Grooming Your Gsd Puppy
A German Shepherd puppy doesnt need frequent baths and bathing can strip the protective skin oils from them, leaving their skin open to itching and infection.
Try gentle puppy bath wipesfirst to remove smells and dirt, as well as to keep their coat clean. Youll also notice the wipes are easy for you to grab, so you dont have to spend a lot of time on grooming.
If youre going to bathe them, then follow this section to take care of a 6 week old German Shepherd puppys skin and keep your pups fur in tip-top shape.
- If you must bathe them use a gentle, hypoallergenic shampoo made for puppies and keep them out of cold drafts while theyre drying. At all costs, keep water away from their ears and face since German Shepherds are prone to ear infections.
- Use a moistened cotton washcloth on their face or gentle puppy wipes. Never pour water directly onto their face or you risk them inhaling the fluid and developing respiratory issues.
- Your dog may not enjoy being bathed or groomed at first. Go slow with the grooming sessions and keep them positive and short at first.
- Increase the sessions as they enjoy their shorter sessions.
Follow this helpful German Shepherd grooming guide for professional-quality results at home for more useful, quick information as your puppy gets older.
What If My New 6 Weeks Old Gsd Pup Wont Eat
The new environment may make it stressful for your dog and he may not eat immediately. Be patient and keep offering your pup their meals.
Try not to vary what you feed as the main meal, as any changes can cause an upset stomach. Puppies have delicate tummies at this young age, especially German Shepherd puppies.
Watch for other signs of illness such as:
- lethargy
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How big a 6 week old German Shepherd really depends on their parents and their specific breeding history, but on average, a baby German Shepherd weighs around 12 to 15 pounds at six weeks of age.
Taking Care Of A German Shepherd Puppies
New-borns cannot see or hear until 5 to 8 days of age. Puppies do not stand until at least 2 to 4 weeks of age. Same for the barking behavior.
If left in the litter or orphaned, or if its mother is unable to produce enough milk, or if the suckle reflex for the puppy is poor, ask your vet for the Lactose-Free weaning milk prescribed for the German Shepherd Puppies.
Check if the temperature is warm enough as the puppies cannot control their temperature at this stage. During the first week of puppies, the room should be between 30º and 32ºC. For the second week, it can be slightly reduced between 26º and 28º and around 22º after the third week.
You do not need to bathe them this time, because the mother GSD cleans her litter by constantly pressing.
If the puppies are orphaned, you can wash them gently using a warm and damp cloth. Dont forget to change the mattresses daily to keep the area clean and dry to avoid discomfort.
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Diet & Feeding Your German Shepherd:
The German shepherds come under the strong dog category, and so they require high-quality food with proper nutrients. Their diet food should contain healthy fats, proteins and carbohydrates. You need to choose food that is of high quality and well-balanced. It is advised to feed your dog twice a day.
Some food that can be considered to deliver high-quality proteins is Chicken, Lamb, Beef, fish, turkey, etc. When it comes to healthy fats, flaxseed oil, fish oil, hemp seed oil, pork fat, and chicken fat can be included.
Now there is a category of foods that are to be avoided. Knowing them and avoiding them will prevent health issues related to digestion for your pet dog. Some of the foods to be avoided are Corn, grains, wheat gluten, soy, pea protein, BHA and BHT.
The Beginning Of The Pregnancy
As we mentioned previously, your dog will be pregnant for around 63 days in total, though this can depend on the breed size.
During the beginning 4 to 5 weeks of the pregnancy, its only necessary to be giving your dog the food that they usually eat. This food should be full of the nutrients that an adult dog should be eating, so it should be a mixture of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Look for a dog food that has the right balance of all of these. In wet food, the dog food should consist of 5.5-8% protein and 3-5% fat. For dry food, it should be 22-30% protein and 10-16% fat.
You should already know how much your dog should be eating on a regular basis, but if you are confused at all then speak to your vet or have a look at the references on the dog food that you have bought.
