Dog ownership Responsible dog ownership starts before you purchase your dog. You should spend as much time as possible researching the different breeds to find which breed is most suitable to you and your lifestyle. Once you've decided on a breed you would have to find a responsible & reputable breeder to provide you with a healthy, well bred puppy, and as much after sales assistance as you require.
Prepare for the arrival of your new pup or dog before you bring him home. Make sure you have the food that he is used to eating, a collar, a lead, food and water bowls, appropriate toys and a place for him to sleep in (bed, crate or doghouse).
Make sure that your yard is secured, well-fenced with adequate shelter from the elements.
- If you are not planning to show your dog or breed your dog it is advisable to have it fixed regardless of whether it is male or female. This will not only decrease the number of unwanted and abandoned puppies but can also prevent your pet from developing life threatening health problems, including infections and cancer that affect both sexes.
- Your dog should have identification tags with contact information to allow for quick return if he/she gets lost.
- Make sure your dog is wormed regularly and is vaccinated annually.
- Never leave a dog in a car unattended. Dogs can die in less than ten minutes in a hot car.
Training One of the most important things you can do for your dog is train your dog or take him to an obedience class or train the dog yourself. This is an important stimulation that would not only make your dog more responsive & obedient but will make your dog ownership experience much more enjoyable as well. |
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Socializing
The raising of a puppy requires specific care. The best genetic predispositions are useless, if the puppies are not sufficiently socialized. Constant contact with various people, animals and environmental situations are an absolute necessity.
Health Deworming, vaccinations and a careful feeding schedule is essential.
Consult your veterinarian regarding vaccination & deworming schedule.
Feeding We believe diet & nutrition play a major factor in the overall health and well being of the dog.
We feed raw food that contains green tripe, muscle meet, trachea, gullet, finely ground bones & bone marrow mixed with dry kibbles.These ingredients contain natural unprocessed enzymes that help with digestion, amino acids, friendly bacteria lactobacillus acidophilus and chondroitin sulfate for cartilage health. It has the ideal calcium/phosphorus ratio and offers the essential fatty acids.
We have seen great results with raw diet and found it to be the best diet we can offer our dogs. From the age of 12 weeks we feed our puppies twice daily until the age of 6 months and once a day thereafter. After feeding, the puppy must have a rest. Play time and walks are to be practiced before feeding. It is imperative that you keep your puppy lean! Bones, joints and tendons/ligaments are very soft at a young age and carrying extra weight may cause irreversible damage to your puppy.
If you choose to feed your dog dry kibbles, feed your puppy a high quality Puppy Food, consisting of not higher than 26% protein. Excessive protein, vitamins and minerals can also be harmful.
A German Shepherd Dog grows very fast in a relatively short time. During this time, the puppy should develop muscles through short walks and play, but is not to be overexerted.
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