Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge
Hi Everyone,
German Shepherd Dogs, adults and puppies love to swim.Even young puppies are fearless when it comes to water.My daughter loves to walk our new litters around a little trail that goes around one of our ponds.One day while walking a six-week-old litter in late Fall she heard a splash and turned to see a little male puppy that jumped in the cold water and was swimming to the middle of the pond.She panicked and was afraid that she would have to jump in the freezing water to save the puppy.However, she started clapping her hands and calling at the puppy and he turned and swam straight to her and the shoreline.He was cold but okay once she dried him off.
Over the years, we have on occasion heard the bad news that our customers’ German Shepherd Dog, puppy or adult had drowned in their pool because the dog did not know where the shallow end was located.The shepherd had either jumped or fallen in the pool when nobody was around and then drowned when they could not get out.
Practice Pool Safety With Your German Shepherd Dog, Puppy or Adult
If you own a pool, you can safely own a German Shepherd Dog, but you must get them in the pool and show them the shallow end and the steps.If you purchase a puppy or adult in the winter when the water is too cold to get in with them, you either must show them the shallow end by you staying outside of the pool or do not allow them unsupervised access to the pool.If you decide to show them how to get out when the water is cold have a long pole with a net to scoop them up if they panic before finding the shallow end.
Having a pool with a German Shepherd Dog can be fun and safe.However, take the time to make sure they are safe.
German Shepherd Dogs Love the Water
Ask me a Question and I will provide my opinion. Also, please see our web page: KeystoneGermanShepherds
Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge
Hi Everyone,
Introducing two or more dogs to a new German Shepherd Dog puppy can be an anxious experience because you will be worried that the older or larger dogs could potentially hurt the puppy.The first thing you must remember to do is present a relaxed mental attitude so that your existing dog(s) does not become anxious or nervous at the time of the introduction.So take a deep breath and carry your new puppy into the house and allow your other dog(s) to come up and sniff the new puppy while you sit on the couch loving the new German Shepherd Dog puppy.Once the existing dog(s) lose interest in the new puppy allow the puppy to roam around the house and approach the existing dog(s).If the existing dogs do not lose interest in the new puppy, after several minutes in your lap place the new puppy on the floor and allow the dogs to meet each other.This should be closely monitored by you until you are absolutely sure the older dog(s) will not harm the new puppy.If you have outside dogs then the same exercise can be done in your backyard.
Excited puppies playing
German Shepherd Dogs are Gregarious and Want to Be Part of a Pack
You should have a fair idea about the tolerance level and aggressiveness of the older and larger dog(s); therefore, if a possibility exists for the existing dog to snap at the new German Shepherd Dog puppy, you should do the introduction while the existing dog(s) are on leash, which may require the help of family members.Even if you have an older dog with a solid temperament if it is a shepherd or larger size dog, I would be hesitant to leave the new German Shepherd Dog puppy under 16 weeks-of-age alone with the existing dog without a couple of days of close supervision. One single act of aggression from the older dog intended only to teach the new puppy manners can severely injure the puppy if you are not there to prevent or intervene.After a couple of days of close supervision, you should know if it is safe to leave the dogs together unattended.
If you have friends with dogs then you can do the introduction in the same manner at your friend’s house.The process should be the same if your friend brings their dog(s) to your house.If you are introducing new puppies to each other there is no reason to go through any pretense, just introduce them and enjoy the show as they discover each other.
Puppies Learn Manners From Older Dogs
Puppies and Adults Can Get Along if Properly Introduced
As always with all puppies, any dogs that the puppy comes into contact with should be up to date on all vaccinations.There is little worse than losing a new puppy to parvo or distemper because they came into contact with an unvaccinated dog that was shedding viruses.
Ask me a Question and I will provide my opinion. Also, please see our web page: KeystoneGermanShepherds
Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge
Hi Everyone,
A lot of people are paying more attention today to their health by educating themselves on a healthy diet.They are juicing to increase their nutrient intake.Juicing is becoming more popular than ever before as people learn more about nutritional needs and how to meet those needs in a world of processed foods.Besides being delicious, juicing fresh vegetables and fruit it is particularly healthy.I personally have been juicing breakfast and lunch somewhat inconsistently for the last two years.I get away from juicing because I get busy and do not have the time to purchase the vegetables and fruits and to prepare them.It does take a lot of time out of your daily schedule to juice on a regular basis.However, I keep coming back to because I feel and look much better when I juice. I lose weight, have more energy, and my complexion improves, and I have a definite healthy glow when I juice on a regular basis.In addition, it only takes a couple of days to start to feel and see the positive effect of juicing.
