New German Shepherd Puppy Checklist And Things To Buy
It is important that your new puppy feels welcomed into their new home. It is also important to know what to put in a puppys crate at night. Some items are ok to be left with your puppy, and other items are more dangerous or will be destroyed.
This checklist will help you to know what to buy when getting a puppy.
German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Amount
How much you should feed a German Shepherd puppy really depends on a number of factors that you have control over. Your GSD pup should eat enough to maintain their growth and energy, while not carrying any extra fat.
Consider the following factors for how much to feed German Shepherd puppies:
- number of calories in the kibble, which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer
- the daily energy expenditure of your pup
- how sedentary or active your GSD pup is
Refer to the following charts as a starting point. Adjust how much you feed your GSD based on your pups energy needs and growth.
These formulas are only recommendations and when in doubt check with your vet.
Noticing Other Physical Characteristics
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Promoting Gastrointestinal Health In A Sensitive German Shepherd
Some German Shepherds have a sensitive stomach that can be easily aggravated. These pups often require special care when it comes to their diet, and often benefit from extra support from probiotics and other dietary supplements.
So how can you promote digestive health in your German Shepherd? Here are a few of our favorite tips!
Your Puppy Will Come With A Health Guarantee
Reputable breeders are so concerned about their dogs health that they usually offer health guarantees.
In general, if the puppy develops a disease covered by the agreement, you will either receive a refund on the price of the puppy, receive a replacement puppy, or the breeder might contribute a certain amount of money toward the treatment of the puppys health issue.
The terms of each breeders health guarantee vary, so ask for specifics when inquiring about a puppy.
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German Shepherds And Barking
As with any dog, German Shepherds are likely to bark. Their main purpose was for herding and guarding so they can be quite vocal when people walk past or enter or exit the house, but how much noise they make will vary from dog to dog. If youre having problems with excessive noise or barking, we recommend seeking the advice of an accredited behaviourist.
What If My German Shepherd Is A Variety Of Mixes
People often adopt dogs from the local shelter, which is an incredibly loving thing to do that they certainly appreciate. They seem to know that theyve been given a second chance and dont want to disappoint their new owner. But this adoption makes it difficult to determine what the pet is mixed with.
One thing to keep in mind is that having a mutt in many ways is like holding a golden ticket because they normally dont have the health issues that many purebreds do. Their mixed breeding also offers unique coats, body shapes, and behaviors that only nature can provide.
Unfortunately, its often this natural blend that lands many dogs in the shelters in the first place. Owners often fail to understand how the dogs mix will impact behavior.
Many German Shepherd mixes, for example, end up in animal shelters simply because owners dont understand and work with the dogs natural protective instincts, mistaking them for aggression.
If the desired dog is part German Shepherd, the chances are high that the local shelter will have several options. So, the crucial thing to remember is the importance of determining the dogs other breeds. While a DNA test may not be available, there are ways to make an educated guess.
Before leaving for the shelter, study various breeds and start making observations at the kennel gate. Once the selection is narrowed down to two or three candidates, make observations in the shelter playroom to determine the dogs general disposition.
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Black German Shepherd Overview
The black German Shepherd was a result of an accident. It isnt known when the first black Shepherd was bred, but it was determined that the gene was considered recessive until solid black shepherds made it dominate. The gene only becomes dominant if the parent is also black.
All German Shepherds carry the black gene, but it isnt typical for their children to stay black after 8 months. A true black Shepherd will be born black and remain black throughout its life. If you have a litter full of brown or white puppies, theres a 0% chance of them turning black.
Its easier to get two black German Shepherd parents to mate than to have one be black, or none at all. The likelihood of getting a black Shepherd with two black parents is high. However, it is still possible to get a brown or white litter even with two dominant parents. Tan parents that have the recessive gene have a chance of producing black Shepherd puppies as well, though it is small.
