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Q: When can my new puppy come home with me?

A: Usually our puppies leave us between 7 and 8 weeks old, after they’ve been wormed, and have received all necessary vaccinations according to their age.

Q:  Will I be able to meet my puppy before I

pick him/her up?

Young puppies are very susceptible to disease and if exposed to any virus the entire litter may be effected. If a visitor visits animal shelters, or other kennels before their visit, this could easily transmit viruses.

Yes, you can come and visit your puppy prior to being picked up. Although, we are very cautious, and ask that you have not visited any pet stores, kennels or have handled any other pets prior to your visit.

Q: Do you ship puppies?

A: Yes we will ship puppies, taking care of all the necessary arrangements and veterinary health certificate. All costs will be the responsibility of the new owner. These additional costs can be anywhere from $300 to $350. The cost of an older puppy will of coarse be more due to the increase in weight. There are certain precautions and considerations in shipping that being the weather if it is too hot or cold the airlines will not ship.

Q: What do I need to do to prepare for bringing

my new puppy home?

A: Prepare a place for his/her own, bedding that the puppy can call their own. Each puppy will be sent home with a blanket they have been sleeping with to help him/her adjust to their new home. Purchase safe toys for your puppy to keep them busy, and keep their mind stimulated. A premium dog food has been fed to your puppy we recommend the same be continued throughout his/her life time. Eukanuba , Iams, ProPlan. There are more expensive natural based dogs foods that are available these are also a consideration.

Q: What can I do to get my puppy off to a good start?

A: One very important thing to produce a well rounded sound adult German Shepherd. That is socialization, this should not be taken lightly. As your puppy grows all efforts must be made to take your new puppy to different places where your puppy can meet people of all ages and be exposed to other dogs, small and large. He/She needs to learn different noises, this is something that needs to be done everyday. This is part of raising a puppy, any puppy. Committing to this exposure and socialization will dramatically impact his/her future life as an adult dog.

A: Socializing refers to exposing your puppy to a variety of experiences, including meeting lots of people of various ages, races, sizes and both sexes as well as teaching them how to acceptably interact with other dogs. Puppy kindergarten classes provide an excellent opportunity for socialization in a controlled environment. Socializing is important because it helps strengthen your dog's confidence and reduces the chance that your dog will become shy or fearful. Fearful dogs can become fear aggressive or fear biters. If your puppy is scared by something do not force your puppy to accept it, gently show the puppy that it is not dangerous. Please see out "Socialization Tab" for further information.

A: Basic obedience training is an essential part of responsible dog ownership. It will make your dog a better companion and will help establish a stronger bond between the two of you. A German Shepherd Dog is a natural guard dog and does not need training for this. Protection training is very dangerous in an unstructured environment and should be avoided without obtaining the advice of a very good qualified trainer.

A: Breeding is an owners choice, but in most cases, the answer is NO. Breeding dogs is a great responsibility and is a significant financial investment involved (often exceeding $1,500 or more) if breeding properly, and a great deal of time must be spent to socialize your pups so they reach their full potential. The average litter size of a German Shepherd is 6-9 puppies. As one of the most popular breeds in the country, approximately 60,000

German Shepherd Dogs are registered with the AKC yearly. Unfortunately, many of these dogs lack the qualities that make the German Shepherd Dog such a desirable breed. Only the best German Shepherd Dogs should be bred. He or she should be certified free of hip dysplasia by x-rays submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animal (OFA) and screened for other things he may pass onto his/her offspring.

A: One of the best things you can do for your dog is to spay or neuter. The basic disposition of your dog will not be changed by removing his or her reproductive capability and will not, in itself, make your dog obese or lazy.

Having a litter is not, in any way, beneficial to a bitch and can occasionally lead to problems, even death. It is a medical fact that spayed bitches are more healthy and live longer than unspayed bitches. Neutered males cannot develop testicular cancer. Neutering a male will remove his psychological need to mate and he will be more tolerant of other male dogs.

The AKC permits spayed and neutered animals to participate in all phases of obedience, tracking, herding and junior handling, but not in conformation classes.

Q: Do GSD’s make good pets?

A: Absolutely, German Shepherds can make excellent family pets if they are accepted as part of the family, but any dog just left in a backyard to fend for itself will become a socially unacceptable nuisance. They are naturally protective of their "pack". Young children should never be left unattended with a puppy or an adult dog, however, if the children learn to respect the puppy as a living being, the puppy will be a wonderful companion for the children as they all grow up together. Your dog's ranking in the "pack" should always be established as the bottom (Omega) member below all family members and all other humans.

Q: What traits are inherent in  GSD's?

A: German Shepherds are natural working (herding) dogs. Your GSD will try to round you and your family up. Often they will lead ahead, walking in front of you and looking back to make sure you're going where you should. The breed is naturally loyal, intelligent and protective, has a very good nose and has a very calm and steady temperament when well bred. All of these traits make them excellent for police work, tracking and search work, rescue work and seeing eye dogs. They are also being used as assistance dogs for they disabled. A GSD thrives on , mental stimulation (obedience training), regular exercise (at least one walk per day) and a well-balanced diet.

