Start out with the right attitude. The first few weeks of your new German Shepherd puppy's life with you will be very busy and demanding. There may be times when you wonder if getting a new puppy was such a good idea. Things will go better if you have patience and keep your sense of humor. Remember that puppy hood only happens once. The extra effort you put into it now will pay off in the future.

There are many diseases outside:sidewalks, parks, etc Puppies are very susceptible at a young age, use your yard first few weeks unless you don't have one.

Veterinarian offices ( many diseases are picked up here because of other puppies that had been there before yours PLEASE, carry your puppy wrapped up in a towel-asked to check him in front of you NOT in the back of office-verify everything is given to him CALL US FOR GUIDANCE , Bordetella is only needed if you going to board your puppy, wait until 4 months to give him rabies, give your puppy yoghurt the day prior and after vaccinations, your purebred German Shepherd puppy doesn't need vitamins unless you are feeding a low quality food, puppies don't finish developing until around 18 months old so x-rays earlier than that are not definite-just preliminaries, any scrapes or belly blisters use Neosporin , for skin hot spots of missing hair use NU-STOCK , do not do teeth cleaning just a good marrow bone is enough for healthy teeth-gums , do not buy Heartworm medicine your puppy will not get them just test them every other year to see if is positive, the umbilical is almost always popping out like babies and as your puppy grows it will diminish and seal don't let the Vet SCARE you into doing surgery for this , don't let the vet charge you separately for each parasite check is all in the same sample-slide they look to see which parasite is there and one charge for fecal test )

Unfortunately,most vets work on commissions,so the more they sell you,the more they make. You don't need to take your dog every year, just every 3 years for the rabies and every 4 year the diseases-booster vaccine.

• Wire or plastic dog crate,if you will crate train.
• Marrow bones from butcher shop and Nylabone hardbone.
• Non-tip Stainless steel  food & water dishes ( 4-5 cups size ).
• 12-18 inches Choke puppy collar & 4-6 feet leash.
• ID Tag with your phone number to wear on the collar.
• Slick wire brush..Furminator brush after 8 months old.
• ORIJEN Large breed puppy food
• "Bitter Apple", a safe spray-on product to discourage chewing .
• A wire, wooden or plastic baby gate for blocking doorways.
• Books on puppy care & training. Read through them before bringing your puppy home. Check out several of them for free from library.
• Leer burg.com videos: My puppy 8 weeks to 8 months, Obedience and Pack Structure are tremendous knowledge building.
• Tugs and leather rags to play with your puppy.

Raising a German Shepherd puppy is a lot like raising a small child. They get into everything and anything you can't think of!
Some of what they get into can be hazardous to their health,like electrical cords, or damaging to your possessions,like shoes and clothes.
 You can make life safer for your German Shepherd puppy  by getting rid of hazards and temptations ahead of time. To a puppy, the world is brand new and fascinating! He's seeing it all for the very first time and absolutely everything must be thoroughly investigated. Puppies do most of their investigating with their mouths -- "Look at this! What is it? Is it something to eat? Is it something to play with?" Murphy's Law says that a puppy will be most attracted to the things he should least have -- electrical cords, the fringe on your expensive oriental rug, your brand new running shoes, etc. Preventing destructive and dangerous chewing is easier than trying to correct the puppy every second.

Look around your home. What objects could be put up out of the way of a curious puppy? Bitter Apple spray can be applied to furniture legs, woodwork and other immovable items. Are there rooms your puppy should be restricted from entering until he's better trained and more reliable? Install a baby gate or keep the doors to those rooms closed. Take a walk around your yard looking for potential hazards.
If your yard is fenced, check the boundaries and gates for openings that could be potential escape routes. German Shepherd Puppies can get through smaller places than an adult dog. If your yard's not fenced, make a resolution right now that your puppy will never be allowed to run off lead without close supervision. He won't ever know enough to look both ways before crossing the street to chase a squirrel. Keep him safe by keeping him on leash!

Work out a schedule for you and for your puppy. Housetraining a German Shepherd puppy is much easier when the puppy's meals, exercise and playtimes are on a regular schedule throughout the day. .

