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 the health, training, and mental stability of your dog over many years.

Pet stores and online sources offer puppies that are typically from puppy mills, which prioritize profit over the well-being of animals. Choose a reputable breeding center instead.

How to Select a Reputable Breeder

Before purchasing a German Shepherd pup, it's essential to get acquainted with the breeder. Responsible breeders will be willing to share information about their dogs and the ways they treat you. They'll be willing to discuss health and genetic testing as well as early socialization and the environment in which their puppies are fostered.

Your local German Shepherd organization or club is the best place to begin. Breed clubs usually have a secretary, or puppy officer, who can direct you to reputable breeders. You can also contact your state animal control agency to get an inventory of licensed breeders.

Make the effort to meet with a breeder in person once you've found one that meets your standards for breeding. Find a clean facility where the mother and puppies are safe. You should ask about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You should be aware if they've been screened for hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia and eye problems.

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

It's also recommended to ask the breeder whether they have any concerns regarding your lifestyle or living conditions that could prevent them from selling you puppies. If they are aware that you have young kids, they may not want to offer you an German Shepherd puppy because they can be aggressive towards children.

A reputable breeder will also require you to sign a contract prior to purchasing your German Shepherd 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 for responsible breeders to track their dogs and ensure they go to good homes.

Health Tests

Breeders who are trustworthy will examine the health of the dogs they intend to breed. This is to ensure that they don't produce puppies that have an inherited condition. These tests include hip and elbow dysplasia, myelopathy degenerative and GDV (also known as Bloat).

In addition to health screening breeders who are trustworthy gain personal knowledge of the health and temperament of each pet they own. They also are able to freely and completely give this information to other breeders as well as potential buyers.

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

These tests are designed to identify genetic diseases that affect all German Shepherd Dogs. These tests also help breeders make better mating decisions that will reduce the incidences of hereditary illnesses in the next generations.

Common genetic tests include:

Hip Dysplasia

German Shepherds are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, particularly in the front limbs. These joint conditions that are degenerative cause pain and discomfort, but can be controlled through weight control, activity limitations, supplements, and drugs. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays while sedating to ensure the accuracy of the results.

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

Socialization

GSDs need rigorous physical exercise, training, and mental stimulation to stay engaged. They can easily become bored and their lack of activity can result in destructive behavior such as excessive digging or chewing up shoes. Often, these behaviors stem from insufficient emotional requirements. Early socialization is important for German Shepherd pups. Proper socialization can help the puppy gain confidence around new people and belgischer schäferhund welpen kaufen österreich situations. It also reduces the chances that the puppy will be fearful or aggressive in new situations.

The mother and her littermates play and play with each other. This teaches them to get along with their boisterous and sometimes rough siblings. The pups are also exposed to various scents, sounds and sights. The puppies are taught to behave in groups. This is essential 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 sounds outside, including sirens, traffic and construction. This is essential to ensure that the puppy does not grow up scared or anxious about these types of stimuli. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at a comfortable pace and positive reinforcement will be utilized throughout the process.

During this time, it is also important that the puppy gets to meet many different pets and people. This can help prevent anxiety about separation when the owner is away from home. 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 allowed to interact in a controlled, safe way with other dogs. At first, the interactions should be limited to ensure that the puppy does not feel overwhelmed. The puppy should also be allowed to interact with calmer, older and doggies who are friendly. This will help your puppy realize that older, larger dogs do not have to be scary. It will also aid in developing a good attitude.

Training

German Shepherds require consistent, firm obedience training. It is important to start classes early especially when they're still puppy dogs. This will allow them to grow into well-mannered, confident dogs. It's also a good time to introduce them to basic commands, such as sit down, stay and sit. The earlier you can teach your dog these basic commands they'll be more likely to follow your instructions as they get older.

Territorial aggression can be an issue in many families with German Shepherds. They might be extremely protective of their home and property which could lead to them barking at people or animals who enter their territory. Proper training, exercise and socialization can prevent territorial behavior.

Other issues with behavior can be avoided through obedience training for German Shepherds. A dog that doesn't have proper obedience training can become a nuisance and even a danger to family members and neighbors. They are easily distracted by other pets, toys, Belgischer schäferhund welpen kaufen öSterreich or children. They might not pay attention to basic commands like "sit" and "down."

During their puppy years it is crucial to introduce your German Shepherds with new people, places, sights and sounds. This is particularly important when the puppy is 16 weeks old and their brains are undergoing an important stage of development. If your German Shepherd is a quiet puppy they'll likely face new experiences much more challenging as they grow older and become more prone to fear-based aggression and anxiety.

One thing that a lot of dog owners aren't aware of is that a German Shepherd needs lots of mental as well as physical exercise to stay calm and happy. German Shepherds are herding breeds by nature, SchäFerhund BeschüTzerinstinkt (Slattery-Paul-2.Technetbloggers.De) and they are driven to please their owners and work. If they don't get enough exercise they can become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise tones muscles and decreases "cabin-fever." It also improves circulation, helps in weight loss and reduces "cabin-fever." It's an excellent way to connect with your German Shepherd as well!