How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

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

Online sources and pet stores offer puppies, which are typically from puppy mills that prioritize profit over the well-being of animals. Pick a reputable breeder.

How to Choose a Breeder with a Good Reputation

Before you purchase a German Shepherd pup, it's essential to get acquainted with the breeder. Breeders who are responsible will be delighted to share information about their dogs and breeding practices. They will be willing to discuss health and genetic testing as well as early socialization and the environment that their puppies are raised.

The best place to start is to contact your local German Shepherd club or organization. Most breed clubs have an officer for puppy or secretary who can point you to reliable breeders in your area. Alternatively, you can contact your state animal control agency to get an inventory of licensed breeders.

Make the effort to meet a breeder's representative in person once you've located one who is in line with your breeding standards. Find a clean and tidy facility where the mother and pups are kept in a safe environment. Ask about the puppy's parents and siblings; you would like to verify that they were screened for hereditary diseases like hip dysplasia, eye problems, heart disease, and Degenerative Myelopathy.

A responsible breeder will also be in a position to provide you with copies of your puppy's medical records and an up-to-date shot schedule. They should have a great working relationship with a vet that can conduct all the required tests and vaccines. They will be able to provide you with the name of the doctor and phone number, and also give you consultation notes.

Ask the breeder about any concerns they may have regarding your lifestyle and living circumstances. This may prevent them from selling the puppy to you. For example, if they know you have children, they may be reluctant to sell you a puppy because German Shepherds can be a bit aggressive with children.

A reputable breeder may require that you sign a contract prior to purchasing your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include information about the parents as well as their AKC registration number as well as the clause that allows them to return the puppy to the breeder. This is a vital way for responsible breeders to monitor their dogs and ensure that they will be placed in good homes.

Health Tests

Breeders who are reputable will check the health of the dogs they intend to breed as breeding stock. This is to ensure that they do not produce puppies with an inherited disease. These tests include hip dysplasia as well as elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, GDV and Deutscher schäFerhund Kaufen schweiz bloat.

In addition to health screenings, reputable breeders strive to acquire a personal understanding of the health and temperament of each dog they own. They are also able to freely and openly share this information with other breeders and German Shepherd Kaufen potential buyers.

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

These tests are designed to identify genetic diseases that affect all German Shepherd Dogs. These tests also enable breeders to make better choices when mating which can reduce the risk of hereditary diseases in the future generations.

Typical genetic tests include:

Hip Dysplasia

The elbow dysplasia and the hip are a common problem in German Shepherds with the latter suffering from the condition in their front legs. These degenerative joint disorders cause discomfort and pain however, they can be controlled with exercise restrictions, weight control, supplements and drugs. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays under sedation to ensure that the results are accurate.

The OFA test looks for the presence of hemivertebras, butterfly vertebras, block vertebra, lumbar sacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV), SchäFerhund Kaufen öSterreich spondylosis and spina bifida. This test is not impervious and cannot predict the likelihood that a dog's spinal problem will be degenerative myelopathy.

Socialization

GSDs need rigorous physical exercise, training and mental stimulation to keep engaged. They can get bored easily and a lack of exercise may lead to destructive behaviors such as eating excessively or digging shoes. Often, these behaviors stem from insufficient emotional needs. This is why early socialization is so crucial for German Shepherd puppies. Proper socialization allows the pup to build confidence around new people and environments. It also reduces the likelihood that the puppy will become scared or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.

The mother and her littermates play and interact with each other. This teaches them how to get along with their boisterous and sometimes rough siblings. The puppies are also exposed to various kinds of sounds, sights and smells. The puppies learn how to behave appropriately in a group environment, which is crucial to their success as adult dogs.

The puppy should be exposed to a variety of household noises like doorbells, vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances. The puppy should be exposed to a variety of sounds outside, including sirens, traffic and construction. This is essential to ensure that the puppy doesn't become scared or anxious about these stimuli. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a relaxed pace and positive reinforcement will be utilized throughout the process.

During this time, it is crucial that the puppy meets many different animals and people. This will help prevent 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 only be allowed to interact in a controlled, safe way with other dogs. At first, the interaction should be confined so that the dog isn't overwhelmed. The puppy should be able to interact with older, more friendly, calmer dogs. This will help your puppy understand schäferhund welpen kaufen schweiz that larger, older dogs do not need to be scary. It can also help them develop a good attitude.

Training

German Shepherds require consistent, firm obedience training. It is crucial to enroll them in classes as soon as possible, especially while they are still young. This will assist them in developing into confident, well-mannered dogs. This is also a good moment to familiarize them with the basic commands like sit, down, SchäFerhund Welpen Kaufen Schweiz stay and come. The earlier a dog is taught these basic commands and commands, the easier it is for them to follow your commands as they grow older.

Territorial aggression is a frequent issue for many German Shepherd owners. They may be extremely cautious of their homes and property, which can lead to their barking at strangers or animals that enter their area. Proper training, exercise and socialization can reduce territorial behavior.

Other issues with behavior can be prevented by obedience training for German Shepherds. If a dog doesn't have proper obedience training can be a nuisance, or even a danger to family members and neighbours. They can be easily distracted by other pets, toys or children. They may ignore basic commands like "sit" and "down."

During the puppy years it is important to continue to socialize your German Shepherds to new people, places and sounds. This is especially important before the puppy reaches 16 weeks and their brains are undergoing an important phase of development. If your German Shepherd is a quiet pup until then they'll likely encounter new experiences more difficult in adulthood and will be more prone to anxiety-based aggression and fear.

One thing that many dog owners aren't aware of is that a German Shepherd needs lots of physical and mental exercise to stay healthy and content. German Shepherds are herders 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 destructive. Regular exercise strengthens muscles and decreases "cabin-fever." It helps improve circulation, assists with weight loss, and reduces "cabin-fever." It's also a great opportunity to bond with your German shepherd!