Age - The Good German Shepherd

So you've just brought home a 4 month old German Shepherd puppy, and you are wondering "where do I start from?". A 4-month old pup may be relatively young, but he has a lot of love to shower you. However, you should figure out how to take care of him the right way. In this guide, we discuss how to take care of a GSD puppy, from feeding, grooming, training, exercise, supplies, and other things you should know about. How to Train a 4 Month Old German shepherd Is it too early to train a four-month-old GSD? No, it isn’t. You can start teaching them the basic commands like "sit" and "stay." It's a good idea, however, to wait until they're older to teach them more complex actions such as barking or biting. A 4-month-old German shepherd is very protective of its owner, and it is necessary to teach them some basic commands early on. To get started with this process, try teaching your four-month-old dog not to bark at visitors who come over. You can try ringing the doorbell and then allowing him in while he stays calm before quickly leaving again without anyone else coming out from inside the house. Since your puppy is still in his developing stages, you should keep the training sessions short. Younger dogs are less focused than adult dogs and can become easily distracted during training. This is why it is best to focus on one dog at a time. Training is key for this age! It will be tough, but they'll eventually learn your authority and then it should go smoothly from there. https://youtu.be/qCpCV9t2uIs Related: 6-Month-Old German Shepherd Guide How to Feed a 4 month German Shepherd When feeding a 4-month-old German shepherd puppy, you should create a feeding routine so that he knows when to expect his meals. Vets recommend feeding pups several times each day, usually at least three times a day. How much to feed a 4 month old German Shepherd How much food is enough for a 4-month-old GDS, you ask? When your 4-month-old German shepherd puppy is at his happiest and most playful, he will be burning calories without even realizing it! The average 4-month-old pup requires about three cups of dry food per day to maintain a good body weight. You should also provide water throughout the day to keep them hydrated. Usually, you should feed your pooch depending on their size and activity level so you may need to adjust this number from time to time. You should not feed your dog any human food because it could lead them to develop allergies. Plus, human food is made for humans, and it does not contain the nutrients that your puppy requires. If you are not sure how much to give your puppy, you should consult your vet to know the correct feeding amounts. What kind of food should I feed my German shepherd puppy? At four months, your puppy is post-weaning and should start taking puppy food. Usually, puppy food contains essential nutrients and minerals that puppies require for their growth, and it is different from adult dog food. You should feed a 4-month-old German shepherd different types of food like wet, dry, soft, and hard food. For example: Wet puppy foodDry kibbleSoft treats Hard treats like bones. At four months old, your GSD puppy has a full set of teeth and may have built a chewing obsession. He may be chewing anything and everything. When serving him chew bones, trim any fats or meat to avoid choking hazards. The chew bones help clean their teeth as they chew on the bone! Avoid feeding 4-month-old German Shepherds chocolate since it contains methylxanthines, which can be toxic to dogs if consumed in large amounts How to groom a 4-month-old German shepherd Grooming at 4 months is an important part of parenting. A German shepherd should be groomed on average every two to four weeks, more if they get muddy or swim often. The best way to start grooming your puppy with no hair yet is by rubbing them down with a towel. You should be gentle because they are a little sensitive at this age. In the next few months, your German shepherd puppy will be all grown, and the level of grooming required will change. It's important to get used to grooming now so that when he or she starts shedding, you will manage to keep him looking well-groomed. You might also be interested in the following: Best Grooming Tools for German ShepherdBest Dog Brush for Shedding German Shepherd How Long does 4-Month-Old German Shepherd Puppy Sleep? You may have heard that young puppies need more sleep than adults – this couldn’t be farther from the truth! If anything, they are awake for much longer A healthy 4-month-old German shepherd will sleep about 13 hours a day. This is less than many other breeds because they are usually awake and play for an hour or two before going to bed again. As he sleeps, you can cuddle, groom, or do light exercises to help them sleep comfortably. How tall do 4-month-old German shepherds get? A 4-month-old German shepherd can measure anywhere from 11 to 14” for a male puppy, and 10 to 12” for a female puppy. They may be taller or shorter depending on their genes! https://youtu.be/GgY3nHe-8t4 What is the 4-month-old German shepherd's temperament like? They are generally very energetic and playful with their family. They can be a little shy at first, but as they get used to you they will become more loving. Does a 4-month-old German Shepherd Dog Require Exercises? Yes! A 4-month-old German shepherd will need exercise every day. A good idea is to start your pup out with short walks and playtime, gradually adding more intense activity as he gets older. Also, every 4-month-old German Shepherd puppy needs a safe, enclosed space in which to play. If your backyard is well-enclosed, you can play with your puppy or let him run and explore without hurting himself or getting himself into mischief. Supplies to Buy for a 4-Month-Old German Shepherd Some of the supplies you should buy for your 4-month-old puppy include food, bowls for food and water, a bed, a crate, toys to chew on and play with, and grooming supplies such as a brush and comb. You will also need to buy puppy equipment such as strollers, leash and harness, collar, and harness. Check out these supplies that you can buy for your puppy: Budget Crate for German Shepherd PuppyBest Probiotic for German Shepherd PuppyNo Pull Dog Harness for German ShepherdBest Collar for 8-Week-Old Puppy Bottom Line A 4-month-old German shepherd is almost grown-up and requires care and love to help him grow in a happy environment. You should also increase your bonding time by going on evening walks once or twice every day. Regular walks also help with exercises. You should also make sure your pup gets lots of playtimes outside in the backyard with other dogs or on walks around the neighborhood. This will help him grow into a well-socialized dog, who is not afraid to mingle with your friend’s dogs. Don't forget about puppy training! Your 4-month-old German Shepherd needs exposure to basic commands such as sit, stay, come, and heel so that he can behave nicely while you're out walking together or when you have visitors around. Related Posts: Are German Shepherds Good With Kids?How Long Do German Shepherds Live?