Puppy’s First Day

Kurt

Hello and Welcome!

If you are viewing this page you may be interested in becoming a member of our branch. This section of the website was developed specifically to answer some of the questions you may have as a prospective member of the GSDCV Gippsland Branch.

I have not purchased a puppy as yet and would like some advice about the breed and what to look for in a puppy….

Come along to one of our training sessions on a Saturday (excluding long weekends) prior to commencement of training and we will put you in touch with one of our instructors who will be happy to answer any questions you have about getting a German Shepherd puppy. We suggest you come along at approximately 9.30-9.45am as training commences at 10am. You are welcome to stay and watch our training sessions.

You can view information about GSD puppies and look for puppies for sale from the club Here.

If you are interested in providing a home for a dog from our re-homing service Click Here.

How old must my puppy be to come to puppy class?

Puppies can attend the branch from 8 weeks old. Puppy class has puppies ranging from 8 weeks to 6 months old. Puppy socialization is very important at a young age due to developmental milestones.

What should I bring?

  • Bring along your puppies vaccinations card (we ask all members of this regardless of the age of their dog for protection of your pup as well as other members dogs)
  • Your puppy’s free class coupons if purchased from a GSDCV breeder
  • Suitable closed in footwear (our grounds can get quite soft and muddy at times)
  • A soft collar and 4ft lead
  • Puppy’s favorite toy (we advise a soft toy due to puppies developing teeth)
  • Poo bags
  • Treats

We recommend you do not feed your puppy prior to training on the Saturday morning as this will make puppy more enthusiastic for food treats making training so much more easier as well as lessening the potential for car sickness if you have a little drive to get to the training grounds.

When does training start?

All classes start at 10am every Saturday except for long weekends and over the Christmas break. We suggest you arrive at 9.30am so your puppy can socialize with other dogs and can settle prior to class.

Who do I need to speak to on arrival at training?

Our members will welcome you with open arms. You will be directed to either the Branch Manager, Chief Instructor or Membership Officer. You are most welcome to contact any of these people prior to attending your first class if you have further question or wish to discuss your puppy specifically.

Some things you may not have thought to ask….

Nutrition:

  • How can I tell if my dog is overweight or underweight?
  • Is there things I should not feed my dog?

Health:

  • What are some common health issues I should know about? (eg. bloat)
  • What preventative measurers should I take with my dog? (eg. vaccinations, heart worm, bloat)
  • What general care should I be giving my dog? (how do I clip nails or clean ears?)
  • What about dog anatomy? (Believe it or not knowing about your dog’s body can be helpful…. body parts and how they are meant to look- movement may be effected, checking teeth etc.)

Dog body language:

  • My dog just “goes off” with no warning…. Or does it? (ask instructors about body language- stress, fear, aggression etc.)
  • Discuss what signals you are giving to your dog… (Is there tension on your lead?)
  • When and how should I correct my dog? The importance of timing….

Development:

  • What are the stages of a developing puppy or dog? Is there thing I need to know about? (eg. socialization)
  • What is bite inhibition and when should I be teaching this to my dog?
  • What can I expect through the adolescent stage?