German Shepherd Question and Answer
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I want to own my very first GSD. And I would like to put him in 4H. Are GSD a good first dog? And are they easy to train for dog shows?
How old before my German Shepherd ears will go straight up he is currently 3 months old
Anywhere between 4-6 months
my german sherpherd female is on heat and my german male is no longer interest in her. What could be done?
bring her over to my sire
My German shepherd is only 1 yr and 4months and he has hip displasia but is doing well at this point but he hasent been getting into eating lately and idk why. I fed him royal canin for shepherds and now i switched to eukanuba and i mix in wet food to. i dont no what else to do so if anyone can help me out that would be great.
Have you contacted the breeder from whom you purchased the puppy to make sure she doesn't repeat the breeding that produced your dog? Any reputable breeder of GSD's would never breed with having both parents x-rayed and certified by the OFA as to elbows & hips being either good or excellent. And they should have also given you a health guarentee covering this as it is genetic.
My GSD has arthritis and is being treated with acupuncture and this seems to be helping her she just turned 8 and has her spunk back. YEah!!!
Why is one of my sixteen week old german shepherd ears floppy?
not thqt i know of
We just picked up our 3 month old puppy from the breeder how long before his ears will pick up.
when he was a pup did you guys pet it behind the ear on a regular basis
Within the last 13 months, I have adopted a male German Shephard from the CT Humane Society. I was told at the time that he was 3 years old.It didn't take us long to find out that his age was off by 4 years. In training him, I discovered that he had been abused, and the person that abused him was female. He has gotten over his anger issues, and is actually a great dog with a fantastic personality. The problem that I am having is that when I take him for a ride, he does nothing but bark. I don't mean just bark, I mean just bark and run crazy in the back of the vehicle. Is there anything that I can give him to help him relax? I'm worried about his safety, and I don't feel comfortable about giving him drugs. That was the vets first answer. Do you have any suggestions?
I have 2 pugs, and now my husband wants to get a German Shepherd puppy. Their is a huge size difference when full grown. Will my pugs be safe in their own home?
is it a good idea to get a german sherpard that has been at another family for at least a year with no training but family doesnt want her any more...i also have a yorkie inside dog..is it safe??and is it to late to start training
It's never too late to start training. GSDs are always in need of a good solid leader. If you can provide that leadership, then go for it. Be sure to do a meet and greet with your dog before agreeing to bring this new dog home. Make sure you don't give the new dog more attention than your Yorkie because this could cause animosity between them. Keep a close eye on the temperament of the GSD to make sure there won't be too many dominance issues. Keep an eye out for body language to determine how the greeting is going.
I am a dog trainer so if you have any other questions feel free to email me directly at tamara@4paws-training.com
my GSD is one and half year old. and his size is 24 inch i want to know upto what age their growth takes place
and whats steps should i take to make him strong and big.
GSDs can keep growing (minimally) until they are around 3 years. However, they do most of their growing in the first year. Keep him on puppy formula food until he's around 14-15 months. If you notice he is gaining too much girth (weight around the stomach) switch him to adult food. Make sure you are feeding food that doesn't have bi-products and fillers. Basically any food you get in a grocery store is not good. This will allow him to reach his full potential.
Check my website for a list of recommended foods. It's listed at the bottom of the "tips of the week" page. www.4paws-training.com
I have a two and a half month old German Shepherd that only thinks about food. I want to know how to get him into shape like those police dogs, all muscle.
Until puppies are close to a year old, they should have food available to them anytime they want it. This is a time they are developing and growing quickly and need all the food they can get.
I have an 8wk old GSD puppy that just all of a sudden started limping and sometimes even falling over. The vet said he had a 50 50 chance of growing out of it but didn't really explain what is wrong with him. What could be causing this if he had never shown a problem before?
This might be due to a front knee joint with dysplasia and fragmentation of the medial coronoid process, where this caused my girl pain and instability. She is receiving acupuncture and seems to respond well to this
My vet described it to me as growing pains.
It's called Panosteitis.
I have a puppy that just turned a year. About age four months she start limping in her left front, although without falling down. Two vets told me that she would grow out of it and she has. Like I said she didn't fall down just the limp. I cant remember exactly what they told me was the name of the condition was but I researched it and it seemed to come on a little later than 8 wks, but was common to the breed.
I have a 6 month old blue GSD Ive tried feeding her dry food adding a little bit of chicken or fish to encourage her to eat as she doesn't eat anywhere near her quota .Can anyone suggest a different kind of diet for her as I feel she isn't getting enough nutrients for a growing puppy IE: Tinned or fresh meat
It may help to give her all human food and then slowly add dog food until it is all dog food. Before she eats pure dry dog food, mix water with the food and then slowly get her off that until it is pure dry dog food. Hopes this helps.
