How to properly care for and maintain a German Shepherd?

The German Shepherd is one of the most popular breeds in the world. This is an intelligent dog, easy to train, she has a balanced psyche and a good disposition. Therefore, Germans are more likely than others to appear in films, are used for official purposes, and become excellent shepherds, guards and companions.

Let's look at the rules for keeping and caring for German Shepherds.

Preparing for a German Shepherd Puppy

Although German Shepherds are considered a very easy breed to keep and care for, what kind of dog a dog will grow up to be depends on the efforts put in by its owner.

German Shepherds are large breeds, so puppies take a long time to grow. A German is considered fully grown upon reaching 3 years of age.

It is better to buy a puppy from a well-known nursery with good reviews. Then you can be sure of the purity of your pet’s breed.

The health of raised puppies directly depends on the health of their parents, their maintenance and care. Only animals with good health and stable psyche are allowed in nurseries for breeding.

The German Shepherd puppy you choose must meet weight standards, have all age-appropriate vaccinations, and have its own passport. The child should be chosen to be as active and inquisitive as possible.

Important! The health of a puppy can be determined by its eyes. The look is meaningful, focused, clear. There is no discharge under the eyes.

Before purchasing a puppy, it is important to hide all the wires so that he cannot chew them. Put shoes and all things that a baby of the German breed can reach out of reach.

Care must be taken in advance to ensure that keeping a dog does not become a tragedy for your shoes.

You can put an enclosure in the apartment that will confine the puppy at times when no one is home.

Germans need company, and leaving them alone all day in an empty apartment is a bad idea.

Features of caring for a German Shepherd puppy

Caring for a Shepherd puppy is no more difficult than caring for puppies of other breeds. It is important to adhere to certain rules, and then your pet will turn from a small puppy into a large, strong and healthy dog.

At 1 month, the puppy is cared for by its mother. Through mother's milk, he gains immunity, which will protect him from the harmful effects of the external environment. Care until the first month is the responsibility of the breeder. At this time, it is necessary to provide the nursing mother shepherd with a nutritious diet and comfortable maintenance, change the bedding and monitor the health of the entire litter.

At 2 months, caring for the puppy becomes the responsibility of its new owner. After the move, the baby will miss his mother, and his care should be similar to his mother's. You need to play with him, pet him and praise him. Feed 5-6 times a day in small portions.

At 3–6 months, the puppy socializes and learns its first commands. Maintenance and care become easier, since the baby is independent and not so demanding of attention.

It is important to get all vaccinations during this period. Afterwards, the small shepherd can be taken outside.

Make sure your puppy doesn't pick up anything from the ground. You can feed 3-4 times a day, and from 6 months - 2 times a day.

Another important question: is it possible to keep a German Shepherd puppy outside in winter; does this not contradict the rules of care?

The answer depends on whether the enclosure is insulated, what the weather is like and how many months the baby is. It is possible to keep a German Shepherd puppy outside in winter starting from the age of 3 months, when a dense and warm undercoat has formed. At the same time, the temperature is not lower than minus 10 degrees Celsius.

An adult shepherd can be kept outside in winter at temperatures down to minus 20 degrees.

Regardless of where the adult dog will be kept, the puppy should grow up for the first 3-4 months in constant contact with people - members of your family. This will contribute to the socialization of the dog and the normal formation of its psyche. In addition, the puppy needs warmth, especially in the cold season. A German Shepherd puppy should immediately be allocated a place in the apartment, away from passages, heating devices and drafts. It should be light and comfortable for the puppy. If conditions do not allow the dog to be moved into the yard in the future, the location is determined taking into account that it will be permanent. It is not recommended to change it. Place bedding in place. This could be a rug, a thick blanket or a specially made mattress that is easy to clean.

