How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

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

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

How to Select a Breeder who is Reputable

It is important to be aware of your breeder before you purchase a German Shepherd puppy. Breeders who are responsible will be delighted to share details about their dogs and breeding practices. Breeders will be happy to share information about their dogs as well as practices with you.

The best place to begin is to contact your local German Shepherd club or group. Breed clubs typically have a secretary or puppy officer who can point you to reputable breeders. You can also contact your state's animal control agency to find an updated list of licensed breeding companies.

Take the time to meet with a breeder in person once you've located one that meets your standards for breeding. You should seek out a clean, comfortable facility where the puppy and the mother dog are kept. Ask about the puppy's fathers and siblings; you would like to verify that they were screened for hereditary diseases like hip dysplasia, eye problems, heart disease and deutscher Schäferhund kaufen Degenerative Myelopathy.

A responsible breeder should also be able to supply 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 that can conduct all the required tests and vaccines. They should be able give you the name of the veterinarian and phone number, and also give you a consultation note.

It's also a good idea to ask the breeder if they have any concerns about your lifestyle or living situation that might prevent them from selling you an animal. For instance If they know that you have children, they might be hesitant to sell you a puppy due to the fact that German Shepherds can be aggressive with children.

You should also expect an established breeder to ask you to sign a contract to purchase your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include details about the parents as well as their AKC registration number and an option to return the puppy to the breeder. This is an excellent method for responsible breeders to track their dogs and ensure they go to good homes.

Health Tests

Breeders who are reputable conduct health tests on the dogs that will form part of their breeding collection. This is to make sure that they don't create pups with an inherited disease. These tests include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, as well as degenerative myelopathy, GDV and Bloat.

In addition to health screening, Deutscher SchäFerhund Zu Verkaufen reputable breeders strive to gain personal knowledge of the temperaments and health of every pet they own. They also are able to freely and completely share this information with other breeders and prospective buyers.

As part of the Kennel Club's Assured breeder program, members are required to conduct certain tests with their dogs. The breed clubs for German shepherds also suggest that breeders carry out additional tests.

These tests are designed to detect genetic diseases that affect all German Shepherd Dogs. These tests also allow breeders make better decisions about mating that can reduce the risk of hereditary diseases in the future generations.

Common genetic tests include:

Hip Dysplasia

German Shepherds are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, particularly in the front limbs. These degenerative joint diseases cause pain and discomfort, but can be controlled with weight control, deutscher schäferhund lebenserwartung activity restrictions, supplements, and drugs. X-rays are taken under anesthesia to ensure precise results, and then sent to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).

The OFA test focuses on hemivertebra, butterfly vertebra, block vertebra, lumbar-sacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis and spina bifida. The test isn't completely foolproof however, and does not determine whether a dog will develop degenerative myelopathy, or other spinal diseases later in the course of.

Socialization

GSDs require a lot of physical activity along with training and mental stimulation to keep them busy. They can easily become bored and their inactivity can lead to destructive behavior such as excessive digging or chewing on shoes. The majority of these behaviors stem from insufficient emotional needs. This is why early socialization is crucial for German Shepherd puppies. Proper socialization helps the pup develop confidence with new people and situations. It also reduces the chances that the puppy will be fearful or aggressive in new situations.

The mother and her littermates play together and interact with each other. This helps them learn to be around their noisy and sometimes rough siblings. The puppies are also exposed to various sights, sounds and smells. The puppies are taught how to behave in a group. This is crucial to their success as adults.

The puppy should be exposed to different household sounds including vacuum cleaners, doorbells and kitchen appliances. The puppy should be exposed sounds outside, such as sirens, traffic, and construction. This is crucial to ensure that the puppy does not develop afraid or anxious of these types of stimuli. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a relaxed pace, and positive reinforcement should be used throughout the process.

During this period, it is essential that the puppy meets many different animals and people. This will help reduce separation anxiety when the owner is away from home. This can be achieved 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, safe manner with other dogs. At beginning, interactions should be restricted so that the dog does not feel overwhelmed. The puppy should be able to interact with older, more friendly, calmer dogs. This will allow the puppy to realize that not all larger, older dogs are dangerous and will help them to develop an appropriate temperament.

Training

German Shepherds need constant and consistent obedience training. It is crucial to get them into an obedience class as soon as possible particularly when they are still young. This will allow them to become confident and well-mannered dogs. It is also a good time to make them familiar with the basics of commands such as sit down, down, deutscher schäferhund zu verkaufen stay and come. The earlier a dog learns these basic commands, the more simple it is for them to follow your commands as they get older.

Territorial aggression is a typical problem for many German Shepherd owners. They might be extremely protective of their home and property which could lead to them barking at other people or animals that enter their area. Training, exercise and socialization can prevent territorial behavior.

Other behavioral problems can be prevented through obedience training for German Shepherds. If a dog doesn't have the right obedience training could become a nuisance or even a threat to their family members and neighbours. They can easily be distracted by other animals, toys or children and disregard basic commands such as "sit" or "down."

During the puppy years, you should continue to introduce your German Shepherds to new people, places and sounds. This is especially important before the puppy turns 16 weeks old, when their brains are undergoing an important stage of development. If your German shepherd is a quiet puppy prior to this, it will likely be a lot more difficult for them to grasp new things as an adult. They could also be more prone to anxiety or fear-based aggression.

Many dog owners do not realize that a German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise to be calm and happy. German Shepherds are herders by nature, and German Shepherd kaufen are driven to please their owners and work. If they don't get enough exercise, they may become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise helps tone muscles, reduces "cabin fever," improves circulation and helps with weight loss. It's also a great way to strengthen the bond between you and your German shepherd!