Earlier on, we also mentioned that your dogs appetite changes during pregnancy. Well, this doesnt only apply to what your dog eats. When your dog is pregnant, they are more likely to drink more water. For this reason, you should make sure that your dog has plenty of water available to them so that they can stay hydrated throughout the day. Since your dog is also going to be rather lethargic at this point, keeping the water bowl close to your dog is a good idea.
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Is A German Shepherd Right For Me
This is the first question you should ask yourself before you even consider bringing home a new German Shepherd puppy.
You need to evaluate your personal and family lifestyle by asking yourself the following questions:
Knowing the answers to those questions will help get you a couple of steps closer to deciding whether or not a German Shepherd is the right choice for you.
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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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!
Taking Your Puppy Out To Potty
One of the first things that you will have to do after you get your dog home is take them to the bathroom. Have a place prepared for them to relieve themselves. Take them here, and praise them they successfully relieve themselves in the proper area.
A German Shepherd puppy will have a very small bladder. This means that it will need to relieve itself quite often, probably at least once every 2â3 hours, if it is drinking enough water. One way to know that your German Shepherd needs to go to the washroom is that it will be walking around in circles, sniffing the ground.
When I get a new puppy, I usually take a couple of weeks vacation. I fence off a small part of the garden for them to play and we have an area with beach sand and poles where the dog can pee and poop.
Some people train a puppy to relieve themselves using a newspaper. Encourage them to relieve themselves on the newspaper, and then move the newspaper outside. Once they are accustomed to relieving themselves on the newspaper, and if you praise them enough for doing so, they will then want to relieve themselves outside when you move the newspaper outside. I prefer not to do this, it takes too many steps for me. I put the puppy in a bench the first couple of weeks, when I’m not around in the house and just get them out very often.
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Finding A German Shepherd Breeder
The first step is to do your research. Sadly, there are many puppy mills posing as reputable breeders along with many online scams. Be aware, and reach out to different online forums for conversations about getting your future furry family member.
Be sure to ask questions, make arrangements to meet the parent dogs or mother, and follow your gut. If something seems wrong at a breeder you visit, or the German shepherd puppy seems too good to be true, theres likely something going on. The AKC also offers resources for finding a breeder, with fairly strict guidelines on who they let participate.
Play Routines For Stimulation
One of the most natural urges is that of play.
Your dog wants to explore their world through fun and excitement. Use play to help your dog understand appropriate behaviors.
Think twice about using confrontational and rough games like roughhousing, when your dog is little and forming connections between you and their behavior.
Stick to cooperative games such as:
- fetch
- playing with toys of all types together
- brain games and
- gentle play that avoids confrontation
Some people think rough games early on may produce a more confrontational relationship later. Whereas cooperative games instill a fun-loving attitude that doesnt involve your dog having to pit their strength against you.
Only use toys that are non-toxic, and made for heavy chewers, like the ones listed in thisguide for safe toys for German Shepherds to prevent boredom.
And, I dont know about you, but I think every German Shepherd puppy should have a job from the very beginning.
I bet your dog will love it when you give them one of thebest jobs for German Shepherd puppies!
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S For Ensuring Your Dog Is Cared For While Pregnant
The main piece of advice that we can give when it comes to caring for your dog during her pregnancy is to do your research. Make sure that you speak to your vet about the key things that you need to know during your pets pregnancy, as this will help you to look out for any warning signs and will help you to ensure that they are well looked after.
The first thing that you need to do is confirm the pregnancy. You can do an ultrasound on the 25th day of the pregnancy, and these will confirm whether your dog is pregnant or not. While you are at the veterinary practice, your doctor will likely give you some guidance about how to look after your dog during their pregnancy but they may not be able to go in depth with you in a short appointment time.
Read everything that you can about how to care for your dog. You will likely find that it is broken down into the things that we have listed below. You will need to ensure that you purchase the correct food for your dog and her growing puppies. Make sure that you are giving them the right level of exercise. Know everything you can about dog vaccinations are they safe for pregnant dogs? You should also take the time to ensure that your dog is protected against worms and parasites, and make their space as comfortable as possible and ready for the birth.