When keeping a German Shepherd in a private house in an enclosure, the puppy is transferred there gradually, in the warm season, leaving him in the enclosure for a short time at first. The enclosure is built in the yard from any available material, of any design. The only thing to take into account is that the enclosure is not in a draft or damp place. It is best to place it on some hill, with the façade facing south or east, so that the sun's rays fall into it in the morning. The enclosure should be light and spacious enough. The minimum size of the paddock is 2 x 3 meters. In the enclosure it is necessary to equip a booth or cabin where the dog can hide from bad weather and the sun. During the cold season, the booth must be insulated. To do this, it should be made with a double bottom and walls, between which sawdust is poured for the winter. The entrance hole is covered with a tarpaulin. To keep warm in winter, the outside of the booth can be covered with snow. Bedding is laid in the booth. The ideal bedding is hay, straw, or large shavings, which should be changed periodically. You cannot keep your dog on the balcony (the area of ​​movement is limited, there is a risk that the dog may fall from the balcony), in the garage (the smell of gasoline is harmful to the dog), in the bathroom (high air humidity can cause disease of the bronchi and lungs), on a leash. (the dog’s movement area is limited, which spoils its appearance and psyche), in dark sheds or storerooms (chronic eye diseases occur). Caring for a German Shepherd puppy in an apartment suggests that you should walk with him as much as possible, and if kept in an enclosure, communicate with him as often as possible. The biggest problem that arises when keeping a dog in an apartment is a lack of movement, which negatively affects its overall physical development, and the biggest problem when keeping a dog in an enclosure is a lack of communication with humans, which contributes to the emergence of many undesirable behavioral habits (for example, the habit of jumping on the owner, thereby expressing irrepressible joy, the habit of barking for no reason and even howling). A small puppy kept in an apartment needs frequent, but not long, walks for the purpose of socialization and teaching him to be clean. As the puppy grows, the number of walks decreases, but their duration increases. At least three times a day, an adult dog should be taken for a walk, giving it the opportunity to run freely and relieve itself. 10-15 minutes are enough for this. It should be remembered that a male dog, due to his natural need to mark territory, needs a little more time than a female dog. Regardless of where the dog is kept - in an apartment or an enclosure, once a day (preferably in the evening, before feeding) it needs to be given a longer walk, which is advisable to combine with elements of physical development, training, and preparation for an exhibition. Games with peers, which develop courage, dexterity, and increase the dog’s self-esteem, will not be superfluous. Both the puppy and the adult German Shepherd should be given the care they need. To do this, purchase a special brush with small metal teeth, the so-called “slicker brush”. The dog is brushed daily, especially during the shedding period, which usually happens twice a year and lasts about a month. This procedure does not take much time, but it helps keep the animal’s fur clean, its appearance tidy, prevents the appearance of an unpleasant odor, and protects against skin diseases. In addition, when keeping a dog in an apartment, this is simply necessary in order to maintain cleanliness. Along with hygienic purposes, this procedure is a massage for the skin and promotes more intense metabolism in the animal’s body. In winter, you can brush your dog with snow. You should not wash your puppy with soap, shampoo or other detergents unless necessary. This causes brittle hair, dandruff, and metabolic disorders. In addition, the natural fat deposits are washed off from the dog’s fur, which contributes to faster contamination and the appearance of an unpleasant odor. If, however, there is a need to wash the dog, do it with a special shampoo for washing dogs (not antiparasitic!) and rinse thoroughly with warm water. To care for your German Shepherd, make it a habit to thoroughly examine your dog every day after a walk. Look into her mouth, ears, palpate and carefully examine her head, body, and paws. This way, you will always promptly detect a bone stuck in the gum, a tick that has climbed into the ear, a thorn stuck in the fur, or a cut on the paw, and thereby avoid serious complications associated with the dog’s health. This examination can be combined with daily brushing of the dog. The ears should be cleaned periodically by moistening a cotton swab with hydrogen peroxide and squeezing it well. If your dog's eyes become sour after sleep, it is necessary to wipe the inner corners of the eyes with cotton wool or gauze soaked in boiled water. Contrary to popular belief, it is not recommended to use tea - it irritates the mucous membranes and causes even more souring of the eyes. Left alone, the puppy gets bored and begins to chew things, furniture legs, this especially often happens during the change of teeth (from 4 to 7 months). It is useless to punish a puppy for this, especially some time after the crime. You need to put things and shoes away, and buy toys for the puppy that he can play with. From 2-3 months of age, almost all puppies try to “test their teeth” on family members - they growl, grab hands, hunt for passing legs. If such games are not stopped, this form of behavior will become fixed in the growing dog and will subsequently bring you a lot of trouble; sooner or later behavior correction will be required. Suppression must be firm, categorical, but commensurate with the age and mental stability of the puppy. If there are children in the family, they should be taught how to properly handle the puppy. Communication between children and a dog is beneficial for