German shepherd is an extremely affectionate and devoted breed that requires its master to reciprocate all the love and care. All German shepherd dog owners and those who are contemplating to adopt one must be mindful of a few tips that will help in a healthy and wholesome lifestyle for the pet dog.

The first step of pet care begins right at the time of adoption: It’s always good to get the little puppy checked for any illnesses from the veterinarian once it leaves the premises of the breeder. Adopting a pup from an animal loving family/breeder would mean a mentally and emotionally stable dog. Therefore it is always a good idea to find out about the credentials of the breeder.

Train your GSD: Train your four legged pal so that it will listen to your instructions and accept you willingly as the pack leader. Obedience training is more effective when the dog is still very young.
Visit this link and he video for dog owners to train GSDs for the `sit’ and `stay’ commands by just practicing a few minutes of training every day.
German shepherd parents must never underestimate and familiarize the dog with the word `stop’ when it exhibits unruly behavior such as chewing objects, barking out of the window and jumping on guests, and so forth.

Exercise is crucial to the existence of a German shepherd: It is advisable to make the dog exercise for at least a total of 45 minutes each day. This muscular breed was traditionally bred as a work dog and if left idle will often find a negative channel to expel all the pent-up energy. Therefore one must take the dog for a walk a couple of times daily, along with other exercise.

Absence of exercise in Alsatians can cause health issues that plague large breed dogs (issues such as elbow and hip dysplasia/arthritis).

But it is very important to note that over exercising a puppy will lead to it developing in an improper way. Hence do not over do the physical activity regime when a dog is young.

GSD is a large breed that requires a big expanse to run around and gallivant. Pooch parents can visit dog friendly parks where the canine is entitled to open spaces and also gets a chance to befriend other dogs that are present.

What to feed a German shepherd and how much? It is advisable to feed the dog twice a day. An adult will weigh between 60 to 90 pounds. According to the National Research Council of the National Academies the listed caloric requirement for this breed is between 1740 to 2100 calories a day for an active German shepherd and 1272 to 1540 calories daily for not so active or older dogs; this will ensure that the inactive GSD doesn’t gain unnecessary weight.

Also its is interesting to note that a GSD is given a puppy specific diet till the age of 6 months only unlike other dog breeds that are fed puppy food for the whole first year. The early change over to adult food in GSDs is done to avoid rapid abnormal growth in large breeds.

As per the standards set by the Association of American Feed Control, commercial food for this breed must contain 18 percent protein and 5 percent fat for adults and 22 percent protein along with 8 percent fat for puppies and lactating bitches.

The first ingredient of the dog food must be protein such as poultry, fish or any other form of whole meat. The following ingredients must include carbohydrates, grains, fats & vegetables that are listed in a decreasing order depending upon their weight. Care must be taken that the dog food is free of corn as a source of protein as it is not easily digestible.

Long haired German shepherds need to cool down: India is a tropical country. It experiences hot & humid climatic conditions therefore if you own one and live in an area that experiences long spells of heat or humidity it is important you provide the dog with enough water and shade while outdoors and avoid too much activity on hotter days.

Whether short or long haired, German shepherds in general are fond of drinking water, thus a bowl full of clean drinking water must be accessible to the pooch at all times.
Grooming and regular visits to the vet:

Bathe your furry buddy once a month. The shepherd can be taken to a grooming parlor or given a bath at home.

[Image Source: muddy-pups.co.uk]

Sometimes allow your vet, if he may be open to carry out the bath. This way the doctor is able to detect ear infections that your beloved may be suffering from. You can also get the pet’s nails shortened at the vet’s clinic; long nails will prove to be a painful hindrance in your dog’s movement.

Regular visits to the animal doc will ensure your four legged family member gets all the vaccinations timely. Also appropriate de-worming medications will be provided to the dog to be consumed on a monthly basis. This will avert your furry pal from getting worms. In case the dog is tested positive for worms, then a suitable medication will be administered for effective treatment.

German Shepherd Dogs are by far one of the most intelligent dog breeds in the world and thus they are immensely popular as pets and are indispensible to every nation’s security forces be it the national army or various police departments.