Housetraining New German Shepherd Puppies Baby puppies, under three months of age, have limited bladder control and reflexes. They usually don't know they're going to go until the moment they do! It's not realistic to expect them to tell you ahead of time. If you're observant, you'll see that a puppy who's looking for a place to go potty will suddenly circle about while sniffing the floor. The sniffing is instinct he's looking for a place that's already been used. If he can't find one, he'll start one! By preventing accidents in the house, you'll teach him that the only appropriate bathroom is the one outside! Ideally, you're reading this before you've brought your new puppy home. If you already have your puppy, just pick up the schedule at an appropriate place. Set up a dog crate or small, confined area (the smaller the better.) Using a dog crate will be more effective. The size of the crate is importantbecause if it's too large, the puppy will have room to use one end as a bathroom.  If you've bought a crate for him to grow into, you can also get dividers to reduce the inner space while he's small. If he must be left alone while you're at work, then a larger crate is okay. Put a stack of newspapers at one end for him to use when you can't be home to let him out. Also in the crate should be a water dish (you can get one that attaches to the side of the crate and is harder to spill), sleeping pad and a bone or chewing toy.  Put the crate where he isn't far away from the family. If you're using a confined area instead, a baby gate across the doorway is preferable to closing the door and isolating your puppy. Your puppy might not like the crate at first. Don't give in to his complaining or tantrums! If you're sure he isn't hungry or has to go potty, ignore his yowling.  Eventually he'll settle down and sleep which is what crates are for! If you give a tempting treat every time you put the dog in his crate, he'll soon look forward to going in. The crate is intended to be his sleeping and feeding place and is where he should be when you can't keep a close eye on him. If you give him the run of the house at this age, you can expect accidents! Dogs instinctively keep their sleeping areas clean. If you've allowed him to go potty when he needs to, he won't dirty his crate if he can help it. Once he's developed better control, he won't need the newspapers unless you're going to be gone all day. Change the papers several times a day if they've been soiled. Your Puppy's First Night Home Get off on the right foot at the beginning! Carry the puppy from your car to the yard. Set him on the grass and let him stay there until he potties. When he does, tell him how wonderful he is! After bringing the pup inside, you can play with him for an hour. Plan on taking the puppy outside every two hours (at least) while he's awake. Don't wait for him to tell you that he has to go! Feed your German Shepherd puppy  in his crate. Don't let him out for half an hour and when you do, carry him outside to potty before you do anything else. Wait for him to have a bowel movement before bringing him back in. Some pups get their jobs done quickly; others may take half an hour. If he's being slow, walk around the yard encouraging him to follow you. Walking tends to get things moving, so to speak! Always take your German Shepherd purebred AKC puppy outside first thing when you let him out of the crate and always CARRY the puppy to the door!! This is important. Puppies seem to have a reflex peeing action that takes affect the moment they step out of the crate onto your carpeting. If you let him walk to the door, he'll probably have an accident before he gets there. Part of this training method is psychological you want the puppy to feel grass under his feet when he goes to the bathroom, not your carpeting! After another short play period, take the pup outside before bedtime, and then tuck him into his crate for the night. If he cries during the night, he probably has to go out. Carry him outside to potty, and then put him back in the crate with a minimum of cuddling. If you play with him, he might decide he doesn't want to go back to sleep! Puppies usually sleep through the night within a few days.   Establish a regular schedule of potty trips and feedings for your German Shepherd puppy. This helps you to control the times he has to go out and prevent accidents in the house. First thing in the morning before you have your coffee carry the puppy outside. He can then come in and play for an hour. Feed breakfast in the crate and don't let him out again for a half hour. Then carry him back outside for potty. Puppies usually have a bowel movement after each meal so give him time to accomplish it. Now he can have another inside playtime for an hour or so. Don't give him free run of the house, use baby gates or close doors to keep him out of rooms he shouldn't go in. (Puppies are notorious for finding out of the way corners to have accidents in keep him in an area where you can watch him). If you give him too much freedom too soon, he'll probably make a mistake. After playtime, take him outside again then tuck him into his crate for a nap. For the first few months , you'll be feeding your German Shepherd puppy 2 meals per day. Repeat the same procedure throughout the day: potty outside first thing in the morning, one hour playtime, potty, meal in crate, potty, playtime,then second meal,potty, etc.  