both, but it must be reasonable. First of all, you should not overtire your puppy with prolonged games. Under no circumstances should children allow children to pick up the puppy, lift it by the paws or by the skin - this causes pain to the puppy and, in self-defense, it may bite the child. In addition, inept children's hands can drop the puppy and cause serious injury to it. Adults should also know that lifting a puppy by its front legs or by its fur is prohibited. If you need to do this, lift the puppy under the chest with one hand, and under the hind legs with the other, pressing them to the stomach. When lowering the puppy to the floor, you need to bring all four of its paws to the floor and only then let it go. When a German Shepherd puppy falls into the hands of a new owner at the age of 1-2 months, he receives the first stress in his life, and care must be taken to ensure that such a change is as painless as possible for him. The puppy especially needs care, affection, and communication with a person during the first time in a new environment. It is at this moment that the dog establishes contact with the owner, on which the entire process of education and then training will be built in the future. Thus, raising a puppy begins from the moment it appears in your home. Education is not yet training, it is just instilling in the puppy the necessary skills, which will subsequently help to properly build the training process. At different periods of life, the external environment has different influences on the formation of a dog’s character, and depending on what conditions the puppy finds itself in, its hereditary inclinations may be formed differently. While still under the bitch, the little puppy begins to get acquainted with the world around him. The familiar smell of the mother, brothers and sisters, warm bedding, lack of hunger, the gentle voice of the owner - all this even at that time has a beneficial effect on the formation of the future dog’s psyche. In most countries, there is a provision that prohibits the breeder from weaning puppies from their mother before the age of two months, since it is believed that it is during this period that the puppy should avoid stress and gain from communicating with its mother and littermates the lasting skills necessary for the proper formation of its psyche. But, at the same time, he must grow in constant contact with a person. By the time the puppy’s nervous system is formed, its psyche is stronger and it can begin to be trained on the playground, it should have developed disciplinary, special and protective skills that are instilled in the process of communicating with it, during walks and games. Raising a puppy should under no circumstances be based on coercion. Every puppy is born with hereditary traits. Therefore, carefully studying your pet, try to understand its individual characteristics, and depending on this, build a method of education and initial training. For a stubborn, restless puppy - more patience, for a timid one - more affection and encouragement, for a diligent one - more encouragement. The load on a small puppy should be minimal and increase gradually as it grows, from simple to complex, from play to discipline. However, you should always handle your puppy calmly and patiently. The owner's bad mood should not affect the puppy. Irritability and lack of restraint when communicating with a puppy, unreasonable shouting, and even more so kicking are completely unacceptable. A small puppy should feel its protector in its owner - only in this case will it grow up to be the protector of its owner. Do not allow anyone to tease the puppy, hurt him, or raise his voice at him, but also do not isolate him from people. The dog will have to live in human society, and it must be socially adapted, safe for others, but at the same time, absolutely controllable, self-confident and able, if necessary, to protect its owner and its home. Ideally, education is the initial stage of training, but still, it is not the same thing. Just as among people you can find an educated, but ill-mannered person, and vice versa, so among dogs you can find trained, but absolutely ill-mannered animals, or educated, but have not completed the necessary training course. If you set a goal to raise a full-fledged dog, you must combine these concepts. But, if you can train a dog at almost any age - everything depends on the skill of the trainer, then the foundation of education is laid from early childhood. Here, any omissions are irreplaceable. Therefore, the most basic rule of upbringing says: from the moment a puppy appears in your home, all his desirable actions and actions should be encouraged and reinforced, and undesirable ones should be suppressed, but not so much by prohibition and punishment, but by creating conditions under which the puppy will experience negative emotions at the time of committing unwanted actions. Raising a puppy should bring joy to both – the owner and his four-legged friend. Therefore, try not to burden the puppy’s psyche with endless normative commands, and do not demand from him the ability to engage in long-term exercise. Otherwise, instead of a friend and helper, you will raise an insecure slave, devoid of cheerfulness and perceiving communication with the owner as a forced and unpleasant necessity. Each puppy is born with a genetically determined set of behavioral reactions (instincts), which cannot be changed at will. But these behavioral reactions can be developed in the desired direction or, conversely, their development can be suppressed if they are undesirable. An experienced trainer always feels the dog subtly, studies and analyzes its behavior, uses all kinds of methods to develop its desirable qualities, and painlessly, naturally, suppresses undesirable qualities. If you do not have the necessary experience, even before the puppy arrives in your home, you should stock up on special literature and study this issue in detail, and later resort to the practical help of a professional trainer.