German Shepherd Growth & Weight Chart
These numbers are estimates to give you an idea of how much a German Shepherd weighs month by month. Dont worry if your puppy is slightly behind or ahead just be sure to take your pet to regular vet appointments to ensure they are healthy and happy!
Pro Tip: Want to get reimbursed for up to 100% of veterinary bills any time your dog gets sick or injured? Compare German Shepherd health insurance options before its too late.
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Working Lines Vs Show Lines
The German Shepherd was originally bred as a working dog. Since his original use as a shepherd dog however, he has filled many different roles from guarding properties over being used in the show ring to participating in Schutzhund and IPO trails.
Depending on which lines your German Shepherd Dog comes from, the prices can vary a lot!
Show line German Shepherds are the dogs that are bred for conformation shows. These are the type of dogs you should decide on if you would like a shepherd puppy as a pet and companion animal.
If you are interested in using your German Shepherd as a protection dog and to participate in IPO trials, you should pick one from working lines. There are a lot of highly successful working line breeders both in North America and Europe. Some of them sell so-called started dogs, which means dogs that have already received some obedience, protection and tracking training. Started dogs can be as pricey as $5,000-$7,000.
Working German Shepherds that have been fully trained can be extremely expensive, up to $20,000. For this price, you get an absolutely flawless dog with extensive skills and perfect obedience.
Ways To Tell What Your German Shepherd Is Mixed With
The mix of breeds is often intentional because breeders want to create a hybrid that brings out the best in both breeds. Sometimes the mix is accidental, but either way, knowing what a dog is mixed with impacts training, food, and healthcare choices, so its good to have the dogs hereditary information if available. If its not, its important to find out.
Here are five ways to tell what your German Shepherd is mixed with:
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Do German Shepherd Ears Stand Up On Their Own Or Do They Have To Be Cut Or Taped To Make Them Stand Up
Ah, youre thinking about cropping, a surgical procedure to make the ears stand up. Thats done with Doberman Pinschers, but not with German Shepherds. A Shepherd puppys ears prick up naturally theyre never cropped.
German Shepherd puppy with perfectly normal ears at this age. If the pup inherited normal genes, the other ear should come up shortly.
But German Shepherd puppies arent born with pricked ears. In some pups, the ears start to prick up at 6 or 8 weeks old, while others dont start until 12 or 14 weeks old.
Often the ears dont go up smoothly. In other words, they dont suddenly pop straight up. Typically one ear will go up halfway, and stay like that for a few days. Then the other ear may start to prick while the first ear straightens all the way up. A few days later, just as the second ear straightens up, the first one suddenly flops back down.
This can be a trying time for new owners who worry that their pups ears will never stand properly. Rest assured, its normal for German Shepherd puppy ears to go up and down for a month or two, especially during the teething period.
Unfortunately, some puppies do inherit poor genes for ear strength and often those ears will never come all the way up. Theyre called soft ears. Sometimes taping a weak ear can help it stand erect, but often not.
I had a German Shepherd with one soft ear. It flopped sideways on top of his head, while the other ear stood up beautifully. Of course I loved him dearly anyway!
Do German Shepherd Puppies Have Curly Tails
The GSDs tails will curl over and be held high when they are really young, even show lines.
Do German Shepherds curl their tails? Fortunately, not all German Shepherd puppy tail curls. For some it is just a mannerism that can be eliminated by training. Clicker training method can be used to train GSD show dogs to hold their tails in a particular position when standing. This method will need time and patience from the owner.
What breed of dog looks like a German Shepherd? Various dog breeds are often confused for the German Shepherd. One of these dogs is the Malinois dog which originates from Belgium. Other dogs that look like German Shepherds are Tervuren, Laekenois, Groenendael, and Dutch Shepherd. The German Shepherd is a large-sized dog that hails from Germany.
What breeds of dog have curled tails? Five Dog Breeds That Have Curly TailsSamoyed.Basenji.Chihuahua.Shiba Inu.Akita.
