https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/spot-puppy-scam/

By Yasmine Ali, M.D.Jul 02, 2020  

A well-trained German Shepherd Dog (GSD) is a joy to live with, one of many reasons why this is America’s second-most popular dog breed. Making sure you bring out the best of this remarkable breed starts with puppy training, when your GSD is most impressionable.

Puppies of all breeds have a critical socialization window that closes at 12 to 16 weeks of life, and your GSD puppy is no exception. In fact, for GSDs, who by nature are protective guardians, socialization is extra important so that your puppy learns which strangers are friendly and not a threat.

GSDs are very observant, and your puppy will pick up on your cues and reactions around new people and new situations. During this critical period, having exposure to many different kinds of people in non-threatening situations will help your puppy be confident among friendly strangers rather than fearful or aggressive. And even during times of social and physical distancing, you can still socialize your puppy safely.

Proper socialization cannot be overemphasized for this breed; as Adams notes, “The foundation for most training is confidence. It is critical that the GSD puppy is well socialized from an early age onward. Safely exposing the puppy to new sights, sounds, and smells is absolutely critical for development. Good socialization translates to confidence.”

Certified dog trainer and CGC evaluator Jacqui Foster, CPDT-KA, echoes this sentiment: “I tend to lean more towards developing self-confidence in the puppy. For this I recommend short, fun, three-minute games that engage the puppy with the owner as well as in noises, weird and uneven surfaces, family members, etc., throughout the day. A confident puppy is a happy puppy.”

During this period, be sure to expose your GSD to the many different elements of daily life and routines you will want them to take in stride as adults. For instance, GSDs need regular grooming to control shedding and maintain coat and skin health, particularly during those seasonal times (usually twice a year) when these dogs “blow their coats.” So you should introduce your puppy to basic grooming tools, like combs, brushes, and nail clippers, early on—going slowly at first and making it a fun experience.

This is also a good time for crate training, which Adams recommends as well. GSD trainer and dog sports enthusiast Alexa Hagood, LVMT, agrees: “Crate breaks, even when brief, can help the puppy become acclimated to going in the crate and having some alone time.” She notes that this can help reduce the risk of a puppy developing separation anxiety, and recommends beginning with using the crate for feeding times (for five to ten minutes inside the crate), and at times when the owner needs to do daily chores.

Crate training is an invaluable tool for facilitating housetraining, which almost all GSDs take to quickly and easily. In fact, many GSD owners will find that this is one of the easiest breeds to housetrain, as long as constant supervision and consistency are provided.

The German Shepherd Dog’s work ethic is legendary, and you can encourage your dog’s best working traits with early and ongoing training. GSDs excel at obedience, so begin teaching your puppy basic commands like sit, down, and stay, as well as loose-leash walking, from an early age. Enrolling in a puppy obedience class can be extremely helpful both for teaching these commands as well as socialization, and it’s not too early to begin thinking about CGC training as well.

Begin teaching your GSD to come when called as soon as possible. It takes a lot of time, practice, and patience to get a reliable recall, but this skill is well worth it, as it is one that may save your dog’s life one day.

Learning to control their impulses is important for all puppies, and for the GSD, it can be one of the most important ways to curb problem behaviors to which this breed is prone if allowed to become bored: behaviors such as excessive barking, digging, aggressive chewing, and inappropriate chasing (due to their prey drive, GSDs have been known to chase everything from cats to cars).

The key to impulse control is getting your dog to focus on you. This will have beneficial effects for all the rest of your training efforts, especially in AKC dog sports like Obedience and Rally.

Require that your puppy sit before getting food, playing with an exciting toy, going outside to play, or any other favorite activity. As your GSD puppy advances in obedience training and knows more commands, you can require more advanced commands or tricks in order to receive treats or play From 9 Months to 24 Months

Dogs of different breeds and sizes mature at different ages, and while one year of age is commonly considered the end of puppyhood in general, a German Shepherd Dog may not reach an adult level of maturity before the age of two or three (and males tend to reach this stage later than females). So continuing to work on impulse control, improve obedience skills, and advance to training in more focused activities like tracking, scent work, protection work, agility, and herding—all of which (and more) are capabilities of this breed—must continue throughout this period and then be reinforced as your GSD reaches adulthood.

