7 Weeks old from North Houston

[Girkin]

We picked up a Pearl, a 4 week old White German Shepherd, 3 weeks ago from a backyard breeder. They had started weening the litter at 3 1/2 weeks on adult canned dog food. I moved her diet over to a weening formula as soon as we got her and started her on softened Bil-Jac large breed puppy food. After a week I incorporated small amounts of raw meat, which I hope to fully transition her to.

On her second day with us she started sleeping in the crate. Since she was so young it made for long nights for myself. I was up every hour with her letting her go to the bathroom and being with her while she was lonely. After a few nights of that she started sleeping longer periods. We had her using puppy pads and newspapers for her business and this worked great. She has never used her crate as a bathroom. I did buy a huge crate but it has a divider that I could section off 3/4 to only give her room to stand and turn.

Right now she is just over 10 lbs. After a bath she has the softest coat. Her ears are beginning to stand up and he is taking on the characteristics of a Shepherd.

For the last 7-10 days I have been charging the dog clicker. She associates that click with a treat quite well. I started working commands today which she is picking up pretty fast. Eye contact (name), sit, stay, and come.

She is now using the potty outside and whines when she needs to go. Hopefully no more accidents inside.

[GSDGunner]

Welcome! And wow, they let her go at 4 weeks old? That's so sad, but it sounds like she's in a great home.

Oh and we're going to need pictures...please??

[Girkin]

Yeah. They were all about the money. On the phone they made it sound like they only had one female and one male and they could be gone at any minute cause other people were looking. But, when we got to their house they has 5 females and 4 males. It was a dirty place. We did see the mother and father and they looked good so we took the puppy.

[GSD13]

I don't care what anyone says I love white GSD's & by the looks of it you have a beautiful one, good luck & when she's old enough make sure to have her health tested.

[billsharp]

Welcome Girkin.

Please read the threads here about the need for pups to stay with the mom till they are at least 6 weeks old for puppy and human socialization. Please get your pup into a puppy class asap and begin socialization with understanding human adults and kids asap. It will save you a lot of problems later. There is a RoverOaks up near you, I highly recommend those folks.

[DixieGSD]

Welcome to the fourm, you have a goregous pup! I also got my girl at 4 week's old (long story).Some people just should not have animals, it's sad they don't know how to care for them But just be sure you get her around some friend's dog's so she can learn how to interact with them, cause when they are taken away that young, obviously they don't know how.

[1sttimeforgsd]

Hello and Welcome to you and to your beautiful little girl. Thanks for sharing her with us.

Have you taken her to the vet yet to get started on her puppy shots? When you do take her do not let her on the floor or play with other puppies at the vet. AFTER she has FINISHED all her puppy shots then you can start letting her socialize with other pups and take her around where other dogs are, untill then I would not let her around others as her immune system is not kicked in yet.

[Girkin]

Thanks for the messages. I haven't been on the forum for a few weeks (since my last post). I did take her to the vet. She is healthy as can be. She is 9 weeks and 2 days old and around 16lbs. I think that is pretty standard for her breed. Still gotta say she is the smartest dog I have ever owned.

After she gets all her shots we will be taking her to play with a friends puppy (yellow lab) that is the same age as her. Will be pretty fun.

[GusGus]

She looks like a little polar bear! So cute!

[Stosh]

She is a beautiful pup and thank God you gave her the home and care she deserves. In the county I'm in, it's against the law to sell a puppy under 8 weeks old. You might let them know.