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 their sharp mind and good health. Many children ask to have such a cute pet, but before you buy a baby, you need to find out that keeping him in a house or apartment will not be easy. Dogs should be taught from an early age to certain rules of behavior, as well as provided with proper care and balanced nutrition.

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

Now you can find many advertisements 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 what the purebred beauties actually look like. Babies of this breed at the age of two months have lively, intelligent and expressive eyes. In mongrels, on the contrary, they are round 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 take a "standing" position after 6 months, while all this time the ears can both rise and drop. Sometimes an interesting phenomenon is noticed when, for a week, one ear is standing and the other is lying, then their position changes as follows: the lying one rises, and the standing one lies down. This process is not a defect, as it usually goes away on its own by 6-8 months of age.

The purebred two-month old shepherd dog 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 young shepherd dogs is black-brown. If later white spots appear on the coat, then this is a sign of a "marriage" of the breed.

Starting from 2 months, pets are rapidly gaining weight and height. The coat becomes brighter and the paws are longer and wider. A German shepherd girl should weigh from 7.5 to 8 kg and measure in the chest (volume) 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. note that these indicators sometimes deviate from the standard norms. They directly depend on the number of puppies born, their health and living conditions.

Just like adults, German Shepherd babies need proper care. In order for the puppy to grow up beautiful and healthy, you need to regularly perform the following procedures.

• Bathing. It should be carried out at least 3 times a year, the only thing is that the hot tub is contraindicated in quarantine and 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, it is necessary to comb out the pet's hair several times a week to remove the old undercoat and clumped patches.
• Cleaning your ears from wax 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 if the cartilage is damaged, the auricle will begin to grow incorrectly.
• Cleaning the eyes. For this procedure, special solutions are used, which are sold in veterinary pharmacies and in pet stores. Eye cleaning is especially important for those puppies that live in the yard. If there is lacrimation, redness and clouding, the baby needs to be urgently shown to the veterinarian.
• Teeth cleaning. It is carried out with a specially designed powder or chewing sticks. Particular attention should be paid to the condition of the teeth of those puppies who eat dry food, as they have a high risk of calculus.

Taking care of a German shepherd puppy means not only performing all of the above hygiene procedures, but also providing the pet with a good walk, having previously bought a collar. In order for the baby's muscles to develop correctly and he grows healthy, experts recommend staying 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 an apartment, it is recommended to follow a number of rules that will secure its life. Since German Shepherd puppies at this age are practically no different from small children, then their owner should perform the following activities:

• the wires must be hidden in a baseboard or box;
• remove or securely strengthen unstable modules;
• do not allow a mischievous fidget to play with small toys, as he can break them into pieces and swallow them;
• all items that are freely available should be safely hidden in drawers and cabinets, since the little rascal will take them away and turn them into a toy;
• the purchase of special toys in the form of bones from bull veins and cast heavy balls will help protect furniture and other interior items from "turning a tooth";
• it is necessary to lay a carpet on the slippery surface of the floor, since the weak legs of the animal will slip and may 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 take him in your arms, 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, therefore 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 compose the menu and cook food at home from cereals, vegetables and meat, or purchase ready-made factory feed. Each of these feeding options has both pros and cons.

Therefore, the owner of the German Shepherd must remember - the main task of the owner is to provide the animal with the required amount of carbohydrates, fats, proteins and beneficial microelements... Vitamins are also important in the diet - they are purchased separately from 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. Meat, which is included in the home diet, is a natural dog food that provides the body with all the necessary micronutrients for growth and development. In ready-made feeds, it is represented by powder substitutes.
• If allergic reactions to one or another component appear, the owner will be able to exclude it from the dog's diet.

As for the shortcomings, they include such moments.

• It takes a lot of time to prepare "healthy" food, and it may not be enough, since the puppy, in addition, needs to be walked several times a day. In addition, you need to cook food correctly, observing all the technologies.
• It is difficult for novice dog breeders to compose 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 your 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 transferring 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 their components may not be combined. When drawing up the menu, the hosts can be creative, but it is worth remembering that German shepherd puppies are allowed to be given only a certain list of products, which includes:

• boiled veal with rice and butter;

• rolled oats, stewed vegetables and chicken fillets;

• fermented baked milk with grated apple;

• boiled beef with egg and oatmeal;

• steamed chicken with vegetables and buckwheat porridge;

• 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" nutrition. To do this, add more cereals, meat, vegetables to the menu and reduce the amount of milk. In the 2nd month of the pet's life, it 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 animal should not be given the following products:

• bones;
• flour products and bread;
• fatty meat and fish;
• sausage;
• sweets;
• all types of legumes;
• fruits and vegetables with seeds;
• seasonings.

Today on the market you can find a huge range of "branded" food for dogs, but all of it can be given to puppies. High-quality food is well stored, contains all the necessary components for the growth of a pet, but they can often cause allergic reactions. There are several types of ready-made feed.

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

In order for a puppy of this breed to grow up smart and obedient, it must be taught from an early age to behave correctly around 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 teach the baby gradually, without showing aggression.

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

• You must put your pet's favorite toy on the mat. When he wants to play, he will always return there and thus get used to him.
• The dog should wake up in its place. At the same time, little fidgets during active games often fall asleep anywhere. In this case, the owner must carefully transfer it to a corner intended for sleeping.
• The puppy needs to be made clear that he has a designated area. Therefore, if he climbs onto his rug with a toy or food, they cannot be taken away.

Also important in the upbringing of a pet is its toilet training. The natural instincts of German Shepherd puppies 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 baby a few hours after sleep at the same time.

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

For information on how to tame and properly raise a German shepherd puppy, see the next video.