Keep in mind that this is a breed that thrives on constant and consistent work and training, and loves to have a job—or many jobs!—to do. If you can provide your GSD with outlets for their intelligence and versatility, both you and your dog will reap the rewards.

Yasmine S. Ali, MD, is a cardiologist and writer based in Tennessee, where she lives with three Canine Good Citizens, including an AKC-registered German Shepherd Dog.

How old was your dog when he was neutered? It is becoming increasingly common to see puppies in shelters and rescue groups being neutered at very young ages, sometimes as young as seven weeks old. Clearly preventing unwanted litters is important and generally the driving force behind puppies being neutered early. But are there any long-term health problems linked to early neutering?

Previously vets weren’t recommending puppies to be neutered before six months of age but in recent years this is shifting. Dr. Tory Waxman, Chief Veterinary Officer and co-founder of human-grade dog food brand Sundays for Dogs, Inc. explained that the neutering of puppies known as “pediatric neutering” is increasingly common particularly with shelters and rescues “with the goal of preventing unwanted litters and subsequent pet overpopulation.” Dr. Waxman notes that “while there is understandably motivation to prevent overpopulation, pediatric spay/neuter does not come without risks.”

One of the primary concerns associated with neutering young puppies is that the neutering procedure not only removes your puppy’s ability to reproduce (usually the goal) but you are also impacting a dog’s hormones. This shift in hormones can have an impact on a dog’s temperament and behavior when they reach adulthood. Many people opt for early neutering hoping to prevent some of the more challenging or unwanted behaviors that can be associated with unneutered dogs including marking, humping etc. However, early neutering can backfire in terms of your dog’s behavior. Dr. Waxman noted that early neutering when dogs are still puppies has been shown to lead to an increase in aggression.

Dr. Waxman explains that neutering early “can predispose certain breeds to cancers more commonly seen in altered individuals (such as lymphoma and bone cancer).” In addition, one of the primary reasons to delay neutering is to protect your dog’s growing joints. “Puppies that were altered at a young age may be predisposed to orthopedic issues in addition to certain types of cancer” Dr. Waxman explained. Particularly for large breed puppies, and giant breed puppies, early neutering can have significant impacts on the orthopedic development of these dogs which can lead to life-long complications, pain, and injuries. “In general, current research suggests that spaying or neutering large breed dogs at a younger age puts them at a higher risk for cancer and orthopedic issues as compared to their small breed counterparts” Dr. Waxman advises. Neutering early means that it will take longer for a dog’s growth plates to close, which can mean they will grow taller, and can be at an increased risk of injury during this growing period. Regardless of when your dog is neutered, “it is important to wait until growth plate closure before starting any intense activity (running long distances, agility, etc.)” advises Dr. Waxman.

The best age to neuter is going to mostly be based on your dog’s breed and size. “It is important to weigh the benefits and risks of timing spaying and neutering with your veterinarian” encourages Dr. Waxman. The larger breed of puppy you have the longer you will likely want to wait before neutering, with some veterinarians not recommending neutering giant breed puppies until they are well over a year old. As always consult with your veterinarian about what neutering age is going to be right for your dog.

Neutering dogs as young puppies comes with risk, but eventually getting your puppy neutered is important. Beyond the risk of accidental litters being born, neutering removes the risk of testicular cancer. In addition, neutering dogs has been shown to significantly reduce a dog’s risk of developing prostate disease. If you are concerned about unplanned litters an alternative to early neutering is canine vasectomies. A vasectomy makes it impossible for the dog to reproduce, but also preserves the hormones. In these cases, castration can happen later to prevent testicular disease.

