Week Old To 2 Week Old German Shepherd Puppies
There are few changes during their first week because the puppies eyes are still closed and they just frequently eat and sleep so you should be noticing;the puppies gaining enough weight. You will notice some of them wagging their tails as well which is adorable to look at.
The puppies will gradually open their eyes for the first time at 2 weeks. They will be curious so expect them to move around to inspect their surroundings. Instead of crawling, they attempt to use their legs even though their legs may shake. Check their weight to see if they are gaining well and continue keeping them warm and clean.
Grooming: Do German Shepherds Shed A Lot Are They Easy To Groom
About shedding….
I have good news and bad news.
The good news is that German Shepherds have only one shedding period a year.
The bad news is…. their shedding period lasts for 365 days. In other words, German Shepherds shed constantly.
How is this different from most breeds?
Most breeds shed a few hairs here and there throughout the year. But the vast bulk of their shedding occurs only twice a year for three weeks in the spring as their thicker winter coat switches over to a cooler summer coat, and for three weeks in the fall as the summer coat switches over to a winter coat.
Not German Shepherds. They shed a TON during those spring and fall coat-switching seasons. Plus they shed moderately the rest of the year.
So year-round, you’ll find hair on your clothing, on your carpets, and under your refrigerator. Frequent vaccuming will become a way of life.
You might be wondering, “How can a shorthaired dog shed so much?” The answer is that German Shepherds have a double coat. They have a short outer coat , plus a woolly undercoat . Breeds with a double coat always shed more than breeds who simply have an outer coat but no undercoat.
German Shepherds come in a long coat, as well as a short coat. Both coats shed heavily.
Now, about grooming….
How much grooming is required depends on whether a German Shepherd is shorthaired or longhaired.
Longhaired dogs need trimming
Along with brushing and combing, longhaired German Shepherds need trimming every few months.
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.
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Playing Red Light/green Light
Red light/green light is an excellent game to teach impulse control. Its basically just a fun way to reinforce your dogs obedience.
If your German Shepherd has already mastered their stationary commands as well as their release command , this game will be a breeze to learn.
The best way to play this is with a tug toy, rope toy, or flirt pole. Play with them as energetically as you can.
Then, say red light, stop playing, and command them to sit. Pause for about 2 seconds and say green light, give them their release command, and start playing again.
The goal of the game is to make sure they follow their commands even when theyre stimulated by play. As your GSD improves, lengthen the time between your red light and your green light.
Eventually, theyll know exactly what to do when its red light and green light, and you wont need to give them their specific commands.
Diet Of A German Shepherd Puppy
Is the diet of a nine months German shepherd puppy special? Well, No! Like every other dog breed, the diet you give your nine-month-old German shepherd will affect its physical and mental health.
Dont underfeed or overfeed your dog. Consequently, endeavor to feed a puppy according to its needs.
Give your German shepherd puppy food that will fulfill his nutritional needs and high energy levels.
That said, a German shepherd puppy of this age will require a diet comprising:
- Fats
- Amino acids and mineral acids
And most of all, plenty of water to keep the kidneys healthy.
Proteins should take 22% of the dogs food because of the high growth rate occurring during this phase.
Best protein sources for a nine-month German shepherd are beef and fish. Consequently, dont feed your dog too much chicken as it contains fewer protein levels.
Fats should take 8% of your dogs daily dietary requirement.
Also, ensure the amount of carbs is low as most dogs like the German shepherd find it hard to digest them.
Type of Food to Give Your Nine Months German shepherd
There are various diet plans that you can give a German shepherd.
- Dry food
So what about them? Lets have a close-up view of these types of diet.
- Dry food
This type of food is also known as kibble. Additionally, its often recommended for a dog like the German shepherd who requires many calories.
If your dog finds it hard to crack that kibble, you can add some Luke warm water to moisten and make it more palatable.
- Wet food
Also Check: How Much Should A German Shepherd Weight At 6 Months
Master The Art Of Doggie Massage
Learning how to give a dog massage is enriching for owner and dog alike. A nice massage can help soothe and relax nearly any dog.