The playtimes for your German Shepherd puppy can be lengthened as the puppy gets older and is more reliable. Eventually the puppy will be letting you know when he needs to go out but remember if you ignore his request or don't move quickly he'll have an accident! I know this sounds like a lot of work and it is! The results of all this running' in and out will pay off in a well-housebroken puppy and clean floors.     A word about paper-training: It seems harmless to leave papers about just in case and for us who work all day, it's a necessity. However, paper-training your pup will make the overall job of housetraining that much harder and take longer. By only allowing the pup to relieve itself outside, you're teaching it that it's not acceptable to use the house. Using newspapers will override this training. Also, be aware that many puppies get the notion that going potty NEAR the papers is as good as going ON them! If you must use newspapers when you're gone, keep to the regular housetraining schedule when you're at home. Get the puppy outside often enough and don't leave papers out just in case.  Keep your dog's yard picked up and free of old stools. Many dogs choose an area to use as a bathroom. If left to become filthy, they'll refuse to use it and do their business in the house instead! If your dog has to be tied up when he's outside, keeping the area clean is even more critical. If you could only move about in a small area, you wouldn't want to lie next to the toilet, would you? Picking up stools helps you keep tabs on your dog's health as well. Your German Shepherd puppy stool should be firm and fairly dry. Loose, sloppy stools can be an indication of Overfeeding , worms, health problems, stress or digestive upset after chewing something. If your Purebred German Shepherd Puppy Has an Accident Remember, this method of housetraining is based on PREVENTING accidents. By faithfully taking the dog out often enough, you'll get faster results than if you discipline the puppy after the accident has already happened. If you puppy makes a mistake because you didn't get him out when you should have it's not his fault! If you catch the pup in the act, stay calm. Holler NO while you scoop the puppy up immediately - don't wait for him to stop piddling - and carry him outside to an area he's used before. As you set him on the ground, tell him THIS IS WHERE YOU GO POTTY!  and praise him as he finishes the job. Leave him out a few more minutes to make sure he's done before bringing him back in.   ANY other corrections such as rubbing his nose in it, smacking with newspapers, yelling, beating or slapping only confuse and scare the dog. If you come across an old accident, it really doesn't pay to get too excited about it.  Dogs corrections have to come within a second,otherwise he won't understand what you're so mad about.  Your German Shepherd puppy will act guilty , because he knows you're mad at him. He has no real idea why. Point the spot out to him and say WHAT IS THIS? But that should be limit of your correction.  Dogs don't need much variety in their diets so you're not harming yours by staying to one brand of dog food for your German Shepherd puppy. The BEST brand right now of dog food for your German Shepherd puppy and dog is ORIJEN.  If you make a change of type of dog food, do it gradually by mixing a little of the new food with the old, gradually increasing the amount of new food every day. A sudden change of water can cause digestive upset, too, especially if you have WELL WATER. If you're moving or traveling, take along a couple gallons of home water to mix with the new. Distilled water from the grocery store can also be used. If you've worked hard with this training method, there won't  be many accidents! But, if there is one, Put your German Shepherd puppy  away ,out of sight while you clean up a puddle. Dog mothers clean up after their babies but you don't want your puppy to think that YOU do, too! . There are several home-made and commercially available odor killers that are helpful. In a pinch, plain white vinegar will work to help neutralize the odor and the ammonia in the urine. (Don't use a cleaner with ammonia - it'll make it worse!) Sprinkle baking soda on the spot to soak up moisture and to help neutralize odor, vacuum when dry. At the pet store, you can find a good selection of products that may be more effective. A diarrhea stain on carpeting or upholstery can be lifted with a gentle solution of lukewarm water, dishwashing soap and white vinegar. Puppies are attracted to urine odors and their noses are much better than ours! Even when using a commercial odor killer, a teeny residue will be left behind that our dogs can smell. Keep an eye on that spot in the future! This remarkable scenting ability does have an advantage if you must paper-train your dog and he doesn't know what newspapers are for yet, house-breaking pads are available at your pet store. They are treated with a mild attractive odor (too weak for us to smell), so your puppy will gladly use them!

