There are fewer things in life more irresistible than a German Shepherd puppy. But you should never bring one home on impulse. This needs to be a careful decision. Bringing a German Shepherd puppy home is the same as bringing a human child home (except German Shepherds mature faster and are more loyal). Although German Shepherd puppies are a big responsibility, they are priceless in their friendship.
German Shepherds, on average, will cost about three thousand dollars a year in food, grooming supplies and vet care. This is far less than your car, but still something to keep in mind. Because of how fast they grow, German Shepherd puppies need their diets to be closely regulated to avoid many potential health problems. They will also need positive reinforcement from day one. Never train a German Shepherd puppy by force. Most dog bites are from dogs that are scared, not dogs that are attacking.
All puppies make a lot of mess, German Shepherd or not. They are like kids in that respect. They cannot help it. Get used top having things broken, urinated on and decorated with paw prints. If you are very fussy, then a German Shepherd puppy is not right for you. German Shepherd puppies need to have about four feedings a day until they are six months old, when they can go to two feedings a day.
This diet needs to be monitored closely. If a German Shepherd puppy grows too fast, this can lead to health problems. They also can’t be exercised too heavily (as in training for agility or herding cattle) until they are eighteen months old, or they will experience health problems like elbow dysplasia.. You need to follow the diet and exercise schedule pretty closely in order to avoid a problem like a bone deformity in the legs.
A German Shepherd puppy tends to learn faster than most other breeds of dogs, but they still learn at their own rate. Instead of yelling at a puppy for chewing, promptly give them something acceptable to chew and praise highly. In time, the German Shepherd puppy will seek out appropriate things to chew in order to get your praise. Keep your training sessions short and frequent.
Please give a lot of thought into your German Shepherd puppy’s name. If they have papers, the breeder will have given them a moniker longer than the puppy. This is impractical for pet German Shepherd dog names. Make them only three syllables long or less and easy for you to pronounce. Please don’t make the name sound similar to a command, else the dog will get confused and just think you are babbling. The name you choose needs to get the puppy’s attention and hold it.
German Shepherd puppies make very loyal, protective and loving pets. This author is currently working on a book about dog names, including a chapter on German Shepherd puppy names.
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