1 Month Old German Shepherd Behavior & Care Tips

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There is nothing cuter than a little 1 month old German Shepherd puppy. They are new to the world, ready to explore and beaming with life. The cute little fur balls will be the center of attention wherever they go. During their first 4 weeks of life, they will go through some big changes. They are only a pint size version of their big strong and athletic adult future self. But there will be plenty of adventure and tons of tail wagging so be prepared.

Overall Behavior:

A 4-week-old German Shepherd puppy has made it through the newborn stage of development which is approximately the first two weeks of their new life. They have gone through some significant changes along the way.

They are a far cry from what they were just a few weeks prior. During the first month, their eyes and ears have opened up to the world. And instead of only nursing and sleeping, they are now becoming a bit more independent.

Their senses are homing in on their surroundings as they start to explore everything around them. They will be more playful and spending lots of time with their litter mates. This is the early stages of the socialization period. They will be biting and nipping but should be learning bite inhibition from their siblings.

Since their bowels aren’t totally under control yet, they may have some accidents. Remember never to scold them if they do have a mess up. It can have the reverse effect, leading to more clean up jobs.

Physical Development:

Lots of important milestones are reached during the first 4 weeks of development. But they are still short little fellas standing less than a half a foot tall.

A male will be anywhere between 4 and 6 inches while a female is nearly the same standing anywhere between 3 and 6 inches.

Males probably won’t weigh any more than 9 pounds while females are close behind topping out at 8 pounds.

Since they were born, their eyes have gone from totally shut too completely open. Their fuzzy little ears have also gone from closed to open. They are now able to completely see and hear the world around them.

They have learned to stand and will now be doing a lot of playing with their brothers and sisters.

Additionally, their new puppy teeth are now starting to grow in. It won’t be long now until they start teething.

Nutrition:

At this stage in their development, all of their nutrition is coming from Mom. Along with their litter mates, they will be regularly nursing milk from their mother’s teats.

Four Little German Shepherd Puppies Sucking Moms Milk

Breastfeeding is crucial for the young German Shepherd puppy as they need all of those important vitamins from their mother’s milk.

Colostrum is especially important and provides antibodies that protect the pup from any diseases or infections.

Although they aren’t quite ready for puppy food, this is a good time to start introducing them to some kibble. They may smell it, or they may stick their nose up to it.

They will start weening off of their mother’s milk at around 6 to 8 weeks. So, at this point they still have a few more weeks to go.

Health:

At 1 month, they are growing rapidly but they aren’t quite ready for their first set of vaccinations yet. They will get those at 6 weeks old.

They should, however, get dewormed when they are 2 to 3 weeks old. Worms can be passed down from their mother pre or post birth via their mother’s milk.

Most of the prominent diseases won’t surface until later in their life starting at around 5 years old. Genetic testing can be done, and a full history of their parents can also indicate future health concerns.

However, puppies can get sick and there are certain things to look for during their first month that could be a red flag. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, take them to your local vet for assistance. Here are some symptoms to look for:

Appetite loss
Breathing is labored
Change in sleeping patterns
Diarrhea
Excessive coughing, gagging or sneezing
Excessive urination or thirst
Hard time urinating
Personality change
Red or swollen gums
Runny eyes or nose
Skin is dry or itchy
Unexplained weight loss
Vomiting

At this point most puppies won’t be at their forever home yet. They will still be at the adoption center, shelter or breeder.

Care:

Most of the care for a German Shepherd this young is coming from their mother. You won’t need to feed them at this stage since they are still breastfeeding assuming the mother is present.

They definitely need to be checked for parasites by a vet and dewormed as we mentioned earlier. At this stage in their life, they aren’t quite ready for their new home. They will need regular supervision for any irregular activity. Make sure they are gaining weight.

If you are not a breeder and you happen to have a 1 month old German Shepherd in your possession, here are some tips for how to care for them:

Give them a nice warm place to sleep preferably in a crate with a cozy blanket.
Feed them a puppy kibble soaked in milk 4 to 6 times a day.
Give them plenty of water to drink.
Monitor their weight daily.
Have the vet check for parasites or check their stool for worms.
Teach them bite inhibition.
Keep them away from any street dogs.

Important: These are only recommendations. Contact your local veterinarian for specific plans.

In Closing:

Make sure you are prepared before taking in a German Shepherd that is 1 month or less old. As we stated earlier, a pup that young should still be with the adoption agency, breeder or shelter. But if you end up with one, do your homework and make sure you have a solid plan in place for care. They are fragile at this age and lots of different factors can contribute to their future temperament.