How to Care for and Train German Shepherd Puppies

Socializing with your German shepherd puppy is integral to its wellbeing.

The German shepherd, a highly intelligent and versatile dog, performs several roles in society, including serving as a guide dog and therapy dog. German shepherds thrive on socializing and bonding with their owners throughout their lives, and particularly during their growing years as puppies. If you have a German shepherd puppy or plan to get one, ensure that it is properly cared for, and physically and mentally stimulated with sufficient exercise and training.

Difficulty:

 

Moderate

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Puppy formula, raw food and treats
• Drinking water bowl
• Vaccine shots
• Nail clipper
• Soft-bristle hair brush

1. Care

   • 1
     Feed the puppy three times a day with a puppy formula. Gradually add fresh foods such as raw tripe, whole raw rabbit, chicken or turkey along with the bones.
   • 2
     Keep a bowl of fresh drinking water within the puppy's reach at all times. Clean the bowl and replenish the water daily because drool from the puppy's mouth accumulates in the bowl.
   • 3
     Take your puppy to a veterinarian for vaccination at around 10 to 16 weeks of age to protect against distemper and parvovirus diseases. Repeat the vaccine shot after a year and every three years thereafter.
   • 4
     Consult your veterinarian to de-worm the puppy when it reaches 2 weeks of age to treat flea or tick infestations.
   • 5
     Regularly groom the puppy with a soft-bristle hair brush. Brush the fur coat to keep it shiny, detangle matted fur and clear dirt and matted hair.
   • 6
     Clip the toenails with a nail clipper every two weeks to keep them short. Overgrown toenails are unsightly, and can cause the puppy's toes to separate and result in lameness.

   Training

   • 1
     Provide obedience training by teaching your puppy basic commands for about 15 minutes, at least three times each day. Use short commands like "sit," "come," "stay" and "down," and a different tone of voice for each command. For instance, use a low but firm tone of voice when correcting your dog by saying the word, "no."
   • 2
     Reward your puppy with food treats, verbal praise or a favorite toy, when it learns a command or behavior. This positive reinforcement motivates the puppy to readily learn the new command or behavior.
   • 3
     House train your dog at 5 weeks of age. Exercise patience and perseverance while house training.