Answer
The German Shepherd is a breed focused on serving people. She will be an obedient, devoted friend for life if properly cared for and raised. One of the main conditions for a long and healthy life for a pet to the delight of its owners is proper, nutritious nutrition. Moreover, it is important to clearly monitor this, starting from an early age, when the young body is growing and forming.
Stages of development of the German Shepherd
Some owners of the breed are perplexed: why the German shepherd, which they, in their opinion, raised well, did not grow up the way they would like it to be.
That is, they are not satisfied with some aspects of the behavior of an adult dog: mistrust, cowardice, aggressiveness, inappropriate behavior. What needs to be done for an adult dog to acquire the classic behavioral traits characteristic of the breed? How to properly raise a German Shepherd puppy
To raise a smart dog, you need to know what stages of maturation German Shepherd puppies go through and how to raise a German for each of them.
The puppy spends the first three periods - the neonatal period, the transitional period and the imprinting period - with its mother, and the influence of a person on its upbringing is minimal.
Socialization period: puppy is 2 months old
At 8 weeks, the puppy becomes a member of the new family, and its contact with the new owner is almost painless. The degree of learning at this age is very high, and one should not miss the favorable period for teaching him basic commands. The little German Shepherd is very vulnerable, and its owner must show patience and love so as not to disturb its psyche. But this is not the only important thing. In case of obvious disobedience, the puppy must be punished, but in the same way as an older member of his pack would do it. Grab your pet by the scruff of the neck and press it to the floor, or imitate a bite on the muzzle by grabbing it with your fingers. Accompany your actions with the command “Ugh!”
Be sure to provide the puppy with communication with peers - properly raised adult German Shepherds are not afraid of their relatives and calmly communicate with them.
Period for determining hierarchy - German Shepherd 4 months
Why at the age of 3-4 months. Does your German Shepherd puppy bite or snap during play? Probably few people have thought about this question. In fact, in this way he is trying to understand who is in charge in his family? At this stage, the German Shepherd is being formed as a family dog. She needs to make it clear that she is lower in rank than all family members. The German cannot be allowed to take the lead. A German Shepherd at 4 months is still a puppy and needs to be disciplined. Psychological contact with the dog will develop a little later, and there will no longer be a reason to punish it.
The period of establishing a relationship with the owner - training a German shepherd at 5 months
How competently and how to raise a German Shepherd puppy at the age of 5 months depends on its future attitude towards its owner. During this period, all basic commands are finally mastered. Males, and often females, exhibit sexual instincts: the puppy can jump on the owner’s leg or on other dogs. There is no need to punish him for this, but rather distract him with something or just put him on a leash. Being sensitive to this behavior of the German Shepherd is especially important if you want to use it for breeding.
Adolescence - the German Shepherd is six months old
Every German Shepherd at 6 months is trying to assert itself. At this stage, you may encounter disobedience and self-will. It is advisable not to be negative towards the dog, trying to predict and prevent negative situations. Behave like an adult, and in the future the dog will also try to always maintain his self-esteem.
This difficulty will end at the onset of puberty. During adolescence, the character of a German is finally formed, so the dog needs to be given a lot of attention.
Period of fear - German Shepherd up to 1 year
From 6 to 11 months. the teenager may act fearful and nervous. Without knowing this, German owners may make mistakes in training, associating fear with a genetic predisposition or with their own, previously made mistakes during training. In fact, this behavior does not depend on how to train German Shepherds and how to raise them as puppies. This is a normal stage of development and should be treated with understanding.
Transition period - raising an adult dog
Lasts up to 4 years and finally forms the guard and protective instincts in the dog.
After the first mating, the male may try to dominate his own friends during a walk, and prove his leadership through fights. Stay friendly or enroll your dog in German Shepherd training courses - then he will have no time to think about dog “showdowns”. Each period of growing up will require maximum attention from you. But the time spent on education and care will be rewarded with dog loyalty and obedience.
Feeding Basics
- Meals are scheduled, in a quiet, calm environment.
- 4-5 feedings a day with an interval of 4 hours.
- Portion for 2-3 months. should be 200-300 gr.
- Food temperature is normal room temperature (neither hot nor cold).
- Constant access to water.
- Puppy bowl stand – at back level.
- Food - in liquid, pureed form, finely chopped or porridge (ready-made dry food is moistened in warm water in the first months).
- The puppy should be fed only specially prepared food (without handouts from the owner's table).
- The food is fresh.
- Correct portion size.
What are German Shepherds capable of?
Animal training is not carried out without awareness of the animal's potential.
Shepherds are capable of:
- Sentry work to protect a house or object. The German Shepherd does not bark at a passerby and will not rush to attack.
- Protection. If danger threatens the life or health of the owner, the shepherd will selflessly attack.
- Amazing sense of smell. They search for and find bombs or drugs.
Owning a shepherd dog is a big waste. If you fulfill your wish, you will have to walk your pet several times a day.
Shepherd dogs become attached to their owner, but do not strive to show their own feelings.
Natural nutrition
The dog owner decides what to feed the pet - natural food or ready-made food. When the owner of a puppy chooses natural products, it is necessary to correctly formulate a diet so that the growing dog receives everything it needs for full development.
- The main share in the diet for normal formation of bones and muscles should be protein (one third) - meat, eggs, dairy products. Boiled and raw meat (not minced meat) - poultry, beef, veal, horse meat. At 2 months The norm per day is 200 g, in 3 - 300 g, and it is better to distribute it over all meals. By-products are given 50 grams. in Week.
