Your New Puppy

If you are considering a German shepherd as an addition to your family, you should be aware that these dogs are strong in body, mind, and spirit. They need attention, love, and firm guidance as they grow; which they will do... very quickly.

As a gawky, awkward teenager, a Shepherd may unintentionally knock things over, including small children. When your dog is over the “puppy stage”, you will find that whether you live in an apartment or on a acres of land, your dog is happiest when he is with you. He needs daily walks, but he does not need to live in the country to stay healthy and happy.

Your Puppy's Needs

Your Shepherd needs companionship and does not do well if left in isolation from people or other dogs all day. Socializing is of utmost importance! Take your puppy to areas where there are people and children. Let people pet him and be kind to him, but be aware that if he feels crowded or overwhelmed he will turn to you for help. You will see it in his eyes and if you do, you should always be quick to react. Learn to read him in order to recognize when he has had enough. Children especially, tend to smother puppies with love, and may be eye to eye with the dog so be sure to monitor the dogs for any signs of distress or anger. Dogs that are not properly socialized become nervous when introduced into more public situations later in life. A nervous or shy dog is one that may bite out of fear.

What About kids?

The German Shepherd is an excellent family dog. If they are raised with children, they will become quite tolerant to the  grabbing and poking of tiny fingers. Raising a puppy with children takes extra effort for parents. More than likely, your fast growing puppy will use his sharp needle teeth when playing with children and their toys. You also must watch out for scratching and jumping up. As your puppy grows, he may outweigh your toddler, and may accidentally knock him down. Young children often excite puppies who want to wrestle and chase them. Children can undo a great deal of training you put into your pup. For this reason we recommend that you always watch when they play together. Be sure that your child knows not to hit or kick your dog, even if the puppy plays too hard. Puppies are limited in what they can do to play, so they are only doing what comes naturally. They, most likely, think of the children as littermates! Remind them that puppies are delicate both physically and emotionally and that they need to be gentle. As long as parents realize that an extra dose of patience will be required, the Shepherd can grow up side by side with children and be a source of lasting memories and happiness for all. ...Remember your first dog?

Grooming

The German shepherd is a natural breed, meaning that it does not require clipping or special grooming. An occasional bath, and a quick brushing, is all that will be needed. Shepherds are double coated with a mildly coarse, water resistant outer coat and wool like undercoat. They will shed, so be prepared to brush them. Shedding will be kept to a minimum with a quality food of lamb and rice with NO CORN or WHEAT. If you choose one of our solid black dogs, please remember they will become warm quickly in direct sunlight so be sure to give then lots of water and access to shade. For more on food see our Nutrition section.

Character

You may find an adult German shepherd does not seem to pay much attention to those around him other than you and your family. This is normal for a mature adult as the breed tends to be a bit aloof. Do not mistake this with lack of awareness; your Shepherd is keenly aware of what id going on around him. He knows at all times what id good and that which is a potential danger to you or to the ones he loves. Your adult Shepherd will be on guard at all times and is probably far more aware of pending danger, and then you may be.

Inside or Out?

We consider our dogs a part of our family! You wouldn’t tie your children up and make them sleep in the garage… would you??!  Your dog  should be a part of your family. They are social animals, and not being allowed inside the group “den” is very confusing and detrimental to your relationship with them. If your dog will not be allowed  in the house…maybe you should NOT have a dog! It’s that simple!!

Collars   

 If you have a new puppy...PLEASE use a harness! Puppies can slip out of regular collars because of their neck size. Don’t take a chance. For older dogs, large link “fur savers” or choke collars are fine if you know how to place them on your pet. They should form the letter P while you slip it over their heads. If these are not put on properly, your dog can choke to death as the collar will not release. Leather or nylon collars are ok, if your dog does not pull back on you. Pinch collars are widely used all over the world with German Shepherds and are quite good. 

Scolding your dog

Puppies are not perfect… Remember, if your pup pees on the floor, don’t bother to drag him back to scold him. He will not associate the punishment with the deed. He will probably just think he is being punished for sniffing. If you catch him in the act pick him up ‘ midstream’  and take him directly outside. (He will stop peeing when you pick him up) If you smack a dog while he is peeing, he will think he is going to get smacked if he pees ANYWHERE. It is best to be proactive and try to avoid “bad dog” incidents. Watch your puppy’s behavior when he’s getting ready ‘to go’ and get him outside before he does. Then praise him!! Keep him confined to a small area (his crate, puppy pen, etc.) and away from anything you don’t want him to chew. If you find it necessary to give your dog a light smack to drive home the point, do so with a light 2-finger tap under the chin. Your dog will get the point. DO NOT HIT HIM ON TOP OF HIS HEAD!!!!!

Remember: Positive reinforcement goes a long way… for all of us… dogs are no different!!!

Crate train your dog  

A crate is NOT JAIL! Crate training is probably one of the best things you can do for your puppy. Dogs are  den animals and find comfort in a crate, just as we might find solace in our bedroom or office. Never use the crate for punishment, and it will become your dog’s sanctuary. It is also useful when they are being housebroken. Dogs will not soil where they sleep, and therefore will not want to defecate or urinate in their crate. (Until your puppy learns otherwise, the entire house will be considered a den so he may use one corner of the house to do his business and sleep in another room.) Feeding a young puppy in its crate is also a good idea, not only to help acclimate him to the crate but it enables him to eat without being disturbed, especially if  there are older animals in the household. Once he has finished eating, keep him in the crate for about 20 min. then take him outside for a potty break as he/she will probably be ready to go. This will give you an opportunity to praise your puppy for doing what comes naturally.

