Provided for your reference only. You should always consult your vet and discuss your own dog’s particular requirements.
Plants Poisonous to Dogs & Cats
This may not represent a complete list of all poisonous plants. Also, your pet may have a sensitivity or allergy to a plant that is not on the list, resulting in toxicity. Always contact your veterinarian immediately if you think your pet may have ingested a poisonous plant.
Ten Tips for a Poison-Safe Home
There are many poisonous things in our home that your dog can ingest. Our medication, all kinds of cleaning solutions that we use, chocolate, antifreeze, yard chemicals that are stored in the homee and, of course, some house plants. To avoid this problem you can follow the ten tips for a poison-safe home.
Why buy a 100% German bloodline German Shepherd Dog (GSD)?
The American bred German Shepherd is now mostly bred for AKC shows, and often does not have the drive, temperament, and balance to be a working dog. If any at all, there are few American bloodline shepherds being use for Search & Rescue, K9 Police, or as Custom Dogs. Plus their body proportion gives them a higher risk of hip dysplasia than imports.
Why buy an imported dog from Germany?
All reputable breeders in Germany must follow the SV Standards in breeding their GSD. Both parents must have proven itself in Schutzhund prior to breeding. Therefore, both parents are titled prior to breeding. Furthermore, it is likely that the price of the puppy we will give you is much less than those you could find in the whole USA. Not only do you get the quality of a German import, you are assured that both parents have proven itself in their field, whether show, or work.
Why buy an import puppy from vom Haus Gochi?
As much as possible, we will match the puppy to your lifestyle. Plus, the breeders that we deal with in Germany don't breed their dogs for a living. They are more concern about the quality of their puppies, than the quantity, because they too also have to raise these puppies and prove the puppy's character in the field. Therefore our prices is really much much less than anybody else.
Do you know of any other breeders in the USA?
Here are some breeders in the United States, visit their sites and find out as much information, as you can about their programs. Contact them, and ask them your questions.
Remember to ask all the question important to you as well as the once you think has minimal importance. They should all be willing to answer any of your questions.
Why buy a puppy from vom Haus Gochi?
To tell you the truth it is likely that we will not have puppies available most of the time. The litters we produce are very high quality, and even higher than the ones you would find at the above breeders. For one, we only breed our brood bitches once a year, and only when we are expecting great weather for at least five months, and of course, when we have the time to dedicate to the litter. In addition, for the quality of the litter, our puppies are priced much less than others, and we will replace your puppy (after verification) if it is diagnosed with a congenital disease. So, they go very fast once breeding is announced at our Newsletter. We recommend that you join our Newsletter, and contact us and inquire about getting on our waiting list as soon as the breeding is announce. By the way, we do not send you junk emails, we just send you short occasional emails about things happening at vom Haus Gochi.
Do you ship puppies anywhere in the world?
We prefer that you pick up the puppy and start with the bonding immediately. It is always hard to ship a puppy. I'm sure it's stressful for the puppy. I'm used to traveling and airports are still stressful to me, I can only imagine that it would also be for the puppy.
However, If we feel that you can give a puppy an outstanding life, and make it truly part of the family, then we can make arrangements for the shipping. In which case the buyer pays for the shipping cost, and crate.
Also, out of California buyers do need to fill out a Buyer Information Form for us, and we have the right to refuse the sale.
Do you do your own training?
Yes, and no. We train our dogs basic and advanced obedience. Then we have them professionally trained for Schutzhund.
How soon should I start training my GSD?
We start play-training our puppies basic obedience after they are 3-months old. Play-training is just playing with the puppy, no correction is involve. You ask, if the puppy does it, give it a lot of praise. At the same time, you also somewhat teach it what the word means, but don't force it. After 10 minutes of training, we just play. Run around, tug-o-war, fetch, and so on. Therefore, the puppy is not afraid of the training because he/she associates it with play. Formal obedience training can then begin when the puppy is six to eight months old.
How do you socialize your puppies?
Once they have received their full rounds of vaccinations, we visit public parks, and specially were lots of kids hang around. They are usually very excited to see a puppy, and the socialization begins. During walks is also a great time for socialization, if a stranger compliments your puppy, asked the stranger if he/she would like to give a treat, you have in hand, to the puppy.
Can a dog be overly socialize?
This is really nonsense. If you socialize your puppy outside your home, he/she gets used to meeting strangers and other pets, but he/she will definitely still protect his/her territory at home. Regardless of how much you have socialize your GSD outside your home.
What do you feed your puppies?
We feed our puppies high quality dry puppy food with raw ground meat. We also add a raw egg with shell every other day. During the weekends they are given raw beef stew bones. Cooked bones tends to brittle, so never cook bones for your dog. Plus, giving them raw bones will help maintain a healthy teeth.
What is Mega Esophagus?
It's exactly what it sounds. The esophagus is too big for the dog or puppy. The first thing to do is not panic. It will be ok, which I've learned recently. Although, few veteranian would recommend that you put the pet to sleep, don't do it. Unless, your pet is suffering, don't put it to sleep. The best thing you can do when your pet have Mega Esophagus, is be patient. It takes very little effort, and you can still enjoy a good time with your beloved pet.
Once you get through the emotional high, be patient, and adjust your feeding. First, presoak your pet's food in luke warn water for about 5 to 10 minutes. This would make the food a lot easier to swallow. Feed your pet inside the crate, then after feeding, give your pet time to relax, for about 30 to 45 minutes. Then let it out, and let it relieve itself, and just watch it for another 30 minutes. If your pet vomits, then increase the relaxation time in 5 minutes intervals. Eventually, you would have the actual time your pet needs to relax, before doing any kind of exercise. Also, note that it is best if you finish feeding by 5:00 pm. Since, that would give your pet enough time to relax and relieve itself before night time.
I want to apologize for my previous reaction to Mega Esophagus and say thank you to Michael Meyer of vom Hausmeyer Shepherds, and Dr. Adel Salib for their patience and assistance in helping me with Bax's treatment.