How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

When you purchase a German Shepherd puppy, you're making a big commitment. You will be responsible for a long time for the training and health of your dog.

Pet stores and online resources generally sell puppies from puppy mills that place profits over animal welfare. Select a reputable breeder instead.

How to Choose a Breeder with a Good Reputation

Before you purchase a German Shepherd pup, it's essential to get acquainted with the breeder. Breeders who are responsible will be happy to give you details about their dogs as well as breeding practices. They'll be willing to discuss genetic and health testing, early socialization, and the environment where their puppies are being raised.

Your local German Shepherd organization or club is the best place to begin. Breed clubs usually have a secretary, or puppy officer, who can guide you to breeders who are reputable. You can also contact the animal control agency in your state to obtain the list of breeders.

Make the effort to meet a breeder in person after you've found one that meets your standards for breeding. You should search for a clean, comfortable facility in which the puppies and their mother are kept in a secure. You should ask about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You'll want to know if they have been screened for hereditary issues like hip dysplasia, and eye problems.

A responsible breeder should be able to provide you with a copy of your puppy's medical records and a current vaccination schedule. They should have a strong relationship with a vet who can perform all necessary tests and vaccinations. They should be able to tell you the name of the veterinarian, his telephone number, and provide you with records of your consultation.

It's also recommended to ask the breeder whether they have any concerns regarding your lifestyle or living conditions that might prevent them from selling you puppies. If they are aware that you have young children, they may not want to sell you a German Shepherd puppy because they are known to be aggressive with children.

You should also expect an established breeder to ask you to sign an agreement for the purchase of your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include the names of the parents, as well as their AKC registration numbers, as well as a return-to-breeder clause. This is an excellent way for responsible breeders to keep track of their dogs and ensure they are placed in good homes.

Health Tests

Breeders who are trustworthy will test the health of the dogs they intend to use as breeding stock. This is to make sure 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 screening, reputable breeders strive to get a better understanding of the temperaments and health of each dog they have. They also freely and fully give this information to other breeders and prospective buyers.

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

These health tests look for genetic disorders that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. They also allow breeders to make more informed mating decisions that will lower the chance of developing hereditary diseases in future generations.

The most common genetic tests are:

Hip Dysplasia

German Shepherds are susceptible to hip and deutscher schäFerhund kaufen schweiz elbow dysplasia, especially in the front limbs. These degenerative joint diseases cause pain and discomfort but can be managed by weight control, activity limitations, schäferhunde suchen ein zuhause supplements, and drugs. X-rays are taken under sedation, to get exact results. Then, they are sent to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).

The OFA test looks for the presence of hemivertebras, butterfly vertebras, block vertebra, lumbar sacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis and spina bifida. The test is not impervious and cannot predict the likelihood that a dog's spinal problem will be degenerative myelopathy.

Socialization

GSDs require rigorous physical exercise as well as training and mental stimulation to keep them engaged. They are easily bored and their lack of activity can result in destructive behaviors such as excessive digging or chewing up shoes. These behaviors are often due to unmet emotional needs. Socialization early is essential for German Shepherd pups. A good socialization program allows the puppy to build confidence around new people and different environments. It also decreases the chance that the puppy will be fearful or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.

The mother and her littermates play together and interact with each other. This teaches the puppies appropriate social signals and how to cope with their boisterous, sometimes rough, siblings. It also exposes the pups to a variety of smells, sights and SchäFerhundwelpen kaufen sounds. The puppies learn to behave appropriately within a group, which is essential to their success as adult dogs.

The puppy should be introduced to various household sounds like doorbells, vacuum cleaners and schäferhundwelpen kaufen kitchen appliances. The puppy should be exposed to different sounds outside, like traffic, sirens, and construction. This is essential to ensure that the puppy doesn't become fearful or anxious of these stimuli. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at a moderate pace and positive reinforcement will be utilized throughout the process.

It is also crucial that the puppy gets to meet many different people during this time, as well as other pets. This will help prevent separation anxiety while the owner is away. One good example is when the dog is taken to puppy classes, dog parks or play dates with other dogs.

The puppy should only be allowed to interact in a controlled, safe manner with other dogs. At beginning, interactions should be limited so that the dog does not feel overwhelmed. The puppy should be allowed to interact with older, more friendly and calm dogs. This will help your puppy understand that larger, older dogs do not need to be scary. It will also aid in developing a good attitude.

Training

German Shepherds require constant, consistent obedience training. It is important to get them into classes as soon as possible and especially when they are still young. This will assist them in developing into well-mannered, confident dogs. It is also a good time to make them familiar with the basic commands like sit, down, stay and come. The earlier you can teach your dog these basic commands and commands, they'll be more likely to obey your instructions as they get older.

Territorial aggression is a common issue for many German Shepherd owners. They might be extremely protective of their homes and property and this can result in them barking at people or animals who venture into their area. Training, exercise and socialization can help to prevent territorial behavior.

Obedience training can also help to prevent other issues with behavior in German Shepherds. Dogs that are not properly trained could be a nuisance to their family and friends. They are easily distracted by other pets, toys, or children. They might not pay attention to basic commands such as "sit" and "down."

During their puppy years it is essential to socialize your German Shepherds with new people places, sights, and sounds. This is particularly important before they are 16 weeks old, as they go through a critical period of brain development during this time. If your German shepherd is a sheltered puppy prior to this it's likely to be much more difficult for them to learn new things when they become adults. They could also be more prone to anxiety or fear-based aggression.

Many dog owners don't realize that a German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise to be content and peaceful. German Shepherds are herders by nature, and they have a strong desire to please their owners as well as work. If they don't get enough exercise they could become bored or destructive. Regular exercise strengthens muscles and Deutscher schäferhund beschützerinstinkt schäferhunde kaufen Schweiz - Menwiki.Men - decreases "cabin-fever." It also improves circulation, helps in weight loss, and reduces "cabin-fever." It's a great way to connect with your German Shepherd as well!