hybrid canine species created by breeding a Rottweiler with a German Shepherd Dog. This hybrid species of dog is currently highly sought after for purposes of guarding and protection. The original breeding goals for the parents include traits making them good herding dogs and property protectors. The resulting hybrid canine is intelligent and powerful, possessing high amounts of energy. This loyal and closely bonding dog breed makes an excellent family pet, being wary of strangers and aggressive when the safety of their family is at stake. This frisky furry family member has a great deal of energy and intelligence which needs to be managed to maintain them healthily and happily.
Hiking Trails
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Sunny Day
Moderate
Hard
2 - 5 hrs
Items needed
Collar or harness
Leash
Daypack with First Aid Kit
Dog booties
Food and Water
Doggy Waste Bags
Activity description
Hiking with your Rottie Shepherd is an exhilarating experience which you can both enjoy. Of course, you and your dog must be in relatively good physical shape and health, as the activity is challenging in both mind and body. If your dog has never hiked with you, you will need to get your dog acclimated to the safety equipment and the type of environment in which you will be engaged. You will also need to properly socialize your pet so there will be fewer "issues" on the trail when you encounter other dogs, small animals, and people. A bit of obedience training is a good idea as well to ensure that you remain in control, whether the dog is on-leash or off-leash, during those unexpected situations. The hiking event itself may not be costly, but the procurement of the necessary safety equipment could increase the financial commitment of this outing. The benefits, however, will far outweigh the costs regarding the potential for deeper bonding with your pet and the mental and physical challenges which accompany the hike.
Step
1
Choose your trail
Choosing your trail is your first step, requiring you to research the availability of hiking opportunities near you, checking on price and dates of availability. This search may necessitate some time on the internet, checking the phone book, newspaper or magazines or talking with friends and family for referrals. Preparation at this stage of your plan may also involve some obedience training if your dog isn't already appropriately trained. Having the ability to maintain control of your dog at all times, under a variety of conditions, is paramount to the safety and success of the hike for you as well as others with whom you hike or those people and animals you meet on the trail. Acclimating your dog to the various pieces of safety equipment is also a vital step in preparation for your trip. Instead of waiting until later, now is the best time to address these things.
Step
2
Gather daypack supplies
Make a list of items needed in your daypack, noting which of them you will need to purchase versus the ones you have already acquired. It is vital that you don't skimp on these items as each of them is included with good reasons to support the need. Be sure to pack adequate food and water for both you and your Rottie Shepherd, estimating as accurately as possible the length of time required for the intended hike. Be sure to include identification for yourself as well as your dog if you are unable to identify yourself and your dog verbally. Acquaint yourself and your pet with the proper use of all safety equipment to avoid problems during the hike.
Step
3
Enjoy your hike
This step is the fun one! Once you've prepared your daypack, collar (or harness) your dog, attach the leash to the collar. Now, your pet knows there is something fun ahead! Load the car, including your canine companion, and drive to your chosen hike location. Once in place, put on your daypack, hiking boots and take your best bud out of the car. Enjoy the beautiful day, trekking through the most natural of surroundings with your frisky, furry friend. Be sure to take pictures with your phone or camera to preserve the memories!
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Biking Duo
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Sunny Day
Free
Normal
30 - 45 min
Items needed
Collar or harness
Leash
Drinking water
Safety tethering equipment
Activity description
Bicycling is a healthy exercise for man and canine. You both get the benefits of plenty of sunshine and fresh air coupled with the time spent together as you cruise through the countryside or neighborhood. This activity is, however, one that can create fear in some pooches. Many dogs exhibit a fear of mechanisms, with bicycles being one of those most often demonstrated by the canine. If your furry friend fits into this category, your first task will be to slowly, gently and lovingly introduce and familiarize your canine companion with your bike to reduce the trepidation they harbor inside. This task is a step by step process in which you continually reward responses with treats, teaching your Rottie Shepherd that the bike is not a metal monster to be feared and avoided. Once you have successfully acclimated your pet to your bike, then you can seriously plan your biking event.
Step
1
Introduce and acclimate
Introduction and acclimation are essential components of preparation for biking with your dog. These components must be accomplished slowly, gently and lovingly to keep your pet positive and engaging. Be sure to offer treats when your dog responds to the various steps in the process, but don't scold or discipline when that response is negative. Your goal is to keep your dog cooperative to get past the fear and understand that the bike is not an enemy. Once your dog is more comfortable around the bike, you need to repeat the process similarly with any safety equipment that you plan to use during the rides.