My 8 week old male gsp drinks tons of water and someone said limit it. I take it away two hours before bed, but during the day he can drink tons. Is this normal? If i'm suppose to limit it, then how much is too much or not enough?
Drinking excessively is frequently a sign of infection or another underlying medical condition. You should have your vet check him thoroughly. Sometimes the type of food you are providing can also trigger this response but when my shepherds drink excessively, it usually signals a medical problem.
Why is there a decline in docile temperament for German Shepherds around the country? I have heard it pertains to some issues in breeding that causes them to be fearful and to bite, is that true in your opinion?
My partner can suffer from allergies. i believe GSD can shed excessively, would it not be recommended to buy this breed? do short haired GSD shed less?
No, short haired GSD do not shed less than the long haired one's.
How long after birth should puppies start to walk
my german shepherd is 6 weeks pregnant, how many more weeks before she gives birth.?
3 weeks
if pregnant, how many weeks before they give birth.?
9 weeks
Can I put 2 female gsd with 1 male? Will they fight when they are in heat?
Some of the worst dog fights I have ever seen are between 2 female dogs. Be careful...
the males will fight for dominance
at what age will my black german shepherd puppies start standing his ears up.
they should stand between 3 and 4 months my gsd ears just started to stand and hes now 9 weeks but they up to 6 months depends on there teething any time after 6 months i would see a vet they mite need glued
what are the common illnesses and diseases that occur to a GSD pup in a month of age?
Do german shepherds get along well with kids???
however, from what i have read on the internet this is not always true and depends on whether the breeder knew what they were doing rather than just trying to make money and also on how well you socialize your dog. i have known many german shepherds and every one i have met has been great with children--including the one i have now with our three kids, but i would be a little wary anyway.
every german shepherd I have met is great with kids. We had owned one since she was four, and she was fantastic with our daughter and the neighbor kids. Don't let their reputation fool you, I would recommend a german shepherd to all families. They are truely glorious dogs.
Is it normal for a 3 month old GSD to show fear towords other dogs? He does very well with humans but if one would yell or made a sudden move he would be afraid.
Is that attitude will vanish once he is becoming older?
how much should they be eating?
1/4 less than a bag of dog food suggests.. keep them lean or you will have hip/shoulder issues
Does anyone have any info on a German Shepherd/Huskie mix. I am looking at a puppy to rescue but am unsure about the Huskie mix?
That is a good and safe mix.
Any suggestions on preventing bloat? This is when the stomach becomes twisted and is fatal if not immediately treated. Shepherds being deep chested are at risk.
they should not eat one hour before or one hour after exercise and sometimes adding a bit of warm water to their food will help, although i have heard that you need to pay more attention to their teeth (keeping them clean) if you soften their food
If the dog is hot (after exercise or if the weather is warm), limit the amount of water they drink. Don't keep the thirsty, but a GSD will drink a lake dry. They don't need to. Also, no cold water.
Don't feed the dog or let them drink a lot of water if you know they are going to be getting a lot of exercise in the next few hours
do not feed your dog for at least 1 hour after exercise.
Get an elevated food dish.
I have a white long hair that sheds alo.t I read that raw meat and bone help with that. If so, what kind of meats and bones should I be feeding him?
Most pet stores sell a supplement for dogs. It comes in a log (it looks like a log of premade cookie dough) and comes in a bunch of favors: beef, chicken, etc. With a vegetable peeler, add a little bit to your dogs food every day. The package says to cut off an inch or so of the log with each feeding- THAT IS WAY TOO MUCH. just a little goes a long way. Plus, the meat stick tastes great, your dog will love it
Fresh liver can help. Also try the Furminator Deshedding comb. I love mine.
Is a female German shepherd more protective of its owner than a male?
they will pick there leader you never really no one way i could tell is my dog is always following me and always by my side of course i m the only one that feeds him and walks him and plays with him so he picked me
How much shold my two year old fixed female german shepard be eatting a day
Depending on what kind of food she is eating. If she is on a Premium food she should be eating around 4 cups per day (2 in the am and 2 in the pm). Here is a link to my website. It has a lot of info on different brands of food. www.4paws-training.com
Click on "tips of the week" on the left and then scroll to the bottom of the page click on "eating habits."
We just bought 2 white german shepherd puppies and there mother was black and tan and there father was all black. Can you tell me if they will keep there colour?
Actually according to the AKC only all white is considered a fault, and they can't be shown, all black is fine.