These traits make a GSD an absolute pleasure to own when well-trained, but in the hands of a novice, unconcerned, uncommitted owner, their intelligence and drive can become difficult to manage making them a social noisy and destructive nuisance.

Breeding plays an important role in the temperament of GSDs, so selecting a reputable breeder concerned with both physical health and the personality of their puppies is of utmost importance.

A: If you are going to purchase a puppy shop around and find a reputable kennel or breeder whose integrity and reputation are impeccable. Canine associations, German Shepherd clubs and attending dog shows are a good place to start. Do your homework and avoid disappointment and be prepared for the breeder asking questions about your home, property and lifestyle.

Obviously, many factors affect the selection of the puppy, including the personality and lifestyle of the future owner. Avoid puppies that appear too shy or nervous. Puppies at eight weeks of age where they can be sent home with their new owners should be inquisitive. Meet both parents if possible since character is very important, but be aware that at most times the sire is not owned by the breeder and is not available to be met. Make sure you see the parents' hip & elbow certifications. Hip and elbow problems can be devastating for both the owner and the dog.

Watch as the puppies move about. If you are inexperienced with GSDs, do not pick the "boss" of the litter. Watch the puppies interact with each other in the litter as well as with you and your family members. Watch the puppies you are considering interact with you without the rest of the litter present. Look for a friendly puppy who is not afraid, but also allows you to handle it without a lot of struggle. Select a puppy whose coat is shiny, the eyes are bright and looks generally healthy.

How can you pick the best pup in the litter?  You can’t! You can only pick the best puppy of the litter in your opinion, the puppy that suits you best on the day. Puppies change from day to day and the puppy that you initially selected as a 4 week old puppy will look nothing like the puppy you chose at 6 weeks of age.

Ask to look through the puppy's pedigree. Check hip and elbow certifications and make sure that common ancestors are at least 3 generations back. If you don't understand something, ask the breeder! All breeders should be happy with answering any questions you may have.
Most of all, select a puppy that feels comfortable with your family.

Reputable breeders will also make suggestions to insure their puppies go to happy, well chosen homes.

A: NO! Hip dysplasia and elbow problems are considered to be polygenic. That means that it's caused by a combination of genes that may not show up in any litter previously. No matter the certifications in the pedigree it is possible that your puppy could be predisposed to hip dysplasia or elbow problems.

Q: Should I get a male or female?

A: This is an age-old question and almost strictly a matter of preference. Some people will say that males are more "location" protective while females are more "pack" protective. Males are generally more territorial, so unless training steps are consistent, territory marking could be a problem. Neutering may help alleviate this problem.

Any dog or bitch not intended for a breeding program should be neutered or spayed. Besides eliminating the possibility of unwanted puppies and reducing some undesirable behaviors, it's considerably healthier for your dog since it eliminates or severely reduces the chance of testicular or mammary cancers.

A dog is virtually in season all the time and a bitch will come into season approximately twice a year. Breeding should *never* be taken lightly. The decision on whether you get a male or a female is solely up to you, but your breeder may help you in your decision.

Q: When should I switch my puppy to adult food?

A: Individual puppies will vary. You probably are best off discussing your puppy's growth and needs with both your vet and your breeder (your breeder should provide you with an appropriate feeding and diet sheet for your puppy). Many breeders and dog food manufacturers advise switching to a high quality adult food at four to six months of age.

As long as you are feeding a high quality food, this has no ill effect on the puppy and is probably a good idea. Check out the content of the food closely. A puppy or dog with average activity should have about 26% protein and 15-18% fat. Look for some kind of meat to be the first ingredient, not a grain product.

Off hand, if your puppy is growing very quickly, you might want to ask your vet about switching to adult food even as early as 12 weeks. Studies have shown that puppies growing quickly may exacerbate a predilection to hip or elbow dysplasia. Otherwise, you can consider switching any time after 10-18 months depending on the dog.

Dry food is fine. You don't need to supplement with canned food. It's expensive and doesn't provide anything a good dry food doesn't. If your puppy doesn't want to eat the dry food, you can moisten it slightly with warm water. (This may also reduce the risk of bloat)

Q: How often should I feed my puppy and how much?

A: Your breeder should provide you with a feeding chart of what your pup has been fed and the frequency, foods recommended and not recommended for your puppy, how often you should feed your puppy and at what age to change the feeding times. Remember that it is only a recommendation and can be varied according to how your puppy is growing. If your puppy looks like it is getting a little fat reduce the amount, if your puppy is looking a little lean increase the amount. Remember an overweight puppy can eventually have skeletal problems as the weight puts a great strain on growing bones.

Q: What is bloat (gastric torsion)?

