German Shepherd puppies at 2 months: description, rules of care and feeding

The most popular breed of dogs is the German shepherd, as its representatives are distinguished by a sharp mind and good health. Many children ask to have such a cute pet, but before you get a baby, you need to find out that keeping it in a house or apartment will not be easy. A dog from an early age needs to be accustomed to certain rules of behavior, as well as to provide proper care and a balanced diet.

A German Shepherd puppy at 2 months old differs from babies of other breeds in that it has a high intelligence, good nature and a charming appearance. Despite the fact that the animal flows the blood of wild ancestors (wolves), its psyche is built to faithfully serve its master. Such dogs love to please a person with work and for them there is no better treat than praise. Before you get a German shepherd puppy, you need to remember that he will become the most devoted and faithful creature in the life of the owner, for which he will have to give the pet care and love in response.

Now you can find a lot of ads for the sale of shepherd puppies, but so that after the purchase the so-called "purebred" dog does not turn into an ordinary mongrel, you should know how thoroughbred handsome men actually look. Babies of this breed at two months of age have lively, smart and expressive eyes. In mongrels, on the contrary, they are rounded and slightly convex. Up to two months, the eyes have a blue tint, which eventually changes to dark brown.

The ears are soft and medium in size, they usually occupy a “standing” position after 6 months, while all this time the ears can both rise and hang. Sometimes an interesting phenomenon is noticed when for one week one ear stands and the other lies, then their position changes as follows: the lying one rises, and the standing one lies. This process is not a defect, since it usually goes away on its own by 6-8 months of life.

The purebred two-month-old shepherd has wide breasts and a short back, while in other breeds the chest is barrel-shaped or round. At this stage of life, the color of the young shepherd is black and brown. If later white spots appear on the wool, then this is a sign of “marriage” of the breed.

Starting from 2 months, pets are rapidly gaining weight and height. The hair becomes brighter, and the legs are longer and wider. A German shepherd girl should weigh from 7.5 to 8 kg and have a chest size (volume) of up to 46 cm. Boys are larger, their weight can exceed 9 kg, and their height is 37 cm with a chest girth of 49 cm. It’s worth note that these indicators sometimes deviate from standard norms. They directly depend on the number of puppies born, their health and living conditions.

Young German Shepherd dogs, just like adults, need proper care. In order for the puppy to grow up beautiful and healthy, the following procedures should be performed regularly.

• Bathing. It should be carried out at least 3 times a year, the only thing that the font is contraindicated in quarantine before vaccinations. It is best to bathe your pet in spring and summer. As for daily grooming, the dog should wipe its paws with a wet towel or washcloth after each walk.
• Combing wool. Since the small dog is long-haired, to remove the old undercoat and clumps of shredded pet hair, it is necessary to comb out several times a week.
• Cleaning your ears from sulfur and dirt. Two-month-old babies are allowed to carry out such cleaning no more than once a month, since until the age of 6 months the ears are not strengthened and when the cartilage is damaged, the auricle will begin to grow incorrectly.
• Eye cleaning. For this procedure, special solutions are used, which are sold in veterinary pharmacies and in pet stores. Particularly important is cleaning the eyes of those puppies that live in the yard. In the presence of lacrimation, redness and clouding of the baby, it is urgent to show the veterinarian.
• Teeth cleaning. It is carried out with specially designed powder or chewing sticks. Particular attention should be paid to the condition of the teeth of those puppies that eat dry food, as they have a high risk of calculus.

Caring for a German shepherd puppy means not only performing all of the above hygiene procedures, but also providing the pet with a good range by first buying a collar. In order for the baby's muscles to develop correctly and grow healthy, experts recommend being with the dog as much as possible in the fresh air. If a two-month-old puppy lives in an apartment, then walks lasting up to 30 minutes are suitable for him.

In addition, when keeping a pet in the apartment, it is recommended to observe a number of rules that will secure his life. Since German Shepherd puppies at this age are practically no different from young children, then their owner should perform the following activities:

• wires must be hidden in the baseboard or box;
• remove or securely strengthen unstable modules;
• do not allow playful naughty fidget with small toys, as he can break them into pieces and swallow;
• all objects that are in the public domain should be safely hidden in drawers and cabinets, since the little rascal will drag them away and turn them into a toy;
• the purchase of special toys in the form of bones from bovine veins and cast heavy balls will help protect furniture and other interior items from “turning a tooth”;
• carpet should be laid on the slippery surface of the floor, as the weak legs of the animal will slip and can be injured;
• if there are small children in the house, then you need to talk with them about how to handle the puppy, you should not be allowed to pick it up, since even at the age of two months the pet has a decent weight - up to 10 kg.

