How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

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

Pet stores and online sources generally sell puppies from puppy mills who place profits over the welfare of the animal. Select a reputable breeder instead.

Choosing a Reputable Breeder

Before you purchase a German Shepherd pup, it's important to get to know the breeder. Breeders who are responsible will be delighted to give you details about their dogs and breeding practices. They will be happy to discuss genetic and health testing early socialization, as well as the environment where their puppies are being raised.

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

It is a good idea to meet a breeder in person once you've found one who meets your standards for breeding. Find 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'll want to know if they have been screened for hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia and eye issues.

A responsible breeder should be able to provide you with copies of your puppy's medical record and an up-to-date shot schedule. They should have a great relationship with a vet who can carry out all necessary tests and vaccinations. They will be able provide the name of the veterinarian and his phone number and will provide you with the records of consultation.

Ask the breeder about any concerns they may have about your lifestyle or living situation. This may hinder the breeder from selling a puppy to you. If they are aware that you have young kids and they are concerned about your children's safety, they might not wish to offer you an German Shepherd puppy because they are known to be aggressive with children.

A reputable breeder will also require you to sign a contract when you purchase your German Shepherd puppy. The contract should contain the names of the parents and 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 will be placed in good homes.

Health Tests

Breeders with a good reputation will check the health of the dogs they plan to breed as breeding stock. This is to make sure that they don't produce pups with an inherited disease. These tests include elbow and hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy and GDV (also called Bloat).

Breeders who are trustworthy seek to be aware of the temperaments and health issues of each dog they own. They also share this information completely and freely with 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 conduct additional tests.

These tests check for genetic diseases that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. These tests also allow breeders make better mating decisions that can reduce the risk of hereditary diseases in the future generations.

Typical genetic tests include

Hip Dysplasia

Hip and elbow dysplasia are common issues in German Shepherds with the latter suffering from the condition in their front legs. These joint conditions that are degenerative cause pain and discomfort, but can be controlled with weight control, activity limitations supplements, and medications. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays while sedating to ensure that the results are accurate.

The OFA test checks for the presence of hemivertebrae and butterfly vertebrae, reinrassiger deutscher schäferhund züchter schäferhund abzugeben Zu Verkaufen (Myrumah.Info) block vertebrae, lumbar-sacral vertebrae (LSTV) as well as spondylosis and spina bifida. This test isn't 100% reliable and cannot tell the likelihood that a dog's spinal problem is degenerative myelopathy.

Socialization

GSDs require intense physical exercise, training, and mental stimulation to keep engaged. They are prone to becoming bored and inactivity could lead to destructive behaviors such as eating excessively or digging shoes. The majority of these behaviors stem from insufficient emotional needs. Socialization early is essential for German Shepherd pups. Proper socialization can help the puppy develop confidence with new people and situations. It also decreases the chance that the puppy will be fearful or aggressive in new situations.

The mother and her littermates play and interact with one another. This helps them learn to interact with their noisy and sometimes rough siblings. The pups are also exposed to a variety of scents, sounds and sights. The puppies are taught how to behave in a group. This is crucial to their success as adults.

Introduce the puppy to various household sounds, including vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances and doorbells. The puppy should be exposed sounds outside, including traffic, sirens and construction. This is very important so that the puppy will not become anxious or fearful of these stimuli when they become adults. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at an ease rate, and positive reinforcement is used throughout the process.

During this period, it is crucial that the puppy meets many different people and pets. This can reduce separation anxiety when 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 be allowed to interact with other dogs in a secure way, and in a controlled manner. The interaction should be restricted at first so that the puppy doesn't become overwhelmed. The puppy should be allowed to interact with older, more sociable and calm dogs. This will help your puppy see that bigger, older dogs don't have to be frightening. It can also help them develop an attitude of confidence.

Training

German Shepherds need strict and consistent obedience training. It is important to enroll them in an obedience class as soon as you can particularly when they are still young. This will help them become confident, well-mannered dogs. This is also a good moment to familiarize them with the basics of commands such as sit, down, stay and come. The earlier a dog can learn these basic behaviors, the more easy it is for them to follow your commands as they get older.

Territorial aggression can be a problem in many families with German Shepherds. They may be overly protective of their home and property, which can lead to barking or growling at any animal or person who enters their territory. Territorial behavior can be slowed by exercising, training, and socialization.

Obedience training can aid in preventing other behavioral problems in German Shepherds. Dogs who aren't properly trained could be a nuisance to their neighbors and family members. They are easily distracted by other pets, toys or children. They might not pay attention to basic commands such as "sit" and "down."

In the early years of their puppyhood, it's important to continue to keep your German Shepherds in contact with new people locations, sights, and sounds. This is especially important prior to when they are 16 weeks old since they enter an important phase of brain development during this time. If your German shepherd is a sheltered puppy prior to this it is likely to be much more difficult for them to master new things when they become adults. They may also be more prone to fear-based aggression or anxiety.

One thing that a lot of dog owners don't realize is that a German Shepherd needs lots of physical and mental exercise to stay healthy and content. They are herders by nature and have a strong desire to please their humans, so if they don't have enough things to do, they could become bored or destructive. Regular exercise also tones muscles, reduces "cabin fever," improves circulation and schäferhund welpen kaufen schweiz - Click on myrumah.info - helps with weight loss. It's also a great way to strengthen the bond between you and your German shepherd!