How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

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

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

How to Choose a Reputable Breeder

Before you purchase a German Shepherd pup, it's important to get to know the breeder. Responsible breeders will be willing to share information about their dogs and their practices with you. They will be willing to discuss genetic and health testing, early socialization, and the environment in which their puppies are fostered.

The best place to start is to contact your local German Shepherd club or other organization. Most breed clubs have an officer for puppy or secretary who can point you to reputable breeders in your area. You can also contact the animal control agency in your state to obtain the list of breeding companies.

Take the time to meet a breeder's representative in person once you've located one that meets your breed standards. Find a clean facility where the mother and pups are kept in a safe environment. You should ask about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You want to know if they have been screened for any hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia or eye issues.

A responsible breeder will be able to provide you with a copy of your puppy's medical record and the most current schedule of shots. They should have a strong relationship with a veterinarian who can carry out all the necessary tests and vaccinations. They will be able to tell you the vet's name and phone number, and also provide you with consultation notes.

Ask the breeder about any concerns they have about your lifestyle or living situation. This may hinder them from bringing puppies to you. For example If they know that you have children, they may be hesitant to sell you a puppy due to the fact that German Shepherds can be a bit aggressive with children.

A reputable breeder will also require you to sign a contract when you purchase your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include details about the parents and their AKC registration number and an option to return the puppy to the breeder. This is a vital way for responsible breeders to monitor their dogs and ensure that they are going to suitable homes.

Health Tests

Reputable breeders undertake health tests on the dogs that will form part of their breeding stock. This is to make sure that they don't create puppies that have an inherited condition. These tests include elbow and hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, and GDV (also known as Bloat).

Breeders who are trusted strive to know the temperaments and health issues of every dog they have. They also share this information completely and openly with other breeders and prospective buyers.

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

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

Typical genetic tests include

Hip Dysplasia

German Shepherds are susceptible to elbow and hip dysplasia, particularly in the front limbs. These joint diseases cause discomfort and pain, but they can be treated with exercise restrictions, weight control and supplements as well as medications. X-rays are taken with conscious sedation to obtain precise results, and then sent to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).

The OFA test looks for the presence of hemivertebra, butterfly vertebra block vertebra, lumbar sacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis and spina bifida. The test isn't 100% reliable, however, and does not determine whether the dog will develop degenerative myelopathy, or other spinal diseases later in life.

Socialization

GSDs require a lot of physical exercise, training and mental stimulation to stay engaged. They can easily become bored and their inactivity can result in destructive behavior such as excessive digging or chewing on shoes. The majority of these behaviors stem from unmet emotional requirements. This is why early socialization is important for German Shepherd puppies. Proper socialization helps the puppy to gain confidence in new people and environments. It also reduces the likelihood that the puppy will be fearful or aggressive when in unfamiliar situations.

The mother and her littermates play together and interact with each other. This helps them learn to interact with their boisterous and sometimes rough siblings. They are also exposed to a wide range of sights, smells and sounds. The puppies learn to behave within a group, which is essential 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 to different sounds outside, including sirens, traffic and construction. This is essential so that the puppy will not become anxious or fearful of these situations as an adult. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a calming pace, Reinrassiger SchäFerhund and positive reinforcement should be used throughout the process.

It is also important that the puppy gets to meet many different people during this period, along with other pets. This can help reduce separation anxiety when the owner is away. One good example is when a dog is taken to puppy classes and dog parks or play dates with other dogs.

The puppy should be allowed to interact in a safe, controlled manner with other dogs. At first, the interactions should be limited to ensure that the puppy does not feel overwhelmed. The puppy should be allowed to interact with older, schäFerhunde Kaufen 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 a good attitude.

Training

German Shepherds require regular, strict obedience training. It is essential to enroll them in an obedience class as soon as you can, especially while they are still young. This will allow them to become confident, well-mannered dogs. This is also a good time to get them familiar with the basics of commands such as sit, down, stay and deutsche schäferhunde welpen kaufen österreich come. The earlier a dog can learn these basic behaviors, the easier it will be for them to follow your instructions as they grow older.

Territorial aggression is an issue in many families with German Shepherds. They may be overly guarded of their homes and property, which can lead to them barking at people or animals who enter their territory. Territorial behavior is averted through proper training, exercise, and socialization.

Other behavioral issues can be prevented by obedience training in German Shepherds. Dogs who aren't properly trained can cause annoyance to their neighbors and family members. They can be easily distracted by other pets, toys or children. They may not be able to follow simple commands such as "sit" and "down."

In the early years of their puppyhood it is crucial to introduce your German Shepherds with new people, places, sights and sounds. This is particularly important when the puppy turns 16 weeks old as their brains are undergoing an important phase of development. If your German Shepherd is a sheltered puppy until that point they'll likely encounter new experiences much more challenging in adulthood and will be more prone to fear-based aggression and anxiety.

One thing that a lot of pet owners don't know is that a German Shepherd needs lots of mental as well as physical exercise to stay healthy and Deutsche SchäFerhunde belgischer schäferhund welpen kaufen österreich - try these out - happy. They are herding dogs by nature and have a strong desire to work and satisfy their owners If they don't have enough things to do, they can become bored or destructive. Regular exercise tones muscles and decreases "cabin-fever." It also improves circulation, aids in weight loss and helps reduce "cabin-fever." It's an excellent way to connect with your German Shepherd, too!