How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

You're making a significant commitment when you purchase a German Shepherd pup. You'll be responsible, for many years, for the health and education of your dog.

Pet stores and online sources sell puppies that are usually from puppy mills, which focus on profit over the welfare of animals. Select a reputable breeder instead.

Selecting a Breeder who is reputable

Before you purchase a German Shepherd pup, it's important to get to know the breeder. Responsible breeders will be happy to share information about their dogs and their practices with you. Breeders are happy to give you details about their dogs and practices with you.

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

Take the time to meet with a breeder in person after you've found one who is in line with your standards for breeding. Find a clean facility where the mother and pups are safe. It is important to inquire about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You'll want to be aware if they've been screened for hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia, and eye problems.

A responsible breeder should be able provide you with a copy your puppy's medical records and an up-to-date vaccination schedule. They should have a good relationship with a veterinarian who can perform all necessary tests and vaccinations. They should be able to give you the name of the veterinarian, his telephone number, and provide you with consultation records.

Ask the breeder about any concerns they have regarding your lifestyle and living circumstances. This may hinder them from bringing a puppy to you. For example when they know that you have children, they may be hesitant to offer you a puppy due to the fact that German Shepherds can be aggressive with children.

You should also expect an established breeder to require you to sign an agreement to purchase your German Shepherd puppy. The contract should include information about the parents and their AKC registration number as well as a clause allowing them to return the puppy to the breeder. This is an excellent method for responsible breeders to track their dogs and ensure they are placed in good homes.

Health Tests

Breeders who are reputable conduct health tests on the dogs that will be part of their breeding collection. This is to make sure that they don't produce puppies that have an inherited condition. These tests include elbow and hip dysplasia, myelopathy degenerative and GDV (also called bloat).

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

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

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

Typical genetic tests include:

Hip Dysplasia

German Shepherds are prone to elbow and hip dysplasia especially in the front limbs. These joint conditions that cause degeneration cause pain and discomfort, but can be managed through weight control, activity limitations and medications. The X-rays are made under anesthesia to ensure accurate results and then submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).

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

Socialization

GSDs require rigorous physical exercise 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. These behaviors are often caused by a lack of emotional requirements. This is why early socialization is so crucial for German Shepherd puppies. A good socialization program allows the puppy to build confidence around new people and environments. It also decreases the chance that the puppy will develop anxious or schäferhund Welpe kaufen aggressive in new situations.

The mother and her littermates play together and interact with each other. This helps puppies learn appropriate social signals and how to cope with their boisterous, and sometimes rough siblings. The puppies are also exposed to a variety sights, sounds and smells. The puppies are taught to behave in groups. This is crucial to their success as adults.

The puppy should be exposed to a variety of household noises like doorbells, deutscher schäferhund kaufen schweiz vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances. The puppy should be exposed to a variety of sounds outside, such as sirens, traffic and construction. This is important to ensure that the puppy does not develop afraid or anxious of these sounds. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a comfortable pace and positive reinforcements will be utilized throughout the process.

During this time, it is essential that the puppy meets many different people and pets. This will help to prevent separation anxiety when the owner is away from home. A good example of this is when the dog is taken to puppy classes or dog parks, or even play dates with other dogs.

The puppy should only be allowed to interact in a controlled, secure way with other dogs. At beginning, interactions should be limited to ensure that the puppy does not feel overwhelmed. The puppy should also be allowed to be around calmer, older, friendly dogs. This will help your puppy understand that bigger, older dogs do not need to be scary. It will also aid in developing an excellent attitude.

Training

German Shepherds require consistent, firm obedience training. It is essential to get them into classes early enough particularly when they are still young. This will allow them to grow into confident, well-mannered dogs. It is also a great time to familiarize them with basic commands like sit down, stay and sit. The earlier a dog is taught these basic behaviors the easier it is for them 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 property and deutscher schäferhund kaufen Schweiz (Brewwiki.win) homes and this can result in them barking at other people or animals that enter their area. Proper training, exercise and deutsche Schäferhunde welpen Kaufen österreich socialization can help to prevent territorial behavior.

Other behavioral problems can be prevented by obedience training in German Shepherds. If a dog doesn't possess the proper obedience training can become a nuisance and even a danger to family members and Schäferhundwelpen neighbours. They can be easily distracted by other pets, toys or children. They may not be able to follow simple commands like "sit" and "down."

During their puppy years it is essential to introduce your German Shepherds with new people locations, sights, and sounds. This is particularly important when the puppy turns 16 weeks old as their brains are going through a critical phase of development. If your German Shepherd is a quiet puppy until that point, they will likely find new experiences more difficult as they grow older and become more susceptible to fear-based aggression and anxiety.

Many dog owners don't realize that the German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise to be happy and calm. German Shepherds are herders by nature, and have a strong desire 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 and reduces "cabin-fever." It helps improve circulation, assists with weight loss, and decreases "cabin-fever." It's also a great opportunity to strengthen the bond between you and your German shepherd!