need advice for new member - Page 2

The breeder you bought her from should havae supplied you with a vet check along with you shot record...Did this pup already have a vet check....? 

Kool   read the thread back two months ago about the reaction that vaccines can have......Ill see if I can link you.....you need to be in control of what your vet gives you,,,ask why he does certain things, and start reading up on what german shepherd need...

I dont give rabies vaccines until 6 mos old....do not let your vet give the last shot and the rabies on the same day....some towns havae rabies clinics for 9.00 and if you like , since you havae the pup checked in a week or so...you can wait and unless you have rabies in your neighborhood, or town has some full blown cases.....just do the rabies later...

Do not put your pup on the floor at the vets office before you get done with all the shots....I still dont put any of mine there...I leave everyone in truck and unless its an adult dog, which I dont ever take them for anything, the vet comes out to my truck...I dont want pups in a sick office....

good luck 

Watch her poop for any indication of any thing funny looking.. pick it up immediately and dispose in a bag or garbage..or pit...

kool,

Congratulations on your new puppy. 

They all gave you excellent advice in that you should probably have her examined (just to be sure).  At this age, the quicker you catch something, the better.  The thing with not taking them out until they're fully vaccinated is that their systems are still so vulnerable to anything in the environment.  It's not just contact with other dogs but contact with the feces, etc. of possibly infected animals.  You cannot be too careful until they are fully vaccinated.

Puppies are individuals just as people are, you will have some that may tend to act a little quieter than others but, I'm with YRofT thinking that it sounds like this puppy is a little more subdued than normal or perhaps it's just how we're interpreting what you're writing.  It sounds like this puppy is very shy if nothing else and I would work to develop a bond with her as soon as possible.  (That's the best part though!) 

Good luck with her and keep us posted.  There's no better feeling than bringing that new puppy home for the first time.

Hi there, try and remember the gsd are naturally aloof and reserved it is in there nature, your puppy will loosen up with time and confidence, im not a fan of kennels but that is just my opinion ,must dont agree, these  dogs are very smart and headstrong and need alot of trainning, i just dont believe crates  teach them anything, spending alot of time with them will cure most things, as they live for approval.Its all in the trainning. Good Luck with your new baby Dee

Hi everyone,

thanks for sharing and providing me such great info.

i'm very excited to have this breed and i always wanted in my life.

i did get a shot paper from breeder and it says worms shot and rabbies shot. that's all. he told me to take around 12weeks to vet near my area which will be next week.

since yesterday i feel she looks little active just run around little bit and chew the bone and follow me every where i go and jump little bit then she will sit back again. i feel maybe slowly it will work. i'll try my best to be around with her.

i weighed last nite and she weighs 19lbs. at 101/2 weeks. so i think it should be ok.

regarding eating and drinking water and looks good and peeing a lot as well poo. i don't see any unusual in poo. sure i'll definitely keep on eye on that.

i bought only small pack of iams puppy food sure i'll try to buy solid gold food.

i like about her now is since last nite i left her in garage i made around 5'x7' area and she stays there with water and her bone and she slept quietly whole nite. and always poo outside not even in garage. thats i really like about.

she just goes whever she likes in backyard for poo but is there a way i can have her poo on top of newspaper or it might be hard or impossible. sorry, its just my thoughts.

thank you all.

Hi Kool, I don't post here very often, but I will today.  I don't know where you are at, but in the US there is a 3 day return law.  So I would get that pup to the vet today!!  Yes, GSDs are naturally aloof, but NOT puppies.  You said something about the breeder keeping them in small pens/crates.  This doesn't sound right.  Those pups need exercise.  Did they get out to run and play?  Were they socialized at all?  If the pup is tiring out too quickly, I would be concerned.  It sounds like the pup is only running a few feet before tiring - not good.  It is a shock to move to a new home, but your description of this breeder sounds like a puppy mill.  Why was the pup put in a pen for you to see him?  Why not just let him out?  Did you not have physical interaction with this pup at the breeder's?

I am a natural breeder, so I wouldn't recommend ANY kibble (only raw foods), but be careful of whatever you choose.  Innova, California Natural are at least made here and have a short READABLE list of ingredients.  I also don't vaccinate, so I wouldn't recommend that either.  Can you please tell us who this breeder is? 

BKuhl

  allaboutthedawgs-  You're not a worrywort. lol  I'm a mom so by nature I try not to get overly excited prematurely and rather wait it out a few days to let nature take it's course.  If I still don't see the slightest improvement then it's off to the doctor's we go.  I was quick to offer some reassurance to the poster since my pup was showing these similar signs the first week or so.  I gave it some time and he slowly day by day started feeling more comfortable with his new surroundings and snapped out of the lazy stage.  Oh how I miss that stage now. lol 

