How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

You're making a big commitment when you purchase the German Shepherd pup. You will be responsible, for many years, for the health and education of your dog.

Pet stores and online resources generally sell puppies from puppy mills who place profits over the welfare of the animal. Choose a reputable breeding facility instead.

Selecting a Breeder who is reputable

It is important to know your breeder before you buy a German Shepherd puppy. Breeders who are responsible will be delighted to give you details about their dogs and breeding practices. Breeders will be happy to provide information about their dogs as well as practices with you.

Your local German Shepherd club or group is the best place to begin. The majority of breed clubs have an officer or secretary who can point you to reliable breeders in your area. Alternatively, you can contact your state animal control agency for the list of breeders who are licensed.

Once you've identified a breeder that meets breeding standards, make sure you take the time to meet them in person. Look for a clean facility in which the mother and her puppies are comfortably confined. You should ask about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You want to be aware if they've been screened for hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia, and eye issues.

A responsible breeder should be capable of providing you with copies of your puppy's medical record and the most current schedule of shots. They should have a strong relationship with a veterinarian who is able to perform all the necessary tests and vaccinations. They should be able to provide the name of the vet, his telephone number, and also provide you with records of your consultation.

It's also recommended to ask the breeder whether they have any concerns about your lifestyle or living conditions that might stop them from offering you an animal. For instance If they know that you have children, they may be hesitant to sell you a puppy since German Shepherds are known to be aggressive with children.

You should also expect an accredited breeder to require you to sign a contract for the purchase of your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include the names of the parents and their AKC registration numbers as well as a return-to-breeder clause. This is an excellent method for responsible breeders to keep track of their dogs and ensure they go to good homes.

Health Tests

Breeders with a good reputation will examine the health of the dogs they plan to breed. This is to ensure that they don't produce puppies that have an inherited condition. These tests include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia as well as degenerative myelopathy GDV and Bloat.

In addition to health screenings Breeders who are reputable strive to gain personal knowledge of the temperaments and health of every dog they have. They also share this information completely and freely with other breeders and potential buyers.

The Kennel Club's Assured Breeder Scheme requires members to perform certain tests on their dogs. The breed clubs for German shepherds also suggest that breeders take additional tests.

These health tests look for genetic diseases that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. They also permit breeders to make better informed choices about mating which will decrease the risk of inheritable diseases in the future.

Typical genetic tests include:

Hip Dysplasia

German Shepherds are prone to elbow and hip dysplasia particularly in the front limbs. These degenerative joint diseases cause discomfort and schäferhund Kaufen Welpe pain, schäferhund baby kaufen schäferhund kaufen österreich welpe (Cochange's website) but can be controlled with weight control, activity limitations as well as supplements and medications. X-rays are taken under conscious sedation to obtain accurate results and then submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).

The OFA test looks for hemivertebrae, butterfly vertebrae, block vertebrae, lumbar-sacral vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis, and spina bifida. The test isn't completely foolproof, however, and cannot determine if dogs will develop degenerative myelopathy or other spinal disorders later in life.

Socialization

GSDs need rigorous physical exercise, training, and mental stimulation to stay occupied. They can get bored easily and inactivity could lead to destructive behaviors such as eating excessively or digging shoes. Most often, these behaviors are a result of unmet emotional requirements. Socialization early is essential for German Shepherd pups. Proper socialization helps the puppy to build confidence around new people and SchäFerhund Kaufen Welpe surroundings. It also reduces the likelihood that the puppy will become fearful or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.

Puppy socialization begins with mother and her littermates as they play and interact. This teaches them how to interact with their boisterous and sometimes rough siblings. They are also exposed to a variety of sights, smells and sounds. The puppies are taught to behave in a group. This is vital to their success as adults.

The puppy should be introduced to different household sounds such as doorbells, vacuum cleaners and schäFerhund kaufen österreich kitchen appliances. The puppy should be exposed to different sounds outside, including sirens, traffic, and Einen deutschen schäferhund kaufen construction. This is very important so that the puppy will not become anxious or fearful of these sounds when they become adults. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a comfortable pace, and positive reinforcement should be used throughout the process.

It is also important for the puppy to meet many different people during this time, as well as other pets. This will help to prevent anxiety about separation when the owner is away from home. This can be achieved by taking the dog to puppy classes, dog parks, or play dates with other doggies.

The puppy should be allowed to interact with other dogs in a safe well-controlled manner. The interactions should be tempered initially to ensure that the puppy does not become overwhelmed. The puppy should be allowed to interact with older, more relaxed and calm dogs. This will help the puppy realize that not all larger, older dogs are scary and it will help them to develop a positive temperament.

Training

German Shepherds require constant regular obedience training. It is important to get them into classes as soon as you can particularly when they are still young. This will allow them to become confident, well-mannered dogs. It is also a great time to familiarize them with basic commands like sit, down and stay. The earlier you begin teaching your dog these basic commands they'll be more likely to follow your commands as they get older.

Territorial aggression is a typical issue for a lot of German Shepherd owners. They might be extremely protective of their home and schäferhund abzugeben property which could lead to their barking at strangers or animals that enter their area. Territorial behavior is averted by exercising, training, and socialization.

Other behavioral problems can be prevented through obedience training in German Shepherds. A dog that doesn't possess the proper obedience training can become a nuisance or even a danger to family members and their neighbors. They are easily distracted by other animals or toys, or even children and disregard basic commands such as "sit" or "down."

During their puppy years it is essential to socialize your German Shepherds with new people places, sights, and sounds. This is especially important before the puppy is 16 weeks old as their brains are in an important stage of development. If your German shepherd is a sheltered puppy it's likely to be much more difficult for them to master new things once they are an adult. They may also be more susceptible to anxiety-based aggression or fear.

Many dog owners do not realize that the German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise to be happy and calm. They are herders by nature and have a strong desire to work and satisfy their owners If they don't have enough to do, they could become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise helps tone muscles, decreases "cabin fever," improves circulation and aids in weight loss. It's a great way to bond with your German Shepherd also!