Need advice or a reality check

[AdamHA87]

Not sure how I came across this group. But need some help/advice or both. I keep feeling like I’m letting my dog down with giving him what he needs. So much conflicting info out there.

Just looking for some constructive criticism on what I need

I’ve got a male WL shepherd. 2.5 years old.

Sleeps in his crate for 7-8 hours a night

Morning walk 30-45 mins, usually follows the same flow. Starts with structured walk then some field time off leash for 15-20 mins. Sometimes some play in there. Finish with some structure back home.

He’s out in the house for another 60-90 mins before being putting up in his crate for a few hours until lunch.

Lunch - 2-5 mins of OB or hide some food in boxes / around the basement for him to find them, usually 10 mins.

He’s then left out to hang with the family until i get home at 4.

After work, most the time it’s the same as the morning or maybe just 5-10 mins OB work or scent work. Depends on what I did at lunch.

If we do a walk after work I’ll run a quick 2-5 mins before his main dinner

Evening we usually do 20-30 mins but I’m not going distance. Just letting him sniff the crap out of anything and everything.

I struggle if I miss something or that I’m not giving him enough work.

Looking for advice or reality check.

Edited to add a picture of my 4 legged friend.

 

[Malakai The Great]

I’m going to be very direct with you because I think you need it. You are not letting your dog down. What you just described is more structure, engagement, and intentional work than most working-line dogs ever get. The reason you’re feeling uneasy isn’t because your dog is under-worked it’s because the internet has convinced people that WL dogs need to be constantly “fulfilled” or they’re being failed. Let’s reality check this.

Your dog:

• Sleeps well in a crate
• Gets daily structure + off-leash freedom
• Gets mental work (obedience, scent, problem-solving)
• Gets decompression walks
• Gets time to exist in the house
• Has an off-switch

That’s not neglect. That’s balance. The feeling that you’re missing something usually shows up when people care deeply and consume too much conflicting advice. Most dogs don’t break from lack of activity, they break from lack of clarity or from being kept in constant arousal. You’re doing the opposite. Missing a session here or there is not a failure. It’s normal life. A stable adult working dog does not need to be entertained or optimized every single day. As long as he's not inventing problems, then you’re doing it right. Your job isn’t to exhaust him, it’s to teach him how to live. Based on what you wrote, he already knows how. Take a breath. You’re not behind. You’re actually ahead.

 

[MalikethGSD]

First off welcome to the forum Adam! You have a very handsome boy and you sound like a very caring and good owner!

Malakai definitely hit the nail on the head with his comment, you are doing very well and it is clear you have done your research into the breed and are applying it to him very well!

To add tot the physical side of things, it's often to see people trying to fix behavioral/need worries by physically exhausting the dog, but with a working shepherd, trying to overly tire them out often backfires. It usually just builds their endurance for that level of activity, and suddenly you have created a super athlete that requires four hours of running just to feel normal. So there is a point where more isn't better.

Instead of chasing fatigue, you want to just focus on being consistent and hitting all the marks like you are already doing with your mix of structure, freedom, and connection. Your dog is the ultimate teller here. If he is sleeping well and settling in the house, you are winning. Just keep reading your dog, if he seems to have too much energy one day, you can add a little more, and if he seems tired, do a little less. But do not feel pressured to constantly do more just for the sake of it. You are doing a great job!