Kool-  One thing to mention to you if you don't already know...when you decide to switch the food to solid gold; do not go straight from Iams to Solid Gold without mixing the 2 foods gradually using less of the Iams.  You will have a problem with runny stool.  Even if you mix the 2 you may still see diahrea for a few days maybe even a week til her body gets used to the change but after that it should be normal again.  If she'd got her shots up to date I think it's fine to take her on walks but avoid places like petsmart and dog parks even when the pup gets older.  Too many dogs entering these places peeing, pooping and just not sure if their owners take as good care of their dogs health as some of the rest of us do.  So better to be safe than sorry I avoid them so my dog doesn't get sick.  For socialization I just take my pup on walks with the kids and my other dog in the neighborhood, I take him in the car so he gets used to it, we goto the kids sporting events so he gets to see people, kids, other animals, expossure to different sounds, cars.  Your pup will probably always follow you around from this day forward. lol  It makes going to the bathroom interesting when I have not 1 but 2 of them squeezing in there with me to lay on the floor.  They look like a big shag carpet. lol  My older dog tends to go his own way in the house and doesn't pester me as much as the pup.  The pup is at my side the minute I sit down. lol  You're really gonna enjoy this breed.  But I caution you it's addictive and one is almost never enough.  I won't be surprised if you come back in a year from now and tell us you have a couple more. lol  Best to both of you.

thank you all for providing me info. i really appreciated.

i manage to take her to vet nearby my house and vet checked her thoroughly and nothing he found wrong with her.

but vet was surprised that dog is pretty quiet. but there's nothing he could say.

other than that i weighed her last nite with my weigh scale i thought to be 19lbs but my scale wasn't correct as i'vn't used this thing for a long time now and vet weighed in today and found she is 13lbs only. they told me she doesn't have good weight.

vet gave me a sample of scientific diet dry food and asked me to provide sometime. also he gave me hills diet canned food and asked me to mix with iams puppies food and i did mix with canned today my dog ate like crazy.

around midday she was sleeping and walking only but since this evening she is running around and chewing her bone and running here and there. maybe good sign :) lets hope.

my question is how can i increase her weight. can i provide her 4 times is best idea or should i provide some other foods....

would be glad to hear.

thanks much.

a 10 1/2 pup does not have its shots up to date    the pup only has one and possible two   actually should only havae one....and if she gave it a rabies shot already     that is not good.......the pup should not go outside the yard that you know never had parvo or distemper in....do not tak e the pup down the street   where do you think parvo is gotten     dogs run thru the streets in the fields and down the alley , all over,.,,,,,,,it is airborne and you can get it off the sole of your shoes if you go  in someones yard that has it.....The shots are not finished until pup is 14-16weeks old.

Rabies should not be given till 6 - 12 mos   preferrably closer to 1 year    I dont care what lawmaker says there is a law in your city or county....they dont breed dogs....and unless you are in an area with any rabies on record this year.....Id wait till at least 6 mos old if you have to ...

Kool: I hate to be the bearer of great news;   you just ran into a bunch of nit pickey breeders,,,,,,,

Good luck        And I disagree with all the post that shepherds are aloof and laid back    thats a shepherd I know nothing about    This is a german shepherd database and not a breed base for couch potatoes......If I had a slow acting , shy puppy , it would be out on cherryhill......Now I realize you dont want a high crazy ball drive puppy,,but a well bred representative of the gsd is robust and bouncing and high in temperament , and wants to grab u and your clothes and tugs and play toys.....keep her busy and start the sitz , and reward with milk bones.,,,not treats with red dye or nitrates in them......small bites...for reward....clap your hands to get her attention and reward her when she comes......u can use meat treats , cut very tiny, not many ,as she wont eat... if the parents of this pup were on site  , you shouldhave seen some reaction as to how the pup will look and turn out,.....     not every pup is the same drive  or same personality.....but I never want a pup that doesnt bounce 1 to two hours after getting to the new home......curious checking every knuk and cranney..........now crying in the kennel and wanting out is a different story,,,,and in a kennel is where it belongs..,,,,but not in the garage,,,,in the kitchen or hall or den ......why shut a puppy in the garage,....it needs to be where it can see you and at night    play music in the room where it is....very quietly, and dont baby it...if she crys    let her.....you may have to get up and take her out , and dont start the paper thing  ;   go out the door and she will be great in a week....at least I think she will .........I hope she will......I keep speaking about how my pups would react .....I think you need to check vet tomorrow and not wait.....then u can return the pup if there is something major......like heart murmur or something drastic...if  she is wormy  that can be taken care of.....let us know what y find out.

hi yellowroseof texas,

                  thanks for your comments. nope she hasn't got rabies yet.

i did check with vet yesterday and everything is perfect. he gave me sample of hills (scientific diet canned food) asked me to mix with her food and since yesterday the dog is running around.

i'm thinking to feed four times instead three with some canned food mixed like one spoon so she can gain her weight. will that help?

thanks

I don't know how people can advise someone to not give ANY vaccinations. Are they going to replace the puppy when it dies from parvo? Are they going to pay their medical bills when they get some nasty virus that could have been prevented with a vaccine? Not likely.

I do not believe in over-vaccinating, but at the same time, there is a REASON they were made, and that is because they help, 99 out of 100 cases (just giving a generic number). Reactions to vaccines are few and far between.

I would advise them to follow whatever their breeder's CONTRACT states. I have had people tell me they changed foods, vaccine protocols, etc, upon the advice of their veterinarian. I simply tell them that if they choose to do so, after reading and signing a contract stating otherwise, they can go to their vet for a replacement if anything happens to their pup.  ;)

Sorry to get off topic, but I feel strongly enough about this to say something......

-Melanie