The owner of the puppy should be fully responsible for the state of his health, so it is important to pay attention to the choice of food. Since the baby’s nutrition at this age should be balanced, feeding can be done in two ways: independently create a menu and prepare food at home from cereals, vegetables and meat or purchase ready-made factory feeds. Each of these feeding options has both pros and cons.

Therefore, the owner of a German shepherd must remember - the main task of the owner is to provide the animal with the right amount of carbohydrates, fats, proteins and minerals. Vitamins are also important in the diet - they are separately purchased in pharmacies as prescribed by the veterinarian and added to the feed.

Benefits of self-prepared feed:

• The ability to independently select fresh products and not doubt their quality. The meat, which is included in the homemade menu, is a natural dog food, providing the body with all the necessary trace elements for growth and development. In finished feed, it is represented by powder substitutes.
• When allergic reactions to a particular component occur, the owner will be able to exclude it from the dog’s diet.

As for the shortcomings, then these moments are attributed to them.

• It takes a lot of time to prepare “healthy” food, and it may not be enough, because the puppy, in addition, needs to walk several times a day. In addition, you need to cook food correctly, observing all the technologies.
• It is difficult for beginner breeders to make a diet, because they do not know how many calories are needed for the normal development and growth of the animal. You should also know how many servings a baby should eat.
• Quality products that are used for home cooking are expensive.

Experts recommend starting to feed two-month-old puppies with artificial food, then gradually transfer them to natural food. You can do the opposite: first include homemade products in the menu, then replace them with dry food. It is impossible to give two types of feed at the same time, since it is possible that their components are not combined. When creating a menu, the hosts may be imaginative, but it is worth remembering that German shepherd puppies are allowed to give only a certain list of products, which includes:

• boiled veal with rice and butter;

• Hercules, stewed vegetables and chicken fillet;

• ryazhenka with grated apple;

• boiled beef with egg and oatmeal;

• steamed chicken with vegetables and buckwheat;

• carrot salad with fresh sour cream.

Depending on the growth rate of a two-month-old puppy, it should be gradually transferred from “baby” to “adult” food. To do this, add more cereals, meat, vegetables to the menu and reduce the amount of milk. At the 2nd month of life, the pet is recommended to feed at least 5 times a day, dividing the daily volume into small portions. In this case, you need to pay attention to the fact that the following foods cannot be given to the animal:

• bones;
• flour products and bread;
• fatty meat and fish;
• sausage;
• sweets;
• all kinds of legumes;
• pitted fruits and vegetables;
• seasonings.

Today on the market you can find a huge assortment of "branded" food for dogs, but all of it can be given to puppies. High-quality feeds are well stored, contain all the necessary components for the growth of the pet, but they can often cause allergic reactions. Ready-made feeds are available in several types.

• Economy. There are no advantages in such nutrition, only the low price is an exception. Such foods are usually prepared from cereal, vegetable and meat wastes. Nutrition and calorie content is minimal.
• Premium. These feeds are based on various offal and cereals. Some manufacturers often supplement them with flavoring and flavoring agents.
• Super premium. This type of feed is recommended by both experienced dog breeders and veterinarians. These foods have a balanced composition and never cause allergic reactions.
• Holistic. This is one of the most expensive types of feed. In addition to nutritional components, it also includes vitamins.

In order for a puppy of this breed to grow up intelligent and obedient, from an early age it must be taught to behave properly surrounded by other animals and people. At the age of two months, the baby is able to learn the basic commands and learn his nickname. You need to educate the baby gradually, without manifesting aggression.

In addition, a two-month-old handsome should be accustomed to his personal corner.

• On the mat you need to put your favorite pet toy. When he wants to play, he will always return there and thus get used to it.
• The dog should wake up in its place. At the same time, small fidgets during active games often fall asleep anywhere. In this case, the owner must carefully transfer it to a corner intended for sleep.
• The puppy needs to be made aware that he has a specially designated place. Therefore, if he climbs onto his mat with a toy or food, they cannot be selected.

Equally important in the upbringing of a pet is his accustoming to the toilet. Natural instincts of puppies of the German shepherd begin to control by the age of 6 months. Two-month-old babies often associate going to the toilet with outdoor games, so the owner should walk the crumbs at the same time several hours after sleep.

At the moment, the breed of the German shepherd is in demand in various sectors of life, so an excellent shepherd, border guard, guide and policeman can grow out of a small puppy with proper education. Dogs of this breed have excellent intelligence, so they quickly learn, the only thing that their owner needs to constantly pay attention to the pet and develop its high potential.

See how to tame and properly train a German Shepherd puppy in the next video.