How to Calm Down a German Shepherd: A Daily Plan and Settle Training

A German Shepherd that paces, jumps, whines, or cannot settle usually needs one of three things: more exercise, more brain work, or a quieter routine. Sometimes it needs a vet. The steps below start with the cheapest fix, a daily plan, and end with how to tell when the problem is bigger than training.

The American Kennel Club scores the breed 5 out of 5 for energy, 5 out of 5 for trainability, and 5 out of 5 for mental stimulation needs. It also says a German Shepherd that is not exercised enough "will become frustrated and likely to develop undesirable behaviors."

For the physical side, match your walks to good gear: see our guide to the best collars for German Shepherds.

Understanding German Shepherd Behavior

The AKC describes the breed as loyal, confident, courageous, and steady, with a "certain aloofness" toward strangers. It also says the German Shepherd is "extremely bonded to his people" and is happiest living with his family. A dog like that can struggle when the house is chaotic, when people come and go with no pattern, or when it is left with nothing to do.

Age is another factor: in a study from the Dog Aging Project, older dogs were reported to be less physically active than younger dogs on average. A young Shepherd may need far more outlet than a senior, and a senior may need comfort and shorter, easier outings.

Read the dog before you pick a fix. The RSPCA describes a relaxed dog as having an open, soft mouth, ears in a natural position, and a normal eye shape. A worried dog is low in the body with its tail tucked, ears back, and it may yawn, lick its lips, or avoid eye contact. If you see the worried signs often, talk to your vet first, as the RSPCA advises.

Effective Training Techniques

The AKC says consistency and positive, reward-based training give German Shepherds the best results. The RSPCA agrees that all training should be reward based, which means giving the dog something it likes, such as food, a toy, or praise, when it shows the behavior you want.

Keep a Routine

Your German Shepherd thrives on consistency, and that includes everyone in the house. The AKC says each person should use the same cues and the same rules, because a dog cannot guess that "down" and "lie down" mean the same thing.

VCA Animal Hospitals recommends a predictable daily routine, so the dog can tell when attention is coming (exercise, feeding, training, play) and when it is time to rest. A simple order works for most households: exercise first, then a short training session, then a chew or a feeding toy, then rest.

Teach the Dog to Settle on a Bed or Mat

Settling is a skill you teach. VCA describes the method for dogs that cannot relax: pick a bed or mat location, train the dog to go there, and reward the dog while it is lying settled on it.

1. Place a bed or mat in a quiet corner and lead the dog to it with a treat.
2. When the dog lies down on it, give a treat and quiet praise.
3. Reward again while the dog stays down, a little later each time, so the stay slowly gets longer.
4. Walk a step away and come back. Reward only if the dog is still settled.
5. Once the dog stays reliably, give the dog a chew or a feeding toy on the mat.

Keep each session short. The RSPCA suggests short but regular sessions so the dog is not overwhelmed, in a quiet room with no distractions, and ending on something the dog already knows so the session finishes well.

Do Not Punish Anxious Behavior

Both VCA and the RSPCA say not to punish a dog that chews, barks, or soils the house out of anxiety when left alone. The RSPCA warns that scolding a dog makes it more anxious about what happens when you return. VCA also says to avoid excited greetings, and to ignore the dog at homecoming until it settles, so the dog learns that settling brings attention.

Physical Exercise and Mental Stimulation

The AKC says the German Shepherd "requires lots of exercise for his physical and mental well-being." The AKC gives no set number of minutes, so judge by the dog: after a good session it should be able to lie down and rest. If it still cannot, add more mental work before you add more miles.

Daily Exercise

Walks are the base, and the breed is one of the best dog breeds for running and hiking. Puppies start smaller: the AKC suggests short daily walks and play sessions in a safely fenced area, and says never to let the dog off leash where it could get distracted and ignore commands.

VCA also recommends a vigorous session of play and exercise before any long stretch alone, and the RSPCA suggests a walk before you go out. Fetch and structured play count as exercise, and so do dog activities. The AKC lists agility, herding, tracking, and dock diving as good physical and mental exercise.

Brain Work

The AKC defines mental stimulation needs as brain exercise, and warns that without it a dog "will create their own projects." Three simple ways to give it:

• Feeding toys instead of a bowl. VCA says they make feeding time more of a mental and physical effort.
• Short training sessions. The RSPCA notes that training is a good way to stop an intelligent dog from getting bored.
• A snuffle mat or scatter feeding, where the dog sniffs out kibble.

Creating a Calming Environment

Give the dog one resting place. VCA describes a bed or mat location, in a room, pen, or crate, where the dog can rest, nap, or play with toys. Put familiar bedding there and keep the spot out of the busiest part of the house.

The RSPCA suggests ways to cut down disturbances for a dog left alone: close the curtains so the dog cannot watch the street, use a quiet room, and leave the radio on to muffle outside noise.

Music is one low-effort option. In a 2017 study of 38 kennelled dogs, music from five genres have a soothing effect, in the sense that the dogs spent more time lying down and less time standing. Heart rate variability, a stress marker where higher means less stress, was highest with soft rock and reggae, and the dogs were more likely to bark once the music stopped. These were dogs in kennels, not pets at home, so treat it as an idea to test.

Pheromones and Supplements

VCA says pheromone therapy can help reduce anxiety in dogs, both at home and when the dog is alone. Ask your vet which product fits your dog, because a pheromone made for one species is not interchangeable with another: the Feliway pheromone spray we reviewed is a cat product.

Ask your vet before you give any supplement, chew, or calming product, and ask about medication if the anxiety is strong. VCA says drugs may help reduce underlying anxiety, but the retraining program is what teaches the dog to cope.

Managing and Redirecting Unwanted Behaviors

Jumping, whining, barking, and chewing are often the same problem in different forms: energy or worry with nowhere to go. Start by checking that the day included exercise, brain work, and rest, in that order.

Jumping and Whining

Reward the behavior you want instead. Ask for a sit or a trip to the mat, and give attention only when the dog is calm. VCA says attention-seeking behavior should never be reinforced. A dog that gets attention for jumping or whining has a reason to do it again.

Barking and Chewing

Barking at every sound and chewing the couch are often signs the dog needs a bigger outlet. Do not scold. Redirect to a chew toy and reward quiet. If your dog is a puppy and chews hard, see the best chew toys for German Shepherd puppies. For a dog left alone, the RSPCA's curtain and radio tips above can cut down barking.

When to Talk to Your Vet

See your vet if the restlessness is new, if it does not improve once the dog has a steady routine with exercise and brain work, or if you see signs of distress such as constant pacing, chewing at the doors, or self-injury when the dog is left alone. The RSPCA says to speak to your vet first, who can then refer you to a clinical animal behaviourist. A behaviorist can find the cause and build a plan for your dog.

Sources

• American Kennel Club, German Shepherd Dog breed page
• American Kennel Club, The Importance of Consistency in Training Your Family Dog
• VCA Animal Hospitals, Separation Anxiety in Dogs
• RSPCA, Dog training
• RSPCA, Understanding your dog's body language
• RSPCA, Separation-related behaviour
• Age and Physical Activity Levels in Companion Dogs: Results From the Dog Aging Project
• The effect of different genres of music on the stress levels of kennelled dogs, Physiology & Behavior, 2017