1. Development of general disciplinary skills

Accustoming to cleanliness. This is the first requirement with which the education process begins. You should immediately understand that poking your nose into puddles or punishing a puppy is useless; this will not lead to the desired result, but will only disrupt your relationship. You just need to be patient and constantly monitor the puppy. As soon as he begins to spin around in place and sits down to do his natural needs, you should immediately take him outside. The puppy should also be taken out (and subsequently taken out) every time after sleep and feeding. Over time, the puppy will learn to “beg”, and the more attention you pay to him, following the above recommendations, the faster this will happen. Accustoming to a nickname also does not require any special techniques. Say your name whenever you want to get your puppy's attention. The nickname should not replace the command “Come to me!”, it is just a signal for subsequent action. Training to show teeth. The earlier training in this technique begins, the shorter the period of time the puppy will be able to master it. The dose should be repeated daily, several times a day. This needs to be done correctly. Place the puppy on your left, place your left leg behind the puppy's rump so that he cannot back away. Support the puppy's lower jaw with your right hand, place your left hand on top of the muzzle, so that the thumbs and forefingers of both hands are near the nose. Without touching the nose or covering it, pull the puppy’s lips in front (with your left hand up, with your right hand down) so that the gums and teeth are exposed. Act quickly and carefully. The teeth on the right and left sides of the jaws are shown in the same way, after which the puppy is praised and treated to a treat. Pay special attention to this technique, since, according to the rules of exhibitions, a dog that resists when showing its teeth to the expert is removed from the ring without being awarded a score. Learning to come on command. Team “Come to me!” It is easy to train a puppy while playing with him, during walks, and feeding. It is very important to start practicing this technique from a very early age, because if you miss time, you may lose contact with the puppy and this will significantly complicate his further education. Before feeding, showing the puppy a bowl of food, say the command “Come to me!” When going out for a walk, stock up on pieces of treats, and use them every time you say this command. Praise the puppy that runs up to you on command and treat it with a treat. Remember: the command “Come to me!” The puppy should associate it only with pleasant sensations for him - stroking, praise, treats. During training, you should call the puppy only if your intuition tells you that he will interrupt what he is doing and come to you. If the puppy is very distracted by something, you need to wait for the moment when he pays attention to you or use an alternative method, which consists in the owner turning and walking in the other direction until the puppy notices this and follows him . Under no circumstances should you pronounce the command “Come to me” in a threatening tone, you should not deceive a puppy who has run up to you by showing him a treat and not giving him, and even more so, punish him, even if he has done something wrong before. The next time the puppy does not come to you, you will lose contact with him and his trust. At first, you cannot use this command if you want to take the puppy on a leash or take it home from a walk. In this case, it is better to approach the puppy yourself without using commands. If the puppy shows obedience over several days, you can gradually reduce the frequency of using treats, but each time you praise and pet the puppy for obedience. The puppy begins to develop the skill of overcoming obstacles at an early age. During walks, do not pass by all sorts of obstacles that are feasible for him: low benches, shallow narrow grooves, steep steps. Your task is not to teach your puppy to jump high or overcome difficult obstacles - at his age this is dangerous and harmful, but to instill in him the necessary skill of overcoming obstacles, to develop a conditioned reflex to the command “Forward!” If such a reflex is developed at an early age, it will not be difficult to complicate tasks later. In order for the puppy to happily overcome obstacles within his power, it is best to use his own example, encouragement and treats. Apportation. In dogs, like their wild ancestors, the strongest natural instinct is the hunting instinct. It manifests itself in the pursuit and capture of all kinds of moving objects: balls, sticks, cats, field mice, in the desire to carry and tear rags, pieces of rubber, shoes. Modern methods of training German Shepherds are almost entirely built on the development and use of this instinct, called the prey instinct. The development of such a skill as fetching is no exception. In contrast to the previously used method of coercion, the method of developing the prey instinct gives incomparably better results: the dog works with desire, with passion, and with high productivity. To a greater or lesser extent, the hunting instinct (or prey instinct) is developed in all dogs. The owner’s task is to encourage the puppy’s desire to pick up and carry all kinds of objects from a very early age. Of course, these should not be household items or shoes. But if this happens, the puppy should under no circumstances be punished for this; he cannot understand the difference between your new shoe and an unnecessary piece of rubber. Keep valuables out of the puppy's reach. So, interest in retrieving should be encouraged and developed; this is the key to successful training in the future. To develop this skill, various games with a stick or ball are used. For training, it is advisable to use an object with a long cord firmly attached to it. This will not only allow you to better develop the instinct to obtain (capture) an object, but also develop the skill of bringing it to the owner. It is useful to play tugging on an object with your puppy, and you need to act carefully, not tearing the object out of your teeth, but only slightly pulling it towards you, thereby causing the puppy to want to hold the object more firmly in its teeth. In these games, the puppy should always come out the winner. In the early stages of development of the prey drive, you should never forcibly take an object from the puppy or chase the puppy trying to take this object away. You will also make a big mistake if you walk with another, stronger dog, who during games growls threateningly at the puppy, taking away his stick or ball. The puppy should not play with the retrieving object on its own; toys should be used for this purpose. In the initial phase of training, the retrieval object is never thrown; it is always in the hands of the trainer. First, an interest in playing with an object is developed, then the dog is trained to take and give an object on command, pick it up from the ground, carry it next to the trainer, and only after these skills have been consolidated they gradually move on to throwing the object and teaching the dog to fetch it. Retrieving is a complex technique that requires a lot of time, experience and creativity on the part of the trainer. It often turns out to be too much for a novice dog breeder. Therefore, limiting ourselves to general recommendations, if difficulties arise, I advise you to contact professional trainers. Teaching your puppy to sit, lie down and stand up on command. These techniques can be practiced while walking and playing with the puppy using the same ball, provided that the puppy has already developed some prey drive. If not, use a regular treat. The mechanical impact should be minimal for the puppy. When developing the skill of sitting a puppy on command, you need, first of all, to attract his attention with a ball, then, having given the command “Sit!”, raise the ball over the puppy’s head, so that he is forced to take a sitting position. In this case, you can lightly press the puppy’s croup, helping him sit down, and fixing him in this position for some time (within a few seconds). In the same way, they develop the skill of laying a puppy down on command. At the same time, having previously given the command “Lie down!”, release the hand with the ball at ground level in front of the puppy’s muzzle, and with the other hand lightly press on the withers, helping him lie down. To practice the command “Stop!” The ball is held at the level of the puppy's head, with the other hand slightly lifting it under the belly. When training with a small puppy, you cannot require him to hold for a long time while performing any technique. But within a few seconds it is necessary to fix it in the required position. You cannot often alternate the given commands, tiring the puppy and overloading his psyche. The entire process of practicing disciplinary skills should occur naturally, in the form of a game, and give the puppy obvious pleasure. Movement nearby. The previously used methods of mechanical influence on the dog during the development of this skill have not proven themselves to be the best, and they also have many undesirable side effects. The best results are obtained by a method based, again, on the prey instinct. To do this, take the puppy on a short leash, and, holding it loosely sagging in your left hand, begin to move forward, pressing the ball to your chest with your right hand. First, of course, you should attract the puppy’s attention to the ball by playing with it a little. Having started to move, give the command “Nearby!”. Any attempt by the puppy to run forward or jump up towards your right hand should be stopped by giving the command again and jerking the leash towards the trainer’s leg. By repeating this technique day after day, you will soon teach your dog the command “Near!” move with great desire and interest at your left leg.

