German Shepherd Care Archives - German Shepherd Breeder https://germanshepherdspuppy.com/category/german-shepherd-care/ German Shepherd Breeder Sat, 03 Jun 2023 21:46:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 https://germanshepherdspuppy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/gsp-favicon.png German Shepherd Care Archives - German Shepherd Breeder https://germanshepherdspuppy.com/category/german-shepherd-care/ 32 32 Games To Play With Your German Shepherd For Exercise https://germanshepherdspuppy.com/games-to-play-with-your-german-shepherd/ Sat, 03 Jun 2023 21:26:47 +0000 https://germanshepherdspuppy.com/?p=3405 Playing games with your German Shepherd is a great way to provide mental stimulation and exercise for you and your dog. Here are some games you can play: 1. Fetch: This classic game is perfect for high-energy dogs like German Shepherds. Use a ball or a Frisbee and throw it for your dog to retrieve. […]

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German shepherd breederPlaying games with your German Shepherd is a great way to provide mental stimulation and exercise for you and your dog. Here are some games you can play:

1. Fetch: This classic game is perfect for high-energy dogs like German Shepherds. Use a ball or a Frisbee and throw it for your dog to retrieve. You can gradually increase the distance as your dog becomes more proficient.

2. Tug-of-War: German Shepherds are known for their strong jaws and love for tugging. Use a sturdy rope toy or a tug toy and engage in a friendly tug-of-war game. Make sure to establish rules and teach your dog to release the toy on command to maintain control.

3. Hide and Seek: Hide and Seek is a fun game that stimulates your dog’s natural instincts. Start by having your German Shepherd sit and stay while you find a hiding spot. Then call your dog and let them find you. Reward them with praise or a treat when they find you.

4. Agility Training: German Shepherds excel at agility exercises. Set up an obstacle course in your backyard or a nearby park using tunnels, jumps, and weave poles. Guide your dog through the course, encouraging them with treats and praise. This game provides both physical and mental exercise.

5. Puzzle Toys: Invest in puzzle toys that dispense treats when your dog interacts with them. These toys can keep your German Shepherd entertained for hours while they work to get the treats out. They also help develop problem-solving skills.

6. Find It: Teach your German Shepherd to use their nose by playing “Find It.” Start with a few treats in your hand, let your dog sniff them, then drop them on the ground while saying “Find It!” As your dog becomes more familiar with the game, you can hide treats around the house or in the yard for them to search for.

Remember to provide plenty of water breaks during playtime, especially in hot weather. Also, be aware of your dog’s physical limitations and gradually increase the intensity and duration of the games to avoid exhaustion or injury. Find out more tips on how to care for your German Shepherd puppies in our Nutrition article.

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]]> Caring for Your German Shepherd https://germanshepherdspuppy.com/caring-for-your-german-shepherd/ Fri, 29 Jul 2022 18:39:01 +0000 https://germanshepherdspuppy.com/?p=3322 The intelligence and athleticism of German Shepherds make them one of the most popular breeds. These large, active dogs are known for their loyalty, hard work, and protective nature, making them the perfect companion and family pet. With adequate care, your German Shepherd can live a long and healthy life. Nutrition To ensure that your […]

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German shepherd breederThe intelligence and athleticism of German Shepherds make them one of the most popular breeds. These large, active dogs are known for their loyalty, hard work, and protective nature, making them the perfect companion and family pet. With adequate care, your German Shepherd can live a long and healthy life.

Nutrition

To ensure that your German Shepherd receives adequate nutrition, select food that contains just the right amount of proteins, fats, calorie content, and minerals for their age and size. High-quality food will have meat listed as the first ingredient. Foods with fillers typically substitute corn as a protein source and this is not ideal for your dog’s health. Avoid choosing kibble that contains ingredients that ferment (like soy, for example) as these may contribute to bloat in your German Shepherd. Avoid feeding your GSD table scraps as well.

Veterinary Care

Regular visits to your veterinarian for check-ups and preventative care are important to the long-term wellness of your German Shepherd. Speak to your veterinarian about heartworm prevention, vaccinations to prevent disease, and spay/neutering procedures. Typically veterinarians spay or neuter German Shepherds starting around 6 months to one year of age. If you ever notice a physical or behavioral change in your dog, it is wise to make an appointment to see their healthcare provider as soon as possible.

Grooming Your German Shepherd

German Shepherds have thick, double-coats. Brushing them daily will help cut down on shedding and keep their coat shiny. Consider investing in a quality de-shedding brush to help eliminate loose fur easily. Bathing as needed may be helpful, but no more than 2 times a month, as this can disrupt their natural oil production. Typically, their nails will need to be trimmed once a month depending on what types of surfaces they walk on continuously. Hypoallergenic wipes can be used to keep their ears clean, and we suggest speaking to your veterinarian about their dental care.

Environment

Your German Shepherd is very active and will need plenty of space for physical activity. They also need to have constant access to both shade and clean drinking water. German Shepherds have a very acute sense of smell and love to sniff and explore everything. It is very important that you watch what they pick up in their mouths, especially different types of plant matter. Avoid plants that are toxic to your dog. For example, plants like aloe vera, the sago palm, and even tomato plants can be toxic to your GSD. We highly recommend you become familiar with these plants to protect your pet. 

