Do Not Leave Them In Crate For A Very Long Time
Your puppy can learn to love being in a crate. But they wouldnt like being in it for a very long time.
Sometimes its necessary to leave your puppy in the crate for a longer time though. For instance, you need to go to work. By putting them in the crate, they wont chew on inappropriate things.
Also, you can clean the house when theyre in the crate.
And this isnt bad. Your German Shepherd has to know that the crate is their safe haven.
As such, they shouldnt associate it with something unpleasant. Such as a punishment.
Caution: Leaving your puppy in their crate longer than 6 hours is not advisable.
It will only make them anxious. Staying in the crate too long will end up in pent up energy.
And once out of the crate, they are bent on releasing that energy.
When crate training your puppy, remember these:
- Ignore them when they cry while in the crate. Wait 20 minutes until they calm down.
- If they are just starting the training, it may be difficult at first. There are times when they cry in the middle of the night. But this gradually stops when they reach 3 or 4 months old.
Check out this guys tips when crate training puppies:
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Q& a: Is My Dog Allergic To Chicken
Another thing to consider is the diet of your dog. German shepherds grow up quite quickly, and you will need to adjust their diet according to the age and size of your dog. Diet is also incredibly important for a German Shepherd because a proper diet can help reduce the chances of them developing joint and bone conditions later in life.
Also important is to learn about the type of dog that you are buying. Understanding the temperament of a German Shepherd, as well as their intense energy levels, can help prepare you for raising one.
Feeding A German Shepherd Puppy The Right Way
June 6, 2019 By Emily Patterson-Kane
The German Shepherd puppy is a popular addition to many households. Sometimes called the Alsatian puppy, the German Shepherd was initially developed for herding and now commonly used as a working dog or pet. This is your guide to providing all the nutrients your new puppy needs.
Many types of food can be provided. However puppy foods designed for large breed dogs are essential for puppies. This will help to avoid health problems caused by overly-rapid bone growth.
Read on to find out the ins and out of whats best for your German Shepherd puppy!
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Feeding Your German Shepherd Puppy
8-week old pups are off the mothers milk and are fully ready to consume real food, which can be special puppy feed or a diet prescribed by a veterinarian. Remember to follow the breeder’s diet in the initial days and gradually change this diet to incorporate different foods. Milk should not be given to puppies at this age as it can cause diarrhoea. Puppies need to be given food rich in protein, calcium and fats as they are still growing. Their food needs to be higher in calories when compared to the food given to a grown dog.
When you give your puppy a food bowl, give it a specific window of time to finish eating, such as 10 or 15 minutes. After this period, remove the bowl.
This will help your pup understand that it has to eat during a specific period of time only, which is a valuable component of obedience training. Between 4 to 6 months of age, you can start feeding your puppy increased portions of food four times a day.
Foods such as meat and vegetables would be ideal. Treats should only be resorted to during training and not as actual food for mealtimes. Make sure to never give leftover human food to puppies as they contain spices, salt, sugar and so on, which are very unhealthy for dogs.
For this highly athletic dog breed with high physical activity requirements, Doggie Dabbas recommends High-Value Training Treats, Sardine Oil, Chicken and Pumpkin, Fish and Dill and Fish Ferky as some of the ideal food choices for your German shepherd!
How Do You Puppy Proof For German Shepherds
German Shepherds are naturally active and tend to explore the world with their mouths, especially during their adolescent period. So, before you can bring your new puppy home, there are a few things you can do to puppy-proof your house:
- Get rid of any poisonous plants or put them out of reach of your new puppy.
- Cover electrical cords with cable wraps or PVC pipes.
- Buy a new laundry basket that has a lid, no holes, and is tall.
- Make sure both your kitchen and bathroom trash cans have lids. Your new puppy will dig around for anything to bite, like chicken bones, diapers, used hygienic products, or even a disposable razor. If possible, you should buy new trash cans that only open when a button is pressed.
- Store all the chemicals in secured cabinets or even better on high shelves. German Shepherd puppies have strong teeth and can open plastic containers by biting through even the toughest of plastic!
- Put away any small items or toys that are small enough for your puppy to swallow. Think of small kid toys that could be dangerous for a curious puppy.
- Find a safe spot for your shoes. Whether in a closed closet or in the laundry room behind a closed door. I remember losing a pair of brand-new shoes because I forgot to put them away and Allie thought chewing them was a fun idea.
Fun Fact: The majority of German Shepherd puppies born, the first pup will be a male.
