The first one and a half to two months of life, the mother takes care of the German shepherd puppy, feeding him with her milk, cleansing him of dirt, dust and feces. The little puppy learns behavior from the mother and her brothers. But as soon as they take him out of the litter, all the care falls on the owner. For the kid, he should become not only a second "mother", but also a friend and teacher. Grooming a German Shepherd puppy is not difficult if you know some aspects of this breed.
Apartment preparation
Before bringing your puppy, prepare your home for his arrival. First, remove all wires from the floor or run them through a metal cable. Portable electrical outlets should also be removed from floors and low surfaces. Learn to put all your shoes and slippers in the closet. Repair all cabinet doors if they don't close tightly. Raise all important documents, books, magazines from coffee tables higher - on the shelf, for example. Puppies are very curious and playful. You won't even be able to react quickly if the puppy starts gutting your slippers or purse. It is not a superfluous moment to remove carpets from the floors for a while. This is necessary because at first the puppy will relieve himself at home.
Place in the house
After bringing the puppy home, immediately determine its place. It should be located in a calm and quiet corner, away from heating appliances and drafts. For the seat of a German Shepherd puppy, you can use a small thin rug or mattress. If your dog will be kept outdoors, it is worth taking care of the enclosure in advance. It should be spacious, with dry floors and a booth for sleeping and resting. Make the enclosure so that the sun does not get there all day, otherwise the dog will be hard.
Never disturb your puppy if he has gone to his place. This is only his territory, where he will feel protected and calm and will be able to take a break from games. You can put something from your old clothes in the puppy's new place so that the pet gets used to the smell of the new owner. In the same way, you can do with a thing taken from a litter. The puppy may miss his brothers for several nights, and the native smell will calm him down.
Food
Nutrition for a German Shepherd puppy is perhaps the most important thing in its care. The health and growth of the puppy, his beauty, intelligence, intelligence and activity depend on him. A baby of this breed in two months needs to be fed at least 5 times a day, and then monthly to reduce the number of feedings. At three months, feed already 4 times, from 4 to 6 months - 3 times, and from seven months, switch to the "adult" mode - two feeding. Food for a large breed puppy should be rich in protein, fiber and carbohydrates.
If you are feeding your dog natural food, then in no case should it be food from the owner's table. Cook food separately: add meat, vegetables, herbs, vegetable oil to cereals. Feed your puppy using aluminum or enamel dishes. It is desirable that the bowl is at the level of his head and "grows" with him. To do this, pet stores sell special stands for large dogs. The food in the bowl should not be cold, but warm or at room temperature. Remember to give your puppy water. Take vitamin courses several times a year. This is an important period for a puppy when his young body needs a lot of calcium and mineral supplements. If you intend to feed your pet with dry food, carefully choose the composition, taking into account the characteristics of this breed.
Beauty care
Grooming is also important when keeping a dog at home. You do not need to wash your German Shepherd puppy until it is three months old. After this age, a baby, and an adult dog, can be washed no more than 2-3 times a year. In the summer you can let him swim in the river if he so desires. Frequent washing spoils the appearance and structure of the coat, making it dull and harsh. The peculiarity of the German Shepherd breed is that, although it is smooth-haired, it often needs to be combed out. This should be done with a special brush, and it is desirable to teach it from a young age. When combing out the old wool, cut off any tangles that have formed.
It is known that the ears of German Shepherd puppies do not initially stand. They are thin, delicate and hang. Only after a while will the cartilage harden, and the ears will stand up as it should. Therefore, it is undesirable to touch them; you need to stroke the puppy carefully, without touching the ears. Clean the inside of the auricle once a week with a dry swab. It shouldn't smell like anything from there, and nothing should leak. Otherwise, consult a doctor. Also, from a young age, the puppy needs to be taught to cut the claws, so that later he is not afraid of this procedure.
Walking
Walking with your German Shepherd puppy should be started after all vaccinations. Collar training before walking at home. Just put it on and distract with the game. It is worth going for a walk after each feeding, thereby accustoming him to relieve himself on the street. Start walking for 5 minutes, adding time and stress every day. For this breed, physical activity is important with every walk. On the street, wait first until the puppy does his job, and only then go run and play. Thus, he will understand why he is being taken out. Over time, accustom your puppy to a leash and muzzle. It is also worth thinking about his behavior on a walk, if necessary, correct it with training.
Up to 4 months of age, carry the puppy up the stairs in your arms. Do not allow him to rise on his own, this can damage the ligaments and the spine. If you get caught in the rain while walking, wipe your baby with a towel at home, but do not dry it with a hairdryer.
Upbringing
The German Shepherd is a very intelligent and obedient animal. No breed can compare with his quick wit and upbringing. But without the help of the owner, the baby will not figure out what he can and what not. Parenting can begin as soon as the puppy begins to live with you. Calling the puppy to eat, give the command "Come to me". Always call him by his nickname.
Remember: what you prohibit, you prohibit forever. For example, this includes sleeping on the couch or feeding chunks from the table. If the puppy is naughty, punish immediately at the time of the misconduct, otherwise he will not understand anything and will only be offended by the owner.
For the German Shepherd, the main person in the house is the one who trains him. Therefore, for better obedience, the whole family must participate in this.
