Caring for your New Puppy or Adult German Shepherd

 

 

Below you will find information that I hope is helpful for you and your new puppy, each word in orange is either a link to information on the web or to the item I mentioned to assist you.

Puppy Shots: for your new puppy (Find a Veterinarian for your Puppy before you bring it home, follow his recommended schedule for vaccinations) I suggest that you do not take the pup into parks, pet stores, or other public places where other dogs frequent until at least 4 months of age. Keep risk of exposure to parvo, corona, distemper, kennel cough, etc (all communicable diseases) to a minimum.

Potty Training: Always be consistent where you want you puppy to go outside, puppies can be trained to go in only one area of your yard.  Puppies need to go out usually after they eat, nap, or play. Since they are puppies they have to go more often. The puppy will eventually get the idea of where he or she should go. Some owners’ use paper training as an easy transition to getting him to go outside, I DO NOT recommend that at all, it is better to train your puppy from day one that you want he or she to do their business outside.

Always remember to "Praise" your puppy when he goes potty outside.



Puppy Toys: Make sure that you buy your new puppy safe toys, especially beware of toys that puppy can chew up of swallow! Puppies love to chew when teething, best that you find them nice rawhide or pig hide toys to chew rather than your shoes.  I give them these..Avoid giving your puppy stuffed toys with squeakers in them as they can tear them apart and swallow the squeaker not to mention the mess cleaning up the stuffing! Toys you might consider are Tug Ropes, Chuck it w/ball, and especially the Kong toy as you can fill the Kong with small amount of peanut butter and occupy a puppy for hours.

Quality Puppy Food is very important during their 1st year for building strong bones and coats.  

I recommend Nutra Nugget Dry Food.   I use this food for all my dogs. I started feeding it to them as puppies because the Lamb Meal and Rice formula is great for dogs with sensitive stomachs. It has Glucosamine & Chondroitin for Health Joints, Omega Fatty Acid balance for Healthy Skin and Coat and overall Good Health.  It also contains Chelated Minerals, especially important for Growing Puppies and Expecting Mothers.  Most Costco and Fred Myers stores sell it in a 40lb bag and it is very reasonably priced. You can read more about ingredients and other products by clicking on the bag.

Eukanuba for Large Breed is also an excellent food.

  •  Be consistent with feeding times of a puppy. When he is an adult he will remind you when its time to eat. Another point to remember is not to change your dog’s food too often from one brand to another. This could also cause them diarrhea. Best if you need to change foods you do it over a couple week period mixing the old food with new food about 1/2 and 1/2

 

  • Puppies really need their own food to get proper nutritional benefits. Some  human food can be too rich for the dog’s diet and could cause he or she to have diarrhea. It’s not a good idea to feed them table scraps all the time. Don't feed your puppy from the table. This will prompt him or her to hang around the table at dinner times and consistently begging. If you want to feed your puppy table scraps don't do it from the table.     NEVER give you puppy or adult dog Chocolate as it could poison them. 

  I recommend you buy  Stainless Steel food and water bowls for your puppy, they are easy to keep clean and virtually chew proof. The one in the picture is from Petco it is great because puppy can not tip it over or pick it up and carry it off! 

 

You can also use Water tower like this one Just make sure that you refill it daily with fresh water. They come in 1 gallon to 5 gallon size made by Petmart.

  Controlling Your New Puppy: 

 

  • Also when you snap that collar on your new puppy make sure you have a Pet ID Tag on it in case your puppy runs away!   
  • They sell Stainless Steel here and they have the Best Price!
     

 If you’re considering using a Choke Chain please do some research on them as you could possibly injure your dog if used improperly.  Also leaving a dog chained up with one, he could jump a fence or get tangled up and strangle themselves.

  Where will puppy sleep? All dogs and puppies need a safe place of their own to sleep, somewhere they can go when they need to out from under mom’s feet while she needs a break. Remember when purchasing items for your German Shepherd puppy that he or she will grow so keep that in mind when purchasing a place for him to sleep. Also keep in mind sleeping with your new puppy might seem great until he wets on your bedding or he or she becomes an adult! These range in price depending on brand and size.

 This is the one I use..

MidWest I Crate Folding Dog Crate

 

 

  

 

  Grooming: The German Shepherd is a "wash and wear" dog breed - especially when compared to many other dog breeds.

  • German Shepherds have a Double Coat of hair, "downy" type undercoat next to the skin, with longer, "coarse guard hairs" as an outer coat. It is very important that you brush your German Shepherd regularly to avoid matting of undercoat. Not only does this help eliminate shedding, it helps keep undercoat matting from causing skin irritation, hot spots, bald spots, rashes and other coat and skin problems, so do not take grooming too lightly.
    German Shepherd "Blow their Coats".  Now I know you saying What is that! It is when they drop most of their hair in the Sping and shed all that Winter hair all at once. Your dog will start to look scruffy and you will need to make sure you brush and brush and brush to remove the hair.
    I suggest that you buy a shedding rake like the one pictured here.  You can pick one up at Wal-Mart for about $5.00, you will be amazed at the hair it gets out of the undercoat in very little time. 

