How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

When you purchase a German Shepherd puppy, you're taking on a massive commitment. You'll be responsible, for many years, for the health and training of your dog.

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

How to Choose a Breeder with a Good Reputation

Before purchasing a German Shepherd pup, it's important to get to know the breeder. Breeders who are responsible will be happy to share details about their dogs as well as breeding practices. Breeders will be happy to provide information about their dogs and practices with you.

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

Make the effort to meet a breeder's representative in person once you've located one that meets your standards for breeding. You should seek out an upscale, clean facility where the mother dog and her puppies are kept. Ask about the puppy's parents and siblings. You want to see proof that they've been checked for hereditary disorders such as hip dysplasia, eye problems, heart disease and Degenerative Myelopathy.

A responsible breeder should be able to supply you with a copy of your puppy's medical record and an up-to-date vaccination schedule. They should have a great working relationship with a vet who is able to carry out all necessary tests and vaccines. They should be able give you the name of the veterinarian and telephone number and provide you with consultation notes.

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

A reputable breeder will require that you sign a contract prior to purchasing your German Shepherd puppy. The contract should include details about the parents as well as their AKC registration number and 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 make sure they are placed in good homes.

Health Tests for schäferhund Kaufen österreich Health

Reputable breeders undertake health tests on the dogs that will be part of their breeding stock. This is to ensure that they don't breed puppies with an inherited disease. These tests include hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia, as well as degenerative myelopathy, GDV and reinrassiger deutscher schäferhund bloat.

In addition to health screenings, reputable breeders strive to gain personal knowledge of the health and schäferhund kaufen temperament of each dog they own. They also freely and fully share this information with other breeders and potential buyers.

As part of the Kennel Club's Assured breeder scheme members are required to take certain tests on their dogs. Breed clubs for schäferhund kaufen German Shepherds also recommend that breeders take additional tests.

These health tests look for genetic disorders that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. These tests also enable breeders to make better mating decisions that will decrease the likelihood of hereditary diseases in the future generations.

Typical genetic tests include:

Hip Dysplasia

The elbow dysplasia and the hip are common issues in German Shepherds, with the latter suffering from the condition that affects their front limbs. These joint conditions that are degenerative cause pain and discomfort, but can be controlled with the control of weight, exercise restrictions supplements, and medications. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays under sedation to ensure the accuracy of the results.

The OFA test looks for the presence of hemivertebrae as well as butterfly vertebrae. block vertebrae and lumbar-sacral vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis, and spina bifida. This test is not 100% reliable and cannot tell whether a dog's spinal condition will be degenerative myelopathy.

Socialization

GSDs require intense physical exercise, training, and mental stimulation to keep engaged. They can easily become bored and their inactivity can result in destructive behavior like excessive digging or chewing up shoes. The majority of these behaviors are a result of insufficient emotional needs. This is why early socialization is important for German Shepherd puppies. Proper socialization helps the puppy to build confidence with new people and surroundings. It also reduces the chances that the puppy will be fearful or aggressive when in unfamiliar situations.

Puppy socialization begins with mother and her littermates as they play and interact. This teaches them to interact with their rough and boisterous siblings. They are also exposed to a wide range of smells, sights, and sounds. The puppies are taught to behave in groups. This is vital to their success as adults.

The puppy should be introduced to a variety of household noises such as doorbells, vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances. The puppy should also be exposed to various outdoor sounds, including traffic, sirens and construction. This is essential so that the puppy will not become scared or anxious of these situations as an adult. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a calming pace and positive reinforcement will be utilized throughout the process.

During this time, it's also important that the puppy gets to meet many different people and pets. This can help prevent anxiety about separation when the owner is away from home. An excellent example is when a dog is taken to puppy classes, dog parks or play dates with other dogs.

The puppy should only be allowed to interact in a controlled, deutschen Schäferhund kaufen safe manner with other dogs. At beginning, interactions should be restricted so that the dog does not feel overwhelmed. The puppy should also be allowed to interact with calmer, older and more doggies who are friendly. This will allow the puppy to realize that not all older, larger dogs are scary and it helps them develop a positive temperament.

Training

German Shepherds require strict, consistent obedience training. It is important to get them into an early training class particularly when they are still young. This will help them become confident, well-mannered dogs. This is also a good time to get them familiar with the basics of commands such as sit, down, stay and come. The earlier you teach your dog these basic commands and commands, Schäferhund kaufen they'll be more likely to follow your commands as they get older.

Territorial aggression is a problem in many families with German Shepherds. They may be overly guarded of their property and homes which could lead to their barking at strangers or animals who venture into their area. Training, exercise and socialization can help to prevent territorial behavior.

Other behavioral problems can be avoided through obedience training for German Shepherds. Dogs that are not properly trained may be a nuisance to their family and friends. They are easily distracted by other pets, toys or children and ignore basic commands like "sit" or "down."

In the early years of their puppyhood it is essential to socialize your German Shepherds with new people places, reinrassiger Deutscher schäferhund kaufen sights, and sounds. This is especially important when they are 16 weeks old, as they go through a critical period of brain development during this period. If your German Shepherd is a quiet puppy until that point, they will likely find new experiences to be more difficult as they grow older and become more prone to fear-based aggression and anxiety.

One thing that many dog owners don't realize is that a German Shepherd needs lots of mental as well as physical exercise to remain calm and content. They are herding dogs by nature and have a strong drive to satisfy their owners and if they don't have enough things to do, they may become bored or destructive. Regular exercise helps tone muscles and reduces "cabin-fever." It also improves circulation, helps with weight loss, and decreases "cabin-fever." It's a great way to bond with your German Shepherd also!