Smart Start Program
Congratulations on your new family member and we thank you for choosing Triad K9!
At Triad K9 we have developed a program to start your pup off the right way, to live a long healthy life of obedience and to make the transition into their new home easy for both of you. This article will have information regarding what to do and the right steps to take to help your new pup have a healthy life.
We spend a lot of time teaching the pups, socializing, adjusting different behaviors, and introducing them to various environments. The reason for this is to create a solid character so that you can build a solid foundation with a companion like we have. To start off, let me explain what your new puppy has experienced while they have been under our care. Each pup is marked differently so that we know how to identify each one to keep track of the pups. After birth, starting on the third day of their life, they have undergone K9 stimulation that will set the benchmark for a dog with a very confident attitude. We put our pups through a program that will help them succeed in training and overcome many obstacles both mentally and physically. Once they are older we put them through a series of test to let us know which pups need a certain kind of attention. As the pups start to develop their personalities and establish the order of the litter we start to see which ones are the leaders and which ones are timid, this is a very important stage to watch because at this stage they will set the foundation for adulthood. Each pup has specific needs and we cater to every individual. We want all the puppies to have the same opportunity. We also put them in different situations they have never been in to gain knowledge about things that could make them scared if it were introduced in the wrong way or time.
We have our dogs checked regularly by a veterinarian each year and especially through pregnancy to maintain great health. We have cared for them so much and now it's time for you to take over these little guys and girls. So far we have administered their first shots and have dewormed them. When these pups come home they will need to see your local veterinarian within the first week of ownership. Puppies need to be given a series of vaccinations at 6, 10, 16, and 20 weeks; so you will need to make sure they get their final shots. The reason for this is that every puppy accepts vaccinations at different times and these shots are extremely important so be sure to have them administered by a veterinarian. There are also other parasites that can harm your pup, so be sure to ask your vet what they recommend about heartworm, hook worm and other common parasites.
During the first few days you bring your pup home they will go through a transition from being with their brothers and sisters to their new home. This can be a stressful few days for you and your pup. I recommend making this easy by trying to occupy the pup with a few toys like balls, ropes and other play items. If your pup cries or howls at night one idea is to turn on the radio so he/she won't feel alone. A common place to put your pup is in a bathroom, laundry room or kitchen since most of these rooms have surfaces that are easy to clean. Another great place to keep your pup is a crate. During this time if you plan on keeping them indoors you should start house training because it's never too early. They are very smart and the earlier you address this the easier it is. When house training, as soon as they have their accident you need to quickly show them what they did wrong and then tell them no or whatever command you will use and then quickly take them outside and put them in the yard. Be kind to them because I know this can be frustrating at times, but they will learn as log as you are patient and persistent.
Your puppy will go through the chewing and biting stages starting around 10 weeks old, bones and teething toys will help keep him off the sofa and your favorite pair of shoes. This will be a good time to start training your pup and an opportunity to develop a prey drive and utilize its desire to bite if you plan on training to that extent. But if biting is a trait that you would rather your dog not have, this would be your opportunity to suppress this behavior. You will see your pup go through many stages of growth and learning and some stages can be overwhelming at times. I recommend picking up some training books and educating yourself to really make a healthy impact on his life. It will be very rewarding to have a well trained dog.
Along with training and development their diet is a big part of raising a healthy pet, during the puppy stages they should be fed three times a day. Choose their food wisely and find a diet for them that is high in nutrients. German Shepherds are very energetic and their bodies demand a healthy meal. When picking your dog food out always check the ingredients on the bag of food and see what the first ingredient is, stay away from ones that have corn or corn meal listed first. We choose products that have beef, chicken or lamb listed first as this is better for them than fillers. Also look at the percentage of protein and fiber versus fat. For the first year keep them on puppy food and as they get older switch over to adult food. A German Shepherd, or any other dog for that matter, should never be overweight, it is imperative that you maintain a healthy body weight as this breed can develop hip dysplasia if overweight.
If you plan on keeping your pet outside in a kennel I would suggest you at least get a 10x10x6 lot, but one this small should only be a holding lot while your away. This breed needs a lot of space to satisfy its high drive. During extreme weather pets should have shelter to protect them from the heat or freezing temperatures so be sure to purchase a dog house or you could even build one for half the price. Be sure you leave them plenty of water; animals can suffer seizures if left outside in the heat due to dehydration.
Puppy Vaccination Schedule
6-8 weeks: Distemper, Measles, Parainfluenza (we have already administered this shot)
10-12 weeks: DHPP (stands for Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza and Parvovirus)
14-16 weeks: DHPP
12-24 weeks: Rabies
After your Shepherd is over 1 year of age they will need another DHPP and rabies vaccination; and then every 1-3 years depending on the shot administered.
For more information, or if you have any questions on training, you can reach me on my personal cell phone.
Please feel free to call me at anytime.
Ryan: 336-409-8064