Take care of your new German Shepherd Puppy
How to handle the early days with your Puppy
Your Puppy’s first few days and weeks with you will greatly influence how well it settles into its new home and its future development and happiness.
Your Puppy may feel stressed by new smells and sounds. Everything is new to your fury baby. They just left mum and siblings, so it’s best to keep your home calm to avoid stress.
As soon as your vet recommends that you take your Puppy out, don’t hesitate to do outdoor toilet training. Always reward your Puppy with a positive tone in your voice.
Let your Puppy explore its new home, but always supervise at all times. Your dog must know its territory to protect and be happy within it.
Show your Puppy where its place is to sleep and rest. We strongly recommend crate training with a comfort blanket from your breeder. If your Puppy can’t settle, you can play calming music to your Puppy.
Puppies like to know what to expect. Plan your routine for feeding,
toilet trips, exercise, and grooming. Many breeders have already set routines for their
puppies, so it’s best to continue with this for consistency until your Puppy is settled.
Your Puppy’s first night with you
Some puppies settle quickly from the first night, and others will give you sleepless nights as they adjust. Be patient and consistent, and follow these tips.
Puppies tire very quickly and need a lot of sleep to develop and maintain their health. It is important to give them plenty of opportunities to rest. At first, they need as much as 18 to 20 hours of sleep every 24 hours. This will reduce to around 12 to 14 hours as they enter adulthood.
Crate training is essential for your Puppy. It prevents your Puppy from unintentionally damaging your house and gives them a safe place that is theirs.
The crate has to be big enough for the Puppy to sleep comfortably but not too big, as the Puppy might use it as a toilet.
You have to introduce the crate slowly and be patient and calm. You can feed your Puppy in the crate. They will understand and learn that the crate is a safe place for them. Teach your Puppy that it’s time to relax after every walk, training, or playtime. After bedtime, let your Puppy go to the toilet. You can keep the crate somewhere nearby to you from the beginning,
If your Puppy whines, and you think it may need a toilet, take them to the toilet break. Don’t talk to them too much, or don’t play with the Puppy. Just let them do the business. Your Puppy may get easily confused. Is it playtime? No, it is not now. You have to be strict; it’s bedtime. It would be harder for you and your Puppy to calm down after an exciting time.
However, if you think your Puppy is lonely or scared, talk to them in a calm voice. Don’t let them whine all night because ignoring your Puppy can cause anxiety and frustration.
Sometimes, it can be a long and a bit stressful process. But, if you follow through, it will work out, and you will have a puppy that is happy in its environment and you will know that it’s safe while you can’t look after it. Do not let your puppy be in the crate for too long, or all the time. German Shepherd puppies need action, activity, movement, and purpose. They grow big, really big, furry, and they require action. They need something to live for.
How to Feed Your Puppy
Why is your Puppy’s diet so important
Puppies go through intense growth and development. Their diet plays a key role in supporting this, and it is crucial for influencing how strong and healthy your Puppy is as an adult dog.
Learn about nutrition and feeding
Young dogs benefit from 3 or 4 small meals a day instead of one or two big ones. You can use part of their main meal as a food reward for desired behaviour, and during training sessions to avoid overeating.
Stick to the same diet initially
For the first week or two, give your Puppy the same food as their previous owner, following the feeding recommendations on the pack. Any sudden dietary changes can stress them or cause digestive upsets.
Provide a quiet place to eat
This should be away from where you or any other pets eat. Leave your Puppy in peace while they eat to prevent them from feeling anxious or protective.
Begin a feeding schedule
Dogs feel reassured by knowing when you feed them. Begin a feeding routine from day one. During weaning, they will need four meals a day. They need three meals a day after they’re at least four months old. If you are unsure, ask your vet for advice.
Puppy Feeding and Nutrition
As puppies grow rapidly and their digestive and immune systems develop slowly, they have very specific nutritional needs that are different from those of adult dogs. Feeding your Puppy a nutritionally complete diet tailored to its specific needs is vital for supporting healthy development and laying the foundation for a healthy future.