A: Bloat (otherwise known as "gastric torsion") can be a problem with any deep-chested breed like German Shepherds. The stomach twists so nothing can pass through the esophagus to the stomach or through the stomach to the intestines, causing gas to build up. This is an immediate health concern where the dog should be taken to the vet or emergency clinic. Signs of bloat include a distended rigid abdomen, indications of vomiting with no results and inability to belch or pass gas.

High activity directly before or after eating can exacerbate bloating. Keeping the dog quiet at least one hour before and after eating can help reduce the chances of bloat. Pre-moistening the dog's food with water can also reduce the chances. (Be sure to include any treats you give in the balance of food intake. Too many treats may cause your dog to gain weight, and treats only may not give the dog the nutrition it needs.) . Don't leave pre-moistened food down for a f too long as it can breed bacteria.

Q: What is the life expectancy of a GSD?

A: Most lines of GSDs will live to between 10-13 years of age. 11-12 years is probably a very reasonable expectation (with the advent of higher quality foods our dogs are tending to live a longer and healthier life). A GSD becomes "middle-aged" between 5-7 years old, and is generally considered "geriatric" at about 10.

Their food intake and exercise and nutrition needs may change over this period of time. They may begin to develop stiffness in their joints (much like people do as they get older). Healthy teeth are important as bacteria from decaying teeth can affect the health of the dog (brisket bones are excellent at keeping teeth and gums healthy).

Q: Do GSD’s shed their coat a lot?

A: Yes. The GSD is a "double-coated" dog with an undercoat and guard hairs. The guard hairs will be shed all year. The undercoat is "blown" twice a year. A bitch will shed her coat prior to coming into season and will normally be in full coat just prior to being ready for mating.

Q: What is a long-coated GSD’s?

A: The correct GSD coat is relatively short with an obvious undercoat. As such it is quite waterproof. Some dogs are born with long coats which usually, though not always, are devoid of undercoat. Such coats are less useful and more difficult to groom, but many pet owners seem to like the long-coated version.

Thus there is not strong selection against it, though very few breeders would deliberately breed from long-coated stock. The normal coat is dominant to the long version, so there are three kinds of dog: normal, normal but carrying the long coat gene, and long. About 10% of the pups are born long-coated.

This being said, if you don't intend to show your dog in conformation, there's no reason to avoid the long-coated GSD. Long-coated GSDs can and do compete in obedience and other working disciplines. You should be aware, however, that the longer coat does require more attention when grooming.        

Q: Are GSD’s smart and easy to train?

A: Yes and no to both. Most GSDs are eager and willing to learn and enjoy training sessions (don't overdo training with a young pup - they just don't have the attention span). If you start young and teach your puppy its order in your "pack", problems with training will be minimized. However, GSDs tend to have more dominant personalities than some breeds and can be stubborn, so some care in training is recommended. Classes are extremely beneficial. A GSD that thinks it's the Alpha member of the pack can be a big handful.

Q: Finding Your New GSD?

A: You should seek out a reputable breeder when looking for a GSD pup because of the health concerns noted above as well as problems in temperament brought out in ill-bred GSDs. Poorly bred GSDs can also be aggressive, fearful, or shy-sharp (a fearful dog that becomes aggressive when frightened). It is for these reasons that a reputable breeder is more likely to have sound pups, guarantee their health, help you select the puppy most suited to your lifestyle and goals, and be able to guide you as the pup grows

There are numerous resources to finding a reputable breeder. You can contact your local GSD Club, local obedience schools or even by attending dogs shows and talking to people. (Note: Wait until the dog and handler have competed to approach them. Nerves and focus may interfere with your impression of both the dog and breeder otherwise and distractions before competing are unfair to the handler.)

Don't overlook the possibility that a GSD is waiting to be adopted from a local shelter or rescue organization. There may also be sound GSDs that need homes because of changing family circumstances. When adopting a GSD from one of these sources, find out as much as you can about the dog's habits and any commands he understands.

Taking the time to learn about the dog up front greatly improves the chance of making a good match between owner and dog, and with a dog that has already been displaced, it's important to find a match that will last a lifetime. Remember, though, that a GSD that has already been part of a family may take up to a few months to adjust completely to his new family and bond to his new humans. In return, you may find a dog who is already housebroken and at least partly trained to help smooth the transition into your home

Q: How do I stop my puppy from going to the

 toilet in the house?

A: Your puppy will toilet in the house if it is not given the opportunity to toilet outside. He/she will want to toilet straight after waking from a sleep and after having a meal. These times are a good time to start training your puppy that outside is a good place to toilet, just by simply taking them outside to where you want them to toilet and praising them when they have done the job will enforce the idea that the toilet is outside.

Your puppy will then start whining at the door when they need to go and any mistakes are normally because we have ignored their plea for a toilet break. Remember, plenty of praise when the puppy does toilet outside in the chosen place and the puppy will be happy to return to that spot. After all the puppy would rather please you than be chastised by you.

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