Ready to be Pack Leader?

If have decided to bring home a new German Shepherd puppy,  you have to be the pack leader,if your puppy is going to develop into a well-mannered new addition to your family, instead of a burden.
 Dominance, and German Shepherd puppy pack leadership are important concepts that every puppy owner has to comprehend in order for you to be a successful owner. Puppies are animals, not human beings. They are pack animals by nature. Every pack has a leader, known as the alpha, who dominates and leads the other members of the pack.
The German Shepherd pack leader is the boss who makes all the decisions for the entire pack.
Usually the pack will have an alpha male and an alpha female. All the other members of the pack form a hierarchy of dominance and submission where everyone has a place.

In your home, you and your family become your puppies pack, as do any other dogs you may have. It is your responsibility to establish yourself in the alpha position. If you fail to do this, your German Shepherd puppy or dog will do it as a natural behavior. Many people assume that they are automatically in charge just because humans are superior to animals. But are you really the pack leader? Does your dog know it?

  Being the pack leader does not mean you have to be big and aggressive, Nor does it mean that there has to be a battle of wills after which you are the victor.
 Anyone can be the pack leader. It is an attitude an air of authority. It is the basis for mutual respect, and provides the building blocks of communication between your German Shepherd dog or puppy and you.

A pack animal becomes a full fledged member of the group by a process called subordination. With dogs, subordination begins shortly after the third week of life and continues throughout early development. Most normal, healthy puppies are basically pushy animals, and will try to advance as far as possible within the social order of the pack. The key to successfully rearing a puppy is to establish yourself as the pack leader and then maintain that position for the life of your dog.

So how do you become the pack leader? In the wild, the adults of the pack begin early to teach the cubs the rules. The adults grab pups around the head or neck and gently, but firmly, pin them to the ground. The cubs learn to greet the adults with respect by approaching them using a slightly crouching posture, with ears back, tail down and wagging, and they lick the adults' muzzles. The cubs do this as a sign of respect and affection, not out of fear. It is called the submissive display, and its function is to keep peace and harmony within the pack.

Leadership exercises can confirm humans as the pack leader of the family pack. Once you establish this relationship, your puppy will seek you out. He will want to be with you and will treat you with respect and affection and will obey you.
 After he learns to submit to handling, all other tasks such as grooming, nail clipping, cleaning ears, and medicating will be easier to accomplish. But first he must learn that you have the power to handle him, and that handling will not lead to any harm. He must come to trust you entirely. These exercises will help establish leadership but should not be used with an older dog who has learned to use his teeth to get his way. Exercises one and two are recommended only for small puppies up to three months of age. Exercises three and four are suitable for pups up to six months of age as long as there's no problem with aggression. Be gentle but firm with all exercises, as you would with a baby human.

Sit on the floor, then pick your pup up off the floor with both hands supporting him just behind his front legs, facing you. Hold him away from you at arms length. Look directly into his eyes. Growl at him if he struggles, using a low guttural sound. Hold him till he relaxes.
 
 Vary the time you hold him in this position from 15 to 45 seconds. Vary the location. Sit on the floor and cradle your pup, placing one hand under his head and the other supporting his back so that he is upside down on his back, and up in the air. Hold a larger puppy across your lap. Hold the pup for 15 to 45 seconds, using the same growl as in exercise 1 if he struggles. Hold him until he relaxes. If your puppy is large, substitute this exercise for the first two. Straddle your pup, with one of your legs on each side of him. You should be facing the same direction as your dog. Lock your fingers together under his chest, just behind the front legs. Lift his front legs off the ground for 15 to 45 seconds. If he struggles, growl at him till he is quiet. Place your dog on the floor with all four legs pointing away from you. Hold him firmly by the neck with one hand, and press down on his midsection with the other hand. Talk to him softly after he is quiet. It might take two or three minutes to get him to relax. If he exposes his belly to be rubbed, you are on the right track. Do not allow him to struggle, get up, or nip. Always praise him lavishly in a quiet tone when he relaxes. Now is also a good time to handle all four paws and look briefly into his mouth so he can get used to tolerating your handling him gently. Be sure to do this exercise four or five times a day at first. Taper off as the pup gets more used to you and accepts your leadership.

Eye Contact  with your German Shepherd

Eye contact is also one of the ways order is kept in a pack. Only a pack leader may use eye contact to remind everyone who is in charge. When you initiate eye contact, you express your dominant position. Encourage your puppy to maintain eye contact for several seconds, making it a pleasant experience. Do not force him to do so. Use the term "watch me" and always praise him the instant you have eye contact. However, you do not want to try to do this with a dog who thinks he is already in charge of things. The dog must know you are the leader first. Otherwise you will begin a stare-down contest. An alpha dog will not be willing to be first to avert his eyes. If you are the first to avert or even blink your eyes, it will help confirm the dog's alpha status.

There are many German Shepherd puppy pack leader activities you can use as part of a daily training routine.
 Probably the single most important command your dog can learn is "sit." You can incorporate "sit" into everyday situations as a reminder that you are in charge of things. Tell your German Shepherd puppy or dog to "sit" before you feed him,  play,or he goes out the door.
This shows the dog that he must respond to you before indulging in his own pleasures. If he is obedience trained, put him in a down-stay while you prepare his dinner. Your dog will accept you as pack leader as long as you are consistent and fair in your demands.

 If he does, a scruff shake is necessary, followed by no attention from you for 10 to 15 minutes. The scruff is the loose skin around the dog's neck. If your pet growls or snaps and you are not afraid to handle him, grab him firmly by the scruff with both hands, stare him in the eyes, and shake him. Then put him in his crate for 15- 20 minutes and ignore him.  When the issue is settled immediately, it usually ends the matter.

