Hello German shepherd puppies lovers:
Warning: German shepherd puppies are not toys.
Too many people get puppies on a whim for Christmas and never consider the long term implications of adding an animal to the pack. Not that most of us would not welcome the extra work in return for the pleasure of ownership, but I have seen so many articles lately of abandoned pups. It is just logical that post holidays we would see a marked increase in abandoned pups.
They are not toys for two reasons. First, you can not just put them up when you are tired of them. They need feeding, potty time, vigilance so they don’t eat something that could harm them, vet checks, toys, training, discipline (pack order style), cleaning and grooming, a place to stay (crate or cushion). Kids get tired of toys, and they can be put on the dust heap of toyland as their interest wanes, but a puppy is a living, breathing thing whose needs do not end when the entertainment value wanes.
Second, they are not toys because when they break, it harms a life. Toys can be replaced and repaired, but injuries to you dog can vex them for life. Some hints:
1. Do not let your child pull on a puppy’s legs. The joint are not yet formed and this can hyper-extend the joint, causing damage and eventual calcium deposits and arthritus. If your puppy gets the leash caught on its legs, don’t abruptly lift up, just weave the leash out of the legs gently.
2. Be oh so careful letting a small child hold a puppy. It does look cute and it does make a wonderful picture. But the child can drop them and squirming puppies can jump out of their arms. One hard dive can be brutal and bones and joints, let alone potentials trauma to their skulls.
3. Be careful putting puppies on the bed. So sleeping with you child is cute. What is the harm. But, puppies do not have good judgment and can jump off of high beds onto the hard floors.
4. Watch out for puppies in between your legs, getting under foot. Please be careful. You are heavy enough to do significant damage to your new pup.
5. Watch out for electric cords.
6. Never, never pick of pup up by the hind or front legs. This can certainly cause damage to joints. Instead reach under the chest and cradle them. If they are small enough, you can grab them by the scruff of the neck.
7. Please put them down gently.
8. Only get toys which can handle the aggressive chewing of German Shepherd puppies.
I hope this was helpful.
Please visit our website for tons of information at “Banffy Haus K-9 University“ or our blog on German shepherd puppies and dogs.