Deutscher Wachtelhund Puppies
The Deutscher Wachtelhund is a medium-sized dog breed bred for tracking games using its scenting ability. It is not suited for apartment life and also does not do well with a novice owner. So an experienced dog owner who can keep up with its activities and needs should own this breed.
The Deutscher Wachtelhund can give birth to 5-6 puppies at a time and their development process is interesting watch. Lot of changes takes place when the puppies are growing from physical, mental as well as behavioral changes can be seen.
Newborn
The newborn Deutscher Wachtelhund puppies are deprived of many senses they are not able to see, hear, or walk, and are toothless. So for almost all of the work, they depend on their mother who takes care of her puppy’s every need. She feeds them and also makes them urinate and defecate by licking their belly for stimulation as the puppies cannot do it by themselves for a few weeks of birth.
The puppies cannot generate their own body heat for some weeks after birth. Therefore mother keeps them warm and cozy with her body heat. So, make a warm, cozy, and clean place for them to live. Do not bathe the puppies even if they are dirty as the mother does it by herself by licking her baby’s body. Bathing the puppies during this time might lead to their death due to hypothermia.
Neonatal Stage (0-2 Weeks)
In this stage, the puppies are in one of their most vulnerable stages as they have to rely on the mother for almost everything. The Deutscher Wachtelhund puppies need around 90 percent of sleep for the first two weeks as it will help them to develop their body and mind. You can see them becoming double the size of the birth at the end of the second week with enough sleep and using their legs muscles to crawl to their mother.
For the first few weeks of the birth, the puppies should only have their mother’s milk. It contains colostrum which is rich in antioxidants and helps the puppies to fight any kind of disease. So make sure the mother is nursing her baby every two hours.
Transitional Stage (2-4 Weeks)
In this stage, you can see lots of changes in the Deutscher Wachtelhund puppies. Their eyes and ears canal starts to open in 14-16 days although their visions are still blurry and they are not able to hear everything. They now can see how the mother looks like and how the littermates sound like. By 21 days of their birth, you can see them taking their first steps with the wobbly walk.
Image Source: American Kennel Club
By the third week, the puppies have become more independent and the mother now takes time away from them relaxing. The puppies are more involved with the littermates spending time playing, running, and exploring the environment. They also start sampling food from the bowl of the mother as their baby teeth begin to erupt. They also are now able to hold their need to potty for a longer time and do not require stimulation from the mother.
Socialization Stage (4-12 Weeks)
This is a period when the Deutscher Wachtelhund puppies need socialization. In the first half of this period, they spend time with their mother and littermates. The mother teaches them disciplines and how to interact with each other. She also teaches them how to play and bite without hurting each other. The puppies also get familiar with the people in the house.
When the puppies are 8 weeks old, it is the perfect time to start socializing them with peoples and other dogs outside the house. Expose the puppies to the outside world slowly and introduce them to different people and dogs so they grow up to be comfortable around them.
It is also time you feed them puppy food that contain all the required nutrition for a puppy. 4 small meals a day should be fed to them.
Juvenile Stage (3-6 Months)
This is the period where the Deutscher Wachtelhund puppies start to look more like an adult. It is also a perfect time to start basic training them like obedience and potty training. The puppies at this age can develop a stubborn attitude which can be frustrating sometimes, however, be patient with them and never use harsh words or raise a hand on them. This will scare them and can even make them aggressive while growing up.
After 3 months, they should be given 3 meals a day for till they are 6-7 months old. They also become prone to biting which can lead to the destruction of things at home. So it is better to invest in some dog toys and other chewable items. Continue their training with new tricks and commands which helps in their mental stimulation.
Image Source: www.wachtelhund.de
Adolescence Stage (6-12 Months)
The adolescence stage is the period where the Deutscher Wachtelhund puppies reach physical, mental, and sexual maturity before becoming a full grown adult. Lots of physical changes can be see and the female will experience her first heat whereas the male testosterones level increases. However, breeding at this age can be fatal for their physical and mental health.
Since the Deutscher Wachtelhund is a very active dog breed, they need good amount of physical exercise regularly. So involve them in dogs sports and agility as soon as they get 6 months old.
Switch the puppy food to adult dog food that has all the required nutrition for your adult dog. At this age, 2 meals a day is enough for them.
Vaccination Chart For Deutscher Wachtelhund
| 6 to 8 Weeks | Distemper, parvovirus |
| 10 to 12 Weeks | DHPP (vaccines for distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza, and parvovirus) |
| 16 to 18 Weeks | DHPP, rabies |
| Every 1 to 2 Years | DHPP |
| Every 1 to 3 Years | Rabies (as required by law) |
Vaccination Cost
The cost for the DDHP vaccines are between $75-$100 and for rabies it is between $15-$20.
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