And dog massages are great for older dogs or those with arthritis, since it helps soothe sore and achy joints. Giving your dog a massage reduces anxiety, relieves stress, improves circulation, and creates a great bond between you and your dog.
Tip: If your dog has a hard time settling down for a massage you can practice the relaxation protocol.
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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Be Prepared For Nighttime Potty Breaks
One thing all new parents and new puppy owners always underestimate is the number of nighttime potty breaks that are required. Your puppy will quickly learn to signal you during the night by either crying, scratching at your bedroom door or jumping on your bed.
If you hear your puppy crying during the night, its usually best to just presume that it is crying because it needs to potty rather than that it wants attention. Its better to get out of bed for a few minutes than have a cleanup operation on your hands when you wake up in the morning.
If you do get out of bed and your puppy only wants attention then be sure to scold him verbally then return to bed. If your puppy does require the bathroom, be sure thats all it gets. Dont allow your puppy to turn it into play time as it may develop a middle of the morning playtime habit.
Our articles linked below may help you further with potty training:-
Why Does A Germanshepherd Puppy Cost So Much
A German Shepherd breeder has a lot of overhead and devoutcountless ours of their time nurturing and raising their puppies in a happy,healthy way. Its not as easy as chucking a male and female in the same roomand a few months later selling $20000 worth of puppies. Here is a breakdown ofthe costs associated with a litter of German Shepherd puppies.
|
Item |
$250 $25 per puppy |
That brings the cost of the litter up to nearly $3000. Ontop of this breeders have to attend and display their dogs at shows which cancosts thousands per year as well as going through sacrificing sleep whenever anew litter is born . A reputable German Shepherd breeder doesnt do it to make money,they do it because they love the breed and have devoted their lives to ensuringtheir puppies are happy, healthy and in the best possible shape when they leavehome.
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Are There Different Types Of German Shepherds
Officially there’s only the one breed. But I explained in the Temperament section that there are different lines of German Shepherds with different temperaments. Those lines can also LOOK very different from each other.
Show lines
Those of us who admired the strong, noble look of German Shepherds from decades ago are saddened at what has been done to the appearance of modern show dogs.
If you go to a German Shepherd specialty show in the United States or Canada, you’ll see tall narrow bodies, long narrow heads, and such excessive curvature of the rear legs that the dog’s back slopes downward from shoulders to tail. You could roll a ball down that back.
In my opinion, these are misshapen caricatures of a German Shepherd. To make matters worse, show lines produce more than their share of spooky and low-intelligence dogs, which is what happens when you over-focus on appearance rather than temperament and trainability.
In contrast, the West German show line has a more normal shape. Best of all, German Shepherds in West Germany cannot win show ring ribbons or be bred without passing a temperament/trainability test.
There are many West German bloodlines in the United States. So if you’re interested, you can look for show breeders who emphasize West German lines instead of American/Canadian.
Just be aware that these dogs aren’t couch potatoes: they do have plenty of energy and some working drives that will need to be exercised.
Working/protection lines
Pet lines?
Tips For Socializing Your Pup
One of the first things that you will want to do with your dog is socialize it. The best way to do this is to introduce it to all manner of people and dogs as early as possible. You will want it to get to know people of different sizes, ethnic backgrounds, and ages, so that it becomes familiar with these types of people as soon as possible.
It’s also important to get your dog to bond with other types of animals. One of the best ways to do this is to enroll your puppy in a training school. This will not only help your dog get to know other dogs, but it will help them become properly trained.
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How Big Is A Full Grown German Shepherd
The long-haired German Shepherd is surprisingly very similar to its short-haired counterpart, despite looking quite different. They share the same general body shape and size, which means that you wont have to worry about making any extra space. The average height of a long-haired German Shepherd is 55-65cm; and they usually weigh in at 22-40kg, making it a medium size dog that would fit well into any average size home.
How Much Mental Stimulation Does A German Shepherd Need
German Shepherds need daily mental stimulation. They are very bright and inquisitive and proper mental stimulation is as important to their overall well-being as physical exercise. If this is lacking boredom sets in and your GSD will resort to poor behavior such as barking, whining, digging, biting, or chewing.
