Tips For Buying a Long Coat German Shepherd Puppy
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Buying and Bringing Home Your New German Shepherd Puppy
Here is a list of supplies you need before you bring your German Shepherd puppy home.
Premium pet food to get your new puppy off to a good start. (Your puppy has been on Purina Puppy Chow, one raw egg and 1/8 pound of boiled hamburger, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic, and a dash of salt all mixed together. Occasionally I have given the puppy boiled liver in with the Puppy Chow. Dogs like liver and you can find chicken livers at your grocery store). Make sure your puppy has plenty of fresh water every day.
A puppy will be scared and nervous when it arrives at a new home. It is normal for the puppy to
have diarrhea. If your puppy has diarrhea, some food items you can be give it to help it become
solid are: boiled hamburger and steamed rice. If the diarrhea continues for more than 48 hours
take you puppy to your veterinarian. You do not want your puppy to get dehydrated.
* Stainless steel food and water bowls.
(As your puppy grows you want to raise his feed dishes up off the floor.)
* Identification tags with your puppy's name, your name, phone number and your veterinarian's name and phone number.
* A collar and a leather or nylon 6-foot leash that's 1/2 - 3/4 inches wide (consider using a "breakaway" collar with plastic
clips that will unsnap in case your puppy gets hung up on something).
* A home and travel crate that will accommodate your puppy even at adult size. This crate will serve as your puppy's
new "den" at home, when traveling or riding to the veterinarian's office. His scent in the crate will provide comfort and
a sense of security during these stressful times.
* Stain remover for accidental soiling.
* Brushes and combs suited to your puppy's coat; ask your veterinarian about an appropriate brush or comb for your dog.
* Dog shampoo, toothbrush and paste.
* High-quality, safe chew toys to ease teething.
* Flea, tick and parasite controls. Garlic in the puppies food helps keep fleas and ticks away.
* Nail clippers.
* Treats
Helpful Hints
- Using stainless steel bowls won't break, absorb odors or turn your puppies nose brown.
- Toys with parts that squeak or whistle can be dangerous if swallowed.
- For a comfortable collar fit, allow for two-fingers of space between the collar and your dog's neck; consider using an
adjustable collar.
- Making a Home SafeTo make your home safe for your new puppy, eliminate potential hazards around the house and pay
attention to the following items:
* Keep breakable objects out of reach.
* Deny access to electrical cords by hiding or covering them; make outlets safe with plastic outlet plugs.
* Safely store household chemicals.
* Keep the following house and garden plants out of reach: poinsettias, azaleas, rhododendrons, dumb cane, Japanese
yew, oleander and English ivy among others.
* In the garage, be sure engine lubricants and other poisonous chemicals (especially antifreeze) are safely stored.
* If you own a pool or hot tub, check the cover or the surrounding fence to be sure they're in good condition.
* If you provide your puppy with an outdoor kennel, place it in an area that provides sun, shade and shelter in the
pen; be sure the kennel is large enough to comfortably accommodate your puppy's adult size.
The First Days at Home
- The ideal time to bring home a new German Shepherd puppy is when the house is quiet.
- Discourage friends from stopping by and don't allow overnight guests. First establish a daily routine and follow
these steps:
Step 1: Before bringing him in the house, take him to the area in your yard that will serve as his "bathroom" and
spend a few minutes there. If he goes, praise him. If not, proceed into the house but be sure to take him to
this spot each time he needs to use the bathroom.
Step 2: Take him to the room that accommodates your crate—this restricted area will serve as his new "den" for
several days. Put bedding and chew toys in the crate, leave the door open and line the area outside of the
crate with newspaper, in case of an accident. Let him investigate the crate and the room. If he chews or
urinates on his bedding, permanently remove it from the crate.
Step 3: Observe and interact with your puppy while he's acclimating to his new den. This will help forge a sense of
pack and establish you as the pack leader.
Special Puppy Concerns
* Don't treat a puppy as young as 6 to 12-weeks old like an adult dog. Treat him the same way you would your own
infant: with patience, constant supervision and a gentle touch. The way you interact with your puppy at this age is
critical to his socialization.
* Supervise your puppy at all times and interact with him regularly.
* Be alert for signs (sniffing and circling) that he has to go to the bathroom, then take him outside immediately.
* A young puppy has no bladder control and will need to urinate immediately after eating, drinking, sleeping or
playing. At night, he will need to relieve himself at least every three hours.
* Don't punish an accident. Never push his nose in the waste or scold him. He won't understand, and may learn to
go to the bathroom when you're out of sight.
* Praise your puppy every time he goes to the bathroom outside.
* Feed your puppy a formula designed for puppies. Like a baby, he needs nutritious, highly digestible food.
Don't hit your puppy on the hips, don't let it jump off a couch, chair, bed, porch, or out of a truck. The puppies hips are developing and these activities could damage the hips.
Don't hit your puppy on the head this could make it head shy. If you need to correct your puppy use a few sheets of a rolled up newspaper and hit the newspaper on your hand. The sound scares the puppy.
Supervise the meeting or resident pets and your new puppy.
