Raising dogs, especially taking care of the german spitz, is nothing new for people. Some historians speculate dogs were first domesticated between twelve thousand and 25,000 years ago—and that all dogs evolved from wolves. Since those days, we have selectively bred more than four hundred breeds, varying in size from four-pound teacup poodles all the way up to Irish wolfhounds, whose three-ft stature has earned them the distinction of the tallest pooch. But the most popular pooches are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mutts. The german spitz is also a popular pick among canine owners. Some owners are unaware, however, of many critical german spitz care tips.
Cost of care for the german spitz
The yearly cost of providing for the german spitz—including meals and snacks, veterinary care, toys and license—could range between four hundred twenty and seven hundred eighty dollars. This is not even counting capital expenses for spay/neuter surgery, collar and leash, carrier and dog crate. Note: Be positive you have all your supplies before getting your german spitz home for the first time.
Typical german spitz Care
german spitz Feeding Outline
- german spitz puppies between eight and 12 weeks old need four meals in a day.
- german spitz puppies 3 to 6 months old should be fed three meals each day.
- Feed puppies 6 months to 1 year two meals a day.
- By the time the german spitz hits her 1st birthday, one feeding in a day is typically all that’s required.
- Many times adult german spitzs, however, do better with 2 lighter helpings. It is your duty to learn your german spitz’s eating tendencies.
Top-quality dry dogfood provides balanced nutrition for grown german spitzs and can mix with water, canned food, or broth. Your german spitz may also dig cooked eggs, fruits and vegetables, and cottage cheese, but these dishes should be less than 10 pct of his or her daily food. german spitz puppies must be fed high-quality, name brand puppy food. Try to cut down on “table food”, though, because it can result in vitamin and mineral imbalances, tooth and bone problems, and might create some very finicky eating habits and obesity. Clean, fresh water should be available only, and be certain to wash water and food dishes often.
german spitz Care Tips: Your german spitz needs physical activity daily
german spitzs must get some exercise in order to stay healthy, recharge their minds, and maintain good health. Exercise also seems to help german spitzs avoid boredom, which has the potential to lead to difficult behavior. A little fun and games can quell most of your german spitz’s instinctual urges to chew, dig, chase, retrieve and herd. Individual exercise needs will vary based on your german spitz’s age and his level of health—but ten minutes outside and just a couple of walks down the street every day probably will not be enough. If your german spitz is a 6 to eighteen month adolescent, her requirements will probably be a little higher.
german spitz Grooming Tips
You can help reduce shedding and keep your german spitz clean with frequent brushing. Inspect for ticks and fleas every day during warm weather. Many german spitzs don’t need a bath more than a few times per year. Prior to giving her a bath, comb or cut out all mats from the german spitz’s hair. Rinse all soap out of the coat, or the dirt will stick to the soap residue.
How to Handle Your german spitz
Pups, as opposed to adults, are obviously easier to manage. To carry your german spitz pup, put one hand beneath the dog’s chest, with either the forearm or other hand supporting his or her hind legs and rear. Never try to grab or lift your puppy by his front legs, tail or back of the neck. When you must pick up a larger, adult german spitz, pick it up from underneath, supporting his chest with one of your arms and rear end with your other.
Housing the german spitz
Your german spitz needs a warm peaceful place to sleep away from all breezes and off the floor. You may want to buy a doggie bed, or make one out of a wooden box. Put a clean blanket, sheet, comforter, or pillow in the bed for cushion. Wash the german spitz’s bedding frequently. If your german spitz will be spending a lot of time outdoors, make sure she has access to shade and plenty of cool water in the summer, and a dry, covered, warm area in the cold.
german spitz Identification
Your city has licensing rules to follow. Make sure you affix the license to your german spitz’s collar. The license, along with an identification tag or tattoo, can help secure your german spitz’s return should she go missing.
german spitz Temperament Info
german spitz Training
Well-behaved, companion german spitzs can be a blessing to own. However, untrained, your dog could be trouble. Training your german spitz on the standards—”Come”, “Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, and “Leave it”—will bolster your relationship both with your dog and your house guests. If you’re the owner of a puppy, begin training him on the right behavior as fast as you can! Use food as recognition and incentive. Puppies can join obedience classes when they are sufficiently vaccinated. Call the community humane society or SPCA for details about obedience courses. Always keep your german spitz on a leash in public, even as a pup. Just be certain your german spitz will come to you at all times whenever you say. A disobedient or aggressive german spitz can’t play with kids.
The Health of Your german spitz
Your german spitz should visit the vet for a thorough assessment, vaccinations and heartworm exam each and every year, and promptly when he is injured or ill.
german spitz Oral Health
While many of us might simply dislike our german spitz’s foul breath, we should be aware of what it may be telling us. Foul breath is most commonly a sign that your german spitz requires a dental exam. Dental plaque brought on by germs brings a foul smell that necessitates the help of a professional. Once your german spitz has had a professional dental cleaning, the gums and teeth may be maintained in a healthy state by brushing the teeth regularly, feeding a specially formulated dental diet and treats, and avoiding table scraps. Your veterinarian can provide you with other tips for eradicating oral diseases and halitosis. You can brush your german spitz’s teeth with a dog toothpaste or a homemade paste made of baking soda and water twice weekly. Use a child’s soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon pantyhose stretched over your finger. Periodontal disease,which is an infection between the teeth and gums, sometimes affects german spitzs. Often, tooth loss happens due to periodontal infection. Infections will sometimes also propagate to other areas of your german spitz’s body. The veterinarian usually will brush the german spitz’s teeth while performing her routine health assessment.
