How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

When you purchase a German Shepherd puppy, you're making a huge commitment. You will be responsible for a long time for the health and training of your dog.

Pet stores and online retailers generally sell puppies from puppy mills that place profit over animal well-being. Choose a reputable breeder instead.

How to Select a Breeder with a Good Reputation

Before purchasing a German Shepherd pup, it's important to get to know the breeder. Responsible breeders will be willing to provide information about their dogs and the ways they treat you. They'll be willing to discuss genetic and health testing early socialization, as well as the environment that their puppies are raised.

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

Take the time to meet with a breeder in person once you've found one who is in line with your standards for breeding. Look for a clean facility where the mother and pups are kept in a safe environment. It is important to inquire about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You should know if they have been screened for any hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia and eye issues.

A responsible breeder will also be able to provide you with a copy of your puppy's medical record and a current shot schedule. They should have a great working relationship with a vet who is able to conduct all the necessary tests and vaccines. They should be able to give you the name of the veterinarian as well as the number of his phone and provide you with consultation notes.

Ask the breeder about any concerns they might have about your lifestyle or living situation. This might prevent them from selling the puppy to you. If they know you have young 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 an agreement for the purchase of your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include details about the parents, their AKC registration number as well as the clause that allows them to return the puppy to the breeder. This is a great way for responsible breeders to track their dogs and ensure they have a good home.

Health Tests

Breeders who are trustworthy will examine the health of the dogs they plan to breed as breeding stock. This is to make sure that they do not produce puppies that have an inherited condition. These tests include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia as well as degenerative myelopathy GDV and Bloat.

Breeders who are trustworthy seek to be aware of the temperaments and health conditions of every dog they have. They also are able to freely and completely give this information to other breeders and prospective buyers.

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

These tests are designed to detect genetic diseases that affect all German Shepherd Dogs. They also help breeders make better informed choices about mating, which will reduce the incidence of hereditary disease in the coming generations.

The most common genetic tests are

Hip Dysplasia

German Shepherds are susceptible to elbow and hip dysplasia particularly in the front limbs. These joint conditions that are degenerative cause pain and discomfort but can be managed by the control of weight, exercise restrictions as well as supplements 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 looks for the presence of hemivertebras, butterfly vertebras, block vertebra, lumbar sacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis and spina bifida. This test isn't 100% reliable and cannot tell whether a dog's spinal condition is degenerative myelopathy.

Socialization

GSDs require rigorous physical exercise in addition to training and mental stimulation to keep them busy. They can get bored easily, and lack of activity could lead to destructive behaviors like excessive digging or eating shoes. These behaviors are often the result of unmet emotional needs. This is why early socialization is so important for German Shepherd puppies. Proper socialization helps the puppy to build confidence with new people and environments. It also reduces the risk that the puppy will develop anxious or aggressive in new situations.

The mother and her littermates play and play with each other. This teaches them to be around their boisterous and sometimes rough siblings. It also exposes the pups to a variety of smells, sights and sounds. The puppies learn to behave appropriately in a group, which is essential to their success as dogs who mature.

Introduce the puppy to various household sounds, like vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances and doorbells. The puppy should be exposed to a variety of sounds outside, such as traffic, sirens and construction. This is important to ensure that the puppy doesn't develop fearful or anxious of these sounds. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at an ease rate, and positive reinforcement is utilized throughout the process.

During this time, it's crucial that the puppy meets many different people and pets. This will help prevent separation anxiety when the owner is away. One good example is when a dog is taken to puppy classes, Deutschen schäFerhund kaufen dog parks or play dates with other dogs.

The puppy should only be allowed to interact in a controlled, secure way with other dogs. At first, reinrassiger deutscher schäferhund kaufen, --ptbaagbcftf7n.рф, the interaction should be confined to ensure that the puppy isn't overwhelmed. The puppy should be able to interact also with older, more sociable, calmer dogs. This will allow the puppy realize that not all larger, older dogs are fearsome and will aid in developing a positive temperament.

Training

German Shepherds need strict, consistent obedience training. It is crucial 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. It's also a great time to introduce them to basic commands, such as sit down, stay and sit. The earlier a dog learns these basic commands, the more easy it is for them to follow your commands as they age.

Territorial aggression is a frequent problem for many German Shepherd owners. They may be overly guarded of their property and homes which could lead to them barking at other people or animals that enter their territory. Training, exercise and socialization can reduce territorial behavior.

Obedience training will aid in preventing other behavioral problems in German Shepherds. A dog that doesn't have proper obedience training can become a nuisance or even a danger to their family members and their neighbors. They can easily be distracted by other animals or toys, or even children and disregard basic commands like "sit" or "down."

During the puppy years, you should continue to socialize your German Shepherds to new people, places and sounds. This is particularly important when the puppy turns 16 weeks old, Deutschen SchäFerhund Kaufen when their brains are going through an important stage of development. If your German shepherd is a protected puppy it's likely to be much more difficult for them to grasp new things once they are an adult. They may also be more prone towards anxiety-based aggression or fear.

One thing that a lot of pet owners don't know is that a German king shepherd kaufen needs lots of mental as well as physical exercise to remain calm and content. German Shepherds are herders by nature, and they have a strong desire to please their owners as well as work. If they don't get enough exercise they could become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise helps tone muscles, decreases "cabin fever," improves circulation and helps with weight loss. It's also a great method to build a bond with your German shepherd!