Bear

Easygoing and adaptable. Goes with the flow.

● Available

Personality & Temperament

What she's like and the home where she'd thrive

Bear is the puppy who's going to curl up next to you on the couch and make you wonder how you ever lived without a dog. She's sweet and social, and she picks up new things fast. She already sits for her food and walks into her crate on her own. She's a German Shepherd mix, female, about 8 weeks old, and she'll probably be medium to large. She's had her first vet checkup, first vaccines, and is up to date on deworming. If you've been thinking about adding a puppy to your family, reach out.

Trait Profile

EnergyHigh
ConfidenceVery High
CuddlinessHigh
AdaptabilityVery High
VocalMedium

Training Progress

What's been started - and what to continue at home

Sit

Sits for food. Good responsiveness when motivated.

Name Recognition

Responds to Bear.

Crate Training

Goes in willingly. Working on door-closed duration.

WARNING

NO PUBLIC PLACES UNTIL FULLY VACCINATED AT 16 WEEKS (~June 3, 2026)

No pet stores. No dog parks. No sidewalks where other dogs walk. Parvo and distemper are real and can be fatal. The only dogs your puppy should interact with are healthy, vaccinated dogs inside your own home. Need supplies? Order online or shop without the puppy.

Vaccination Schedule

DA2PP #1

April 8, 2026 - Administered at Zooburbia Animal Hospital

DA2PP #2 + Lepto #1

May 6, 2026 - Schedule with your vet

Final Vaccines (16 & 20 weeks)

Last one is the final Lyme vaccine

Public Places OK

~June 3, 2026 (16 weeks) - Not before

Deworming Schedule & Instructions

6 weeks (March 25) - Done

8 weeks (April 9) - Done

Next dose: April 22 (10 weeks)

Your puppy's last deworming dose is due April 22 at 10 weeks old. Use Nemex-2 (pyrantel pamoate). Weigh your puppy first. If your puppy weighs 10-20 lbs, give 10 mL by mouth. If your puppy weighs under 10 lbs, give 5 mL. Shake the bottle well before every use. You can squirt it in their mouth with a syringe or mix it into a small amount of food. No need to withhold food before or after.

Dosing reference

5 mL (1 teaspoon) per 10 lbs of body weight. Safety margin is 138x the recommended dose - this medication is very forgiving, so don't panic about being exact.

Buy Nemex-2 on Amazon →
NexGard Plus

Nexgard Plus Note

Your puppy was prescribed Nexgard Plus for flea, tick, and heartworm prevention by Dr. Kallem at Zooburbia. I'm sending you home with a dose. I want to be transparent - I personally chose not to give this to my own dogs based on my experience with these types of products. Please do your own research and talk to your vet before giving it. This is 100% your decision.

Fecal sample reminder: Bring a stool sample to your puppy's next vet visit (target: ~May 6 at 12 weeks) to confirm the deworming worked.

Vet Records

April 8, 2026 wellness exam at Zooburbia Animal Hospital

Dr. Kallem - Zooburbia Animal Hospital

109 Nicholson Rd, Sewickley, PA 15143

(412) 547-2002

You're welcome to continue with Zooburbia or transfer records to your own vet.

Download Vet Records (PDF)

Your first week

First Days Home

1

Separate from Resident Dog

No face-to-face intros right away. Use a gate or closed door. Let your puppy settle in first.

2

Small Space First

Start with one room or a pen. Not the whole house. Too much freedom too fast causes accidents.

3

Same Food for 2 Weeks

Feed what came in the bag. No new treats, no scraps. Switch slowly after 2 weeks.

4

Potty Schedule from Day One

Take them out after eating, after waking up, and after playing. Every time.

5

Routine Immediately

Same feeding times, potty times, and sleep times every day. Predictability = security.

6

Slow Dog Introductions

Sniff under a door. Then a gate. Then short on-leash meetings. Take days, not minutes.

7

No Unsupervised Time

Never leave your puppy alone with other dogs or kids. Not even for a minute.

8

Limit Visitors 48 Hours

Let your puppy bond to your family first. Strangers can wait.

9

Continue Bite Training

Puppy bites, fun stops. Stand up, walk away. Everyone in the house does it the same way.

10

Own Yard Only Until Vaccinated

No dog parks, no sidewalks, no pet stores. Your own yard is fine.

Training Checklist

Start these in week one. Each one matters.

12 priorities
1

#1

Bite Inhibition

Bite = fun stops. Say “eh,” stand up, walk away 10-15 sec. Redirect to toy.

2

#2

Daily Handling

Touch paws, ears, mouth, tail every day. Even 30 seconds counts.

3

#3

Different People

As many humans as possible holding and touching them.

4

#4

Name Recognition

Say their name, treat when they look at you. 5-10 times a day.

5

#5

Sound Exposure

Don't shield from noise. TV, vacuum, pots, kids. Normal household life is the training.

6

#6

Different Surfaces

Toss stuff on the floor - towel, cardboard, cookie sheet, tile, crinkly bag.

7

#7

Solo Time from Litter

Pull them out alone 2-5 min. Prevents separation anxiety.

8

#8

Food Bowl Confidence

Touch their bowl while they eat. They don't guard yet. Keep it that way.

9

#9

Ignore Barking

Zero reaction. No shushing. Reward when they're quiet instead.

10

#10

Leave It / Drop It

Hold treat in closed fist. When they stop trying, reward with other hand.

11

#11

Crate Exposure

Toss treat in, let them walk in and out. Close door 10 sec, open.

12

#12

Potty Zone + Bell

Keep potty area consistent. Ring bell each time they go.