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 health and education of your dog.

Pet stores and online resources typically sell puppies from puppy mills that place profits over the welfare of the animal. Choose a reputable breeder instead.

How to Choose a Breeder with a Good Reputation

It is important to be aware of your breeder before you buy a German Shepherd puppy. Breeders who are responsible will be delighted to give you information about their dogs and breeding practices. They'll be willing to discuss health and genetic testing, early socialization, and the environment in which their puppies are fostered.

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 direct you to breeders who are reputable. You can also contact your state's animal control agency to obtain the list of breeding companies.

Once you've identified a breeder that meets breeding standards, make sure you take the time to meet them in person. Look for a clean facility where the mother and puppies are kept in a safe environment. You should ask about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You should find out if they've been screened for hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia, and eye problems.

A responsible breeder should be in a position to provide you with a copy of your puppy's medical record and an up-to-date shot schedule. They should have a good working relationship with a vet that can conduct all the necessary tests and vaccinations. They should be able to tell you the name of the vet and his phone number and also provide you with consultation records.

Ask the breeder about any concerns they might have about your lifestyle or living circumstances. This could prevent them from selling puppies to you. If they know you have children, they may not want to sell you an German Shepherd puppy because they can be aggressive towards children.

You should also expect an established breeder to ask you to sign a contract to purchase 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 an important way for responsible breeders to keep track of their dogs and ensure that they are going to good homes.

Health Tests for Health

Breeders with a good reputation will test the health of the dogs they plan to use as breeding stock. This is to ensure that they don't produce puppies with an inherited disease. These tests include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, GDV and schäferhund welpen kaufen schweiz bloat.

Breeders who are trustworthy are determined to understand the temperaments and health status of each dog they own. They are also able to freely and openly give this information to other breeders and prospective buyers.

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

These tests are designed to detect genetic diseases that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. These tests also help breeders make better choices when mating which will reduce the incidences of hereditary diseases in the future generations.

Typical genetic tests include

Hip Dysplasia

Hip and elbow dysplasia are common problems in German Shepherds, with the latter suffering from the condition that affects their front limbs. These joint conditions that are degenerative cause discomfort and pain, but can be managed by the control of weight, exercise restrictions, supplements, and drugs. X-rays are taken under conscious sedation to obtain exact results. Then, they are sent to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).

The OFA test is designed to detect the presence of hemivertebra, butterfly vertebra block vertebra, lumbar sacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) as well as spondylosis, hemivertebra and spina bifida. The test is not 100% reliable and cannot tell whether a dog's condition will be degenerative myelopathy.

Socialization

GSDs require intense physical exercise in addition to training and mental stimulation to keep them busy. They are easily bored and SchäFerhund welpe kaufen their inactivity can lead to destructive behavior like excessive digging or chewing up shoes. Often, these behaviors are a result of unmet emotional requirements. Early socialization is important for German Shepherd pups. A good socialization program helps the puppy develop confidence with new people and situations. It also reduces the risk that the puppy will develop scared or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.

Puppy socialization starts with the mother and her littermates as they play and interact. This teaches the puppies appropriate social signals and how to cope with their boisterous, and sometimes rough siblings. The puppies are also exposed to a variety of smells, sights and sounds. The puppies learn how to behave appropriately within a group, which is key to their success as dogs who mature.

Introduce the puppy to a variety of household sounds, like vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances and doorbells. The puppy should be exposed to different sounds outside, such as sirens, traffic and construction. This is important to ensure that the puppy does not become afraid or German Shepherds are looking for a home anxious of these stimuli. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at a comfortable rate and positive reinforcement is utilized throughout the process.

During this time, it's crucial that the puppy meets many different pets and people. 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 doggies.

The puppy should only be allowed to interact in a controlled, safe way with other dogs. At first, the interaction should be restricted so that the pup isn't overwhelmed. The puppy should be allowed to interact also with older, more sociable, calmer dogs. This will help your puppy see that bigger, older dogs do not have to be scary. It will also help them develop a good attitude.

Training

German Shepherds require constant, consistent obedience training. It is essential to enroll them in a class as soon as you can particularly when they are still young. This will help them develop into well-mannered, confident dogs. It's also a great opportunity to teach them basic commands like sit, down and stay. The earlier a dog can learn these basic commands the more easy it will be for them to follow your commands as they grow older.

Territorial aggression can be an issue in many families with German Shepherds. They can be extremely protective of their homes and property, which can lead to barking or yelling at any animal or person who enters their territory. Training, exercise and socialization can prevent territorial behavior.

Obedience training can also help prevent other problems with behavior in German Shepherds. Dogs who aren't properly trained can cause annoyance to their family and friends. They are easily distracted by other animals toys or children, and ignore basic commands such as "sit" or "down."

During their puppy years it is crucial to socialize your German Shepherds with new people locations, sights, and reinrassiger deutscher schäferhund kaufen welpe altdeutscher schäferhund kaufen (www.northwestu.edu) sounds. This is especially important prior to when they reach 16 weeks old since they enter an important phase of brain development during this period. If your German shepherd is a sheltered puppy it's likely to be more difficult for them to grasp new things when they become adults. They could also be more prone to anxiety-based aggression or fear.

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 happy. They are herders by nature and have a strong drive to delight their owners, so if they don't have enough to do, they could become bored or destructive. Regular exercise also tones muscles, schäFerhundwelpen Kaufen decreases "cabin fever," improves circulation and aids in weight loss. It's a great way to bond with your German Shepherd also!