SOUTHERNWIND KENNELS
Breeding for a Purpose a Mission in Life
..So Finally our Puppy is coming Home!!
Supplies to Have on Hand
Bringing home a new dog is a big event and it is not uncommon for new owners to forget to purchase all the supplies they will need when the puppy arrives. Among the most critical items are food, bowls for food and water, a collar, a leash, several safe chew toys, supplies to clean and clean up after your shepherd, and of course, there’s the crate and all the supplies that go with this purchase. There is one important issue when you come to pick up your puppy at Southernwind, Please ALWAYS bring as medium size Plush toy, it doesn't matter what it is as long that is big enough to use to rub the mother and the siblings with it and the puppy takes that smell back to his home where he might be a bit homesick and this will really make things better for him.
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*PLEASE READ OUR *PUPPY GUIDELINES, PRINT THEM AND BRING THEM SIGNED WHEN COMING TO PICK UP THE PUPPY
FOOD AND WATER BOWLS
Your new dog will need to eat only a few hours after you bring him home, so be sure to have food and bowls on hand. We are feeding our puppies Pro Plan 30/20 chicken for all stages. Whether or not you plan to continue with this food, you shouldn’t introduce new food immediately as this could cause gastrointestinal problems When it comes to choosing food and water bowls for your new puppy, keep in mind that puppies and some adult dogs take great pleasure in carrying their bowls around, stepping in them, tossing the food, or chewing on them. Plastic bowls are inexpensive, can be easily tipped and destroyed, and are difficult to clean. Ceramic bowls are heavy enough to be stable, but break easily, and are often not dishwasher safe. Stainless steel bowls are easy to clean, are relatively durable, and bottom weighted bowls won’t tip
PUPPY COLLARS
At 8 weeks of age, our puppies wear the sizes XXS or XS. You also can measure the dog’s neck, making sure that you allow room for comfort without making it too loose. Next, you must decide what kind of collar to purchase. A flat-buckle is a good choice for a puppy or an adult, as this collar is often used for early puppy training. However, a young puppy can grow through several sizes before he reaches maturity. An adjustable collar can last longer as your puppy grows, but it is a little more dangerous. When the collar is at its tightest adjustment, it leaves a significant amount of collar to be tucked, forming a loop. An active puppy can get this loop hung up on his crate or outside on the fence. Additionally, the adjustable collar typically fastens with a plastic clip. Some of these clips are much more durable than others, so make sure that you don’t buy one that will break easily. Training or choke collars are made either of rolled nylon or leather (like rope) or metal links. The collar is made to tighten or choke, as the dog pulls. You may wish to use this collar for training purposes, but it should not be used for a puppy! Do not use harness type , they motivate the dog to pupp
LEASHES-LEADS
Leashes come in varying thicknesses, lengths, and materials. If you are purchasing a puppy, choose a lightweight leash with a small clip. Owners frequently make the mistake of running out and purchasing the thickest, longest leash as possible. A thick leash has a heavy clip, which will clunk against your puppy’s head. As your puppy grows, you can increase the weight of the leash and clip accordingly. Leashes come in an assortment of materials: nylon web, cotton, leather, and metal chain links. you should have different leads for different purposes.
TOYS
You shouldn’t spoil a puppy or dog with too many toys or chew items at once. Many trainers recommend that you keep good arsenal items on hand but only offer the dog one of these at any one given time. You can rotate the chews and toys to create the element of surprise. Dogs are very much like children. If they haven’t seen a toy or chew for a few days, its reappearance is treated as a special event. If you have many items for your puppy, keep roughly half of them out and the rest hidden in a cupboard. Every day, replace four items that have been out with four items that were hidden. Make sure you do not have a house full of toys, puppies tend to prefer to play with toys than to create a bond with you and this is the important element in mind, the puppy has to realize that the game time, the fun time and the play toy comes from you, not from lots of toys appearing in the floor. It is of utmost importance he understands that playtime comes from you, this is the way he creates bonding with you!! Also, always be sure to use treats only after your puppy has obeyed a command, it's just a reward, not a gift, puppies need to learn that treats are earned, not given for free! The toys and chews you select should all be puppy-safe. Puppies and adults have strong bites and can break a rawhide bone into chunks or tear a weaker rubber toy too easily. Unfortunately, the smaller chunks or torn pieces can become choking hazards. When selecting these items, look for things like knotted rope toys, sturdy tug toys, tough rubber shapes that can be stuffed with dog biscuits, and extra-large tennis balls that are too big for a shepherd to swallow. We all know that dogs love their toys. There are so many for your dog to choose from, but not all toys are created for the same purpose. While some are great for chewing, others are good for training, and some are good for their teeth! Dog toys can help you develop a stronger bond with your pup. Below we have compiled for you the different types of dog toys and how you can apply them to your dog’s daily activities.
INTERACTIVE TOYS
This type of toy is meant to help you build a strong bond with your pup by facilitating fun! One of the simplest and most affordable interactive toys is a simple tennis ball. Pups love to run, so take this chance to play fetch with them. If you have a younger pup perhaps opt for something a bit more soft and squishy, and for an older dog, a tennis ball will do. Please remember not to leave it unattended, for they can break the ball and swallow it causing major problems, all interactive toys should be in a place they cannot grab on their own. Another great interactive toy – the Frisbee! Hurl them into the sky and let your pooch jump and catch them! (after they have finished growing, Puppies should not be enticed to jump until all their bones and joints are sealed. Another game that your dog will love is tug-of-war. There are many cool-looking tugging toys out there. Hold one end of the rope, and let your pooch bite the other end and let the game begin!