One of the primary reasons for neutering, and for neutering early is to prevent unwanted litters of puppies from being born. Dr. Waxman notes that “to my knowledge, there is no conclusive evidence that early spay/neuter has a large impact on population control. Unfortunately, even with early spay/neuter, pet overpopulation is still a major concern.” However, delaying neutering does have some added challenges and increased responsibility for dog guardians. Dogs who have not yet been neutered will tend to get over excited/aroused by the scent of a female dog who might be in heat. Additionally, unneutered male dogs may be more tempted to get out of your yard or dart out the door to roam if they catch the scent of a female dog in heat. This requires extra care, attention and management to keep your young dog safe as he matures before being neutered.

If you have adopted a puppy and the puppy is already neutered, that doesn’t mean your puppy will automatically have negative behavior or health issues. Talk with your dog’s vet about anything you can do to support your puppy’s orthopedic health as they continue to grow. Dr. Waxman advised that your vet may recommend your puppy who was neutered at a young age “remain on a puppy-specific diet for a longer period of time which should be discussed with your veterinarian.” It’s also a good idea to schedule a training session with a positive reinforcement-based trainer in your area to get a sense of your dog’s current temperament, training goals/objectives. This will help you to be ready to proactively work through any behavior challenges which may arise because of or be exacerbated by early neutering.

Potty training a German Shepherd puppy doesn’t need to be stressful.

When pups are born they eat, poop and pee in the den.  Thanks to mom the den is never smelly or unhygienic.  Part of mom’s job is to clean up the mess.

The benefit of this is conditioning to keep ‘clean living quarters’ has already begun.

One downside of owners taking pups at 6 or 8 weeks is they never learn from mom to ‘do their business outside’.

But it’s not a train smash, it’s just up to you to teach your new German Shepherd puppy where the appropriate place is to relieve herself.

Dogs are context bound.  This means once they learn a habit they’ll keep doing it.

For example: if a puppy learns to poop and pee on the grass instead of your paved driveway she’ll always go on the grass.

Your German Shepherd’s tummy is ‘well-oiled’ and efficient.

This is great news for you!

Anywhere between 10 and 30 minutes after eating your pup will want to go to the loo.

All you have to do is feed at regular times and clock-watch.

At approximately 20 days your German Shepherd puppy is able to control her bodily functions.  In other words, she’ll eliminate when necessary.

At 8 to 16 weeks your pup can only hold her pee for approximately 2 hours.  Take her out every hour to be safe.

By the time your pup is 16 weeks, she’ll be able to hold her pee for at least 4 hours.

From 6 months she’ll hold her pee for up to 4 hours.

Get Access to My Daily Schedule and Using only positive methods and never punishment.

How to potty train a German Shepherd puppy is influenced by your attitude in a BIG way.  Attitude will influence how long it takes and how successful the training will be.

Puppies and adult dogs take a lot of cues from our voice and body language.  Rushing your puppy or distracting her with your voice could make her nervous and prevent her from ‘doing her business’.

Stay relaxed and avoid verbal encouragement.

Your German Shepherd puppy will need to ‘go potty’ first thing in the morning, after eating, when waking up from a nap and usually after playing.

Set a routine according to these needs and she’ll learn the process in no time.

Rewarding your puppy each time she gets it right will encourage her to keep doing the right thing.

You can reward with a treat or affection.  This depends on which your pup wants more of.

I use a mixture to avoid my pup from becoming too attached to treats.  

If your puppy has an accident inside don’t punish her.

So no raised voice or shouting.  Punishment will cause negative feelings towards natural body functions.  She might even find sneaky places inside to use as her toilet, which you want to avoid at all costs.

• If you catch her in the act the trick is to interrupt her ‘flow’ by saying the word ‘outside’ (or any word you like).  Just be consistent.
• Then pick her up and take her to where you want her to go.

Although you can easily teach your German Shepherd puppy to use pee pads or paper, it only complicates potty training.

Why?

Well, because at some point they will need to be transitioned from pee pads or paper to outside.  So essentially you’re adding an extra step to potty training.  This can cause confusion and potty training accidents.