Healthy Puppy Befitting From Juicing Pulp in His Diet
Today, I encourage you to start juicing if you do not and if you do juice do the same for your German Shepherd Dog by including the pulp left over from juicing in your German Shepherd Dog’s diet. The pulp leftover from juicing is similar to the predigested stomach contents of herbivores.
Carnivores and certain omnivores such as lions, dogs, wolves, coyotes, and foxes in nature, after capturing their prey will always first consume stomachs and intestines, which contain predigested vegetation. These predigested contents provide the meat eaters with much-needed nutrients such as complex amino acids, minerals, enzymes, and chlorophyll necessary for maintenance, health, and longevity. These nutrients cannot be found in sufficient levels or in a readily digestible form in most all dry-foods. In addition, many of these basic nutrients are cooked out of the dry-food during processing.
Healthy and Happy Heidelberg German Shepherd Dog, Puppies
Prepare the pulp by bringing it to a boil.By denaturing the proteins, you will further make it more like predigested stomach contents of herbivores. You can also add eggs and fresh meat and cook these items with the pulp, thus making a gruel that you can pour out over your German Shepherd Dog’s dry-food.
Food items that are exceptionally healthy for your German Shepherd Dog include kale, carrots, apples, oranges, grapefruit, berries of all types, grapes only in very small quantities (grapes can be harmful to your dog in large quantities), cranberries, spinach, cucumbers, watermelon, tomatoes, etc.You will have to experiment with ratios both for you and your dog for taste.Too much pulp and your German Shepherd Dog may not eat it.
Grand Champion Heidelberg’s Kodi Enjoys Juice Pulp
Try juicing for yourself and your German Shepherd Dog.I guarantee that you will like the results.As always before dramatically changing your diet or your dog’s diet consult your physician and your veterinarian.
Ask me a Question and I will provide my opinion. Also, please see our web page: KeystoneGermanShepherds
Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge
Hi Everyone,
Traveling with your German Shepherd Dog can be easy and enjoyable when you and your dog are prepared for the trip.German Shepherd Dog, puppies or adults can comfortably travel five to seven hours without having to get out and exercise and relieve themselves as long as they have gone to the bathroom right before leaving.If you are traveling further than five to seven hours you need to plan for a puppy or dog stop.
a Heidelberg German Shepherd Dog Puppy Traveling
We personally prefer to exercise our German Shepherd Dogs of lead; therefore, we try to stop in isolated places such as behind a large church or behind large shopping centers where there are often large areas of grass and little traffic.For those that want to exercise their German Shepherd Dogs on lead, most gas stations and truck stops along the Interstate have designated exercise areas for traveling dogs. An expandable lead is in dispensable for exercising on lead because it allows your German Shepherd Dog to get away from the owner so they feel more comfortable going to the bathroom. For those that are traveling with German Shepherd Dog puppies younger than 16 weeks, you should avoid public potty areas because of the risk of your potentially unprotected puppy being exposed to parvo, distemper, or other communicable diseases.Look for isolated places such as behind Wal-Marts. Everyone that exercises their dogs in a public place should clean up after their dogs.Pack plastic bags with you so you can pick up the feces and throw it in the trash.
Heidelberg German Shepherd Dogs Exercising Behind a Shopping Mall
Once your German Shepherd Dog has stretched their legs for five to ten minutes and relieved themselves, they will be ready to travel another five to seven hours or until you arrive at your destination.
While on your planned dog stop, if you know your German Shepherd Dog, puppy or adult needs to defecate and they will not go after ten minutes, you can gently insert two or three wooden kitchen matches halfway into their rectum.This will get your dog to go to the bathroom within a few minutes.Most German Shepherd Dogs tolerate this well as long as you are gentle.
