How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

You're taking a huge risk when you purchase the German Shepherd pup. You'll be responsible for the health, training and mental stability of your dog for many years.

Online sources and pet stores sell puppies that are usually from puppy mills, which place profit ahead of the health of animals. Select a reputable breeder instead.

Choosing a Reputable Breeder

Before you buy a German Shepherd pup, it's crucial to know the breeder. Breeders who are responsible will be happy to give you details about their dogs and breeding practices. Breeders will be delighted to share details about their dogs and practices with you.

The best place to start is with your local German Shepherd club or group. Breed clubs usually have a secretary, or puppy officer who can point you to reputable breeders. You can also contact the animal control agency in your state to obtain the list of breeders.

Take the time to meet a breeder in person after you've found one that meets your breed standards. Look for reinrassiger deutscher schäferhund kaufen a clean facility where the mother and puppies are safe. You should ask about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You want to know if they have been screened for hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia, and eye problems.

A responsible breeder should 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 great working relationship with a vet who can perform all necessary tests and vaccines. They will be able give you the name of the vet and his contact number and also provide you with records of your consultation.

It's also an excellent idea to inquire with the breeder if they have any concerns regarding your lifestyle or living situation that might hinder them from selling you a puppy. If they are aware that you have young kids and they are concerned about your children's safety, they might not wish to offer you an German Shepherd puppy because they can be aggressive towards children.

You should also expect an accredited breeder to ask you to sign a contract for the purchase of your German Shepherd puppy. The contract should contain the names of the parents, as well as their AKC registration numbers as along with 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

Reputable breeders conduct health checks on the dogs that form part of their breeding selection. This is to make sure that they do not produce pups with an inherited disease. These tests include hip and elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy and GDV (also called Bloat).

In addition to health screenings Breeders who are reputable strive to acquire a personal understanding of the temperaments and health of each dog they have. They are also able to freely and openly communicate this information to other breeders as well as prospective buyers.

The Kennel Club's Assured Breeder Scheme requires members to conduct certain tests on their dogs. Breed clubs for deutscher Schäferhund schwarz kaufen German Shepherds also suggest that breeders take additional tests.

These tests are designed to detect genetic diseases that affect all German Shepherd Dogs. These tests also help breeders make better mating decisions that will decrease the likelihood of hereditary diseases in the future generations.

Typical genetic tests include

Hip Dysplasia

German Shepherds are prone to elbow and hip dysplasia, particularly in the front limbs. These joint diseases cause pain and discomfort, but they can be treated with weight control, activity limitations and medications. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays with sedation to ensure that the results are accurate.

The OFA test looks for the presence of hemivertebrae as well as butterfly vertebrae. block vertebrae as well as lumbar-sacral verbrae (LSTV) and spondylosis and spina bifida. This test isn't 100% reliable however, Deutsche schäferhundwelpen and it does not tell you if the dog will develop degenerative myelopathy or any other spinal diseases later in the course of.

Socialization

GSDs require a lot of physical activity in addition to training and mental stimulation to keep them engaged. They can easily become bored, and lack of activity can lead to destructive behavior like excessive digging or eating shoes. Most often, these behaviors are a result of unmet emotional needs. Socialization early is essential for German Shepherd pups. Proper socialization helps the puppy to gain confidence in new people and surroundings. It also decreases the chance that the puppy will develop fearful or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.

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

The puppy should be exposed to various household sounds like doorbells, vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances. The puppy should also be exposed different outdoor sounds such as sirens, Deutscher SchäFerhund Welpe Kaufen traffic and construction. This is essential so that the puppy will not become anxious or fearful of these stimuli when they become adults. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a comfortable pace and positive reinforcements will be used throughout the process.

During this period, Belgischer schäferhund welpen kaufen österreich it is also important that the puppy meets many different people and pets. This will help reduce anxiety about separation when the owner is away from home. This can be accomplished by taking the dog to puppy classes, dog parks or play dates with other doggies.

The puppy should only be allowed to interact in a controlled, secure way with other dogs. At first, the interactions should be restricted to ensure that the puppy isn't overwhelmed. The puppy should be able to interact with older, more relaxed and calm dogs. This will help the puppy to realize that not all older, larger dogs are dangerous and helps them develop a good temperament.

Training

German Shepherds need constant, consistent obedience training. It is important to start a training class early, especially when they are still young. This will help them become confident, well-mannered dogs. It's also a great time to introduce them to basic commands, such as sit down, stay and sit. The earlier a dog can learn these basic behaviors, the more simple it is for them to follow your commands as they age.

Territorial aggression is a problem in many families with German Shepherds. They may be overly guarded of their home and property and this can result in their barking at strangers or animals who enter their area. Training, exercise and socialization can help to prevent territorial behavior.

Obedience training will aid in preventing other problems with behavior in German Shepherds. If a dog doesn't have the right obedience training could be a nuisance, or even a danger to family members and neighbours. They are easily distracted by other animals, toys or children and ignore basic commands such as "sit" or "down."

In the early years of puppyhood it is important to continue to introduce your German Shepherds to new locations, people and sounds. This is especially important when they reach the age of 16 weeks since they enter a critical period of brain development during this time. If your German shepherd is a sheltered puppy until then, it will likely be a lot more difficult for them to learn new things once they are an adult. They could also be more susceptible to anxiety or fear-based aggression.

One thing that many pet owners don't know is that a German Shepherd needs lots of physical as well as mental exercise to stay healthy and happy. They are herders by nature and have a strong drive to delight their owners, so if they don't have enough things to do, they can become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise strengthens muscles and decreases "cabin-fever." It also improves circulation, helps in weight loss, and reduces "cabin-fever." It's also a great method to bond with your German shepherd!