NUTRITION​
It all starts here period. Good choices for dry dog food are brands that DON'T contain any corn, soy, wheat, legumes, potatoes, or by-products and they should have real meat as the number 1 ingredient and contain Healthy ancient grains such as Quinoa, Buckwheat, Millet, Barley, Sorghum, etc that are beneficial for Heart health. Grain-free foods have been linked to DCM heart Disease which is believed to be caused by a lack of Grains and added Legumes that block Taurine absorption. German Shepherd puppies should be fed food formulated for large breed dogs. This prevents the dog from growing too rapidly and developing skeletal problems. A raw food diet is also extremely beneficial but, it must be balanced and stored properly, so please do your research beforehand.
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TIPS ON RAISING A PUPPY
SOCIALIZING
In order to have a mentally balanced adult dog, from the moment your puppy is fully vaccinated (received all 3 rounds of booster shots), you should begin to socialize them. This is crucial during the puppy stages. Exposing your puppy to new environments to meet new people and dogs that they have never met before will accustom them to being social and interactive. Only introducing them to your current pets, family pets, or friends pets DOES NOT make a well-socialized dog. Public parks, dog parks, dog beach, and doggy day care are all excellent places to go to socialize with your dog. Check out this ARTICLE on socializing!
DESENSITIZING/GROOMING
It is crucial to get your puppy accustomed to having their paws, ears, tail, face, and food touched. This also includes grooming activities of nail trims, ear cleaning, teeth brushing, bathing, & fur brushing. Use a kong toy and fill it with peanut butter to distract them. Small, soft treats and plenty of heart felt praises should be given before, during, and after these activities to associate them with something positive.
TRAINING
Training is a MUST with this breed. We highly encourage all puppy parents to train with their pups. Utilize meal times with high quality kibble as short training sessions to forge a lifetime bond and good habits! Remember, a trained dog is a good canine citizen! If this is not possible, we strongly suggest taking your puppy to a professional trainer as soon as possible for at least basic obedience. It is easier to prevent bad behaviors than to have to fix them. Check out this ARTICLE on mental stimulation!