How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

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

Pet stores and online resources typically sell puppies from puppy mills who place profits over the welfare of the animal. Choose a reputable breeding center instead.

Selecting a Breeder with a Good Reputation

Before you purchase a German Shepherd pup, it's crucial to know the breeder. Responsible breeders will be happy to provide information about their dogs and the ways they treat you. Breeders will be happy to share details about their dogs and practices with you.

The best place to begin is to contact your local German Shepherd club or other organization. The majority of breed clubs have an officer or secretary who can point you to reputable breeders in your area. You can also contact your state animal control agency to get a list of licensed breeders.

Make the effort to meet a breeder's representative in person after you've found one that meets your standards for deutscher Schäferhund welpen kaufen breeding. Find a clean facility where the mother and pups are safe. Ask about the puppy's fathers and siblings; you want to see proof that they have been checked for hereditary disorders like hip dysplasia, Deutscher schäferhund zu verkaufen (yogicentral.science) eye problems, einen deutschen schäferhund kaufen heart disease and Degenerative Myelopathy.

A responsible breeder will also be in a position to provide you with copies of your puppy's medical record and the most current schedule of shots. They should have a great relationship with a vet who is able to perform all necessary tests and vaccinations. They should be able to give you the name of the veterinarian as well as the number of his phone and give you consultation notes.

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 know that you have young children, they may not want to sell you an German Shepherd puppy because they are known to be aggressive with children.

You should also expect a reputable breeder to require you to sign an agreement to 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 excellent way breeders who are responsible to monitor their dogs and ensure they go to good homes.

Health Tests

Reputable breeders conduct health checks on the dogs that will form part of their breeding stock. This is to ensure that they don't produce pups with inherited disease. These tests include hip and elbow dysplasia, myelopathy degenerative and GDV (also known as bloat).

In addition to health screening, reputable breeders strive to acquire a personal understanding of the temperaments and health of every dog they own. They also freely and fully communicate this information to other breeders as well as potential 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 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 will decrease the likelihood of hereditary diseases in future generations.

Typical genetic tests include:

Hip Dysplasia

Hip and elbow dysplasia are common problems in German Shepherds, with the latter suffering from the condition in their front limbs. These joint disorders that cause degeneration cause pain and discomfort but can be controlled with weight control, activity restrictions as well as supplements and medications. X-rays are taken under conscious sedation to obtain accurate results and then submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).

The OFA test checks for hemivertebrae, butterfly vertebrae, block vertebrae, lumbar-sacral vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis, and spina bifida. The test isn't 100% reliable however, and cannot determine if a dog will develop degenerative myelopathy or deutscher schäFerhund welpe kaufen any other spinal diseases later in the course of.

Socialization

GSDs require a lot of physical activity as well as training and mental stimulation to keep them busy. They are easily bored and their inactivity can result in destructive behavior like excessive digging or chewing up shoes. The majority of these behaviors stem from insufficient emotional requirements. 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 chances that the puppy will be fearful or aggressive when in unfamiliar situations.

The mother and her littermates play and interact with one another. This helps puppies learn appropriate social signals and how to cope with their boisterous, sometimes rough, siblings. It also exposes the pups to a variety of smells, sights and sounds. The puppies learn how to behave appropriately within a group, which is crucial to their success as dogs who mature.

Introduce the puppy to various household sounds, including vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances and doorbells. The puppy should be exposed to a variety of sounds outside, such as sirens, traffic, and construction. This is essential to ensure that the puppy doesn't grow up scared or anxious about these stimuli. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a comfortable pace and Deutsche SchäFerhundwelpen positive reinforcement will be utilized throughout the process.

During this time, it's crucial that the puppy gets to meet many different pets and people. This can reduce 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 be able to interact with the other dogs in a safe, controlled manner and the interaction should be limited initially so that the puppy does not become overwhelmed. The puppy should be able to interact also with older, more relaxed and calm dogs. This will help your puppy see that bigger, older dogs do not have to be terrifying. It can also help them develop an attitude of confidence.

Training

German Shepherds require regular, strict obedience training. It is important to enroll them in a training class early especially when they're still young. This will help them become confident, well-mannered dogs. It's also a good time to familiarize them with basic commands, such as sit, down and stay. The earlier a dog can learn these basic behaviors the more simple it will be for them to follow your instructions as they age.

Territorial aggression can be a problem in many families with German Shepherds. They can be extremely concerned about their home and property, resulting in barking or yelling at those who enter their territory. Territorial behavior is averted by the proper training, exercise and socialization.

Other issues with behavior can be prevented by obedience training for German Shepherds. Dogs that are not properly trained could cause annoyance to their family and friends. 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 is 16 weeks old and their brains are going through an important phase of development. If your German Shepherd is a protected pup until then, they will likely find new experiences to be more difficult in adulthood and will be more susceptible to anxiety-based aggression and fear.

Many dog owners don't realize that the German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise in order to be happy and calm. German Shepherds are herders by nature, and are driven to please their owners and work. If they don't get enough exercise they can become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise strengthens muscles and reduces "cabin-fever." It also improves circulation, aids with weight loss, and decreases "cabin-fever." It's also a great way to strengthen the bond between you and your German shepherd!