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These are the notes we send home with every Nevada Haus puppy- we are happy to share them here also
Diet
Your Nevada Haus German Shepherd puppy has been raised on and fed a raw natural diet. We order our raw dog food from Texas Tripe and highly recommend them. They have a huge selection of products and most will work very well for your pup. We feed a lot of their shepherd blend food and chicken backs, along with mackerel, or salmon. We have used all of their different ground products with great results, and capelin when its available. If you prefer to feed kibble, we have had good results in the past with Victor Hi Pro Plus dog food, which is made locally right here in Texas and has not experienced the recalls of a lot of the bigger brands.
Vaccines
Your German shepherd puppy has been vaccinated with core vaccines and for rabies, if they are old enough. The core vaccines we use include distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus, and parainfluenza. Puppies require a series of three of these vaccines, administered a month apart, to provide optimum immunity. We do not vaccinate for bordatella or leptospirosis, due to the limited and ineffective activity of these vaccines, and the potential for adverse reactions, particularly from the leptospirosis vaccine. We recommend splitting up the vaccines as much as possible, rather than giving your pet numerous vaccines in one vet visit. Dividing up the vaccines results in less stress on your dog's immune system, and more effective vaccine results and protection from disease. Your vet can help you select the correct monthly heartworm preventative for your dog. Heartworm prevention is extremely important. We do not recommend oral flea and tick preventatives of any sort, we have experienced serious adverse reactions in dogs after the administration of these products.
Pesticides
Yard and home treatments and pesticides present a real danger to dogs and especially puppies. Any weed killers, insect sprays or granules, or yard treatments of any sort, contain poisonous compounds, regardless of whether or not they are labeled as safe for pets.
Spaying/Neutering
Multiple studies have shown that juvenile spaying or neutering of large breed dogs, including German shepherds, leads to a higher incidence of hip and joint problems. Early spaying and neutering removes the main source of the hormones that are needed for correct and healthy growth, and prevents the growth plates in the bones from closing correctly. We strongly recommend waiting until your German shepherd puppy is over a year of age before considering spaying or neutering them, these dogs continue to grow until they are two to three years of age. Spaying or neutering is not going to magically resolve any behavioral issues- consistent training is what does that.
Grooming
German shepherds shed. They are a double coated breed and this helps them to stay comfortable in various weather conditions. Do not EVER shave your German shepherd. This will not make them any cooler, as dogs do not perspire like we do. It will cause irreperable and permanent damage to their coat, and make them susceptible to sunburn and skin problems. A slicker brush and a medium/fine tooth wire comb does a great job of removing the excess fur and will keep your dog's skin and coat healthy and the shedding to a minimum.
Puppies are puppies...
They chew things, they have accidents, and they are counting on you to be patient and supportive and teach them right from wrong. We highly recommend crate training your new German shepherd puppy, if your pup has been through training here they are already accustomed to the crate and we encourage you to continue with that.