Initiate Your Dog To Being Handled Gently
Dogs are great at giving and receiving caresses and hugs. But they also have to handle grooming which can feel uncomfortable. Your German Shepherd puppy can learn to handle this uneasiness if taught to take it when young.
You can do this by gently handling your pups ears, paws, ears, and coat. You can find out more about whether German Shepherds like to be petted in this article.
How To Teach Your Puppy To Walk On A Leash
Always ensure that your puppy is not stressed by their new harness and leash. Make sure the harness is soft and doesnt rub or pinch their skin.
Some owners prefer to use a collar for leash training.
If this is your choice then only choose life-saving break-away collars since your puppy could get hung up and seriously injure themselves if their collar catches on something during their outside walk.
It only takes a second for your puppy to find themselves in a dangerous situation, so always have a leash on them outside when they are puppies and you arent in a secure area.
Dont take any chances with your puppy!
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.
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Getting Your Puppy Used To A Collar
You cant expect to put a collar and leash on your pup and just start walking them around. Like all dog training, its a gradual process you should take slowly.
The first step is to get your puppy used to wearing a collar. Once theyre comfortable with this, you can move on to the leash, but lets not get ahead of ourselves!
More 8 Week Old German Shepherd Puppy Training Help And Support
Is this your first German Shepherd puppy and you need more help and support?
Then youll definitely need to have a copy of Your German Shepherd Handbook: Month by Month.
Its got everything you need to know about your growing puppy and explains what to expect as they grow. This useful book is a great resource for helping take your energetic puppy into a dedicated and well-adjusted dog that youll love to be around.
For an even more in-depth training course take a look at Brain Training for Dogs, the only online training course youll need to keep your highly intelligent breed thoroughly engaged in their training.
The course is not only easy-to-follow but includes dozens of incredibly detailed demonstration videos. Further, as a member, you have access to a unique private forum for additional support and guidance from the creator of the training program in a positive support group.
Its a must-have training program for new German Shepherd puppy owners!
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What Is The Best Collar For A German Shepherd Puppy
Blueberry Pet Dog Collar for Puppies. Chais Choice Comfort Cushion 3M Reflective Dog Collar. PetSafe Martingale Dog Collar. Coastal Pet Chrome-Plated Training Collar. PetSafe Gentle Leader Headcollar. KONG Reflective Neoprene Padded Dog Collar. PET ARTIST Genuine Leather Dog Collar with Handle.
Never Enter Into A Shouting Match
Your puppy doesnt follow your command any better when you shout at them.
They actually become afraid and stressed about you and simply follow your command because theyre scared of you.
Thats no way to train an 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy!
German Shepherds are actually sensitive to their owners feelings, and shouting and yelling at them causes them to become anxious of you and your training.
Remember, learn your dogs language and you can build the foundation of positive communication.
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What Size Harness For A German Shepherd Puppy
How Do I Know For Sure What Size Harness To Buy For My Dog
Your dogs breed should help give a general indication of their harness size. For instance, a Chihuahua will probably be an extra-small size while Great Dane will probably beyou guessed it extra-large.
But dogs can vary wildly within the breed. There are some giant Labs out there and some confusingly small German Shepherds. Not to mention mix breeds, designer dogs, and mutts that can come in any shape or size.
Another point to keep in mind is that dogs also vary according to gender. This means that while your male Samoyed might fit happily in a large harness, your female Samoyed might well need a medium one.
Therefore, selecting a harness based on breed alone can be misleading and result in purchasing the wrong product altogether. It is essential to only use the breed chart only as a general guideline.
One should also be aware that certain breeds are bred to extremes, and finding a harness that fits them can be a challenge.
A Boerboel or a Neapolitan Mastiff can easily tip the scales at 160 pounds, making them too big for many harness brands. If in doubt, contact the company first to ensure they have a harness that will fit your dog.
In sum, it is essential to always check the company size chart and weight chart and take your dogs measurements before ordering a harness for your pup.
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Provides A Sense Of Security
Even though it can seem cruel from the human perspective, if you get the right-sized crate, your German Shepherd will not feel confined as much as he will feel secure. From a human standpoint, a crate is like a jail even if adjusted to our own bodys proportion with the same ratio as a dog crate is to a dogs body.
But we cannot project our psychology onto our puppies and assume what would be kind to us is also kind to the dog. In fact, if your home is large enough, you might make a new puppy, whos just left its mother quite uncomfortable. Having a cozy corner, puppy zone, or a crate can give your German Shepherd puppy a proportionate place that feels secure and more like home. Remember, whats home to you is unexplored territory to him, at least for a while.
What Is The Most Comfortable Dog Harness
Theres a few things that make a dog harness comfortable:
A foam or fleece padding around the harness so it sits comfortably on your dogs body and around their neck/back/chest
Loops/harness clips that comfortably on the outside of the harness
A harness that has adjustable straps so it fits to the exact size of your dogs body
This guide might list some of the most escape resistant dog harnesses on the market.
Harnesses that both fit to a dogs body well, and that have a design that prevents a dog from squeezing their legs or head out from the harness holes/openings between the straps and padding, can both make a more escape resistant harness.
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Best Dog Harnesses For German Shepherds
At the top of our list is the Julius-K9 Powerharness. With the appearance of a police dog harness, the Julius-K9 is extremely popular with German Shepherd owners.
But, aside from its appearance, the back-clip style of the Julius-K9 harness offers an excellent level of control and balance for you while providing your pup with a comfortable fit. It is made from breathable material on the inside and water-resistant material on the outside.