There are several books on the German Shepherd which give you lots of information and a better understanding of the breed.
Premium pet food to get your new puppy off to a good start. (Your puppy has been on Purina Puppy Chow, one raw egg and 1/8 pound of boiled hamburger, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic, and a dash of salt all mixed together. Occasionally I have given the puppy boiled liver in with the Puppy Chow. Dogs like liver and you can find chicken livers at your grocery store). Make sure your puppy has plenty of fresh water every day.
A puppy will be scared and nervous when it arrives at a new home. It is normal for the puppy to
have diarrhea. If your puppy has diarrhea, some food items you can be give it to help it become
solid are: boiled hamburger and steamed rice. If the diarrhea continues for more than 48 hours
take you puppy to your veterinarian. You do not want your puppy to get dehydrated.
* Stainless steel food and water bowls.
(As your puppy grows you want to raise his feed dishes up off the floor.)
* Identification tags with your puppy's name, your name, phone number and your veterinarian's name and phone number.
* A collar and a leather or nylon 6-foot leash that's 1/2 - 3/4 inches wide (consider using a "breakaway" collar with plastic
clips that will unsnap in case your puppy gets hung up on something).
* A home and travel crate that will accommodate your puppy even at adult size. This crate will serve as your puppy's
new "den" at home, when traveling or riding to the veterinarian's office. His scent in the crate will provide comfort and
a sense of security during these stressful times.
* Stain remover for accidental soiling.
* Brushes and combs suited to your puppy's coat; ask your veterinarian about an appropriate brush or comb for your dog.
* Dog shampoo, toothbrush and paste.
* High-quality, safe chew toys to ease teething.
* Flea, tick and parasite controls. Garlic in the puppies food helps keep fleas and ticks away.
* Nail clippers.
* Treats
Helpful Hints
- Using stainless steel bowls won't break, absorb odors or turn your puppies nose brown.
- Toys with parts that squeak or whistle can be dangerous if swallowed.
- For a comfortable collar fit, allow for two-fingers of space between the collar and your dog's neck; consider using an
adjustable collar.
- Making a Home SafeTo make your home safe for your new puppy, eliminate potential hazards around the house and pay
attention to the following items:
* Keep breakable objects out of reach.
* Deny access to electrical cords by hiding or covering them; make outlets safe with plastic outlet plugs.
* Safely store household chemicals.
* Keep the following house and garden plants out of reach: poinsettias, azaleas, rhododendrons, dumb cane, Japanese
yew, oleander and English ivy among others.
* In the garage, be sure engine lubricants and other poisonous chemicals (especially antifreeze) are safely stored.
* If you own a pool or hot tub, check the cover or the surrounding fence to be sure they're in good condition.
* If you provide your puppy with an outdoor kennel, place it in an area that provides sun, shade and shelter in the
pen; be sure the kennel is large enough to comfortably accommodate your puppy's adult size.
The First Days at Home
- The ideal time to bring home a new German Shepherd puppy is when the house is quiet.
- Discourage friends from stopping by and don't allow overnight guests. First establish a daily routine and follow
these steps:
Step 1: Before bringing him in the house, take him to the area in your yard that will serve as his "bathroom" and
spend a few minutes there. If he goes, praise him. If not, proceed into the house but be sure to take him to
this spot each time he needs to use the bathroom.
Step 2: Take him to the room that accommodates your crate—this restricted area will serve as his new "den" for
several days. Put bedding and chew toys in the crate, leave the door open and line the area outside of the
crate with newspaper, in case of an accident. Let him investigate the crate and the room. If he chews or
urinates on his bedding, permanently remove it from the crate.
Step 3: Observe and interact with your puppy while he's acclimating to his new den. This will help forge a sense of
pack and establish you as the pack leader.
Special Puppy Concerns
* Don't treat a puppy as young as 6 to 12-weeks old like an adult dog. Treat him the same way you would your own
infant: with patience, constant supervision and a gentle touch. The way you interact with your puppy at this age is
critical to his socialization.
* Supervise your puppy at all times and interact with him regularly.
* Be alert for signs (sniffing and circling) that he has to go to the bathroom, then take him outside immediately.
* A young puppy has no bladder control and will need to urinate immediately after eating, drinking, sleeping or
playing. At night, he will need to relieve himself at least every three hours.
* Don't punish an accident. Never push his nose in the waste or scold him. He won't understand, and may learn to
go to the bathroom when you're out of sight.
* Praise your puppy every time he goes to the bathroom outside.
* Feed your puppy a formula designed for puppies. Like a baby, he needs nutritious, highly digestible food.
Don't hit your puppy on the hips, don't let it jump off a couch, chair, bed, porch, or out of a truck. The puppies hips are developing and these activities could damage the hips.
Don't hit your puppy on the head this could make it head shy. If you need to correct your puppy use a few sheets of a rolled up newspaper and hit the newspaper on your hand. The sound scares the puppy.
Supervise the meeting or resident pets and your new puppy.
There are several books on the German Shepherd which give you lots of information and a better understanding of the breed.