2. Developing defensive skills

This concept includes teaching the puppy the skills of protecting the owner. The development of defensive skills has nothing in common with the so-called development of anger, which was practiced in our training in previous years. The idea that a German shepherd should be angry and distrustful of strangers has become so entrenched in our minds that it is even reflected in the domestic breed standard. Meanwhile, the German standard, recognized as international, characterizes this dog as noble, good-natured, balanced and self-confident. And international examination rules require the disqualification of dogs that show uncontrollable aggression towards humans. The behavior of a German Shepherd is considered ideal when it is in a free state, without a leash, is absolutely safe for others, when it is obedient, easily controlled by its owner, but if necessary, at his command, fearlessly and confidently stands up for his protection. The concept of distrust fundamentally contradicts this type of behavior, and implies the dog’s lack of confidence in its abilities and the imbalance of its psyche. As already mentioned, the behavioral characteristics of a dog are of a hereditary nature, and through selection and selection, breeders must influence the formation of the psyche, excluding from breeding unbalanced, uncontrollable, aggressive or prone to cowardice animals. But education, which aims to identify the hereditary characteristics of the dog, develop useful and muffle the negative qualities of its character, is also of considerable importance. From a very early age, any manifestations of aggression should be suppressed in a puppy. It is unacceptable to set a puppy against people, or to allow strangers to tease or beat him. All this is an unbearable stress factor for his psyche. Subsequently, such a dog’s aggression becomes uncontrollable and, as a rule, borders on cowardice, which manifests itself in extreme situations. Therefore, in order to develop normal behavior in a puppy and the persistent skill of “biting” only at the owner’s command, when it is really necessary, at the initial stage of development of protective qualities, the prey instinct, already known to us, is used. This technique has become widespread throughout the world. The puppy begins to develop basic skills from the age of three months, when he is offered to play with a rag. The initial task is to develop the puppy's interest in such a game. When playing with a puppy, you need to act actively, but at the same time carefully, without attacking the puppy, without frightening him, and without tearing the rag out of his teeth. A rag can be brought to life by tying it to a rope. Usually all puppies willingly accept such a game, attack the rag, bite it, and try to take it away. In this case, the puppy is praised and at the moment when he grabs the rag with his teeth and pulls it towards himself, he is released, so that the puppy has the impression of being taken away. The initial skill of playing with a rag is developed by the owner himself, repeating such games daily. Gradually, the puppy is taught to play this game in the presence of a stranger. The assistant first simply watches the game, then takes a passive part in it, and finally completely replaces the owner, who is right there and holds the puppy by the leash. The assistant must be an experienced and competent specialist - the person involved. The owner and helper must act in concert, depending on the puppy’s behavior, and strive to maximally develop the necessary fighting skills in him. The owner should encourage and encourage the puppy. In all games and fights, the puppy must emerge victorious and take the prey. As the puppy grows, the task becomes more difficult. The rag is gradually replaced by a small diameter, soft roller, with the help of which the puppy already develops the skill of gripping. And only after some time the roller can be replaced with a soft sleeve, which is put on in such a way that at the right moment it can be easily thrown off and the prey given to the puppy. When working with a rag, roller or sleeve, you need to give up the prey only at the moment when the puppy firmly and persistently pulls it towards himself. If the puppy does not have a very active and deep grip, if he often throws the rag while playing, the assistant should try at the moment of the bite, by lightly pulling him towards himself, to force the puppy to hold it tighter. In this case, work with the roller is not started until the puppy develops a strong and persistent grip. The same should be taken into account when moving from a roller to a sleeve. At the end of training, you should always allow the puppy to carry away its prey. When the dog has developed a strong skill of grasping and holding the sleeve tightly, they gradually move on to launching the dog after the fleeing helper. At first, the dog works on a leash, and the starting distance does not exceed a few steps. Then the distance gradually increases, the pace and trajectory of the assistant’s run changes, a “frontal attack” is introduced, and the dog learns to work on a hard sleeve. Under no circumstances should you force things and try to complicate the task for a young dog. With a properly planned process of developing protective skills, by the age of one and a half years the dog will be able to practice detention of any degree of complexity.

3. Developing special skills

The German Shepherd is suitable for use in a wide variety of types of services, but it has received the most widespread and effective use as a search dog, as it has extraordinary innate search abilities that are passed down from generation to generation. The task of any owner of a German Shepherd is to at least minimally develop these natural abilities, even if you do not set the goal of using the dog for tracking work. There are many methods for putting a puppy on the scent, but the most effective results have been shown by the method based on the puppy’s interest in the treat, which allows him to develop the necessary skills from the age of 5-6 months. The first lessons should be carried out in the field, early in the morning, in good, calm weather. There should be no extraneous stimuli nearby that would interfere with the puppy’s concentration - people, other animals, passing cars, etc. Classes are held before feeding the puppy. Take pieces of food and a jar of broth with you. They begin practicing the skill by laying the trail of the owner. The puppy is tied up (he must first be familiar with this procedure), and a direct trail is laid on a fresh, untrodden area of ​​the area. The first sections of the trail should not exceed 30-40 meters. Before laying a trail, the trainer enhances its scent by stomping well at the starting point and lightly watering the area with broth. Along its entire length, the trail should also have an enhanced smell - when laying a trail, you need to move slowly, with a shuffling gait, and periodically, in a thin stream, pour broth from a jar over the trail. After 2-3 meters from the starting point, the first piece of food is placed on the trail, then the pieces are laid out along the entire length of the trail every 2-3 meters. At the end point, a piece of food is also placed, which, after working on the trail, is given to the puppy by hand. The trainer, having laid a trail, returns to the puppy. The puppy is led to the trail and, encouraged by the owner, begins to sniff the smell of the broth at the starting point. Repeating the command “Sniff! Trail!”, the trainer directs the puppy towards the first piece of food. When he eats it, he praises the puppy and stimulates him with a leash to further move along the trail. Attracted by the smell of the broth and the pieces of food that he finds and eats, the puppy, as a rule, carefully works the trail to the end the first time. If the puppy passes a piece of food on the trail, it needs to be corrected. At the end of the trail, the found piece should be given to him by hand and praised well. After several studies of the trace and the development of a conditioned reflex to the command “Sniff!” Trail!”, the task is gradually complicated: they use only food, without broth, increase the distance between the pieces and the distance of the trail, lay a trail with right angles, first with one, then with two, teach the puppy to search for objects on the trail, and finally, to work out trace of a stranger. To practice searching for objects that the dog must indicate by laying down, use the already practiced command “Lie down!” To do this, 4-5 objects are laid out along a straight trail and when the dog passes by the object, draw its attention to the object with your hand and give the command “Lie down!” After repeated repetitions, the dog gets used to lying down near the things found while working on the trail. At first, the items should be the same, later they should be diversified. Gradually, fewer and fewer pieces of food are left on the trail, until finally they disappear completely. By that time, the dog should already have clearly developed the skill of working on the scent. These guidelines are a general template for the initial phase of training a German Shepherd puppy. The training process itself is much deeper and more complex, and most importantly, in my opinion, it cannot be described in any detailed manual. The psyche of dogs is so individual and unique that template advice and recommendations are not suitable for each specific case. And if it were possible to create such a manual, then it would have to be created in relation to each specific dog, and it would be impossible to take into account all life situations, the dog’s reaction to them and methods of managing its behavior. Any, even the best book on dog training can provide only basic knowledge on this issue, help to understand the theoretical foundations of training, and everything else is intuition and a creative process that cannot be described. Therefore, listen to the last advice - if you do not have the experience and necessary knowledge - do not experiment on your dog, trust the practical help of a professional trainer who works mainly with German shepherds. Lyudmila Arkhangelskaya From the book “German Shepherd”

