Q: Like all breeds, the German Shepherd suffers from many inheritable diseases that you can't see just by looking at the dog. Common genetic diseases for the breed include degenerative myelopathy, megaesophagus, and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. If you're getting your puppy from a breeder, they should know about the history of disease in the puppy's lineage. Discuss the likelihood of these diseases developing in your own puppy. You want to see the puppy on multiple occasions, if possible, so you can get a better sense of its overall temperament and health. Just like people, puppies can have their good days and their bad days, so you don't want to make a decision based on a single interactions. Take your time and look closely at each puppy you're thinking of adopting. Puppies should be the appropriate weight not too chubby, but not too thin and odor free. They should have clear eyes (not runny or red) and clean ears. The coat should be full and glossy (no balding spots), and free of mats or fecal matter. Look for signs of excessive scratching, which may point to skin or coat problems. It should have a healthy appetite, and no signs of vomiting or diarrhea. Also assess the puppy's social health. Puppies should be curious and well-socialized, playful and friendly. Temperament testing a dog or puppy helps you choose a dog that fits your family and lifestyle. For example, a high-energy puppy may be the right fit for an active outdoor family, but wrong for a family who likes to relax indoors. For temperament testing, separate the puppy from the litter to make sure it's focusing its attention on you. Walk around to see if the puppy follows you. A puppy that follows humans is well-socialized to them and enjoys their company. Kneel and call the puppy to you. It should show interest in you and come when called. Lift the puppy in the air to see how well it deals with being carried. Gently restrain the puppy with its belly up. Though a little bit of struggle is okay, you don't want a puppy who fights you when you try to handle it. Look for a puppy that isn't afraid note if his tail is between his legs. In all interactions, look for signs of fear or mistrust. These puppies may not adjust well to your home. If you see a puppy who guards its food or toys, think twice about adopting it. While these behaviors can be improved through training, it's an extra obstacle you don't have to face if you choose a dog with a better temperament. Look for behaviors like growling or snapping when people or other dogs approach their food or toys. A dog who runs away may also have problems interacting safely and comfortably in a home. If you decide to take on a "project" with behavioral concerns, make sure you have a behaviorist or trainer you trust lined up first. Beware that having a "reactive" dog will add to the potential liability of ownership. You want a puppy that's playful and not fearful because many dogs bite out of fear. German Shepherds are large, powerful animals as adults, so you absolutely cannot start out with a puppy who's fearful by nature. Puppies born with a fearful personality may be harder to train, and may display fear aggression as adults. You may visit a litter and fall in love with a puppy a few states away. If you cannot take the dog home immediately (for example, if it's too young to be weaned), you need to arrange for its transportation at a later date. For the puppy's health, you should make the trip to pick it up yourself. Shipping puppies is very stressful on them, and often results in a sick puppy when you pick them up from the airport. If you want a puppy that lives far away, be willing to travel for it.
A: Research the history of diseases in the puppy's lineage. Visit the puppy more than once. Examine the puppy's health. Test the puppy's temperament. Look for bad behaviors. Play with the puppy. Think carefully about adopting a faraway puppy.

Q: Choose a skillet with high sides so the oil won't spill out. Turn your heat on high and wait until the oil reaches 350F (177C). Use a candy thermometer to check the temperature of your oil. If it is too cold, the shrimp may not get cooked thoroughly. Keep an eye on the temperature of your oil as you cook each batch of shrimp. Do not let it dip below 350F (177C). If you are using a deep fryer, simply add oil to your cold deep fryer and then turn it on to heat it up. Take a few shrimp at a time and dip them into your batter mixture. Make sure they are all evenly coated. Use your hands or a pair of tongs if you don't want to get messy. Do not let the batter clump up, or your shrimp will have balls of dough on it when you fry it. Make sure each shrimp is fully submerged in the oil as it cooks. Let the shrimp fry until the batter is a golden brown color on all sides. Use tongs to turn the shrimp periodically so they get evenly cooked. If you are using a deep fryer, place the shrimp in the basket and then lower them slowly into the oil to cook them. Use a spoon with divets in it to remove each shrimp from the oil. Place them on a plate that is lined with paper towel to soak up any excess grease and oil. Serve them immediately while they are still hot.
A: Heat vegetable oil to 350F (177C) in a skillet. Coat each shrimp in the batter. Fry the shrimp for 3 to 4 minutes or until they are golden brown. Remove the shrimp with a slotted spoon and put them on a paper towel.

Q: Before you prepare the celery to store or eat it, pull or cut the outer leaves off of the top of the harvested stalks. This will help the stalk stay fresh and crispy. You can also use celery leaves in a variety of recipes, including soups and salads. With the leaves removed, celery can last in the refrigerator for quite a while. Place the stalk in a plastic bag with the end open, and leave it in a crisper drawer with high humidity until you need to use it. With the leaves attached to the stalk, the stalks will last for about 2-3 days. If you want extra crispy celery, or have cut up a portion of a stalk, place the pieces in a container with water. Cover the container and place it in the refrigerator, where the celery will last up to 2 weeks. Replace the water in the container every 1-2 days to ensure that the pieces are absorbing fresh water. You can cut the pieces to whatever size you prefer, as long as they fit in the container with a lid on it.
A: Remove the outer leaves of any harvested stalks. Store harvested celery in a bag in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Refrigerate cut stalks in water to increase the crispiness of the celery.

Q: Cut small rectangles out of felt or snip numerous pipe cleaners or plastic straws into small sections. Use multi-colored materials for rainbow sprinkles or dark brown materials for chocolate sprinkles. Attach the sprinkles to the frosting using a hot glue gun. Position the sprinkles in randomized, scattered directions. Do not arrange the sprinkles to face the same direction since this will not look appropriately cupcake-like. Wear a red knit cap and use hot glue to attach a red pipe cleaner to the uppermost tip. Bend the pipe cleaner slightly so that it looks like the stem of a cherry. Dress in tights and a sweatshirt. The tights and sweatshirt should match the color of the frosting. If you used white frosting, then wear white clothes. If you used chocolate frosting, wear brown clothes. Alternatively, you could wear flesh-tone tights instead of colored tights. Wear short running shorts above the tights, checking to make sure that they do not extend past the bottom of the cupcake costume wrapper. You could also trade the sweatshirt for a tank top or sleeveless shirt. Wear shoes that match your tights, if possible. Wear plain sandals or flats. Avoid elaborately decorated shoes. If you cannot match your shoes to your tights, simply select the simplest pair of shoes you can find.
A:
Add sprinkles. Top the outfit off with a cherry. Wear the right clothes underneath. Avoid distracting footwear. Finished.