TREAT DISPENSER TOYS
One of the best toys to keep your pup happy and occupied are the ones that dispense treats. As the food is a canine’s primary motivator, you’ll be able to get them to do a raft of stimulating brain activities with the goal of reaching the treats. Check out PetSafe Busy Buddy toys that will make your pup busy and train her to be a problem solver at the same time. Treat dispensing dog toys can be perfect if you have to leave the house for a short period and you need to distract your dog. Treat dispenser toys are also an effective tool to incorporate in your dog’s training program. Great to keep them busy while they are crate training.
HARD SHELL CRATES-CARRIERS
PLUSH TOYS
Selection of plush dog toys Just like children, pups need a comfort toy to bond and snuggle when sleeping. Plush toys are the perfect comfort toy for any kind of pup. Although they are a popular choice of toy for many dog owners, they also have a misunderstood purpose. Plush toys often get shredded and ripped to bits, when in actual fact they are great to use for training. Your dog should be able to treat this toy with respect. If your dog thinks they can completely destroy their toy, it won’t be long before they start getting into your shoes and slippers! To show your dog how to treat the toy gently, try stroking it and picking it up softly. Your dog should soon learn that this toy should be handled with care. Kong’s cozies products offer many cute-looking plush toys for your furry friend to play with.
DENTAL TOYS
Dental toys are similar to chew toys, except they often have more ridges and grooves to get into all parts of your dog’s mouth. These dental toys are great for removing plaque and bacteria buildup. Just be sure to check the toy after each play session to ensure there are no notches missing. For added dental hygiene, pair these dental toys with some specialized dog toothpaste. For any new toys, you pick up from the pet store, make sure you supervise your dog when first playing with them. This is to ensure that each toy is perfectly safe for your dog to play with on their own.
Cleaning Strategies and Supplies
Use a shampoo that is tear-free and designed specifically for puppies. Shampoos made for humans may be too abrasive or too difficult to rinse out of the dog’s coat. we suggest lots of brushing and doing it the opposite way the hair grows, we use a mixture of Listerine and water in a spray bottle and it works like magic! Make sure that you dry your puppy up well, for a humid dog starts to create a very stinky smell and you won't want him inside your house if he is stinky.. Make sure you blow-dry him well!!!
Our puppies are mostly housetrained, the way we raise them they learn to keep their area clean, but there can be accidents your dog is not perfect so you must be ready to deal with a few accidents. You should be prepared to spot-clean your floors and carpet with a supply of paper towels, stain remover, and an enzyme-eating cleaner. Several products are specifically made to break down the chemicals in dog urine so that the wet spot no longer has an odor. Stain removers can be very helpful, but make sure you test yours on a hidden area first. If the product does not discolor your carpet or upholstery, it is safe to use in the future.
WIRE CRATES
HARD SHELL CRATES-CARRIERS
The German Shepherd loves to be able to see what is going on around her. The wire crate enables your puppy or dog to see her surroundings even when she’s spending time in her special space. The metal wire crate provides the best air circulation possible when traveling by car, and thanks to the removable tray at the bottom, this crate can be completely and thoroughly cleaned.
These plastic carriers come in two pieces, with a top and a bottom that fasten together. They are inexpensive and a good airline-approved crate may cost as little as $35 for a puppy or up to $100 for an adult dog. Plastic carriers are lightweight and just about perfect for the puppy or dog that prefers a warm cozy space. The plastic crate does have a few shortcomings. For one, the crate cannot be partitioned. That means it will be necessary to purchase a smaller crate for a puppy and upgrade to a larger crate when your shepherd reaches adolescence. Additionally, the air circulation is not as good at that in a wire crate or mesh crate, and the crate doesn’t break down into pieces that are easily stored or stowed away. Finally, because of the cracks and tiny fissures that occur in plastic, it is nearly impossible to completely clean and sterilizes this crate.
MESH TENT CARRIERS
Mesh crates set up like tents and are the ultimate in lightweight temporary housing. Mesh traveling crates are made with a screen-like material that is supported by PVC tubing. They collapse into very manageable sizes, have tremendous air circulation, and are nice options for a well-behaved, calm dog that is reliable and quiet in a crate. A puppy can rip through the mesh walls easily if she is so inclined. The mesh kennel is also not safe for traveling in a car because it doesn’t limit the dog’s movement in the event of a sudden stop.
The German Shepherd loves to be properly groomed, we sufggest these brushes depending on the ocassion, we do not recommend the furminator for it ruins the coat of the GSD. Pin brushes, Rake combs, basic Combs and washing gloves are recomended!
Brushes- Combs-Grooming
THE RIDE HOME ***
The Ride Home The most important thing to remember to bring with you when you go to pick up your puppy is a crate in which to bring her home. New owners often forget to bring a secure way of transporting the German Shepherd. This can cause several problems. Puppies are known to have sensitive stomachs, and it doesn’t take much movement to make them vomit. If the new puppy is in your lap when this happens, it can be a bit messy. If the puppy is in a crate, on the other hand, this is relatively easy to clean up. Puppies can also be quite nervous and squirmy during the car ride and have been known to get themselves and their drivers in trouble. Accidents and rear-accidents have occurred when puppies have wriggled underneath the brake pedal, inadvertently hit the automatic window button, or knocked the gearshift into neutral...REMEMBER THE PLUSH TOY!