How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

You're making a significant commitment when you purchase a German Shepherd pup. You'll be accountable, for many years, for the health and training of your dog.

Online sources and pet stores offer puppies that are typically from puppy mills, which place profit ahead of the health of animals. Select a reputable breeding facility instead.

How to Select a Breeder with a Good Reputation

It is important to be aware of your breeder before you purchase a German Shepherd puppy. Responsible breeders will be willing to provide information about their dogs and the ways they treat you. Breeders will be delighted to provide information about their dogs as well as practices with you.

The best place to start is to contact your local German Shepherd club or reinrassiger deutscher schäferhund group. Breed clubs usually have a secretary or puppy officer, who can guide you to reputable breeders. You can also contact the animal control department of your state to get the list of breeding companies.

It is a good idea to meet with a breeder in person once you've located one who meets your breed standards. You should look for an upscale, clean facility in which the puppies and SchäFerhunde kaufen their mother are kept in a secure. Ask about the puppy's fathers and siblings. You'll 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 will be capable of providing you with a copy of your puppy's medical record and a current shot schedule. They should have a strong relationship with a vet who is able to perform all the necessary tests and vaccinations. They should be able give you the name of the veterinarian and telephone number and provide you with consultation notes.

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

A reputable breeder will require that you sign a contract when purchasing your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include the names of the parents, as well as their AKC registration numbers as in addition to a return-to breeder clause. This is a vital way for responsible breeders to keep track of their dogs and ensure they are going to good homes.

Health Tests

Breeders with a good reputation will examine the health of the dogs they plan to use as breeding stock. This is to ensure that they don't create pups with inherited disease. These tests include hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia, as well as degenerative myelopathy GDV and bloat.

In addition to health screening, reputable breeders strive to acquire a personal understanding of the health and temperament of each pet they own. They also share this information fully and openly with other breeders and prospective buyers.

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

These health tests look for genetic disorders that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. These tests also help breeders make better decisions about mating that will reduce the incidences of hereditary illnesses in the next generations.

The most common genetic tests are

Hip Dysplasia

German Shepherds are susceptible to elbow and hip dysplasia particularly in the front limbs. These joint conditions that cause degeneration cause discomfort and pain, but can be managed through weight control, activity limitations and medications. X-rays are taken with anesthesia to ensure accurate results and then submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).

The OFA test looks for the presence of hemivertebra, butterfly vertebra block vertebra, lumbar-sacral transformational vertebrae (LSTV) as well as spondylosis, hemivertebra and spina bifida. The test is not impervious and cannot predict whether a dog's condition will be degenerative myelopathy.

Socialization

GSDs require intense physical exercise, training, and mental stimulation to stay active. They are prone to becoming bored and inactivity can lead to destructive behavior like excessive digging or eating shoes. The majority of these behaviors are a result of insufficient emotional needs. Socialization early is essential for German Shepherd pups. Proper socialization helps the puppy to build confidence with new people and surroundings. It also reduces the chances that the puppy will be scared 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 rough and SchäFerhunde Kaufen boisterous siblings. They are also exposed to a wide range of smells, sights and sounds. The puppies learn to behave appropriately in a group environment, which is crucial to their success as dogs who mature.

The puppy should be introduced to a variety of household noises like doorbells, vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances. The puppy should be exposed sounds outside, Schäferhunde kaufen including sirens, traffic, and construction. This is essential to ensure that the puppy doesn't develop scared or anxious about these types of stimuli. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at a comfortable rate and positive reinforcement is utilized throughout the process.

It is also very important for the puppy to meet numerous people during this period, along with other pets. This will help prevent separation anxiety when the owner is away. This can be achieved by taking the dog to puppy classes, dog parks, or play dates with other dogs.

The puppy should be allowed to interact with other dogs in a safe, controlled manner and the interactions should be tempered at first so that the puppy does not become overwhelmed. The puppy should be allowed to interact with older, Belgischer Schäferhund welpen kaufen öSterreich more sociable, calmer dogs. This will help your puppy realize that bigger, older dogs don't have to be terrifying. It will also aid in developing an attitude of confidence.

Training

German Shepherds need strict, consistent obedience training. It is important to enroll them in an obedience class as soon as you can particularly when they are still young. This will help them develop into confident and well-mannered dogs. This is also a great time to make them familiar with the basic commands like sit, down, stay and come. The earlier you teach your dog these basic behaviors they'll be more likely to follow your instructions as they age.

Territorial aggression is a typical issue for a lot of German Shepherd owners. They can be extremely protective of their home and property, resulting in barking or growling at people or animals that enter their territory. Territorial behavior can be slowed through the proper training, exercise and socialization.

Other behavioral problems can be prevented through obedience training in German Shepherds. Dogs that don't have proper obedience training can be a nuisance, or even a danger to family members and neighbours. They are easily distracted by other animals or toys, or even children and disregard basic commands like "sit" or "down."

During the puppy years it is important to continue to socialize your German Shepherds to new people, places and sounds. This is especially important before the puppy turns 16 weeks old as their brains are in a critical phase of development. If your German shepherd is a quiet puppy prior to this it's likely to be more difficult for them to grasp 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 in order to be calm and happy. German Shepherds are herding breeds by nature, and are driven to please their owners as well as work. If they don't exercise enough they can become bored or destructive. Regular exercise also tones muscles, reduces "cabin fever," improves circulation and helps with weight loss. It's also a great way to strengthen the bond between you and your German shepherd!