How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

When you purchase a German Shepherd puppy, you're making a big commitment. You'll be accountable, for many years, for the health and education of your dog.

Pet stores and online sources generally sell puppies from puppy mills that prioritize profits over the welfare of the animal. Select a reputable breeder instead.

How to Select a Reputable Breeder

Before you purchase a German Shepherd pup, it's important to get to know the breeder. Breeders who are responsible will be happy to provide you with details about their dogs as well as breeding practices. They will be happy to discuss genetic and health testing early socialization, as well as the environment in which their puppies are raised.

Your local German Shepherd organization or club is the best place to start. Most breed clubs have a secretary or puppy officer who can point you in the right direction for reputable breeders in your area. You can also contact your state's animal control agency to obtain the list of breeders.

Take the time to meet with a breeder in person once you've located one who meets your breeding standards. Find a clean facility where the mother and puppies are safe. Ask about the puppy's fathers and siblings. You'll would like to verify that they have been screened for hereditary diseases such as hip dysplasia eye problems, heart disease, and Degenerative Myelopathy.

A responsible breeder will also be capable of providing you with a copy of your puppy's medical record and an up-to-date shot schedule. They should have a strong relationship with a veterinarian who can perform all the necessary tests and vaccinations. They will be able to give you the name of the veterinarian as well as the number of his phone and give you consultation notes.

Ask the breeder about any concerns they might have regarding your lifestyle and living circumstances. This could prevent them from bringing puppies to you. If they know you have young kids, they may not want to sell you an German Shepherd puppy because they are known to be aggressive with children.

A reputable breeder will require you to sign a contract prior to purchasing your German king shepherd kaufen puppy. The contract should contain the names of the parents as well as their AKC registration numbers as in addition to a return-to breeder clause. This is a great method breeders who are responsible to monitor their dogs and ensure they have a good home.

Health Tests for Health

Breeders who are reputable will check the health of the dogs they intend to breed as breeding stock. This is to ensure that they don't produce puppies with an inherited disease. These tests include hip dysplasia as well as elbow dysplasia as well as degenerative myelopathy, GDV and Bloat.

In addition to health screening Breeders who are reputable strive to acquire a personal understanding of the health and temperament of each dog they have. They also freely and fully give this information to other breeders and King Shepherd Kaufen prospective buyers.

As part of the Kennel Club's Assured breeder program, members are required to conduct certain tests on their dogs. Breed clubs for German Shepherds also suggest that breeders take additional tests.

These tests are designed to detect genetic diseases that affect all German Shepherd Dogs. They also allow breeders to make better informed decisions about mating which will decrease the chance of developing hereditary diseases in the future.

Common genetic tests include

Hip Dysplasia

German Shepherds are at risk of elbow and hip dysplasia particularly in the front limbs. These joint conditions that are degenerative cause pain and discomfort but can be controlled through weight control, activity restrictions supplements, and medications. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays under sedation to ensure that the results are accurate.

The OFA test is designed to detect the presence of hemivertebra, butterfly vertebra block vertebra, lumbar-sacral transformational vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis and spina bifida. This test isn't 100% reliable and cannot tell whether a dog's spinal condition will be degenerative myelopathy.

Socialization

GSDs require intense physical exercise along with training and mental stimulation to keep them busy. They are prone to becoming bored, and lack of activity may lead to destructive behaviors such as eating excessively or digging shoes. These behaviors are often the result of unmet emotional requirements. Socialization at an early age is crucial for German Shepherd pups. Proper socialization helps the puppy to build confidence around new people and surroundings. It also decreases the chance that the puppy will be fearful or aggressive in new situations.

Puppy socialization starts with the mother and her littermates as they play and interact. This helps puppies learn appropriate social cues and how to deal with their boisterous, sometimes rough, siblings. The puppies are also exposed to various kinds of sounds, sights and smells. The puppies are taught how to behave in the group. This is crucial to their success as adults.

Introduce the puppy to different household sounds, including vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances, and doorbells. The puppy should be exposed to different sounds outside, like sirens, traffic and construction. This is very important so that the puppy will not become scared or anxious of these sounds as an adult. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a calming pace and positive reinforcements will be used throughout the process.

It is also very important for the puppy to meet many different people over this time, in addition to other pets. This will help prevent separation anxiety when the owner is away. One good example is when the dog is taken to puppy classes and dog parks or play dates with other dogs.

The puppy should be able to interact with other dogs in a safe, controlled manner and the interaction should be restricted at first so that the puppy doesn't become overwhelmed. The puppy should also be allowed to interact with calmer, older, gentle dogs. This will help your puppy understand that bigger, older dogs don't have to be scary. It can also help them develop an attitude of confidence.

Training

German Shepherds need firm, consistent obedience training. It is crucial to get them into an obedience class as soon as you can, especially while they are still young. This will help them develop into well-mannered, confident dogs. This is also a great time to get them familiar with the basics of commands such as sit, down, stay and come. The earlier you begin teaching your dog these basic skills, they will be more likely to follow your commands as they get older.

Territorial aggression is an issue in many families with German Shepherds. They might be extremely protective of their home and property and this can result in them barking at people or animals who venture into their area. Training, exercise and socialization can prevent territorial behavior.

Obedience training can also help prevent other behavioral problems in German Shepherds. Dogs that are not properly trained could cause annoyance to their neighbors and family members. They can easily be distracted by other animals, toys or children and disregard basic commands such as "sit" or "down."

During their puppy years it is crucial to keep your German Shepherds in contact with new people, places, sights and sounds. This is especially important prior schäFerhund welpen Kaufen schweiz to when the puppy is 16 weeks old, when their brains are undergoing an important phase of development. If your German shepherd is a sheltered puppy until then, it will likely be much more difficult for them to grasp new things once they are an adult. They could also be more prone towards fear-based aggression or anxiety.

One thing that a lot of dog owners aren't aware of is that a German Shepherd needs lots of physical and mental exercise to stay calm and content. German Shepherds are herding breeds by nature, and have a strong desire to please their owners as well as work. If they don't get enough exercise, they may become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise helps tone muscles and decreases "cabin-fever." It also improves circulation, schäferhund Beschützerinstinkt aids with weight loss, and reduces "cabin-fever." It's an excellent way to bond with your German Shepherd, too!