Rather go for gold and get your pup conditioned to using their toilet outside!

You will need to sacrifice some sleep for a while.  We can’t expect our pups to ‘keep it in’ for longer than they can.  If accidents are happening at night, you should take your pup out more often.

Accidents will happen, but the more your pup has potty accidents in her personal space, the more comfortable she’ll become doing it.  You really want to avoid this at all costs.

Access to new spaces depends on whether your pup is performing well with potty training.  If she’s having accidents around the house, allowing her more access is setting her and yourself up for failure.

 In general, with training, if a puppy makes a mistake it’s an opportunity to learn.  But with potty training, you really want to avoid giving your puppy the opportunity to eliminate inside.

There are some common mistakes that could make potty training your German Shepherd puppy go less smoothly than you intend.  Watch out for these little things…

1. Feeding your pup too many different foods on a given day.
2. Overfeeding or allowing free feeding and watering.
3. Feeding too close to bedtime.
4. Feeding salty foods like processed meats.
5. Feeding too many treats in one go.
6. Expecting your GSD pup to know instinctively how to let you know she needs to go on a potty run.
7. Leaving your pup alone for too long, which will force her to eliminate inside.
8. Not teaching your puppy a specific cue so she’ll understand she’s here to take care of ‘business’ not for play.
9. Allowing access to lovely, soft absorbent rugs – which are very comfortable to pee on.
10. Not being around when your pup does eliminate outside.  You are responsible for teaching her that you like what she just did.  You must be there to reward her.

Winter months can put a major strain on potty runs. When temp dip below freezing, you might need to be more insistent when taking your pooch out to do their business.

And when it’s bitterly cold out, who can blame them for holding their pee for longer than they should? Or for declining invitations to go for a potty run?

The problem is that the longer your pooch holds their pee, the more chance there is for bacteria build-up. And when your dog’s immune system can no longer fight the bacteria, a UTI can set in.

Some vets have noted an increase in Urinary Tract Infections during the icy-cold months of winter.

1. Keep an eye on water consumption. Like humans, dogs may become reluctant to drink water when it’s cold. This can lead to the dreaded UTI. So if you notice the level of your dog’s water bowl has not dropped it’s time to step in. To encourage drinking, try these tricks; Heat the water to slightly above room temperature, add a dash or broth like chicken or bone, or add something sweet like raw organic honey
2. Feed a moisture-rich food. This can be anything from canned food to adding more raw food to their diet or a home cooked meal and even soaking their kibble in a broth like bone or chicken.
3. Create a covered potty area. This will protect your pooch’s paws from the cold ground. And you can do this inexpensively with straw or wood shavings. If you want something that’s easy to hose off or toss away later, consider a piece of artificial turf.
4. Get your doggo a set of boots. Dog boots are essential when the ground is icy cold. They’ll keep your dog’s paws warm and comfortable. And they offer protection from any ice-melt chemicals often used in cities and urban areas.
5. Keep yourself warm. If you’re not warm enough outside, chances are you’ll feel rushed and your dog will pick up on it. This can lead to them feeling rushed and either not relieving themselves, or only doing it half-way. So make sure you’re warm and snug when it’s time for a potty run.
6. Offer jackpot rewards. Show your dog how pleased you are when they nail their potty run in bitterly cold weather by offering them a bunch of high-value treats.

Potty training should not be stressful, it is a time of bonding.  Your pup is learning house rules to ensure happy co-existence of you and pup for a long time to come.

She’s also learning to trust you, an important foundation for further training.

• Work with nature and build on the conditioning your puppy has already begun to learn from mom.
• Be consistent and rely on your pups natural context bound nature.  Teach her where her toilet is.  She’ll learn fast and make the connection.
• Rely on your German Shepherd pup’s predictable digestive tract and bladder by setting a routine.
• Reward your pup when she gets it right.  This will encourage her to do it again and again.
• Remember that a mistake is a learning opportunity for your German Shepherd puppy.  So stay positive and relaxed.