For many dogs, even the slightest change in daily routines can be upsetting. In response, your German Shepherd dog may start acting disruptive or destructive, especially when left home alone. He may resort to urinating and defecating indoors, howling, chewing, pacing or trying to escape from the house or yard. When these issues are accompanied by signs of panic, distress or depression, they may indicate your German Shepherd puppy suffers from separation anxiety.
 
  When treating a dog with separation anxiety, the goal is to resolve the underlying issue by teaching him to enjoy—or at least tolerate—being left alone. 

If your German Shepherd dog suffers mild separation anxiety, counter conditioned it—or help your dog associate being alone with something good, like a tasty treat—might reduce or resolve the problem. To develop this kind of association, offer your German Shepherd dog a Food dispensing toy  every time you leave the house.

 Providing lots of physical and mental stimulation to your especial German Shepherd is a vital part of treating many behavior problems, especially those involving anxiety.
  Exercise can enrich your dog’s life, decrease stress and provide appropriate outlets for normal behavior.
Plus, a tired dog doesn’t have much excess energy to burn when he’s left alone!

Prepare your Imported German Shepherd for your departure: Many dogs know when you’re about to leave the house and will get anxious or prevent your departure altogether. One way to tackle “predeparture anxiety” is to teach your dog that when you pick up your keys or put on your coat, it doesn’t always mean you’re leaving. For example, put on your boots and coat, and then just sit down and watch TV instead of leaving.

  If your German Shepherd anxiety falls more on the severe side of things, start slow, try getting your high quality German Shepherd Puppy used to being alone by starting small or “desensitizing” him to the cause of his fear. Begin by introducing several short periods of separation that don’t produce anxiety, and then gradually increase time spent apart over the course of a few weeks. Just like what you would do with the crate training.

 Best thing for separation anxiety is in fact, that your German Shepherd puppy never experiences the full-blown version of whatever provokes his anxiety or fear. Avoid leaving your dog alone except during desensitization sessions. If possible, take your dog to work or arrange for a family member or dog sitter to come to your home during the day.
 

 All greetings to your Best German Shepherd, hellos and goodbyes, should be conducted in a very calm manner. When saying goodbye, just give your Elite German Shepherd a pat on the head, say goodbye and leave. Similarly, when arriving home, say hello to your unique German Shepherd and then don’t pay any more attention to him until he’s calm and relaxed.
 

  Anxious behaviors are not the result of disobedience or spite, so please don’t scold or punish your bad behaving German Shepherd if he doesn’t overcome his fear quickly.
  If you punish him, he may become even more upset and the problem could get worse. Be patient, and work with your pet until he feels comfortable and enjoys spending time alone; He is like a kid, and slowly ,but surely , he will become The Best behaving German Shepherd you'll ever have.

  During the hot summer months, it is very important to keep your German Shepherd dog cool. Dogs can overheat very quickly; it can take only a couple of minutes for a dog to overheat. Your dog's normal body temperature ranges between 100 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit and when his/her body temperature elevates above 106 F, his/her normal cooling mechanisms become overwhelmed, which can result in a serious condition which may require medical attention. High temperatures can lead to dehydration and blood thickening which puts extreme strain on the heart and results in blood clotting and subsequent death of the tissue. 
 
Symptoms of a heat stroke:

• Bright red tongue
• Coma
• Diarrhea
• Rapid and frantic panting
• Staggering, moving erratically
• Thick saliva
• Vomiting
• Wide eyes

To prevent your German Shepherd dog from getting a heat stroke, here are some things you can do: 

• Keep the dog in a shaded, cool, and well-ventilated area during the hot hours of the day.
• Limit the amount of exercise; exercise your German Shepherd dog early in the morning while it is still not too hot; hot pavement and concrete can burn the pads on your German Shepherd feet,so always inspect them upon returning.
• If your German Shepherd puppies is always outside, have a tree planted/grown over his kennel.
• Do not leave your dog in a parked car unattended even if it is for only a few minutes! The temperature inside the car can rise very quickly . NEVER LEAVE HIM IN THE CAR ALONE.
• Have water available at all times, even big dishes so your trained German Shepherds can wet their paws, refresh and cool down.
• If you are going for a walk with your German Shepherd dog for sale or to the park, bring a bottle  of cold water with you. If you are at the beach, make sure you let your German shepherd pups go for a swim every hour or so which will keep him/her cool.