Halitosis (bad breath) in german spitzs
Although bad breath caused by periodontal disease may not be very serious if caught early, some halitosis may indicate serious, persistent problems. A sweet, even pleasant smell can frequently be indicative of diabetes, while diseases of the intestines or liver may cause foul breath. When your german spitz’s breath smells of ammonia or urine, kidney disease is a possible cause. Any time you determine your german spitz has bad breath along with other symptoms of disease, like loss of appetite, vomiting, weight loss, depression, increased drinking or urinating, schedule a visit to your dog’s vet.
german spitz Flea and Tick Issues
Throughout the warm seasons, it’s critical for you to perform daily, regular checks of your german spitz for fleas and ticks. Use a flea comb to remove and find fleas. There are many new procedures of tick control. Refer to your veterinarian about these and other recommendations.
german spitzs With Heartworm Issues
Your german spitz is at risk of heartworms if she is exposed to lots of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes transport this parasite from dog to dog. Heartworm infections can be fatal. It’s very critical to make sure your german spitz submits to a blood test for this parasite annually each spring. A monthly tablet taken throughout the course of mosquito season can help to protect your german spitz. If you ever vacation in a warmer-than-usual region with your german spitz during the winter, he should be on the preventive medicine during the trip. There are some locations, usually the locations with warmer temperatures, where the doctors recommend heartworm medication be used year round.
Medications and Poisons
If you’re thinking about giving your german spitz pills that was not prescribed for her by his vet, forget it. Just one ibuprofen tablet is known to initiate stomach ulcers in german spitzs. Keep rat poison and other rodenticides away from your german spitz. If you believe that your dog has consumed a poison, call your vet or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 twenty-four hours a day for assistance.
german spitz Sterilization Procedures
Male german spitzs should be neutered – the removal of the testicles – and females spayed – the extraction of the uterus and ovaries – by 6 months old. You will significantly reduce your female’s breast cancer risk by spaying prior to maturity. The chance of a sick uterus, which is another serious affliction that impacts more mature females, will also be eliminated by spaying before 6 months. Testicular cancer, prostate diseases, certain types of aggressions and some hernias can be prevented by neutering male german spitzs.
german spitz Innoculating
- The combination vaccine (also called a “five-in-1 shot”) ought to be given to your german spitz at 2, three, and 4 months old and then once per year. This vaccine protects your pup from hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and distemper. The german spitz puppy’s immunization program cannot be finished prior to four months of age.
- If your german spitz has not been immunized and is older than 4 months, he will need to be given 2 immunizations as soon as possible, 2 or 3 weeks apart. After that you must immunize every year.
- Your german spitz puppy’s socialization should coincide with the vaccination program. Many doctors recommend that new owners take their german spitz puppies to socialization courses, beginning at 8 to nine weeks of age. At this point, they should have already received their first immunizations.
Laws are so varied between different areas, the best thing is to call your community vet to get rabies immunization info. In New York City, for example, the law requires all pets older than 3 months of age to be vaccinated for rabies. After the initial immunization, he must have a second innoculation the following year, and then every three years. There are many immunizations that might right for your german spitz. Your vet can tell you about them. Take note, if your german spitz gets sick because he is not vaccinated, the shot needs to be given once your companion animal fully recovers.
Worms in german spitzs
german spitzs are commonly exposed to worms—even in urban areas. Eggs that carry hookworms and roundworms are transmitted through a dog’s stool. Most puppies, from all environments, even those with healthy mothers, carry roundworms or hookworms. An accurate, early diagnosis is the key to effective treatment. Early, accurate diagnosis maximizes the possibility that prescribed medication will be highly effective against your dog’s worms. A dewormer that eliminates roundworms, for example, cannot kill tapeworms. Your vet can best determine the culprit—and assign the effective medication.
Additional german spitz Care Tips
german spitz Supply Checklist
- Excellent-quality dog food and treats designed for german spitzs and similarly-sized dogs
- Food bowl
- Water bowl
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Brush and comb for grooming, including flea comb
- Collar with identification tag and license
- Leash
- Dog carrier (for puppies)
- Training crate
- Dog bed or box with sheet or towel
- Doggie or child’s toothbrush
The no-no list
The following items should never be fed to german spitzs:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocolate
- Grapes and raisins
- Spoiled or moldy food of any kind
- Onions, garlic & chives
- Poultry bones
- Salt & salty foods
- Tomato leaves, unripe fruit & stems
- Yeast dough
The “Bottom” Line
Keep your german spitz on a leash whenever you are outdoors, unless you are in a fenced-in, secured space. When your german spitz does number 2 on your neighbor’s lawn, his sidewalk or any other public location, please take care of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about german spitzs
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