Features of keeping a German Shepherd in an apartment

This is a large breed, so it is better to keep German Shepherds in a private home. The pet must have a kennel and a spacious enclosure. Its floor is poured with concrete or covered with boards, since shepherd dogs love to dig. Thanks to its warm and thick fur, this breed thrives outdoors in winter.

It is better to keep a shepherd dog in a private house, but it can also live in an apartment, although apartment living will differ from street living. The pet is assigned a place, not in the kitchen or on the balcony. It is better to lay the bedding in a place protected from cold and drafts.

The shepherd needs to buy toys. You should not be allowed to sleep on a bed or sofa. It is better to keep a German Shepherd in a spacious apartment. Living in a small room with a large dog will be cramped.

Due to the structural features of the German Shepherd's limbs, the floor in the apartment should not be slippery. It is better to cover it with something to avoid dislocations and injuries.

If the dog lives in an apartment, he must be walked at least twice a day. Walks should be filled with activities, since German Shepherds are a working breed.

Relationship with family members

German Shepherds are reliable guards. At the cost of their lives, they will stand up to protect the owner, his family, apartment and property in it.

Relationships with adults and children

Shepherds are smart animals; they get along well with both the adult population of the apartment and children. Sometimes they sense the mood of children better than the parents themselves, protect them, protect them, tolerate their little pranks, and play with them.

Should you have a dog in your apartment if you have children?

Of course, you should not get a puppy when the birth of a child is expected in the family. After all, then you will have to pay a lot of attention to both kids. But if there is already an adult dog in the house, there is no need to worry that it can harm the child; rather, the growing baby will cause her concern.

The best nanny for kids of any age

The right diet

An important element of proper care and maintenance is a balanced diet. There are two options for feeding a German Shepherd:

1. Natural food.
2. Ready-made feed.

A natural diet includes meat, grains, vegetables and fruits. For animal protein, preference should be given to veal, chicken and turkey. Pork should not be given. Porridge should make up no more than 30% of the diet. Add a tablespoon of vegetable oil to them.

Fish, cleaned of bones, is given when the shepherd dog is one year old. The puppy’s diet contains fermented milk products: cottage cheese and kefir. Once a week you can add the yolk of one chicken egg to your food. Finely chop or grate vegetables and fruits. Bread, sweets, and spices should not be given.

German Shepherd puppies have very long hind legs. Therefore, it is recommended to add fertilizer containing calcium and phosphorus to the natural diet. This way you can avoid joint problems and rickets.

With the second feeding option, preference should be given to premium food. They are rich in all the vitamins and minerals a German Shepherd needs. Food should be selected according to the age and size of the German breed dog.

Walks in the open air

Next, we will talk about the features of keeping and caring for animals of this breed. Full care for a shepherd is impossible without walking. When the puppy has received the necessary vaccinations, he needs to be walked regularly and for a long time. The first walks do not last more than 5 minutes. A two-month-old puppy is accustomed to a leash and walked for up to half an hour.

By 6–10 months, the duration of the walk increases to 2–3 hours. The pet needs communication with other purebred dogs, and it is better to protect it from strays. It is better to take your pet out during the day so that it receives beneficial ultraviolet light.

Training and education

An important aspect in caring for a puppy is education. Socialization of the baby can begin at one month of age. At this time, he is introduced to different people so that further maintenance does not cause problems. But it’s better not to rush into contact with animals; the baby has not received all vaccinations.

At 2–3 months, the shepherd dog is taught the first commands: “come to me,” “voice,” “fu,” place.” When caring for and raising a baby, they reward it with treats.

You cannot shout at a German or hit a puppy. If he does something bad (for example, in the heat of the game he bites the owner), the puppy can be taken by the mouth and pressed to the ground. Or stop playing, turn away and go somewhere else.

If your pet needs to be taught complex commands, it makes sense to seek help from a professional dog trainer. After completing a training course, the German Shepherd will become an ideal guard and protector.

Toilet training

A small puppy can be released outside only after mandatory vaccinations. Until vaccinations are completed, the house is only housed, and the baby shepherd is given disposable baby diapers on the floor. Place the puppy on it after eating or sleeping. When he goes to the toilet, the pet is praised.

You need to gradually train your German Shepherd to go to the toilet outside. After each meal, take the baby outside and walk with him until he does his job. It is recommended to take your usual diaper with you. You should not punish if the puppy still goes to the toilet at home.

Advantages and disadvantages

The Shepherd is undoubtedly a loyal friend and a worthy protector. She easily adapts to any environment. Keeping it in an apartment has its advantages and disadvantages. For those who are just about to acquire a four-legged companion, it is better to assess their capabilities in advance.

