For some strange reason some many people have been advised to give their dogs constant calcium supplements. This is very common with German Shepherd Dogs. People are told that German Shepherd Dogs have a hip problem and therefore require calcium tablets to make the bones strong.
Some facts concerning calcium and the GSD. As any true breeder will tell you it is very important not to rush the GSD into growing. GSD's are definite growers feed them on Calcium and your dog will grow. It's a good idea to point out here that no REAL German Shepherd Dog lover want's an oversized GSD. Having this said some do and if you are one of those and are now thinking on pouring a bottle of calcium tablets down your dogs throat think again.
Calcium is required by dogs of all breeds. Every properly balanced diet has the correct quantities of calcium. Extra calcium doesn't make stronger bones it does different. It speeds up the lengthways growing of the long bones. This does not mean continues growth the final size of your dog will be very very much the same the difference being the speed of achieving that height or length. Therefore all that is done is rushing to the final stage. As you can imagine calcium is not the only requirement thus rushing things will mean that the required balance of mixture for bone cement is different and thus NOT as strong. The speeded process also means that you are forcing ligaments and thus actually helping to cause un genetic HD issues. Another fact is that calcium is a component that is stored when excessive amounts are taken. They are stored at the joints causing further problems. Now for a brief piece of information the German Shepherd Dog DOES not have hip problems. Bad breeding puppy mills, backyard breeders etc. have used dogs known to have a hip problem called HD. This is a genetic problem. HD is a situation when the leg ball joints are not snuggly fit in the hip. So if you have a GSD and it is from a reputable breeder and is registered under a proper registry office then you have not got a dog that has hip problems. The only way that you can cause hip problems such as HD (Hip Dysphasia) on such a dog is via excess calcium, wrong exercising or ill treating and accidents. Please do note that this is the case for many if not all do breeds.
As a simple rule we do not allow for calcium supplements throughout the training period unless they are required for medical reasons other then those of gossip. We are sure that you will understand that any breeder alike ourselves gives high importance to the future of their breeding's. So maybe you might prefer to look at it this way when we sell GSD's we sell them with a contract and a health guarantee! The contract covers many areas and one is that the 'buyer' agrees by signing that calcium will not be given to the 'sold' puppy or dog unless we agree with a veterinarian that it is a required health requirement. Throughout the years this has only ever happened twice!
Dogs fed with to much calcium can NOT run as well as the others, can't jump as high or as far and has pains on landings. Such dogs are dismissed from training until their health condition is resolved if ever resolved or miss out on certain areas of training commonly agility, protection work, crawl command etc.
So as a simple rule feed your dog it's proper diet, do not adopt a dog that has been taken away from vital mother milk, do not adopt ay dog of any breed without a written health guarantee.