Question Re: Puppy Needs - Page 1

I am picking up 2 pups from Germany ( Canyon & Geck Males). I need some advice on food and whether to go dry kibble or raw meat or a mixture of both.  Also, if I decide to do SCH training, at what age should I consider starting? aside from Glucosamine powder, are there any other supplements to consider? 

Does anyone recommend good SCH trainers in the U.S.? Does anyone have a link showing the vaccination schedule for pups 3 months and older?

I would appreciate any suggestions on any other items I should look into for raising the pups and for future training schedules.

Thank You for your help!!

Yes, day 1 for training, and raw is best , only you  do not have to switch slowly, all kibble is crap, even the expensive ones, raw is best and the difference in what you have to clean up is significant, clean up with raw diet is a fraction of the clean up with any other diet. You can do some research and get lots of info on raw vs "barf" diet (biologically appropriate raw food), lots of pros and cons. I like raw because it is so easy and the best for them and the clean up is so much less.

At 3 months your pups should be vaccinated fully with the puppy series, adult vaccinations are also a subject of controversy, I suggest Leerburg.com for all your questions, on everything. You do not want to over vaccinate. I do the puppy series, and one adult yearly booster and then nothing else( not including rabies).

For supplements I suggest Brewers yeast, it will keep the fleas off naturally and give them an awesome coat (Garlic flavored can even be used to start tracking and as training treats). Ester C does wonders if you need it, but just keep it in mind for later. The best thing you can do for the pups hips is to not over feed, not over exercise, no jogging until after 12 months old, and again, at Leerburg.com you will get alot of info.

They are teething, get them appropriate chew things :)
* with 2 pups you want to make sure they bond with you, and not with eachother instead, I highly recommend crate training.

If you have any more questions you can email me at Houseofchristina@aol.com and if I dont know the answer I can point you in the right direction :)

Good luck with the pups.  Something to think about.  If you crate the dogs together and let them run with each other all the time, there is a good chance they will bond to each other and not so much to you.  I would suggest you supervise their play and limit it.  Bond with each one seperately.

Food.  Kibble is super easy and no fuss. Especially for an active life style.  I suppliment pups with raw chicken wing sections with one feeding and a raw egg including shell with the other feeding.  Optimally the pups are supposed to eat like 3 or 4 times a day but that is not reality with someone employed outside of the home.

Schutzhund.  Find and join one. Not all clubs are the same.  Some are more social, some are more into competing but they are all cliquee.

Kyle

I would start adding raw to whatever kibble they are currently on and gradually move totally to raw and really with a good raw diet  you should not have to add ANY  supplements.  Since they are coming from Germany I would DEFINITELY worm them right away with drontal plus;  worm now and worm again in 2-3 weeks.  That is whether you do fecal or not.  Personally some fecals are useless.  Won't necessarily show whip worm which is so destructive to puppies and adults and somewhat hard to detect.  Best of luck with the little guys;  you will be able to tell a little more when you get them home what their needs will be and how they look.  I wish you good luck and a lifetime of good health with them.  Nan

Dogs from Germany typically come with the pink papers. No special export pedigrees. After which you would have to get your transfer certificate for AKC. You will however get a blue "pet passport" which would list the vaccinations. Most of which you would have to revaccinate depending on age.
As for feeding, what do you currently feed? Or will these be your first dogs?
The debate on raw/kibble has gone on for decades and will go on for more decades.
Schutzhund training: the names mentioned above are great trainers. But what will be more beneficial to you is your local club. Where are you located? I am sure someone on this board is relatively close to you and can help you.
Good luck with pups.
Shak

Thank You for all your kind input, suggestions and reccomendations. I will be doing my due dilengence!! :) Have a wonderful and Happy New Year!

If you're open to feeding raw that is probably best as long as you know how to give them a proper balanced diet.  Many people feed both, but feed one meal raw and one kibble.  I believe that is better than mixing raw/kibble in each meal.  Some people also feed kibble from time to time so that when they are traveling and cannot prepare raw, the dog tolerates kibble.  Whatever you decide you probably want to get some of what the puppies currently eat and slowly transition over.  Puppies can eat raw, they don't have to be adults (many people wean pups to raw) but if you do an instant switch and the diets are very different the puppies might be sick for a few days.

Vaccines are also debatable.  My best advice would be to find a vet that you trust and agree with and stick with their vaccine schedule.  I do three distemper/parvo shots spaced 3-4 weeks apart, and then rabies at about 4-6 months.  All the puppies I've got have had their first distemper/parvo with the breeder and then I complete the boosters.  Then at one year I do another distemper/parvo and rabies, and then after that just do each once every 3 years.  I don't do the bordetella (kennel cough) unless my dogs are being boarded somewhere that requires it.  The distemper/parvo boosters my vet uses also cover a few other things that dogs can get in our area (it's actually a DHLPPC combo).  I do not have any dogs with autoimmune conditions so I've never seen a vaccine reaction, and where I live rabies IS required every 3 years at minimum because we have wildlife infected with rabies.

"...raw is best , only you do not have to switch slowly, all kibble is crap, even the expensive ones..."




Rule #1: never listen to internet experts, especially those who make such sweeping generalizations.

I've fed both raw and and high quality kibble and see no difference between the two as it relates to overall health, vitality, longevity, coat, muscle tone, etc. which leads me to conclude that the supposed health benefits of raw feeding are purely anecdotal.  I have fed Canidae for years and am satisfied with the results.  I've never needed supplements.  Do your research and make your own decision.

Puppy shots are typically given at 3 week +/- intervals.  I give them 4 times as it is unclear when the natural immunity from the mother wears off and the shots will be effective but it is fairly certain for most pups by 16 weeks.  I do not vaccinate for lepto.  The rabies vaccination usually occurs at about 3 months; I do not give it at the same time as the others, preferring to wait at least a week either before or after to avoid side effects from interactions.  Again, do your research and make your own decision.