So, how do you take care of your pregnant dog? Here are all of the steps broken down.
Newborn German Shepherd Puppies
Newborns especially 1 to 3-day old German shepherd puppies are vulnerable so before you do anything, consult with your vet especially if you are inexperienced. Right after the mother GSD gives birth, check the 1-day old German shepherd puppies if they are breathing. If you notice a puppy having breathing difficulties, use a suction bulb syringe to suck out the blockage and clear its airways. Their ears and eyes are closed but they have the ability to crawl on their stomach and find their mothers nipples and suck milk. Most of the time, they just sleep or eat. If a mother GSD is absent or she couldnt produce enough milk, feed the puppies using a baby bottle or feeding syringe. They usually eat every two hours during their first week of life.
Check if the temperature is warm enough because puppies cant regulate their temperature during this stage. You dont have to bathe them this time because the mother GSD will clean her litter by constantly licking them. If the puppies are orphaned, you may wash them gently using a warm and moist cloth. Dont forget to change the beddings daily to keep the area clean and dry to avoid discomfort.
Also Check: How Long Does It Take To Potty Train A German Shepherd Puppy
When To Stop Exercising Your Pregnant Dog
This may seem obvious, but its best to avoid over exerting your dog later in their pregnancy. In those last three weeks, stay indoors with your dog and keep them away from other dogs. Any exercise should be light and gentle.
You wont induce dogs by walking your dog when they are pregnant either, so you dont need to worry about that. Just be careful with the amount of exercise that they do since they could end up injuring herself and the puppies if its too much for her to handle.
The Importance Of Caring For Pregnant Dogs
Its always important to take care of your beloved pet, but you need to be extra careful with pregnant dogs. This could be a difficult and uncomfortable time for your dog, so you should be doing everything that you can in order to keep them happy throughout their pregnancy.
Dogs are usually pregnant for between 58 and 68 days, and this is divided into trimesters. Though this isnt as long as a human pregnancy, its still important to ensure that they are well cared for during that time. You wouldnt just leave a pregnant woman to fend for herself, would you? Well, the same goes for caring for your pregnant dog. Ultimately, if your dog is happy then you likely will be too! If your dog is well cared for and happy throughout her pregnancy, it comes with a higher likelihood that the puppies will also be happy and healthy.
Caring for your dog begins with understanding how to tell that they are pregnant. You may notice certain symptoms before their first ultrasound. For instance, your dog may not be as active as usual. They may be more tired and lethargic. You may also find that they are behaving differently and their appetite has changed. Other signs include weight gain and a larger looking abdomen, signs of nesting and larger, different colored nipples.
Once you know that your dog is pregnant, congratulations! Now its time to ensure that you are taking care of your precious pooch so that their pregnancy is smooth sailing.
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Hit The Ground Running
Save yourself some stress by setting up your home to take care of your new GSD puppy.
Youve been waiting for months or even years to bring home your new puppy!
But, dont let the excitement overwhelm you.
Instead, focus on what you can do now to prepare yourself to feel confident that you understand how to care for your German Shepherd puppy.
Plan for your new puppys arrival by having all of the necessary supplies on hand. Have their special puppy-safe area already set up for them.
- Choose an area for their bed where the family spends much of their time so your pup isnt alone for too long.
- Place their bed in a corner of the room, out of the way of busy footpaths.
- Make sure their bed is away from cold drafts or hot heaters.
- Pick a place to put their food and water dishes that will not cause your family to trip over them while theyre eating and drinking.
Keep your pup in their special room when you cant watch them. It only takes two seconds for them to soil the carpet, eat a table leg, or chew an electrical cord.
Be sure to use the pet-safe baby gates instead of closing doors. Keeping doors shut prevents your dog from seeing you, and this can cause anxiety and stress, especially in a GSD that craves and needs human attention.