How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

When you buy a German Shepherd puppy, you're making a big commitment. You will be responsible for the health, training, and mental stability of your dog over many years.

Online sources and pet stores sell puppies that are usually from puppy mills, which place profit ahead of the health of animals. Choose a reputable breeding facility instead.

Selecting a Breeder with a Good Reputation

Before purchasing a German Shepherd pup, it's essential to get acquainted with the breeder. Responsible breeders will be happy to provide information about their dogs and practices with you. They will be happy to discuss health and genetic testing as well as early socialization and the environment where their puppies are fostered.

Your local German Shepherd club or group is the best place to start. Most breed clubs have an officer for puppy or secretary who can direct you to credible breeders in your region. You can also contact your state animal control agency to get an inventory of licensed breeders.

If you've found a breeder that meets breeding standards, take the time to meet them in person. Find a clean and tidy facility in which the mother and her puppies are kept in a safe environment. You should inquire about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You should find out if they've been screened for any hereditary conditions such as 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 working relationship with a vet who can perform all necessary tests and vaccines. They should be able to give you the name of the veterinarian and Deutscher schäFerhund Kaufen schweiz phone number, and also give you consultation notes.

It's also a good idea to ask the breeder whether they have any concerns regarding your lifestyle or living circumstances that might hinder them from selling you puppies. If they know you have children, they may not want to sell you an German Shepherd puppy because they can be aggressive towards children.

A reputable breeder will also require you to sign a contract prior to purchasing your German king shepherd kaufen puppy. The contract should contain the names of the parents and their AKC registration numbers as along with a return-to-breeder clause. This is an important way for responsible breeders to monitor their dogs and ensure they are going to good homes.

Health Tests

Reputable breeders undertake health tests on the dogs that will be part of their breeding selection. This is to ensure that they don't produce pups with inherited disease. These tests include hip dysplasia as well as elbow dysplasia as well as degenerative myelopathy, GDV and deutscher schäferhund Kaufen schweiz Bloat.

In addition to health screenings, reputable breeders strive to get a better understanding of the health and temperament of each dog they own. They also share this information completely and freely with other breeders and prospective buyers.

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

These tests check for genetic disorders 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

German Shepherds are susceptible to hip and elbow dysplasia, particularly in the front limbs. These degenerative joint diseases cause pain and discomfort but can be controlled through weight control, activity restrictions supplements, and medications. X-rays are taken with sedation, to get precise results, and then sent to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).

The OFA test checks for the presence of hemivertebrae and butterfly vertebrae, block vertebrae as well as lumbar-sacral verbrae (LSTV) as well as spondylosis and spina bifida. The test is not foolproof and does not predict whether a dog's spinal condition will be degenerative myelopathy.

Socialization

GSDs need rigorous physical exercise, training, and mental stimulation to keep active. They get bored very easily and their inactivity can lead to destructive behavior such as excessive digging or chewing on shoes. Often, these behaviors stem from not being able to satisfy their emotional requirements. Socialization early is essential for German Shepherd pups. A good socialization program helps the puppy develop confidence with new people and situations. It also reduces the chances that the puppy will be fearful or aggressive in new situations.

The mother and her littermates play and play with each other. This helps them learn to be around their rough and boisterous siblings. The puppies are also exposed to a variety kinds of sounds, sights and smells. The puppies are taught to behave in a group. This is essential to their success as adults.

Introduce the puppy to various household sounds, such as vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances, and doorbells. The puppy should be exposed to a variety of sounds outside, like traffic, sirens and construction. This is crucial so that the puppy will not become anxious or fearful of these sounds as an adult. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a calming pace and positive reinforcements will be used throughout the process.

During this time, it is crucial that the puppy gets to meet many different animals and people. This will help reduce separation anxiety when the owner is away from home. A good example of this is when the dog is taken to puppy classes and deutscher schäferhund lebenserwartung deutscher schäferhund welpen kaufen schäferhunde kaufen Schweiz (Spivey-Potter.Hubstack.Net) dog parks or play dates with other dogs.

The puppy should be allowed to interact with the other dogs in a controlled well-controlled manner. The interaction should be limited initially to ensure that the puppy doesn't become overwhelmed. The puppy should also be allowed to interact with calmer, older and friendly dogs. This will help the puppy to realize that not all older, larger dogs are scary and it helps them develop a positive temperament.

Training

German Shepherds require firm, consistent obedience training. It is essential to get them into a class early enough, especially while they are still young. This will help them develop into confident and well-mannered dogs. It's also a great opportunity to teach them basic commands such as sit down, sit and stay. The earlier a dog is taught these basic commands the easier it will be for them to follow your directions as they grow older.

Territorial aggression is a problem for many families with German Shepherds. They might be extremely protective of their home and property and this can result in them barking at other people or animals who enter their territory. Proper training, exercise and socialization can prevent territorial behavior.

Other behavioral problems can be prevented by obedience training for German Shepherds. A dog that doesn't have the right obedience training could be a nuisance, or even a danger to family members and neighbours. They are easily distracted by other animals toys or children, and ignore basic commands like "sit" or "down."

In the early years of their puppyhood it is crucial to socialize your German Shepherds with new people, places, sights and sounds. This is particularly important when the puppy reaches 16 weeks, when their brains are undergoing a critical phase of development. If your German Shepherd is a quiet pup until then, they will likely find new experiences much more challenging as an adult and be more prone to anxiety-based aggression and fear.

One thing that many pet owners don't know is that a German Shepherd needs lots of mental as well as physical exercise to stay calm and happy. They are herding dogs by nature and have a strong urge to work and satisfy their owners, so if they don't have enough to do, they could become bored or destructive. Regular exercise helps tone muscles, decreases "cabin fever," improves circulation and helps with weight loss. It's also a great opportunity to bond with your German shepherd!