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Picking a German shepherd puppy is very
easy, they are cute, playful, sweet and full of life. Hard to
resist, specially for the children. It is wise to follow these
simple rules to avoid any discomfort to your new puppy and his/her
new family.
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Observe both parents carefully. Above all
the dam. Be certain that she is in good health, full of life and
strong in spirit.
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Pay attention to both parents behavior
including how they walk, run, etc...
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Make sure that the environment is clean
and safe (holes in the ground, clean dirt in a pile, large rocks,
etc... this is there play area. Digging or hiding in holes is fun
for puppies, that's Ok.)
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Observe the German shepherd puppies while
in play. The puppies should be playful and curious in nature.
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When handling the puppy pay attention to
the stomach, make sure that it is proportioned to the body
(Balanced). If the stomach is tight and not proportioned to the
body (fat stomach), more likely they have worms. (not a serious
treat. It's common for some puppies to have worms)
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If the stomach area is sunk in
(pot-bellied) and/or if the puppy is skinny (Anorexia), it is
possible that the puppy has
Giardia. Do not be to concern, it is treatable. Some puppies
also have similar symptoms due to stress, (in some large liters
there is always a so called "alpha dog"). Some alpha dogs can be
over powering few of the other puppies causing stress and
discomfort. Loss of appetite will follow causing similar symptoms
as described above.
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Run your fingers around the umbilical
cord area for any swollen tissue. If you feel a bump
(swollen skin) ask the breeder what it is. More likely it is an
umbilical hernia. Once again, do not worry. A simple procedure
(operation) will take care of this problem. In some cases it may
pop back in.
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Check the nose of your German shepherd
puppy. It should be dry and dark in color. A wet nose may indicate
a minor cold. A dripping nose may indicate a sever cold.
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If you are interested in a male puppy,
check the testicles. You should be able to feel two little pebbles
( 7-10 weeks is normal for the testicles to drop. In some unusual
cases, it may be as long as 4-6 months.
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Be cautious if the puppies are missing
hair in certain parts of the body. If the puppies are scratching
constantly, it is a sign of being invested with fleas or ticks.
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It is fairly easy to determine a sick
puppy. Some signs of this may be coughing, sneezing or vomiting.
It could also include these symptoms of discharge from the eyes,
ears and nose.
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If possible check the stool, it should be
fairly hard and formed. Diarrhea or red irritated area around the
anus is not a good sign.
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