Physical Activity

German Shepherds are very active and require regular walks and exercise. Your dog will need 1-2 hours a day of physical activity like playing fetch, walking, or running. Limit long walks or jogging with your German Shepherd until they are at least a year and a half. Avoid strenuous activity right after meals to give them time to digest their food, though a leisurely walk should be fine.

Training Your German Shepherd Pup

It is so important that you begin socializing your German Shepherd as a puppy. Expose them to people and other dogs early so that they are used to interacting with new people and new places. Get them used to being handled frequently and being touched around the mouth and paw areas. This will help prepare your dog for future dental and nail care. GSDs are incredibly intelligent and need frequent mental exercise in addition to physical exercise. They are very adept at learning commands, tricks, and tasks. Spend short amounts of time training your puppy and gradually work them up to longer amounts of time as they age. Always train with positive reinforcement and encouragement. If you aren’t able to invest the time in training your German Shepherd, we recommend that you attend a training program or classes for GSDs.

The breeders at family-owned Florida German Shepherd Puppies are passionate about providing these loyal companions a forever home. With over 20 years of experience, we provide education and support throughout the adoption process. Contact us today to find out more.

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]]> German Shepherd Nutrition https://germanshepherdspuppy.com/german-shepherd-nutrition/ https://germanshepherdspuppy.com/german-shepherd-nutrition/#comments Mon, 18 Jul 2022 23:08:01 +0000 https://germanshepherdspuppy.com/?p=2896 German Shepherds are a muscular and agile breed of working dogs known for their high levels of intelligence and energy. As with any dog breed, German Shepherds have some specific nutritional requirements you should be aware of to help ensure their long-term health.  Select your German Shepherd’s food based on quality, age, weight, and activity […]

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German Shepherd Puppy - Lady Lake FloridaGerman Shepherds are a muscular and agile breed of working dogs known for their high levels of intelligence and energy. As with any dog breed, German Shepherds have some specific nutritional requirements you should be aware of to help ensure their long-term health. 

Select your German Shepherd’s food based on quality, age, weight, and activity level. Keep in mind that any dietary changes should be made gradually over several weeks to ensure that your dog has a safe and well-tolerated transition to their new diet.

High-Quality Dog Food

Nutrition is crucial for the long-term health of your German Shepherd. A high-quality dry kibble or canned food should have meat (poultry, fish, or beef) listed as the first ingredient. Many of the cheaper kibbles contain fillers and animal bi-products that could potentially harm your dog, so opt for foods that contain no fillers. Foods that contain grains like barley, rice, and rolled oats are preferable over soy, wheat, and corn as they are more easily digested by your dog. 

Adult German Shepherds

The average adult German Shepherd requires somewhere between 1,740 and 2,100 calories. At this time around 18%-22% of your dog’s diet should be protein. This protein is essential to growth, the building and repairing of muscle, and immune system function. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration mandates that ingredients are listed on packaging by weight, so choose foods that list protein sources first followed by carbs, grains, fats, and veggies. The best sources of fat will contain Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids and should make up about 5% of your dog’s diet at this stage.

German Shepherd Puppies

Your German Shepherd is considered a puppy from birth till around 12 weeks. It is recommended that your puppy rely solely on its mother for nutrition until somewhere between 8 and 10 weeks. As you wean your puppy you are looking to create a wet food or kibble mush that is about 85% moisture. The kibble or canned food should be specifically formulated for puppies and contain about 22% protein and 8% fat. Puppies will need to eat more frequently than adult German Shepherds, so we recommend serving them 3-4 small meals per day to ensure they are getting enough food for their growing bodies.

We recommend that you continue any diet your puppy was on with the breeder for 8-12 weeks after adoption and then, if you choose to change their diet, slowly introduce the new food over a few weeks.

Senior German Shepherds

Your senior German Shepherd is likely to be less active in its later years. At this stage (around age 8 or so), you will begin to notice your dog slowing down a bit and their hair turning silver in the muzzle area. At this stage, it remains important to keep your dog on a high-quality diet. Switching to a senior diet is not always necessary or tolerated well by your dog, so it is best to consult your veterinarian before switching to a senior formula. The average senior German Shepherd requires a bit fewer calories (around 1,272 to 1, 540), with around 18% of their diet being protein.

Alternatives

Many German Shepherd owners choose to prepare food at home for their pets or opt for a raw food diet. It is very important that you consult with a veterinarian or animal nutrition expert before changing your pet’s diet in this way. It is crucial that your German Shepherd’s meals contain just the right amounts of proteins, fats, caloric content, and trace minerals.

The breeders at family-owned Florida German Shepherd Puppies have over 20 years of experience working with this beloved dog breed. We are passionate about providing families with a loyal companion, education about our puppies, and support throughout the process. Contact us today to find out more.

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Contact Us For More Information About Our German Shepherd Puppies and Studs

CONTACT US

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