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GERMAN SHEPHERD PUPS
So you have purchased a new German Shepherd Puppy that has hopefully been bread
with temperament, blood line and the good breed in mind. Your puppy will
if looked after give you years of enjoyment and obedience, but remember if you
ill treat him or her, be prepared to take the consequences. The German
Shepherd, in the main is a 'one person' dog, so when you are ready to commence
obedience training (approximately four (4) months old) the member of the family
who is to have ultimate control, is the one and only person to
train the puppy at all times. Other members of the family will get
response to commands but the ultimate control will remain with the one person.
Please praise the pup when he/she does good and don't be afraid to chastise when
it does wrong, but not too severely. Normally a stern voice is sufficient.
Okay here are some guidelines in looking after your puppy:
- Worm Pup - Obtain a
suitable worming regime depending on what is available
in your particular country or area for German Shepherd
puppies, at 10, 12, 14, 18 and 20 weeks, then once a
month until six months old, thereafter increase the
advised dose once every three months or other suitable
timescale as there are tablets available for monthly,
yearly and so on, and seek your veterinarian advice as
necessary.
- Tapeworm -
Again in your particular area, obtain a suitable tapeworm treatment at six
months old then once every three months or other advised timescale which you
should get from your veterinarian.
- Heartworm -
Normally there should be available a table that you are able to split into
quarters and provide this to your puppy every day for two weeks and then as
directed by your veterinarian, either daily, monthly or whatever and in some
cases there may be implants available.
- Calcium -
While your German Shepherds bones are growing and this will be for
10-18months, you are advised to give him or her liquid calcium. If
preferred you can use tablet form, but I have always found that liquid calcium
is absorbed easier and quicker than tablets. This should be at a dosage of
2.5mls morning and night (5mls daily), increase by 1ml each week until dosage
reaches 20ml a day. Continue until puppies bone growth ceases and this
may depend and could be as soon as 10 months or until your puppy reaches 18
months old. I recommend the dose is split to twice daily.
-
Injections - Obtain advice from your veterinarian, but in most
cases your puppy should have canine Distemper, Parvovirus and Hepatitis
injections at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age,
- Vitamins
- Feel free to give your puppy vitamin tablets if required and generally if
you are not sure your veterinarian will advise.
FOOD - Vary your best friends diet as similar to you he or she
will get annoyed if they are provided with the same bland food for every meal.
- Breakfast - 1 cup of puppy chow or food, a small
amount of Cottage Cheese or Boiled Egg or Sardine or Yogurt. Heart worm
tablet and calcium
- Dinner - 1 cup of puppy chow
or food, add 1 desert spoon of raw mince (not fatty), I use premium mince but
you can use whatever type you prefer, a little cooked spinach or cabbage or
pasta + garlic and of course the calcium.
When your puppy reaches six months old, you should start
to reduce the morning feed and increase the evening feed until you are feeding
your mate once a day only.
General information
- Lead & Collar - Your lead depending on the age,
size and weight of your puppy needs to be of very good quality cotton
(preferred), because as your puppy grows and puts on weight and muscle you
will have to be in control of around 34 - 36 kg for a female and 42 - 46 kg
for the average male. Likewise the collar must also be of very good
quality. I prefer to use check chains when training, walking and
exercising my puppies or dogs, and when they are in the house I do not use any
collar.
- Biscuits - Obtain some form of large dog
biscuit that you can use for rewarding your puppy or dog when they do
something right.
- Brush - Hard bristle and wire
comb/rake, as this improves the puppies/dogs coat. I brush mine every
morning and they love it.
- Bones - Never, Never
give your puppy or any dog cooked chicken bones or for that matter any chicken
bones or other cooked bones, as they shatter and could stick in its throat.
The preference is for Brisket bones only as the puppy or dog is able to eat
everything, but if you want to give him or her other large raw bones, keep and
eye on them.
- Exercise - Your puppy
cannot go outside of your home or garden until he or
she has their 16 week injection, and then allow an
extra week. Then you should commence to exercise
up the local park and if possible socialise with
people and other puppies/dogs. Puppies should be
exercise at least half an hour a day and as puppy
increases in size, increase exercise. Remember
when your Puppy is mature he or she will require
approximately 12km exercise a day to keep in trim.
- Warning - Exercising
before meals at least one hour must pass before
feeding. If after feeding, at least two hours
must pass before exercise.
- Bitch - Approximately 9
months before first season, record the first day then
21 days and please keep her under lock and key for
this period, because she is too young to have puppies.
The general rule of thumb for breeding is wait until
she is at least two years old.
-
Teeth - Clean teeth regularly with toothpaste, hydrogen peroxide
(mouth Wash) and powdered magnesium. The tooth paste does not do much
for the teeth, but it gets and keeps your mate used to humans handling and
getting into his or her mouth, so that you have to visit the vet, he or she
can examine your best mate without too much hardship..
-
Hot Weather - Sprinkle on teaspoon of bi-carbonate of soda daily over
food plus glucose and garlic.
- Weight - Check your
mates weight regularly by using your bathroom scales.
First stand on the scales and get somebody to take the
reading and then pass the dog to you, hold the
puppy/dog under the front paws and behind the back
paws. Note the new scale reading and subtract
the first reading from the second and there you have
the puppy or dogs weight. Increase should be
approximately 1-2lbs (1/2 - 1 kg) a week.
- Dog's Feet - If dogs
paws splay reduce the calcium intake.
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Tom Maloney has been active on the Internet for a number of years,
is open, honest and a platinum member of Prosper With Integrity,
come and visit the Internet’s Premier Small Business Home for
entrepreneurs! http://mpamads.com/?u=188327&l=3561 or mail to
tom@makeadamoney.com
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