Positive points

When an adult German lives with you under the same roof, you can be sure that:

• you and your family are completely safe;
• no one will touch your property;
• there will always be a creature next to you who sincerely loves you just like that;
• you won’t be bored and lie on the couch for a long time - you will always have something to do;
• The child has a good playmate and a nanny at the same time.

An animal will always be happy to accompany you on a walk or while watching TV. With him you will forget what loneliness is.

Negative sides

If you are too lazy to brush your dog, you risk finding scraps of fur scattered everywhere. But the pet has nothing to do with it. You just need to keep an eye on him.

While the puppy is still small, your shoes or furniture may be damaged. To avoid this, hide your beautiful shoes away, and do not allow them to chew or scratch sofas and bedside tables. Instead, distract your pet with an interesting toy.

You will also have to spend more time walking. The dog needs increased physical activity to maintain its shape.

Hygiene

An important condition for proper maintenance and care of a German Shepherd is maintaining animal hygiene.

Bathing puppies and adult dogs

Frequent bathing and use of shampoos leads to deterioration of the animal's coat. One of the rules of care when keeping an apartment: you should bathe a German Shepherd no more than three times a year. If the dog lives in an enclosure, it is unlikely that the owners will think of bathing it more often.

You should not use human shampoos or detergents, only specialized ones, for the care of shepherds or other dogs with a similar type of coat. When bathing, it is important to ensure that water does not get into your ears or shampoo into your eyes.

When keeping an animal in an apartment, of course, you don’t want to see traces of dirty paws on the floor. If your German Shepherd gets dirty, you need to wash your pet with water from the shower without using any chemicals. Dust can be removed with a damp, clean cloth.

Wool

German Shepherds are a breed that sheds all year round. Therefore, in the absence of constant hair care, there will be a lot of wool on the floor and furniture.

It is recommended to comb your pet with a special comb brush. It is better to get used to this type of care from a young age and do it once every three days. During periods of active shedding, a German breed dog should be combed every day.

Eyes

When caring for your eyes, you need to pay attention to their condition. There should be no redness on the eyelids and no discharge under the eyes. Eyes should be wiped once a week with a clean cloth moistened with drinking water. If dust gets into your eye, you should rinse it with chamomile infusion.

Teeth

Dental care consists of the following:

• make sure that plaque does not form; for this, the shepherd dog is offered special bones containing fluoride or ordinary veal bones; Tubular chicken and pork bones should not be given.
• Once a month, brush your shepherd’s teeth with a special powder;
• The gums and mucous membranes of the oral cavity should not be inflamed.

Ears

The German Shepherd's ears also need proper care. Under normal conditions, some clear wax is visible in your dog's ear.

A large amount of sulfur, dark and purulent discharge indicate health problems. You should clean your ears once a month, use regular ear sticks and special solutions from a veterinary pharmacy.

Claws

As strange as it sounds about a large dog: nail care is needed. They often wear down on their own during active walks. But there are cases when overgrown claws prevent the animal from walking. Then they should be trimmed.

Inside the nail, closer to the finger, there are blood vessels and nerves, so you cannot cut the nail at the root. Using special scissors or regular clippers, trim the tip of the nail. When walking, the claws should not touch the floor.

Trimming a puppy's nails is not the most pleasant activity for an animal, so after the procedure the pet should be rewarded.

Important! If a blood vessel is nevertheless damaged, you can stop the bleeding with a cotton swab soaked in hydrogen peroxide.

Adaptation period

As soon as you bring your baby into your home, you will immediately choose a place for him. Approach this issue thoroughly, since the place does not change throughout the pet’s life, unless, of course, you change your place of residence. Choose a secluded corner so that there are radiators nearby, try to keep the place bright and without drafts.

It's good if you put a mattress with removable pillowcases that can be washed. You can buy a special indoor enclosure so that the puppy has a good view of the apartment. Be sure to remove all wires from a visible place so that the puppy does not chew them, since at this age he chews everything that catches his eye. Also put away shoes and children's toys. Besides the fact that you may lose these things, most importantly, the baby may suffer. Possible electric shock and intestinal volvulus.

At first, the puppy may miss its mother, so it will whine. You should not leave him alone, talk to him kindly, give him a toy to distract the puppy. However, you should not squeeze him too much, given that this is still a service dog. For the first two weeks, the baby is fed 6 times a day with the food he is accustomed to in the nursery. The food is crushed and heated. After the pet has eaten, wipe its face with a wet cloth.

Walking and physical activity

Proper maintenance of a dog is impossible without constant physical activity. The frequency and duration of a German Shepherd's walks depend on its age. Until 2.5 months, it is not recommended to let the puppy go outside or introduce it to other animals.

The baby is taken outside after every meal, 5-6 times a day. The duration of the walk should not exceed 5 minutes. From 4 months you can increase it to 30–40 minutes, gradually reducing the number of walks.

An adult shepherd should be walked twice a day for one to two hours. The Germans are very temperamental, and they need somewhere to put their extra energy. Without long daily walks they will become unmanageable. The dog is walked until it gets tired.

In addition, we must not forget that German Shepherds are a working breed that was bred to serve humans. If you got a dog “for the soul” and keep it exclusively in an apartment, this still needs to be taken into account.

It is best to attend specialized training, of which there are many now: for service dogs, guard dogs, etc. If this is not possible, then be sure to work with your four-legged friend on your own. Teach him to carry a stick, a ball, bring slippers, and a newspaper.

The German breed cannot live without anything to do - otherwise the dog will get bored and his character will deteriorate.

It is useful to go for a walk with the owners of other socialized and adequate dogs. For Germans, it is important to communicate not only with the owner. Contact with stray animals should be avoided; they carry parasites and infections.