Heidelberg German Shepherd Dog Looking for a Place to Potty After Being Matched
Sometimes while traveling a German Shepherd Dog will get a nervous stomach resulting in diarrhea.This is not a problem as long as you are prepared.While traveling you should always have a collar on your dog so that they cannot slip out of it and a leash readily available.Therefore, if you have to pull off on the side of the highway your German Shepherd Dog and you will be safe.If your German Shepherd Dog needs to go to the bathroom while you are driving they will become anxious and let you know by either whining or barking.Look for the closest and safest place to pull over and pull over connecting the leash to the collar before you open the door.If it is an emergency bathroom break, your dog may surprise you by darting out the first open vehicle door running out into traffic if you do not have them on lead.
Tomorrow I will continue this discussion with for more travel tips for you and your German Shepherd Dog.
Ask me a Question and I will provide my opinion. Also, please see our web page: KeystoneGermanShepherds
Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge
Hi Everyone,
Today’s discussion is anything but glamorous.However, it is an important discussion for the health of your German Shepherd Dog and possibly your family.German Shepherd Dogs are unusually clean and try to get as far away from their feces as possible, and often will choose one specific area in the yard to defecate.Our Heidelberg German shepherd Dogs will actually try to bury their feces after defecating. They do this by scratching soil and grass over their poop after they defecate. As the owner of a German Shepherd Dog, it is your responsibility to clean up after them.If you live in a subdivision consider your neighbors olfactory sensitivity especially in the summer. Be a good neighbor and pick up your dog’s poop daily.
German shepherd Dog Covering Up After Pooping
All dogs will get stomach worms and worms such as hook, tape, and round contaminate the environment with their eggs when your German Shepherd Dog defecates.Worms such as hook and round worms can infest your yard with their eggs for months and in some cases for years if you allow the feces to break down and spread into your soil. The infected backyard can become a low risk health hazard to small children that could become infected if they contact the infected soil and then stick their hands in their mouth.For hookworms a person can become infected by simply contacting the infected soil with bare skin.Fortunately, the hookworms cannot survive in the human body and soon die upon entering the skin, and thus become a slightly annoying rash for a few days. This rash is known as “plumbers itch”. In addition, if you allow your yard to become infested with worm eggs, your dog will continue to be re-infected costing you unnecessary money to treat your German Shepherd Dog for worms.
Grand Champion Heidelberg’s Kodiak v Queridad Enjoying a Clean Yard
Feces left in your yard will also attract and breed biting flies and the common houseflies.If flies drive you nuts in the summer then do yourself a favor and keep your yard clean and the number of flies around and in your house will decrease.
All the above can be avoided by simply picking up the poop every day.Most German Shepherd Dogs will defecate two to four times a day.It should take you no more than five minutes to keep your German Shepherd Dog healthy, happy and worm free, as well as keep your yard clean.
German Shepherd Dog Pooping
Purchase a Pooper Scooper at your local pet store.The average cost will be approximately twenty dollars, but is well worth it because it allows you to clean up fast and efficiently.
Ask me a Question and I will provide my opinion. Also, please see our web page: KeystoneGermanShepherds
Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge
Hi Everyone,
Choosing the perfect puppy with the personality that best fits your family’s lifestyle and needs can be quite easy once you have decided on the correct reputable breeder.First, you must ask yourself what you want.Are you a jogger that needs a running partner and added security while running public trails?Are you a homebody and not that active?Are you an entertainer and have several people over to your house on a regular basis?Do you live in a bad neighborhood and worry about being burglarized every time you leave your house?Do you live on acreage and have farm animals such as chickens?These are just some of the questions that you may want to answer before to choosing a specific puppy from a particular litter.While if the breeder has done his job well all the puppies in the litter should have the same general temperament, the puppies are individuals and will have different personalities and propensities for certain behaviors.
Heidelberg German Shepherd Puppies are Cute
The following analysis is based upon my interpretation of the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test (Volhard).While I do not accept the theory that there are distinct puppy personality types, I do believe that there is a continuum of personality traits and those puppies can be graded on this scale with some degree of accuracy for discussion purposes.It also must be noted that different litters develop at different rates and that a puppy at eight weeks that grades as a submissive puppy may actually be a very dominate puppy if reexamined at ten weeks.We have used the Volhard for many years and believe it an useful tool for predicting personality tendencies. However, Volhard is not completely accurate in predicting the adult temperament of a German shepherd Dog because environment including training, socializing, life experiences, and time spent with the new owner is more critical for the final expressed personality of the German Shepherd Dog. The below discussion delves into personality types that the new puppy customer should observe and consider while selecting a puppy from a litter.