What is a German Shepherd? The German Shepherd is a large-sized dog that hails from Germany. He was a herding dog before becoming a sergeant in the First and Second World War. As his popularity grew, his magnificent gait and balanced temperament became the desire of every dog owner.
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What Is The Most Expensive Dog
The most expensive dog in the world, according to Guinness World Records, is a silver-coated German Shepherd named Vovchik. He was bought in Ukraine by Vladimir Lisin for $1.5 million.A Maltese bichon frise pup named Princess Abby is the worlds second most expensive dog when she sold for $1,400 at Rising Stars Bichons Frises and Purebreds in Minnesota this week..
Other Unique Shepherd Colors
Although rare, pure white, solid blue, fawn color, pure red and spotted black and white are also found. However, neither of these colors are accepted when it comes to competitions as these colors will only be found due to severe genetic mutations, or they simply dont match the breed standards for the show. A breeds color doesnt necessarily come with health issues, and neither of these do.
To know if your German Shepherd is genuinely black, you need to make sure there are no patches or stripes of another color. Black Shepherds have unique features that are associated with the color, including a straighter back. Youll notice that the average German Shepherd has a slanted back with short legs.
Although black Shepherds still have short legs, they stand taller, making them appear bigger and stronger. There are black varients with spots, creme, silver or tanned patches or combined with a red coat, but these variants look like the average Shepherd and are hard to mix up with the black version.
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How Do I Make Sure My German Shepherd Is Healthy
Preventive care is key in helping your German Shepherd live a healthy and long life. Taking your German Shepherd to regular veterinary appointments is one of the best things you can do to ensure that they are healthy and feeling their best. An experienced veterinarian can assess your pets health, make general health and wellness recommendations, and look out for common, breed-specific conditions.
German Shepherds are particularly prone to a condition called gastric dilatation-volvulus or bloat due to their large size, deep chests, and high energy level. They are also more susceptible to gastrointestinal tract and hip issues. A veterinarian should regularly assess your pet for these health problems and run tests for anything they may be more prone to due to their breed. Preventive care is truly a must for your dogs overall welfare to ensure they are able to live long healthy lives with you and your family.
Regular vet visits are crucial to your pets ongoing health and longevity. Its also essential to plan for the cost of accidents or illnesses. Treatment for many conditions, including bloat and GI issues, can cost thousands of dollars.
Only 19.44% of pet owners say theyd be able to cover a $5,000 expense out of pocket. Dog health costs are also more expensive than other pet healthcare costs due to dogs being larger in size. Since larger pets have higher healthcare costs, the German Shepherd breed is one of the most popular dog breeds to have pet insurance.
Why Should I Know The Mix
Theres nothing quite like looking into the eyes of a new furbaby. And, regardless of heritage, love trumps all. The first meeting was love at first sight, and that made the decision final. The dogs behavior over time, though, may become a problem. Or, they may have a weird health concern crop up that doesnt appear common in GSDs. Therefore, its that same love that requires some investigation into the dogs genetics.
The first thing to consider is how to determine exactly what youre looking for. In some cases, there will be one bloodline, and there may also be two. In the final category, the lineage may contain many mixes.
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One Of The Ways To Know If A German Shepherd Is Purebred Is To Visit A Local Kennel Club Breed Standard
The American Kennel Club breed standard is considered the ultimate guide when it comes to identifying purebred German Shepherd puppies and older dogs. It contains everything from the coat and eyes to the teeth and temperament. So, take a look at the breed standard for your German Shepherd and pay attention to the breed characteristics listed in the American Kennel Club standards.
Some purebred German Shepherd puppies will have white markings on their adult coats. It is really quite difficult to pinpoint which type of white marking a German Shepherd puppy has since most of their coats will be creamy white in color. Some of these white markings can be just a few shades darker than the rest of their coat.
Its really hard to tell purebred German Shepards apart with just the adult coat color alone. Sometimes its best to see the adult coat when its a pup because the adult coat color will always be consistent with the other dogs markings.
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