The safe way to change your Puppy’s diet
Puppies have delicate digestive systems that don’t respond well to sudden changes. When you’re ready to change their food, you must do it carefully and slowly to avoid causing a stomach upset.
Make sure your puppy always has fresh water, and do not feed your puppy at least one hour before and after exercise to prevent bloat. Bloating is extremely dangerous and can have a fatal ending.
How much Exercise my Puppy needs
Regular exercise will help your puppy become a strong, confident, and fit adult. However, it’s important to avoid over-exercising your puppy while its bones are still forming.
Puppies that exercise too much or do too many high-impact exercises like jumping, walking down the stairs, or jumping off your sofa are at risk of joint and bone damage. This can lead to conditions such as arthritis and hip dysplasia. You should minimize these activities as much as possible. Puppy’s joints, bones, and muscles are not firmly attached until fully grown.
It’s important to know roughly how long your dog will be growing because, until it is fully grown, its joints and growth plates will be at risk of damage if it does too much exercise. Most dogs are fully grown by one year of age, but larger breeds, such as German Shepherds, can take as long as 18 months to 2 years to reach full size!
However, limiting your puppy’s exercise too much could cause boredom and frustration, leading to behavioural problems. Exercising your puppy sensibly is especially important to avoid future problems with hips. If you are worried about your puppy’s joints, avoid high-intensity activities, discourage them from jumping up and skidding, and speak to your vet for advice.
Feeding your puppy a healthy diet is just as important as exercise for its growing bones because carrying additional weight on its body can put pressure on its joints.
Even more Exercise for my Puppy
Playing with your pup at home and in the garden is a great way to keep them physically and mentally active. Just remember that they also need lots of sleep, so allow them to rest when they get tired.
Walks are a nice way to exercise your pup, but they must be fully vaccinated before going out. Puppy walks are mostly about exploring the world and positively experiencing new sights, sounds, and smells. Always build your pup’s walking stamina gradually and have a break if they get tired to let them rest until they’re ready to walk again – and don’t forget to leave them with enough energy to get back home!
It’s OK to let your puppy run around freely at their own pace at home and in your garden, but avoid taking them out for a run because it’s too intense for their growing bones.
Teaching your pup some basic commands is a great way to keep their minds stimulated, but it can be just as tiring as playing or going for a walk. Remember to keep sessions short and enjoyable and let your pup rest once they’ve had enough.
Keeping your puppy’s mind active is just as important as physical exercise. You can do this by making them puzzle feeders and snuffle mats – it’s a great way to keep them out of trouble!
Before you socialise your puppy with other dogs, always ask your vet when your puppy will be protected by its vaccinations. Your puppy shouldn’t go to certain places or mix with unvaccinated dogs until its vaccines fully cover it. Sadly, diseases covered by the vaccines, such as Parvovirus, can be fatal for puppies if they catch them.
Socialisation and Training Tips
Your puppy must get to experience new situations as soon as possible.
You can start socialising with your puppy in the gardens. You can carry them when you’re out and about so they can meet new people, experience new places, and meet fully vaccinated older dogs.
Your puppy’s experiences need to be positive, so you’ll need to find ways to ensure that it enjoys the new things it encounters. Learn to avoid stressful situations for your puppy.
Let your puppy experience and meet various people, sounds, smells, and places.
Everything will be new to your puppy. Make sure you introduce new things gradually. Start by slowly introducing new places and people. When your puppy is calm, give it praise and treats so that it enjoys the experience.
Concentrate on short, positive experiences you can repeat until your puppy is happy with them. If your puppy becomes stressed, overexcited, or tired when you’re out with it, it’s best to take it home and try again later.
Gradually build up the time until your puppy is happy to be left alone in the house for longer periods. Leave your puppy for short periods, and if they can cope with this extended time a bit more every time, you can repeat this session often to ensure your puppy understands that if you leave, nothing bad happens, and you always come back. Sessions at the beginning could be as short as taking the trash out, etc.
They must get used to your usual rhythm and routine.
If you don't feel confident enough to socialize and train your puppy alone, We always recommend hiring an experienced, balanced trainer to help you do this correctly.