 

  • Bathing: Normal bathing needs to be done only once or twice a year. Over bathing your dog can deplete the natural oils and lead to dry skin.  When I do bathe my German Shepherds I use Oatmeal shampoo, it works great for cleaning and soothing their skin. Always make sure with any shampoo that you rinse your dog at least twice to remove residual shampoo.
  •  As with any breed dog you need to make sure their Ears stay clean of dirt and debris, gently wash their ears on the inside with a warm washcloth. If your puppy or dog exhibit any signs of ear scratching, shaking of the head that you contact your veterinarian immediately as they could possibly have an ear infection. 

 

 Toe Nails: Start teaching your puppy about trimming nails when they are young, they will be more accepting to a regular routine rather than trying to wrestle your adult German Shepherd to do the job.

  • German Shepherds that run on pavement or other types of hard surface on a daily basis  probably won't have  much of a problem with their nails getting overgrown.  You still need to check them on a regular basis. It is best to trim off small amounts of the nail, a little bit at a time, over a period of days instead of clipping larger amounts all at once. Since the German Shepherd Dog's nails are usually very hard in density and are often very dark in color, the "quick" (small vein that feeds the nail) will often be hidden. If you were to cut the toenail too short it will be painful for your German Shepherd and cause the nail to bleed. If you do happen to cut into the quick of your German Shepherds nail and it starts to bleed you can do the following: use styptic powder, or press cornstarch firmly into the quick, to stop the nail from continuing to bleed.

 

 

  • While trimming your German Shepherds nails check his pads and in between them to make sure he is free of stickers that could become infected. 

  • I recommend this type of nail trimmers.They are heavy duty and have a open spring design to avoind getting nail caught in a loop if your German Shepherd jerks his foot. They cost about $12.00.
  • They also now sell a gadget called PediPaws which is great for sanding/filing down rough edges after you trim nails. I own one but, some of my adult dogs Do Not like the sound it makes and it does not have enough power to trim German Shepherd nails.

 Dental Care: Your pet's teeth accumulate tartar, causing gums to recede and premature tooth loss. Regular brushing with enzymatic toothpaste specially designed for dogs with a non-foaming, hydrogen peroxide-producing formula  is essential in preventing expensive veterinary procedures. Giving your German Shepherd Milk Bone dog treats also help with tarter build up.

Flea Collars: Beware of putting flea collars or flea drops on young puppies, they tend to be toxic and make puppies sick. I use  Sentry Pro Squeeze-On Flea & Tick for Dogs kills and repels fleas and ticks for up to a month for my adult German Shepherds. 

 

 

 

 

 Worming: Before puppies leave they are wormed 2 times by my Veterinarian.  I recommend that you only worm your puppy or adult as recommended by your Veterinarian.  Over the counter worming medicines tend to be a waste of money and unless your Veterinarian has done a stool test it is likely unnecessary.

 

 

 

 Puppy Manners:       

  • Make sure you set boundaries for your puppy early on so they know the rules.
  • Remember that your New Puppy is a BABY! Never yell at the puppy they will become scared of you!  

           Always correct your puppy in a LOVING CALM voice.

 

 

                                          

  •  Dogs need to know who's boss - and that boss should be you. You and your dog will be much happier together if you establish yourself as the leader of the pack. 

 

  • It is very important to teach your puppy manners at a young age so he or she will know what acceptable behavior is.  Whatever you allow them to do as a puppy will carry over into their adult life. From the very first day you bring your puppy home start a routine with your puppy. Animals, especially dogs, are creatures of habit. They become conditioned to the routines you set down for them.

 

  • If you don't want your puppy to jump when he or she is an adult than don't allow them to do it as a puppy. Gently push it down andsay no. No matter what you’re trying to teach the puppy make sure you’re consistent with the rules. Owning an animal takes commitment and consistency.

  • If you do not want your puppy on the furniture as an adult, do not let them on the furniture as a puppy. If he or she jumps up on furniture, simply set them back down on floor telling them no. It takes repetition but he or she will get the idea.
  •  Teach your puppy basic commands such as sit, stay, come and down. Training your puppy will not only make your life easier, but will also fulfill your puppy's desire to learn and please you.  Because your puppy loves you, they want to please you. Praise them lavishly for obeying commands and behaving well. Using positive, rather than negative, reinforcement will help your puppy enjoy learning.

  • Expose your puppy to different people and settings regularly after he or she has been vaccinated as recommended by your vetrinarian.  Take him to the park, to the pet store, on a walk through town. Praise him for accepting petting from friendly strangers, and for behaving calmly around other dogs. The more your puppy learns of the world, the more comfortable he will be in it.

  • Children and puppies can be great companions, but they also require supervision when playing together. Your puppy may be "good with kids," but what if he encounters a kid that is not good with puppies? Very small children should never be left alone with a puppy, no matter how stable his temperament. Most young children want to pull on a puppies ears, tail or poke them in the eyes.  Remember a puppy's only defense is "YOU" or a bite. 

 

 

 

 

  • NEVER NEVER NEVER let your dog ride in the back of a Pickup truck without being secured inside a Kennel.  Dogs fall out!!!!

  • DO NOT EVER leave your dog in the car when the weather is warm even with the widows down... A car is usually 10-15 degrees hotter than the outside temprature and your dog is wearing a FUR Coat.  Also never leave your dog inside the car for long periods when weather is cold.  Just keep this in mind "Would you like either of these?"

  • Obedience Class is a great way to bond with your new puppy. He or she will be eager to spend Quality time with you and you will be amazed at his willingness to learn. Obedience class is a way for both of you to learn together.

 For more information on puppy care check out my link page.