How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

If you purchase a German Shepherd puppy, you're making a huge commitment. You will be responsible for the health, training, and mental stability of your dog for a number of years.

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

Choosing a Reputable Breeder

It's important to get acquainted with your breeder prior to you purchase a German Shepherd puppy. Breeders who are responsible will be happy to provide you with details about their dogs and breeding practices. They will be willing to discuss genetic and health testing as well as early socialization and the environment where their puppies are being raised.

Your local German Shepherd club or organization is the best place to start. Breed clubs usually have a secretary or puppy officer, who can direct you to reputable breeders. If you prefer, you can contact your state animal control agency for a list of licensed breeders.

Once you've identified a breeder who has good breeding standards, Reinrassiger Deutscher schäferhund züchter make sure you take the time to meet them in person. Find a clean facility where the mother and pups are safe. Ask about the puppy's fathers and german Shepherd kaufen siblings; you want to see proof that they have been checked for hereditary disorders like hip dysplasia, eye problems, heart disease and Degenerative Myelopathy.

A responsible breeder should be able to provide you with a copy of your puppy's medical record and the most current schedule of shots. They should have a good relationship with a veterinarian who is able to perform all the necessary tests and vaccinations. They should be able tell you the vet's name as well as the number of his phone and give you a consultation note.

Ask the breeder about any concerns they have regarding your lifestyle and living circumstances. This may stop them from selling the puppy to you. If they know that you have young children, they may not want to offer you a German Shepherd puppy because they can be aggressive towards children.

You should also expect a reputable breeder to ask you to sign a contract to purchase your German Shepherd puppy. The contract should contain information about the parents as well as their AKC registration number, and an option to return the puppy to the breeder. This is an important way for responsible breeders to monitor their dogs and ensure that they will be placed in good homes.

Health Tests

Breeders with a good reputation will check the health of the dogs they intend to breed. This is to ensure that they don't breed pups with inherited disease. These tests include elbow and hip dysplasia, myelopathy degenerative and GDV (also called Bloat).

In addition to health screenings, reputable breeders strive to acquire a personal understanding of the health and temperament of each dog they have. They also share this information in full and openly with other breeders and potential buyers.

As part of the Kennel Club's Assured breeder scheme, members are required to take certain tests on their dogs. The breed clubs for German shepherds also recommend that breeders take additional tests.

These tests are designed to detect genetic diseases that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. These tests also allow breeders make better decisions about mating that will decrease the likelihood of hereditary diseases in the future generations.

Common genetic tests include

Hip Dysplasia

Hip and elbow dysplasia are common issues in German Shepherds, with the latter suffering from the condition that affects their front limbs. These joint diseases cause discomfort and pain, Deutscher schäferhund Welpen kaufen but they can be treated with weight control, activity limitations and supplements as well as medications. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays under sedation to ensure accurate results.

The OFA test looks for hemivertebrae, butterfly vertebrae, block vertebrae and lumbar-sacral vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis, and spina bifida. The test is not foolproof and does not predict whether a dog's spinal condition is degenerative myelopathy.

Socialization

GSDs need rigorous physical exercise, training, and mental stimulation to keep occupied. They can get bored easily, and lack of activity could lead to destructive behaviors like excessive digging or eating shoes. These behaviors are usually caused by a lack of emotional needs. Socialization at an early age is crucial for German Shepherd pups. Proper socialization allows the pup to gain confidence in new people and surroundings. It also reduces the chances that the puppy will be fearful or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.

Puppy socialization begins with mother and her littermates as they play and interact. This helps them learn to interact with their noisy and sometimes rough siblings. The puppies are also exposed to various kinds of sounds, sights and smells. The puppies are taught how to behave in groups. This is vital to their success as adults.

The puppy should be introduced to various household sounds like doorbells, vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances. The puppy should be exposed to a variety of sounds outside, including traffic, sirens, and construction. This is essential to ensure that the puppy does not become scared or Deutschen SchäFerhund Kaufen anxious of these stimuli as an adult. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at an ease pace and positive reinforcement will be used throughout the process.

It is also very important that the puppy gets to meet many different people over this time, in addition to other pets. This will help prevent separation anxiety while the owner is away. This can be accomplished by taking the dog to puppy classes, dog parks or play dates with other doggies.

The puppy should be able to interact with the other dogs in a controlled well-controlled manner. The interactions should be tempered initially to ensure that the puppy doesn't become overwhelmed. The puppy should be allowed to interact also with older, more friendly, calmer dogs. This will help the puppy understand that not all older, larger dogs are fearsome and will help them to develop an appropriate temperament.

Training

German Shepherds require constant, consistent obedience training. It is important to get them into a training class early particularly when they are still puppy dogs. This will assist them in developing into well-mannered, confident dogs. It's also a good opportunity to teach them 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 grow older.

Territorial aggression is a problem for many families with German Shepherds. They might be incredibly protective of their homes and property, which can lead to screaming or groaning at other any animal or person who enters their territory. Territorial behavior is averted through the proper training, exercise and socialization.

Other issues with behavior can be avoided through obedience training in German Shepherds. Dogs that are not properly trained could be a nuisance to their neighbors and family members. They are easily distracted by other pets, toys or children. They may not be able to follow simple commands such as "sit" and "down."

During the puppy years It is essential to socialize your German Shepherds with new locations, people and sounds. This is especially important before the puppy reaches 16 weeks, when their brains are going through a critical phase of development. If your German Shepherd is a protected puppy, they will likely find new experiences to be more difficult as an adult and be more prone to anxiety-based aggression and fear.

One thing that a lot of pet owners don't know is that a German Shepherd needs lots of mental as well as physical exercise to stay calm and happy. German Shepherd Kaufen Shepherds are herders by nature, and they are driven to please their owners and work. If they don't get enough exercise, they may become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise can tone muscles, reduces "cabin fever," improves circulation and helps with weight loss. It's a great way to connect with your German Shepherd also!