How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

If you purchase a German Shepherd puppy, you're making a big commitment. You will be responsible for the health, training, and mental stability of your dog over many years.

Pet stores and online retailers generally sell puppies from puppy mills who place profits over the welfare of the animal. Select a reputable breeder instead.

How to Choose a Breeder who is Reputable

Before purchasing a German Shepherd pup, it's crucial to know the breeder. Responsible breeders will be happy to provide information about their dogs and the ways they treat you. They will be happy to discuss health and genetic testing early socialization, as well as the environment where their puppies are fostered.

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

If you've found a breeder who has good breeding standards, make sure you take the time to meet them in person. You should seek out a clean, comfortable facility in which the puppy and the mother dog are kept. You should ask about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You'll want to be aware if they've been screened for any hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia or eye issues.

A responsible breeder should also be able provide you with a copy your puppy's medical history and an up-to-date vaccination schedule. They should have a good working relationship with a vet who can conduct all the required tests and vaccines. They should be able tell you the vet's name and phone number, and also give you a consultation note.

It's also recommended to ask the breeder whether they have any concerns regarding your lifestyle or living situation that might hinder them from offering you an animal. For instance If they know that you have young children, they may be hesitant to offer you a puppy because German Shepherds can be aggressive with children.

A reputable breeder will also require that you sign a contract when purchasing your German Shepherd puppy. The contract should contain details about the parents, their AKC registration number, and an option to return the puppy to the breeder. This is an excellent way for responsible breeders to keep track of their dogs and ensure they have a good home.

Health Tests

Breeders with a good reputation will check the health of the dogs they intend to breed. This is to ensure that they do not produce puppies with an inherited disease. These tests include hip dysplasia, 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 temperaments and health of each dog they own. They also share this information completely and freely with other breeders and potential 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 conduct 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, which will reduce the incidence of hereditary disease in future generations.

The most common genetic tests are:

Hip Dysplasia

Hip and elbow dysplasia are a common problem in German Shepherds with the latter suffering from the condition in their front limbs. These degenerative joint diseases cause pain and discomfort but can be managed by weight control, activity limitations as well as supplements and medications. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays with sedation to ensure accurate results.

The OFA test is designed to detect hemivertebra, butterfly vertebra, block vertebra, lumbar-sacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) as well as spondylosis, hemivertebra and spina bifida. This test isn't foolproof and does not predict whether a dog's spinal condition is degenerative myelopathy.

Socialization

GSDs require intense physical exercise, training, and mental stimulation to keep engaged. They get bored very easily and their lack of activity can result in destructive behavior like excessive digging or chewing up shoes. These behaviors are usually the result of unmet emotional needs. This is why early socialization is so crucial for German Shepherd puppies. A good socialization program helps the puppy develop confidence with new people and situations. It also reduces the likelihood that the puppy will grow anxious or schäferhund welpen kaufen Schweiz aggressive in new situations.

The mother and her littermates play together and interact with each other. This teaches puppies appropriate social signals and how to deal with their boisterous and sometimes rough siblings. The puppies are also exposed to a variety of sights, smells and sounds. The puppies learn how to behave within a group, which is key to their success as adult dogs.

The puppy should be exposed to a variety of household noises such as doorbells, vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances. The puppy should be exposed to different sounds outside, including traffic, sirens and construction. This is essential so that the puppy will not be scared or anxious of these stimuli as an adult. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at an ease pace and positive reinforcement will be utilized throughout the process.

It is also very important for a puppy to get to know many different people over this time, as well as other pets. This can help reduce separation anxiety while the owner is away. This can be accomplished by taking the dog to puppy classes, dog parks or play dates with other dogs.

The puppy should be allowed to interact with the other dogs in a secure, controlled manner and the interactions should be tempered initially so that the puppy doesn't become overwhelmed. The puppy should also be allowed to be around calmer, older and doggies who are friendly. This will allow the puppy realize that not all older, larger dogs are scary and it will aid in developing an appropriate temperament.

Training

German Shepherds require regular, strict obedience training. It is important to get them into an obedience class early enough, especially while they are still young. This will allow them to grow into confident, well-mannered dogs. It is also a good time to get them familiar with the basics of commands such as sit down, Deutscher SchäFerhund Schwarz Kaufen stay, and come. The earlier you begin teaching your dog these basic skills they'll be more likely to follow your instructions as they get older.

Territorial aggression is a frequent problem for many German Shepherd owners. They may be extremely cautious of their homes and property which could lead to them barking at people or animals who enter their territory. Territorial behavior can be slowed through the proper training, exercise and socialization.

Training in obedience can also help prevent other issues 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 neighbors. They can easily be distracted by other animals toys or was kostet ein reinrassiger deutscher schäferhund kaufeneinen deutschen schäferhund kaufen - skou-langley-2.technetbloggers.de - children, and ignore basic commands like "sit" or "down."

In the early years of puppyhood it is important to continue to socialize your German Shepherds with new locations, people and sounds. This is especially important prior to when they are 16 weeks old, as they go through an important period of brain development during this time. If your German shepherd is a protected puppy prior to this it's likely to be much more difficult for them to master new things once they are an adult. They may also be more prone 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 remain 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 get enough exercise they can become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise can tone muscles, reduces "cabin fever," improves circulation and aids in weight loss. It's the perfect way to bond with your German Shepherd, too!