The first thing you need to do when you get your puppy home is find him or her a nice quiet place to unwind and relax. A crate works quite nice for this purpose. Use the transition food provided from your breeder and set out a small bowl of it and fresh water.

Take your puppy to your local vet within three days of bringing him home for a complete health check. Your pup will have had it’s first set of vaccinations and been dewormed. Check with your vet to see if additional vaccinations are required for your area. Set up a vaccination schedule for your pup while you are there.

Your pup will require a balanced nutritious diet. Dogs require a minimum of 39 nutrients, all in correct proportions for good health. You will need to feed a premium food to achieve this nutritious diet. Premium Foods use high quality ingredients and use natural preservatives, (like Vitamin E). They also use one of the most digestible sources of carbohydrates, rice. You can find these foods at your local Feed Store/Pet Store.

You will need to gradually change your food over a 5-10 day period from the transition food to the premium food of your choice, be sure it is marked puppy until your pup is at least a year old.

Feed your pup twice a day the correct amount according to his weight to age.You will find this chart on the back of your feed bag. Do not leave his bowl full all day so that he has free choice feed. By feeding him twice a day you will prevent obesity and rapid growth witch are both unhealthy. Be sure to leave your pup with plenty of clean, fresh water.

Take your pup outside to relieve himself after each meal, and right before bed. This will cut down on the number of accidents that WILL occur. DO NOT rub his nose in the urine or fecal matter, you will teach him nothing. Keep him in his crate or a utility room at night, and during the day when you are not supervising him. Pups have young bladers just like a baby, they will need to relieve themselves every time they wake, after each meal and about every two to three hours during the day.

Do not ask your young pup to jump from high places as his bones have not fused yet and doing this can cause injury. Your pup will love to play, be sure to supply him with safe chew toys designed specifically for dogs. He has very sharp milk teeth that may get caught on material when you play tug games, be sure not to be over zealous when you play and accidentally rip one loose.

Supervise your pup around young children and babies; he may unintentionally cut them with his sharp milk teeth.

Give your pup lots of love and gentle play, a German Shepherd puppy does not have to be taught how to be tough. Socialize, socialize, and socialize him to various situations and people. This will help him to become a sound minded adult. This will not hinder your Shepherd from performing his naturally inborn ability to protect the home and family.

Be patient with your young pup and teach him manners, either through an obedience class or on your own with a video. The obedience class would socialize him to dogs, people and situations which are very necessary. If you can join your local dog/breed club, it gives you great opportunities to experience with your new and loyal found friend.

Stay in touch with your dog breeder, a good one will help you as much as possible. And they love to get pictures and letters updating them on your pup’s progress. They love the breed and want to share the love.