Features of walking a dog

While in the house, the dog does not receive enough sunlight and fresh air. Therefore, long walks are the basis of a “German’s” health. While your pet is still a puppy, you can let him run around the clearing, yard, frolic with children and other animals, but do not allow moments of aggression. Having played enough, the puppy will tell you when it’s time to go home. In the first years, they quickly get tired, lie down at their feet and try to fall asleep. At an older age, the walking time will increase, the dog will require active games, physical activity, and additional training. In crowded places it is recommended to keep your dog on a leash and use a muzzle.

Vaccination

When keeping a German Shepherd, it is important to pay close attention to the vaccination of your pet.

Dogs are constantly outdoors, in contact with other animals and the environment. To avoid infectious diseases of your pet and parasitic infection, it is important to give him all timely vaccinations.

The first vaccination for a German Shepherd puppy is given at one month of age. After vaccination, the dog must be especially carefully cared for: check his temperature, do not overcool him. The next vaccine is administered after a month.

The puppy's last vaccination is given at the age of 4–7 months. After this, the baby is allowed to walk outside. Further, routine vaccination should be carried out annually.

Possible diseases

Like any other dog, the German Shepherd is susceptible to various diseases. The most common diseases among this breed are:

• Joint dysfunction
• Allergy,
• Digestive disorders,
• Diseases of the organs of vision,
• Plague,
• Lack of growth hormone.

All these diseases can be either genetic or acquired by the animal. Therefore, the German Shepherd should be properly kept and cared for.

It is important to regularly take your pet for examinations to the veterinarian, carry out disease prevention, and get vaccinations during the period. It is also necessary to take care of treating the fur against blood-sucking insects.

In conclusion, I would like to add that before getting a shepherd dog in a city apartment, you need to think a hundred times before, weigh all the pros and cons. If such a decision is nevertheless made, it is important to meet all the conditions for a comfortable stay for the pet, take care of it and not deprive it of love. Then he will become the most faithful friend for the owner and his children.

Basic rules for choosing a pet

Before choosing a puppy from the litter, decide for what purpose you decided to get it. If you need a winner of competitions and exhibitions, then his parents should also have awards. Try to choose a baby from a homogeneous litter, which is evidence that its breeder is responsible for the continuation of the line.

If you just need a loyal friend and service dog, you can make a less picky choice, but attention to the pedigree is still required. By inheritance, shepherd dogs basically receive all the most important qualities:

• Exterior.
• Health.
• Character.

After you are convinced that everything is fine with the parents, proceed to inspect the litter - your chosen one should not have the following signs:

• Crooked paws.
• Jaw with malocclusion.

• Combing.
• Light eye color.
• Erect ear tips - when a puppy is under three months old, this is a sign of calcium-phosphorus imbalance and vitamin D deficiency.

German Shepherd puppies should look like this:

• Shiny wool.
• Moderate weight.
• Brilliant, quick-witted eyes.
• Strong bones.
• Pink color of the mouth.
• Flexible disposition.

Where to keep a pet

As practice shows, it is better to keep dogs of this breed outside - a German Shepherd puppy will be comfortable in a spacious enclosure in the courtyard of a private house. A wooden platform, roof and walls, a booth where he can sleep comfortably and wait out the bad weather are ideal.

If you live in an apartment, arrange a corner for the puppy away from the passage, where it is warm and there are no drafts. Take care of soft bedding - it can be a bed or a special mattress covered with a pillowcase. You will need several pillowcases - they need to be changed once a week for hygienic purposes.

When thinking about how to care for your German Shepherd puppy, keep in mind that from the very beginning he will go to the house to relieve himself - so start teaching him to do this outside during walks. Do not hit or humiliate your pet during training - use vocal intonations and encouragement with treats for positive reinforcement.

In the first days, the baby will miss his mother, whine and complain - try to calm him down. Pet your baby, hold him close, give him an interesting toy to distract him from his sad mood - this is very important for him to recognize you as his friend and owner.

Bathing and grooming

When talking about the care and maintenance of a domestic German Shepherd, it is worth mentioning hygiene. Frequent bathing disrupts the natural protective layer of the skin and harms the health of the coat. It is recommended to completely wash the puppy with a special shampoo from 3 months and no more than 3 times a year. After the procedure, the dog is wiped and dried. You can remove dust or dirt after a walk by rinsing the animal with warm water. Coat cleaning is carried out daily, standing to the left of the pet. How to care for a German Shepherd so that tangles do not appear on the fur? You need to comb your pet as often as possible.

Ways to feed your baby

Caring for a German Shepherd puppy involves three different feeding methods - each of them has its opponents and supporters:

• Dry food is the most convenient option, relieving the owner of the need to prepare food and stand at the stove for a long time. In addition, dry formulas are formulated taking into account the needs of a specific breed and age - they guarantee that the baby receives the full range of vitamins and minerals due to him. However, ersatz remains ersatz - dogs like dry food much less than fresh natural meat or other natural products.
• Natural food - this approach takes a lot of time, since you will have to cook meat for your pet, grind vegetables, prepare broths, and mix various components. In addition, this will require certain knowledge from you, without which it will not be possible to create a diet with a complete content of the entire vitamin and mineral complex. However, this method has many supporters who claim that natural products for pets are much tastier and healthier than dry mixtures.
• The combined method is a combination of the two approaches described above, when the dog is given both dry mixtures and natural products. From the point of view of a common sense approach, like any reasonable balance, this method is the most preferable due to its variety.