- During breaks, the puppies are allowed to chew on cartilage or bones (not tubular or chicken).
- At this age, 2 eggs per week are enough - raw yolks (whites are not digested) or as an omelet.
- Milk must be present in fermented milk form: cottage cheese, kefir, fermented baked milk.
- Cereals are necessary in the diet every day in the form of porridges: rice, oatmeal (occasionally barley and wheat). Buckwheat is introduced into the regular diet from 3 months.
- Vegetables, boiled and pureed (carrots).
- Berries, fruits (bananas, apples, pears).
- Mineral supplements: meat and bone meal 2 times a week, powdered eggshells 2-3 tsp. 2-3 times daily, a pinch of pharmaceutical sulfur, seaweed.
Two month old German Shepherd puppy
European and American kennel clubs have determined that the best time to wean a German Shepherd puppy from its mother is two months of age. This rule was approved at the official level and now no self-respecting foreign German Shepherd breeder puts puppies up for sale before the specified period. This age limit was due to a number of reasons:
- the kids have time to get stronger;
- on a psychological level, they are aware of their canine identity;
— long-term maternal feeding allows the formation of strong immunity (natural protective functions are more effective in the process of resisting the puppy to external viruses);
- it is advisable that the first vaccinations (they are carried out at approximately three weeks of age) are given to the entire litter at the same time; such a system allows for timely identification of sick animals;
— at 1.5–1.8 months, the breeder conducts the so-called Kempel tests and clearly determines the temperament of the future adult dog (such testing will allow the animal to be placed in the proper hands, that is, as determined by the future owner, the desired orientation of the shepherd dog: guard, seeing-eye companion, breeding work, ordinary domestic dog).
Unfortunately, domestic breeders do not adhere to such conditions and try to “sell” puppies ahead of schedule. The only reason is the economic disadvantage of decent maintenance of a shepherd who has given birth and her puppies. Therefore, you should take a dog home only after it is two months old.
Feeding
From the moment it arrives in a new home, the puppy gradually forgets about its mother's milk and is obliged to eat what the owner offers it. Therefore, the latter should:
- Ensure proper arrangement of the feeding area:
— place bowls for food and water on a special stand or tripod (it is believed that such raising of dishes for a dog will help form posture and the correct position of internal organs that ensure the health of the dog);
— under the paws, make a wooden stand covered with rubber (it is an addition to the stand for bowls and helps to teach the position of the body to the stand).
- Ensure that your pet is fed frequently.
At two months of age, the puppy should receive fresh food at least 6 times a day. Therefore, you should develop a clear feeding schedule and do not ignore its compliance.
- It is important to change the water in the bowl 4 times a day.
- In the first stages of development, it is not recommended to switch exclusively to commercial dry and liquid feed. It's better to give:
- raw veal cartilage;
- soft, uncooked bones (also veal);
- slices of fresh potatoes (starch has a beneficial effect on wool);
- fermented milk products (whole milk only contributes to bloating and gastrointestinal upset) and cottage cheese;
- vegetable and fruit salads (carrots, beets, apples, pears, pumpkins, etc.).
When compiling a menu for a puppy, you must also take into account the time of his birth:
— spring and summer shepherd dogs have the opportunity to be fed fully;
— autumn and winter puppies need additional vitamin supplements to avoid the development of rickets.
Upbringing
Despite their fearlessness, German Shepherd puppies are characterized by a reflexive exploration of the world around them. Therefore, it is absolutely not necessary to demand that your child strictly follow commands, be diligent, guard the house, and timely ask to go outside “when needed.”
We will have to gradually accustom him to perceive the owner and his family as close people. The main thing is that the owners themselves do not frighten their four-legged friend, creating fear in him.
Physiology
It is not uncommon for residents of high-rise buildings to purchase a puppy. In this case, they will have a hard time because:
— it is strictly forbidden to take the puppy up the stairs so as not to damage the joints (after all, there is a predisposition to hip dysplasia and dislocations at the genetic level);
— walks in the fresh air are useful, but not advisable due to the attacks of the dog’s body by pathogenic dangerous viruses;
- you will have to arrange a special place in the apartment where the puppy would go “on business” (at two months the baby is not able to retain waste products within himself).
As for maintaining general hygiene, it is too early to carry out bathing, cleaning ears and combing. And if there is concern in this regard, then independent actions without the supervision of a veterinarian cannot be carried out.
Possible menu option for a 2-month-old puppy
A serving is 200 g.
- Cottage cheese with the addition of kefir;
- A serving of milk porridge;
- A serving of porridge on water with additional meat (50g) and boiled vegetables;
- Boiled beef or chicken meat and porridge (100 g each);
- Any option with the addition of vitamin supplements.
The composition of the products varies while maintaining the principle.
What is strictly forbidden
Some foods are contraindicated for puppies (and adult shepherds):
- Food from the master's table;
- Pork;
- Sausages, smoked meats;
- Bakery;
- Sweets;
- Semi-finished products;
- Pasta;
- Any mushrooms;
- Spices;
- Ketchup and mayonnaise;
- Legumes;
- Dried fish;
- Grapes, citrus fruits, plums;
- Any tubular or chicken bones (there is a high risk of choking or injuring the esophagus with a broken bone).
