62 
The Shepherd or Police Dog 
to select the strongest ones, those that feel firm to 
the touch, and this irregardless of sex, for it is 
infinitely better to raise a strong female than a weak 
male. In substituting the puppies to the foster it is 
always best to remove her temporarily, then place 
the Shepherd puppies with the foster's offspring 
so that they acquire the scent of these. After the 
third day remove the dew claws on the hind legs if 
any are present. This is easily done with a pair of 
curved shears or with a nail clipper; care must be 
taken that the instruments have been sterilized and 
the care of the wound can be left entirely to the 
mother, and a few days should show a complete 
healing. 
During the first three weeks the care and feeding 
of the puppies can be left entirely to the mother, 
who should have an abundance of rich food three 
times a day, with plenty of good fresh water at all 
times, or, still better, plenty of good milk. At the 
third week the feeding of the puppies should begin 
with a teaspoonful of scraped beef for each puppy, 
divided into three feedings; at four weeks increase 
to four feedings daily and add milk, bread soaked in 
broth, or the patent puppy foods; at five weeks 
increase to five feedings, and continue until the 
fourth month, when the feedings can be gradually 
diminished until there are three of them. After the 
fifth week there can be added to the diet oatmeal, rice, 
vegetables of all kinds, except potatoes, which should 
at all times be eliminated from the dog’s bill of fare. 
Eggs are also very fine food and cod liver oil is 
very beneficial for the weaklings. 