Step
2
Begin short rides slowly
Once you have appropriately introduced your pup to your bike and the safety equipment, you can begin to train the dog in your biking technique. You will need to approach this training with the slowness, gentleness and lovingness with which you addressed familiarizing your dog with the bike. Begin your training rides at a relatively slow pace and shorter distances, adjusting both the speed and distance upward as your pet gets used to it. Frequent rewards will work wonders for training and encouraging your darling doggie toward cooperation.
Step
3
Build up pace and distance
Now that your Rottie Shepherd has been introduced and fully acclimated to your bike, and you've begun to ride with them on a regular basis for slow, short distances, you can graduate to the next level. That level of training allows you and your canine companion to travel greater distances at a faster pace, increasing your time together and the exercise benefit for both of you. Work up to the estimated time that you think is needed for an average ride, as well as riding on a variety of terrains and surfaces. Once you and your dog are comfortable at this level, you and your biking buddy are good to go for those highly beneficial bike rides.
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Dog Kite Flying
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Sunny Day
Cheap
Easy
1 - 2 hours
Items needed
Kite kit
Collar or harness
Leash
Drinking water
Activity description
Do you remember the good old days when you were young? Thinking back can bring back some delightful memories, one of them being kite flying. Remember spending hours on a sunny, breezy day running and manipulating a kite, getting it to soar higher and higher until the string ran out? Yes, those were great memories to be sure! Have you ever relived some of those memories with your dog? Rottie Shepherds also love to run, jump and play in an open field on a sunny, breezy day - with or without a kite. Your dog can enjoy some of those same pleasures right alongside you. Of course, there will need to be a period of acclimation in which you lovingly and gently introduce your pup to this intriguing flying object. Once that introduction is accomplished, and the kite is in the air, you can attach the string to the collar or harness of your dog and let them run and play for hours, lending a helping hand as needed to keep the kite in the air. This activity is relatively inexpensive if you purchase a simple small kite kit.
Step
1
Purchase and assemble small kite kit
To purchase your kite kit, go to your local department store or discount store. A small kite is less complicated to assemble and won't seem as scary to your dog. As you put the kite together, allow your dog to sniff the components of the kit, offering treats for appropriate responses if necessary to encourage their investigation. Once completed, continue to permit your Rottie Shepherd to sniff and investigate the kite, offering a treat reward as positive reinforcement.
Step
2
Acquaint dog with kite
Collar and leash your dog if you haven't already done so. At this point, you can do one of at least two things: first, you can get the kite flying yourself and then attach the string to your dog's collar or harness; or, second, you could attach the line and help your dog run and jump to get the kite flying. Allowing the dog to play with the kite on the ground briefly will help to move the familiarization process to the next level. In this way, you can hook the kite to the dog's collar with less resistance from your canine companion in preparation for the next step.
Step
3
Encourage interaction with kite
Now comes the fun - you're prepared to fly a kite! If you have not already attached the string to your dog's collar or harness, now is the time to do so. If you haven't gotten the kite up into the air yet, you can do so by showing your dog how to play with the kite and helping them get it airborne. Prepare yourself for an afternoon of fun, fun and more fun as you watch your kite-flying dog enjoy this new activity.
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More Fun Ideas...
Puzzle Toys
Puzzle toys are those that force the Rottie Shepherd to use their problem-solving instincts to release the treats hidden in them. While these toys come in a variety of shapes and sizes, the mental and physical exercises that are needed are quite similar and healthy for your pup.
Hunt for Dinner
Hunt for dinner incorporates feeding with the mental exercise of problem-solving, a trait that needs to be kept fine-tuned in your pup. Hide kibbles or treats in the house or outside and then encourage your pooch to seek them out. It is excellent fun to watch them in their "search and rescue" operation, followed by happily munching away at their reward.
Flyball
Flyball is a fun activity for both you and your dog. The game requires your dog to negotiate obstacles, like hurdles or water barriers, to get to the tennis ball at the opposite end of the course. The dog is expected to tap a lever or button which mechanically launches the ball into the air. Then your dog catches the ball and returns it to you at the starting point.
Treat Hide and Seek
Treat hide and seek is the age-old hide and seek game many of us played as children, with an added twist. In this game, yummy dog snacks are hidden, and the dog is encouraged to locate them, with the reward for success being the consumption of the treasured nibbly.
Conclusion
Your Rottie Shepherd is an active, loving and loyal family friend. To keep your hybrid healthy and happy, you will need to keep them well exercised and challenged, both mentally as well as physically. While these activities aren't the only ones that accomplish this goal, they will serve to stimulate your imagination to conjure up some which are unique to you and your precious pooch. Go, have fun and stay healthy and happy with your pup!