I can't believe no one's mentioned this yet...you need kongs gallore! dogs, especially herders like a GSD, get bored easily and this toy is a gurantee to keep him/her busy for a little while. when your dog is 7 months, you are going to be praising me for lending you this idea. kongs are lifesavers, I should know I have a vizsla pup and that's the only toy that takes her more than 15 minutes to devour. as far as toys go, I would recommend a squeaky newspaper as well. many dogs eat them up in a second or dislike them, but my two can't get enough of them. it's your decision though.
brushing, during shedding season, I would say once every couple of days. unless you like having a carpet the colour of your dog's fur. 8) normally, I usually brush my two twice or more a week. some dogs love it. :) my roxy can't get enough of it, she cozies right up to me and will sit there for an hour. you've definitely gotta brush her teeth. as often as possible is my answer. some times when a dog dislikes having their teeth brushed, it makes it hard to do so. since I have two who dislike it very much, I brush them once a week.
children and dogs is some thing I could rant on about forever. never, under any circumstances, leave your children and dogs alone together. accidents happen and dogs are still animals...remember that. try to get them all introduced on neutral ground. I'm not sure of your situation, does your new bundle know how to sit? (at 7 months I would hope so...) if the answer is yes, have the dog sit while the kids pet him/her one at a time. having them all come at him/her at once will be overwhelming and a dog could feel caged and start to nip. did the shelter give you any advice on the dog's personality? did she/he say that the dog was good with kids? sorry I just need more to go on...good luck though.
