Puppy Essentials

You’ll need to go shopping before you bring your puppy home. There

are many, many adorable and tempting items at pet supply stores, but

these are the basics.

• Food and water dishes: Look for bowls that are wide and low or

weighted in the bottom so they will be harder to tip over. Stainless

steel bowls are a good choice because they are easy to clean (plastic

never gets completely clean) and almost impossible to break.

Avoid bowls that place the food and water side by side in one

unit—it’s too easy for your dog to get his water dirty that way.

• Leash: A six-foot leather leash will be easy on your hands and very

strong.

• Collar: Start with a nylon buckle collar. For a perfect fit, you should

be able to insert two fingers between the collar and your pup’s

neck. Your dog will need larger collars as he grows up.

• Crate: Choose a sturdy crate that is easy to clean and large enough

for your puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down in. You will

need either a large crate that can be sectioned off for while your

puppy is small or you’ll need to get a couple of different crates as

he grows up.

• Nail cutters: Get a good, sharp pair that are the appropriate size

for the nails you will be cutting. A large pair of scissors-type clippers

work well for German Shepherds, but your dog’s breeder or veterinarian

can also give you some guidance here.

• Grooming tools: Different kinds of dogs need different kinds of

grooming tools. See chapter 7 for advice on what to buy.

• Chew toys: Dogs must chew, especially puppies. Make sure you

get things that won’t break or crumble off in little bits, which the

dog can choke on. Very hard rubber bones are a good choice. Dogs

love rawhide bones, too, but pieces of the rawhide can get caught

in your dog’s throat, so they should be allowed only when you are

there to supervise. Chew toys must be large enough that the dog

cannot inadvertently swallow them.

• Toys: Watch for sharp edges and unsafe items such as plastic eyes that

can be swallowed. Many toys come with squeakers, which dogs can

also tear out and swallow. The toys, including balls, should be large

enough so the dog cannot choke on them. All dogs will eventually

destroy their toys; as each toy is torn apart, replace it with a new one.

Ref: Palika, Liz, 2008, German Shepherd Dog, 2nd edition, Howell book house, p. 58