Cute German Shepherd Puppy Heidelberg German Shepherd Puppies are Cute
The more dominant puppy will appear to be the more rebellious puppy with a lot demonstrated independence.This puppy will not like being held for any period of time and the most dominant puppies will actually try to bite at the person holding them.Dominant puppies will resist the new owners attempt to be the pack leader.This is not the German Shepherd Dog for the new or inexperienced owner.These dogs will make excellent herding dogs and home protection dogs if properly trained.A more dominant puppy would be good for a family placing home protection as a priority or for a rancher wanting help with herding farm animals. However, if improperly trained these can be the dogs that chase cows rather than herd them.Also, for the jogger that is an experienced German Shepherd Dog owner, the more dominant puppy would be good choice.
The independent puppy will not grade as a high in dominance as the dominant German shepherd Dog.However, the independent puppy is dominant, but will be a little more accepting of an inexperienced owner and not look to take the leadership role every time the owner exhibits submissive behaviors.The independent puppy has high confidence and will readily try and explore new things.These self-assured puppies are naturally protective and are not generally too aggressive, but in improper hands may demonstrate dog and/or people aggression.
Cute German Shepherd Puppy Heidelberg German Shepherd Puppies are Cute
The docile German Shepherd Puppy is a good choice for most families and while the moniker of docile sounds derogatory it actually describes a solid, confident puppy that is willing to learn.The docile puppy will be protective, but accepting of strange animals and people. This personality type would be great for families with young children that have very active social lives.
How do I choose
The docile/affectionate German Shepherd Dog puppy will be much as the docile puppy, but requires more affection and reassurance from their owners.These also make excellent puppies for large active families with children.These puppies will often become involved in play or an activity, stopping suddenly to return or look towards the owner as if to ask permission to continue.These dogs would rate as low to medium submissive.
The last puppy personality type is the timorous or true submissive dog that lacks confidence or has very low self-assurance.These puppies are most suited for inactive elderly people that will spend several hours a day with their puppy.With the correct owner these puppies can develop self-confidence and become great companions.They should not be considered if home protection is a priority. These will be the puppies that will run or hide from new people after age of ten-weeks-of-age.
Our Heidelberg German Shepherd Dogs’ personalities generally will range from low dominate to docile/affectionate, which is the personality types that most families are realistically looking for in a German Shepherd Dog. Unless you are a professional trainer that trains military or police attack dogs, you would not want a high dominant dog. The high dominant dog is rare and can become a complete disaster for the dog and new owner if in the wrong hands.
Before scrutinizing the litter you will be choosing your new German shepherd puppy from, you should have fair idea of the personality type that best fits you and your family. Start by getting the entire litter out and observe the litter as the puppies are playing around you. After observing and making mental notes for several minutes play with the puppies and pick them up while trying to recognize specific behaviors such as timidness and confidence. Also, note any aggressive behavior towards the other puppies. Notice any puppies that tend to wander off to explore on their own. These puppies are likely more independent and self-confident and may be a little more of a challenge to train. Ask the breeder his opinion of each of puppy’s personalities.Utilize his opinions because the breeder knows these puppies better than anyone.Also, if the breeder has employees that clean the kennels and feed the puppies and if they are present, ask them for their opinion.
Once you have narrowed your choice down to two or three puppies based on personality types, ask the breeder to put up all the puppies except your two or three choices.Only now start making your decisions on physical attributes such as structure, size, coat length, coat color, markings, etc., respectively.I recommend that you make your decision in the above order giving priority to structure over size, etc.Structure is the most important to form and function and the overall beauty of your German Shepherd Dog.
Heidelberg German Shepherd Puppies are Cute
Good luck and I hope that this has been helpful in choosing your next German Shepherd Dog puppy.
Because this is probably one of the most important discussions I can have regarding German Shepherd Dogs, I will be editing these three posts and adding to them over the next couple of weeks with the plan to add this discussion as a new page on my web page so please revisit these posts as they are refined and improved.
Ask me a Question and I will provide my opinion. Also, please see our web page: KeystoneGermanShepherds
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