Moving on to the facts section
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Taking Care Of A Newborn German Shepherd Puppy
Now that you have new bundles of joy in your home, it will be your sole responsibility to give them premium care and attention.
What you will note is that each growth phase of a newborn German shepherd puppy has different needs.
Below are some of the stages that will guide you on how to take care of a German shepherd puppy :
Training Your German Shepherd
Generally speaking, German shepherds are highly intelligent, and eager to work and earn praise. When it comes to training, this is helpfuland it makes training that much more important. Housetraining and crate training are both essential to preventing German shepherds from becoming destructive later on.
While highly intelligent, keep in mind that dogs arent people. Even the smartest German shepherd needs time to pick things up. Dont progress with advanced obedience training until they have the basics down pat.
Keep training sessions positive, short, and ideally, twice a day to help pups retain information.
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Giving Your German Shepherd Plenty Of Attention
When learning how to take care of a German Shepherd, be prepared to spend lots of time with them. They also need plenty of attention as puppies. You should avoid leaving them alone for prolonged periods of time since they will not only get lonely but also get bored and potentially chew things or develop bad habits.
Appropriate alone-time for adult German Shepherds should not exceed 4 hours for adult dogs. As puppies, your GSD should spend even less time alone. To determine how long to leave your puppy alone, multiple their age by one. This ratio should be limited to 4 hours. For example, a 2-month-old puppy cannot be left alone for more than 2 hours.
You can give your shepherd attention by petting them, playing tug-o-war , playing fetch in the back yard and maybe even swimming with your dog if you live near a lake!
Of course, if you bring your dog swimming, keep a close eye on them and make sure that they can swim fine since not all dogs can.
German Shepherd Personality And Temperament
German Shepherds were initially bred to be herding and guard dogs. The breed is considered to be smart and easy to train. They are known to be gentle family dogs and loyal protectors of those they trust. This loyalty can make German Shepherds seem more standoffish around strangers. It does take them some time to gain the trust of other people and other pets.
German Shepherds are a very active and athletic breed that require a ton of exercise for both their physical and mental health. Without exercise they will develop unfavorable behaviors, due to irritation and pent-up energy. Controlled leash walks and supervised free play in safe, fenced-in areas should be started when they are puppies.
Keeping a German Shepherd on a leash at all times when in public places is a good rule of thumb, as even the most well-trained dog can be distracted and not follow regular commands, leading to a possible confrontation.
A German Shepherds temperament can also be genetic in nature. The American Temperament Test Society and the German Shepherd Dog Club of America will issue a TT certificate after temperament testing. These results should be provided to a pet parent by the breeder of the German Shepherd before the dog is purchased.
Not all temperament and behavioral issues are evident in a growing puppy, and it is impossible to predict whether a dog will be free of these problems. Find a trustworthy breeder who is committed to breeding the healthiest animals possible.
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Preparing Your House And Yard For A German Shepherd Puppy
Your month-old German Shepherd puppy will soon grow into a large dog. And large dogs need to have many care factors taken care of to thrive.
So, the first step is preparing for a home suitable for a German Shepherd puppy that will one day become a big dog.
First, make sure you have enough space for them to run and play. If you have a small yard, consider getting a dog run or fence to give them extra room as well as space for you to do important obedience training exercises.
Youll also need to puppy-proof your home by putting away anything that could be harmful or dangerous GSD puppy, such as cleaning supplies and medications.
And finally, be sure to stock up on puppy food, treats, toys, and other essentials. With some preparation, youll be ready to welcome your new German Shepherd into the family.
History Of The German Shepherd
Originally bred in 19th century Germany, the history of these dogs is relatively short compared to some ancient breeds. They were selectively bred for their courage, intelligence, imposing posture, and guarding instinctsall traits we still associate with the breed today.
After World War I, the Alsatian wolf dog found its way to the United States. These large dogs became a favorite for American households due to famous cinematic canines like Strongheart and Rin Tin Tin. German shepherds remain a popular dog breed globally, and in the United States, theyre consistently one of the most-registered breeds.
Today, they arent just family dogs or winning agility prizes at prestigious dog shows. They continue to be a popular choice as military dogs and often the first choice to serve as police dogs. True to their heroic nature, a German shepherd named Apollo was the first search and rescue dog on the ground at 9/11 and was instrumental in saving lives in the aftermath of the New York City attack.