Feeding and Food Products   

As your puppy gets older you can begin feeding him outside the crate. At this point you might also want to start moving your finger around in his food dish, while he is eating, so that he learns not to be protective of his food. This can prevent future behavioral problems. Do not feed your dog any food with wheat or corn. Studies have proven that there is virtually no nutritive value in corn, and wheat can cause skin allergies. For various reasons, we DO NOT recommend Purina, Pedigree, Hundenflaken or Science Diet products!! If you are interested we would be more than happy to recommend a brand.

Toys and Chews  

Squeaky toys are not recommended (especially with larger dogs) because the squeaker can be dislodged and become a choking hazard. NEVER let your dog play with tennis balls! Dogs with a high energy level while playing have been known to get tennis balls stuck in their throat. It is nearly impossible to dislodge the ball and usually proves to be fatal. I have seen it happen first hand! In addition to that, the glue used to make tennis balls ruins the enamel on your dog’s teeth making them  sensitive and weak. We use softballs and the dogs love them. However there are some rules of thumb even with softballs. First of all, NEVER throw a softball in the air for your dog to catch!!! … ALWAYS roll it along the ground.  Also, if you have a larger dog never leave the ball with them. They may chew and swallow pieces of the ball which can get stuck in their intestines. There are many “dog-safe” balls and toys on the market that will give your pets many contented hours of play, which is what every dog deserves.  Although it is not a safety issue your puppy should never be given old shoes or sneakers to play with. He will not be able to distinguish between these and your favorite pair of very expensive shoes and it will give him mixed signals when he is punished for a behavior that was previously encouraged. Do not give your dogs rawhide!!!. Any small pieces your dog tears off can become a choking hazard and rawhide can also be a source of bacteria which can make your dog sick. Giving you’re your dog pig ears or hooves of any kind is not recommended either since they contain mercury.

Spaying and Neutering   

A common misconception is that we should let our female dog have a litter of puppies to improve her temperament. This is definitely NOT true. You will actually be doing her a favor by spaying her rather than putting her through potential physical strain as well as separation anxiety when her pups are taken from her. If you do decide to breed your dog, please be responsible. Breeding requires time, money, and a great deal of effort and may not be worth the hassle unless you intend to become a serious breeder. Spaying and neutering your pet at a fairly early age can also prevent medical problems when your pet is older.

Dog Parks 

Although there are many responsible people who take their dogs to local “dog parks” it is a good idea to visit them first and meet those who frequent the place, before bringing your dog. If you are uncomfortable, in any way, with the dogs and/or the owners, stay away, and walk your dog around your neighborhood. If you do decide to return with your dog, it would be best after your puppy has had most, or all, of its puppy shots. 

Never Let Your Dog Off Leash In Public  

Letting your dog “off leash” in a public place is against the law in California. If you do have your dog “off leash”, you must realize that you will not have control of your dog in the event of a fight, unplanned mating, snake encounters, traffic etc .

What if my dog gets into a fight?

Although your first reaction may be to grab your dog by the collar, do not do so! You should never approach the dogs’ heads or you will probably be bitten. Your dog is in “survival mode” at this time and will not hear you nor will he respond to your command as long as he is reacting to the other dog. If it is safe to do so, both you and the other dog’s owner should grab your dogs by the back legs at the same time and lift them up like wheelbarrows. Back up and don’t let go until both dogs are under control. If you feel that a fight is about to start, but the dogs have not yet made contact, try to move in and control the situation before it escalates. Do not yell "NO or STOP"!! as this may cause the dogs to become more agitated.

Health Problems

Hip dysplasia

If you purchase a dog from a breeder who is very strict about breeding requirements, you have taken the first step toward ensuring that you have obtained a dog with good hips. Although genetics plays a major role in the presence or absence of hip problems there are other factors which can have an effect on this. These include poor nutrition, overfeeding, and too much exercise at an early age.

Hip dysplasia is a congenital malformation of the ball and socket joint of the hip. We have never had a problem with severe hip dysplasia with our dogs…  Are we just lucky? No, we are cautious about the dogs we breed and previous generations and history of hip problems. Our dogs all have  'above standard' hips and their parents and grandparents did as well. We are serious about our bloodlines in order to ensure that your dog will become a healthy senior dog...able to walk on all four feet. Please note that there is a condition called panostetis, pano for short, which sometimes happens in growing pups and will create lameness in the leg joints. It is a temporary condition of the long bones and although painful, it is not permanent. German Shepherds are somewhat prone to this and it is a condition of growth similar to growing pains in children. Your vet will be able to provide your dog with something for the discomfort while the condition lasts, usually not very long. You should also be aware that a young dog forced to run and jump higher than his body height for the first eighteen months of age. A young dog's hips cannot withstand the pounding and you WILL have a dog with hip problems. In addition, a puppy should also never jump more than the it’s own height in its first year…ie. jumping off the bed.

REMEMBER: NO HEAVY EXERCISE OR EXCESSIVE RUNNING FOR THE FIRST 12 MONTHS!!!!!!!!

Bloat

Do not let your dog (of any age) run around after a meal. This can cause a condition referred to as bloat. Although bloat or stomach torsion is not all that common, you should be aware of the subtle signs. Your dog will not eat and may begin to drool and pace more than usual. His stomach may actually show signs of swelling. If your dog’s behavior is not normal and you notice any of these symptoms, DO NOT WAIT!!! Call your veterinarian immediately!!! If it is late, go to an emergency 24hr. veterinary hospital. If you wait, your dog may not make it through the night.

We are here to help

We are always available to answer your questions. Please call when in doubt, but rest assured that our dogs are not from pet stores or puppy mills. We demand the best of the best. We know our dogs’ histories and want nothing less than a long happy, healthy life for your dog.

PLEASE, CALL US IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.