thanks guys for everything!
few more stupid questions/clarifications that i hope no one minds, just trying to make sure i know whats what before i get a dog -
jesirose, i clicked on your link and there are so many 4,5,6 star dog foods that ive never even heard of or seen. i couldve sworn ive seen people swear by science diet on here but i guess im wrong. what would be a good brand for a german shepherd?
Nope, very few fans of Science Diet here! A good brand for a German Shepherd puppy would be a low-protein puppy food, in order to slow their growth rate and give them time to develop their bones properly so they don't end up with hip problems when they're older. You may want to look into brands like Solid Gold, Wellness and Taste of the Wild. Avoid brands like Orijen and Innova EVO for now -- they're great foods, but the protein levels are too high for puppies. If you wish you can switch over to those foods when your dog is an adult.
i fully plan on exercising my dog. my problem is that im afraid of OVER exercising it. i heard that i should be doing 2 walks a day, about 45 mins each time. now, i realize thats probably for an older dog. but what about when hes still a few months old, just a pup? i read that if i over do it ill mess up some bones?
Realistically, you may end up doing slightly more than 2 x 45 minutes a day. It really depends on your dog. It will likely be something like 2 x 45 minutes a day plus some fetch at home, coupled with training sessions to work the mental energy off.
For a pup, the most important thing is to take it at the pup's pace. The strictest guidelines I've read say no more than 15 minutes at a time, increased to 30 minutes at a time once the pup hits 8 months, and you can walk him for as long as you want after he is 1.5 years old. No hard running on pavement or concrete, no jumping off beds/sofas. However, there are also differing opinions who say that it's fine to walk for as long as the puppy wants. Once he gets tired, take him home. The reason for this is that forcing the pup's joints to withstand more impact than they are able to will cause bone development problems. Your puppy's bones won't fully calcify till he is about 2 years old.
its better to actually feed the dog itself when youre eating, right? dont just leave a bowl of food there 24/7? older dogs eat 3 times a day, puppys twice a day? what about water?
Actually, puppies should eat more times than adults. Puppies should eat three times a day, adults twice a day (some feed once a day). Of course, puppies will eat less food at each meal.
Don't leave food down 24/7 -- feed him at regular points throughout the day, doesn't have to be exactly when you are eating. Water should be left down 24/7, although some people like to take up the water at night when the puppy is still being potty-trained.
theres a specific list of what not to give your dog to eat, right? i know of corn, garlic... but not much after that. is there anything wrong with, now and then, giving the dog a french fry or a little bite of pizza?
No, there's nothing wrong with stuff like fries or pizza once in awhile.