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What To Do The First Two Weeks Of Having A German Shepherd Puppy
You found the perfect breeder, you’ve just taken home the perfect puppy, now what? The transition period can be a little intimidating once you get over the cuteness overload and realize that your new puppy has no training whatsoever and it’s up to you how things will progress from there. We’ll try to make it easier for you with this short list of things to do the first 2 weeks after bringing your new puppy home. 1: Keep it mellow. Your puppy is in a brand new place and it’s their first time being away from their mom and siblings. I know you want to bring the puppy with you everywhere, play all day and show him or her off to all of your friends and family. But take it slow at first so that your new puppy can get settled and relax. Hang out at home. Become a professional treat dispenser. And begin the foundation of building your bond with your pup. 2: Introduce your dog to its crate. Crate training is the best way to house train. Introduce your puppy to the crate early on by making it a positive experience. Toss a high value treat inside and let them explore and go inside on their own volition. Place a chew toy that can hold treats into the crate and close the door. Make sure the puppy sees you do this. When the puppy tries to paw and get inside the crate, open the door and let them in. When they start chewing on the toy, close the door for a few seconds before opening. And remember to reward your puppy when it’s playing quietly inside the crate and to ignore any whining.
Who Is The Best Human For A German Shepherd
German shepherds love being a part of a high-energy family or with someone who leads an active life. A sedentary lifestyle doesnt work for this herding breed, as they love to learn, play, and be a part of their human pack! German shepherd puppies can get distracted easily. Even though they love children and family life, while training, its best to have them focus only on the task theyre learning so as to avoid sensory overload.
German shepherds are a tried and true family dog. They love swimming , running, and romping in a big backyard. Theyre highly social and friendly dogs, so a busy household works well for them. They also need plenty of affection and snuggles. Due to their hunting heritage, they love to play fetch!
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German Shepherd Coat And Skin Care
GSDs do shed, so one of the first things nearly every breeder will tell you is to invest in a good vacuum cleaner! But there are several ways to cut down on the shedding. AKC Breeder of Merit Wendy Wilson of St. Ledgers Shepherds recommends brushing every other day, and says that by doing so, you wont have balls of fur lying around your house.
Wilson advises using a Furminator for this brushing routine, which she likes using for the GSDs double coat because it can reach the undercoat and remove loose hair easily and safely. She finds that a de-shedding brush alone is enough for routine brushing and de-shedding when used correctly. If used incorrectly, the tool can damage your dogs coat.
AKC Breeder of Merit and professional dog trainer Lisa Walsh of Loyalville German Shepherds also recommends the Furminator, which she uses weekly most of the time, increasing in frequency to daily during heavy shedding periods. Like Wilson, she finds the de-shedding tool is enough for routine brushing, although, when she is showing a dog, she will use a slicker brush just before going into the ring.
Wilson advises GSD owners to do the de-shedding outside, due to the amount of fur that will be released from your GSDs coat during a good brushing with this tool. Walsh echoes this sentiment, saying, Its amazing what you can get out in five to ten minutes with a de-shedding tool.
How To Take Care Of A 1
1-month-old German Shepherd puppies are absolutely adorable, arent they?
Still, as babies, its your responsibility as an owner to take good care of them and ensure they grow up to become happy and healthy dogs.
The following article will tackle key issues about caring for a one-month-old German Shepherd puppy, from preparing the pup home, common early age issues, potty training, feeding, and more. Lets get started!
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Is My Puppy The Right Weight
You can also refer to German Shepherd puppy growth charts to see if you puppy is gaining weight and within the normal range.
However, keep in mind that some dogs will be unusually small or large but still be perfectly healthy.
Do not try to maximize growth rates as this can lead to health problems later.
But if you puppy is not showing a steady increase in size, or your puppy lacks appetite, consult with a veterinarian.
Ensure that you are familiar with how to assess the body condition of your puppy. You can ask about your puppys condition at veterinary wellness examinations.
Mental Exercise And Training Are Essentials
Without proper mental exercise, your dog becomes bored.
Boredom leads to destructive and annoying behaviors such as:
- excessive barking
- biting and nipping you and your guests
- mouthing your hands
- or digging up your yard
Brain games mentally stimulate your dog. These games require your dog to figure out a small task to receive a reward.
Mental activity is shown to help keep dogs more engaged in their environments and prevent boredom. They help control unwanted behaviors from boredom.
I started my German Shepherd with this activity flip board dog brain puzzle. It took her a few tries, but now shes a pro and loves when I get out her brain game!
As your dog becomes proficient in a game, you make the game more challenging. There is no end to how easy or hard you can make these games!
Now is also the time to use positive, reward-based training to begin your puppys obedience skills.
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