Luckily for dog owners, there are endless possibilities to keep them entertained.;Starting when they are young, you should take your German Shepherd to a training school. This also helps with socialization and boredom. GSDs will excel in all of the types of classes available, from agility to obedience.;
Toys will be your next benefit, and there are specialty toys for larger dogs that you can buy. Some ideas are puzzle toys, interactive toys, or treat-dispensing toys.
There are even automatic ball launchers which are great if your dog loves to play fetch, and these also keep him guessing when you will launch the ball. I like the iFetch Interactive Ball Launcher from Amazon, and this model is great for large breeds. You can also use it indoors and limit the launch to just 10 feet. Its also rechargeable.
Additionally, healthy long-lasting dog chews are a good choice. Make sure they are made for large breeds, as you dont want your German Shepherd to damage their throat or even worse, choke. If you like to give your dog a bone make sure you check out my article, Can German Shepherds Eat Bones? Heres What People Get Wrong!
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How Much Exercise Does A German Shepherd Puppy Need
German Shepherd puppies wont need as much exercise as their adult companions. In fact, its important not to over exercise your puppy, as it could lead to joint and mobility issues in later life . This is especially true for this breed since they are prone to conditions like hip dysplasia.
As a rule of thumb, puppies will need five minutes of formal exercise for every month of their age.;
These walks should be opportunities to explore their environment, work on training and good behaviour outdoors, and socialise with other people and dogs in a controlled manner.;
Your puppy will also get plenty of exercise from tearing around the house and playing, just make sure theyre getting enough sleep and be prepared to interrupt play for naptime if needed.
The easiest way to keep track of how much exercise your puppy is doing is by using a PitPat dog activity monitor. Its small and light so they wont notice it on their collar, and itll record all the activity they are up to in a day;; from playing with you to pottering in the garden.;
Bone And Joint Problems
A number of different musculoskeletal problems have been reported in German Shepherd Dogs. While it may seem overwhelming, each condition can be diagnosed and treated to prevent undue pain and suffering. With diligent observation at home and knowledge about the diseases that may affect your friend’s bones, joints, or muscles, you will be able to take great care of him throughout his life.
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Taking The Puppy Home
Taking your puppy home safely and soundly is the first step in caring for your dog. Trying to get them to lie down and fall asleep before starting the vehicle.
One of the most important things to do is make sure that you take your puppy to a vet. Doing this within 24 hours after purchasing the dog will help to ensure that you know what it needs. Don’t skip this step just because the dog is being seen by a veterinarian already.
German Shepherd Behavior And Body Language
The body languages you should understand
Here is a table to make it simple for you.
| Behavior | |
| Head lowered down, ears lie down, the tail tucked between the legs, self-urination and defecation. | |
| Excitement | Tongue out, tail wags rapidly, eyes wide and bright, jumps up and down while letting out a bark. |
| Confident and alert | Ears perk up, the head held high up, eyes become lively, tail wags slowly. |
Those are some of the dogs body languages you may come across on your nine-month German shepherd puppy.
There are certain body language cues that may exist alone or in combination. Not being able to decipher these cues correctly can affect both you and your dog.
While at that, ensure you have trimmed any unwanted behaviors by ensuring you have enrolled this dog in puppy class.
Also, the lack of exercise will lead to behavioral problems.
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Groom Your Puppy Regularly
Although not essential, grooming can act as a good bonding activity between you and your puppy. Depending on the season it can also massively reduce the amount of hair that your puppy will shed, especially if it is a long-haired german shepherd!
Initially, many puppies and adult dogs hate being groomed. Our article on how to get your dog used to being groomed can help you with this issue. Its methods have proven successful time and time again with multiple dog owners the world over.
You should aim to groom your puppy around twice each week as german shepherds will have light non-stop shedding. During the spring and fall of each year, your dog will fully shed its seasonal coat and you may have to increase the frequency of grooming during these periods.
During each grooming session, do your best to clean your dogs ears. This is usually a challenge, especially if you are alone but do your best. As german shepherds are an alert dog breed they will often have their ears propped up listening to their surroundings. This allows things such as dirt, dust, and bacteria to get into their ears. Although rare, this can result in an ear infection.