Keeping the harness on your dog is an adjustable hook and loop chest strap featuring a durable plastic buckle. Youll also appreciate the reflective material stripe for evening or pre-dawn walks, as well as the ability to swap out the Julius-K9 logo with a personalized patch.
Dog Harness Sizing Chart
Fit your German Shepherd puppy with an appropriate collar or harness and a leash for his size. Give him a little bit of time to explore and sniff the leash. Attach it to his collar or harness and let him walk around the house getting used to the weight and how it feels Best answers. At around 6 to 8 weeks old, a puppy should be given a little moistened dry food with water or unseasoned chicken stock between nursing sessions. From the eighth week onward, the German Shepherd should be weaned and start feeding on solid food with special puppy feed. Answered By: Norene Kihn. Date created: Tue, May 11, 2021 1:54 AM For a proper fit measure around your dogs neck for a collar and for a harness measure around their chest and allow for a few fingers of play for comfort. breed neck size weight Afghan 16-22 58-64 lbs. Airdale 16-22 42-46 lbs. Australian Shepherd 16-22 35-75 lbs. Basset Hound 16-22 40-60 lbs. Beagl 3. 2 Hound Freedom No Pull Dog Harness. The 2 Hound Harness is a well-made harness that provides multiple ways to stop dogs’ pulling behavior. This harness is made from a high-quality material with a soft velvet lining on the part that goes under your German shepherd’s front leg area, which helps to avoid chafing
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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.
Different Types Of Dog Harnesses For German Shepherds
Dog harnesses are not one-size-fits-all. What works for one dog may not work for another dog. And German Shepherds have different requirements than other breeds due to their size and temperament.
There are things to take into consideration, such as how the leash attaches to the harness, how durable it is, how it goes on, whether or not it has a handle, what type of buckles it has, how adjustable it is, and style.
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Different Types Of Collars
Different collars serve different purposes. Rolled or flat collars, for example, are the most common but can be dangerous if your puppy gets their mouth caught in it.
, on the other hand, are similar to flat types, but less likely to slip off your puppys head, if adjusted properly.
Choke chains or pinch collars are designed to correct bad behavior when training your puppy. Choke chains provide a sharp jerk motion whereas pinch collars contain metal spikes that dig into or pinch the neck. Both these collars teach a dog to associate misbehavior with strong correction. However, if used incorrectly, they can seriously harm your pet. Therefore, these devices should only be used by trained professionals.
Be Consistent In Your Expectations And Actions
If your puppy barks for a meal one day and you say no and withhold it till he is quiet, but you give it to them while barking on a different day, youll never achieve any good results with your training.
Let your no always be no, and your soft voice always so. Otherwise, your poor puppy will be confused about what you expect and will not know how you want them to behave.
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Icefang Tactical Dog Harness
The ICEFANG Dog Harness is a true military-grade piece of equipment and we love this harness for tactical work. The alloy metal buckles are tested and proven to hold 1,000 pounds of pressure. The stitching is an X in a box pattern on each joint and heavy load point. Your German Shepherd can pull extremely hard on this vest and he will not slip away.
Adjustable points give a custom fit so your dog does not slip out of the harness. The 2 leash connection points give you the choice of redirecting your dogs pulling power or giving him an easy walk if he doesnt pull . If needed, the handle on the back gives you full control. It is double-stitched and highly durable.
Two 1 strips of Molle sewn into each side allow your dog to carry gear in pouches. You can also use carabiners to attach toys, water bowls, and other gadgets to your dogs harness.
Crate And Harness Size
As far as the harness goes, don’t order it online. I always took my pups to the store and have them size it for them. You might end up with a small adult harness, or a large puppy harness. Depends on her size. I always liked these harnesses because they have wide straps and dont irritate. You’ll have to measure your dog when you get it, I dont know any stores that sell this. And he will out-grow it every couple weeks.
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What Makes A Good Puppy Harness
Every puppy is different and the final decision on which harness you choose will come down to their personal needs. However, there are some elements that go into making a great puppy harness that is universal. Among these are:
- Easy to put on: You dont want a harness that is complex to put on and gets your dog either over excited or worked up about going out. The Voyager All Weather Step-in Mesh Harness by Best Pet Supplies Inc, is the perfect example of an easy to fit harness.
- Adjustable: It is important that the harness fits correctly. It should adjust at least across the chest or around the body. Others also adjust around the neck such as the Ruffwear Web Master Secure.
- Secure: It is essential that your puppys harness is secure so that they cannot slip out of it. Quick release clip locks, in addition to Velcro straps, are the perfect answer. The leash attachment should also be reinforced and sturdy. Metal D-ring attachment points are popular, but heavy-duty plastic attachment points such as those on the RABBITGOO harness work just as well.
- Comfortable: Your puppy isnt going to enjoy walks if they are uncomfortable, so it is crucial that you choose a harness that fits well and is made from quality material which is durable, breathable and ideally padded across the chest or anywhere else where it is in constant contact with your dog.
Ruffwear Front Range All
This harness is designed to minimise pulling by having a leash attachment on the front and on the back of the harness.
Attaching your dogs leash to the attachment at the front gives you greater control against pulling.
This harness comes in a range of sizes for small to large dogs, and also comes in a range of colors.
You can use it for walks, runs, and hikes.
It has side release buckles, four points to adjust the harness for your dogs body size, reflective trim and a padded chest area.
Theres a sizing chart included so its easy for you to pick the right size harness for your dog.
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