I belive they will. All Black and all White GSD are born in the litters of the usual GSD colours, but are considered a fault. They make gorgeous pets and family members.
i have a 10month old german shepherd female, all off a sudden she has become very scared with pillows and if you pick a pillow up she'll run yelping and somtimes even pee herself is this normal? she is also become very fussy with her food and is a little under weight due to not eating ive tried everything but she leaves most of her meals? she seems a scared dog all of a sudden and is extremely wary of strangers and wont let a stranger touch her however shed is now on her first heat is this perhaps just coincidence or could it be because of her heat?
My 18 mth GSD screams when excited. She has always done this. Is it normal?
I have a two year old gsh. He has been extremely vocal since he was a little guy. I also have a friend with a 6 year old male - the same way. When excited with a toy in his mouth, sounds like a loud scream.
At what age is a gsd full grown?
Most believe they are full grown around 18 months.
How old are gsds when their ears normally start to stand?
it really depends on the dog, some of them will never stand up properly. it is recommended that you don't pet their ears back though until the ears are standing up fully to prevent the soft cartilage from being damaged.
my GSD's ears were sticking up at 2 months so were her brothers but not the rest of the litter. so i think it depends on the dog
my puppies ears were standing straight up @11 weeks when i got her
i really dont think theres an age to when their ears start standing up my gsd's ears didnt stand up till he was 2yrs.old and my father gsd's ears didnt stand up til she was 10months old so i dont think theres an age
A GSD's ears will start to grow cartilage anywhere from 4 months to 6 months and they will be solid usually by the time they are 12 to 15 months.
I just go a GSD puppy she is 7 wks old. Is it too early to walk her and get her used to being next to me on the leash? Also how far is okay to walk her?
Leash work is good, and so is socialization. But bewware of forced exercise in the first year. This is includes walks, throwing a ball and have them chase it, etc. Forced exercise is not good during this time because the bones need to develop and get strong. Forced exercise could minimize growth and the strength of your dogs bones and muscles. This is especially important in a GSD because they are prone to joint and bone issues due to overbreeding and their size.
Don't let the "puppy" fool you. She can handle a lot more than she lets on. She could be walking on a leash as early as 7 weeks and start training classes anywhere from 8 - 12 weeks. I recommend that she does. That is prime socialization time. GSD's need a lot of socialization to keep them balanced and show you how to be an assertive leader that doesn't need your dog to jump in front of you every time someone wants to say hi. Feel free to email me at twmn98@gmail.com with any other questions. I am an accredited trainer.
I have GCD puppy 6 month old and his high (size) is 19 inch to the shoulders, is that mean it's normal or he is shorter than the normal
he is normal he just needs to finish off growin and he will get bigger and bigger
Is 9 too old for a healthy, active German Shepherd male to breed for the first time?
No its not to old just make sure you put him and the female together and wait for 2 days and if you dont see anything happening he just doesnt want to do it and you cant force him to do it
can you keep german shepherds outside??
A GSD should be kept inside. The natural climate might be a bit much. If it's too cold, they could freeze and if it's too hot they won't be able to regulate their body temperature.
it depends on their training
I have have two male german shepperd pups, and we are having a dominance problem,they continue to fight, they have had a couple serious and viscious fights, not sure what to do?
pack structure. You need to establish it. You are the pack leader. You need to establish who is the top dog and let them know it. The top dog gets fed first. Always. Don't let it be an issue. Dogs are pack animals and are happier that way.
How old are the puppies? Have they been neutured? If not, speak with your vet about when they can be. This will help some. Training will also help, setting you as the alpha in the house and allowing them to socialize and burn off some energy. The natural order is a male and a female to avoid this problem.
can i have a german shepherd in an apartment without a yard?
Yes, as long as you are committed to giving them the personal time and activity that they require on a daily basis. I.e. walks, runs, training, etc. A well trained German Shepherd is perfectly happy in a small space, as long as their person is with them.
how soon can my 8 week old puppy start eating a complete dry mix food
8-12 weeks after
"8 to 12 weeks,or after the're weaned."Changing different types of dry dog food too quickly can upset a puppy's stomach.For example,the first week is "Iams",and the second week is "Max".That can upset a puppies stomach. Be patient and give it time.If your dog refuses to eat the dry food,put bits of cooked chicken or cooked steak at the bottom of the dish.That way he has a reason to eat the dog food,to get his/her prize.I do that with my German Shepherd Max,he's 6.
how much do you cups of dog food per day she is 6 years old not dog years? Just got her.
You should use the guidelines on the food you are feeding her based upon her weight. These are usually a little higher than the dog needs, so be sure to titrate it based upon the dogs weight gain loss. Good rule of thumb is to not leave the food out all day.
2 bowls are enough.
up to how many puppies do german shepherds concieve?
mine came from a litter of 12!!
anywhere from 6-10 pups Mystical's Shepherds
6-8 puppies