Do you have a German Shepherd and need to know how to take care of it? This article provides practical and detailed instructions on how to properly care for a German Shepherd.
Step
Step 1. Select the German Shepherd you want to keep
Make sure the breeder or seller is not a violent owner, and that your dog doesn't carry any illnesses so he can live a long and happy life in your home.
Step 2. Find a way to keep your dog cool
German Shepherds, especially long-haired species, are very susceptible to hot weather. If you have a long-haired dog and live in a hot/tropical climate, provide your dog with plenty of water and shade. Also, don't ask for too much or invite him to do strenuous activities in very hot weather.
Step 3. Teach your dog tricks
Not only will this make him behave better, impress, and be easier to care for, but it will also give you a chance to get to know him better if you take the time to train him. As your relationship grows stronger, your dog is more likely to listen to commands, and feel happier with you as his master.
Step 4. Remember that German Shepherds are large
Therefore, give him a large enough space. The German Shepherd is a very active and playful species. It needs a lot of space to run around. Make sure your page is wide enough, tidy, and free of harmful objects. If you don't have a large yard, take your dog for a daily walk to the park, or take advantage of another free space close to the house. In addition, German Shepherd dogs can also mingle with other dogs.
Step 5. Feed your dog well
Make sure your dog eats twice a day, and provide the right amount of food. Do not give too little or too much food. Provide quality food products that do not contain corn as a source of protein. In addition, dogs also drink a lot. Therefore, fill the bowl with water and place it in an area that is easily accessible to your dog. Check the bowl several times a day to make sure there is still enough water in the bowl, and that the water is still clean.
Step 6. Bathe your dog when needed
However, do not bathe it too often so that the natural oils on the layers of the skin and fur are not lost. You can bathe him yourself at home or take him to a “dog salon” or dog bath service.
Step 7. Take your dog to the vet
There are several reasons why you need to take him to the vet:
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- Medical check-up – The veterinarian can examine your dog's overall condition and administer the necessary injections.
- Bathing – Your vet can give your dog a good bath to remove bad odors and check for certain ailments (eg ear infections).
- Nail care – When the nails are very long, your dog will feel a lot of pain when moving. Therefore, take your dog to the vet to trim his nails.
- Deworming/heartworm testing – All dogs need to be dewormed monthly to prevent the development of worms. Your dog will be tested for worms first, then your vet can prescribe medication to take each month. If your dog has worms in his stomach, your vet can treat it with medication.
- Old age – German Shepherd species face many problems as they get older (especially joint problems). If your dog has difficulty walking, take him to a veterinarian who can prescribe medication or therapy. In more serious cases, your vet may need to perform surgery on your dog.
Step 8. Get your dog to play sports or activities
The strength of the German Shepherd's sport, muscle strength and amazing energy will just be held in his body, without any expenditure. You need to train him and get him to exercise every day by playing catch, take him for long walks or runs, or even chase him around the yard. German Shepherd dogs that do not exercise enough are at greater risk of developing joint diseases such as hip and elbow dysplasia, as well as exhibiting destructive behavior. However, be careful not to give your dog any strenuous exercise or exercise when the dog is young as this can lead to unbalanced body development.
Step 9. Love your dog
This species is a loving dog species and needs love and affection in return! Therefore, hug him every day. Never hit him or scold him for no reason. Never scold him unless you SEE HIM DOING SOMETHING ALREADY PROHIBITED. If he doesn't, he will attribute the anger to you, not his actions or mistakes.
You can't fake affection, even for a dog. Therefore, you need to show the right expressions and gestures to show how much you love and pride him in order for him to feel loved (and lovable). Make sure there is genuine and pure love between you and your pet German Shepherd
Tips
- Regular touching and holding of the face and paws when your dog is young can help so that when he gets older he won't be surprised to have his nails cut or his teeth/mouth examined.
- Take your dog to the vet as soon as you see him having trouble walking.
- Try neutralizing your dog unless you are sure the conditions in the home are good enough for any puppies he may give birth to.
- In general, the neutralization process also helps eliminate aggressive behavior in dogs.
- Don't leave your dog outdoors at night, and feed him twice a day.
- Feed the German Shepherd puppy 3-4 times a day. German Shepherd puppies have a different diet than adult dogs. Adult dogs only need to be fed once a day. Make sure you also feed at the same time or schedule each day.
- It is recommended that you take him to the vet every now and then for a health check.
- Show friendliness and affection to your dog. In this way, he will return your affection.
- When giving practice, give consistent commands and do the exercises in a short period of time, just as you would when you train a child. Train him positively and you don't have to use treats all the time when training him. Respond to positive results with lots of praise, caress, and affection.
- The German Shepherd is a good guide and guard dog. This dog is also widely used by the police. The German Shepherd is a very intelligent species and requires a lot of mental and physical training.
- Bathe your dog regularly to protect him from skin problems and rashes, especially in hot weather.
- Make sure you spend 1-2 hours playing with him.
- Make sure he gets enough space for himself.
Warning
- Do not change the type of food used suddenly. Mix the two types of food first, then gradually increase the number of new types of food and reduce the old types of food.
- When you want to let him play outdoors, make sure your yard is completely delimited by a wall/fence.
- Don't take him jogging or running with you before he's a year and a half because his joints and bones are still developing.
- When you want to gradually replace your puppy's food, don't set too long a time to replace cooked food with dog food. If you change their diet for too long (eg a year), your dog will develop a weak stomach.
- Be careful with plants. Some types of plants (especially long and broad-leaved plants) are very toxic to dogs.
- Do not mix detergent/cleaning products/disinfectant to clean its “territory”.
- If your dog was not encouraged to socialize properly from a young age, he may have aggression problems as he matures.
- The German Shepherd is a large dog species that is prone to flatulence. Do not invite him to do strenuous activities for 2 hours before or after eating to prevent flatulence.
- Wood chips can attract the attention of German Shepherd dogs, but they can actually harm the stomach. For example, the German Shepherd is attracted to the resin glue on plywood.
- https://www.dogbreeds-and-doggie.com/german-shepherd.html - Original source, shared with permission.
- Dog Life- Lifelong care for your dog- German Shepherd dog by Cindy Victor (book)
- Animal Planet- Dogs 101 German Shepherd Dog by Kim Downing (book)
