How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

When you buy a German Shepherd puppy, you're making a huge commitment. You'll be responsible for the health, training and mental stability of your dog for a number of years.

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

How to Choose a Reputable Breeder

It's important to be aware of your breeder before you purchase a German Shepherd puppy. Breeders who are responsible will be delighted to give you details about their dogs as well as breeding practices. They'll be willing to discuss health and genetic testing, early socialization, and reinrassiger Deutscher Schäferhund welpe the environment that their puppies are being raised.

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

If you've found a breeder that meets breeding standards, take the time to meet them in person. You should search for a clean, comfortable facility in which the puppy and the mother dog are confined. Find out about the puppy's parents and siblings; you want to see proof that they were screened for hereditary diseases like hip dysplasia, eye issues, 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 strong relationship with a vet who is able to perform all the necessary tests and vaccinations. They can tell you the name of the veterinarian and his contact number and provide you with consultation records.

It's also a good idea to ask the breeder if they have any concerns regarding your lifestyle or schäferhundwelpen kaufen living conditions that might stop them from offering you a puppy. For instance, if they know you have children, they might be reluctant to sell you a puppy because German Shepherds can be a bit aggressive with children.

You should also expect an accredited breeder to ask you to sign an agreement to purchase your German Shepherd puppy. The contract should include information about the parents and their AKC registration number as well as an option to return the puppy to the breeder. This is a great method for responsible breeders to track their dogs and ensure they have a good home.

Health Tests

Reputable breeders conduct health checks on the dogs that will form part of their breeding selection. This is to ensure that they do not produce puppies with an inherited disease. These tests include hip dysplasia as well as elbow dysplasia as well as degenerative myelopathy, GDV and Bloat.

In addition to health screening, SchäFerhunde Kaufen reputable breeders strive to get a better understanding of the temperaments and health of each dog they own. They also share this information fully and openly with other breeders as well as prospective buyers.

The Kennel Club's Assured Breeder Scheme requires members to carry out certain tests on their dogs. The breed clubs for German shepherds also suggest that breeders take additional tests.

These health tests look for genetic diseases that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. They also allow breeders to make better informed choices about mating which will decrease the incidence of hereditary disease in future generations.

The most common genetic tests are

Hip Dysplasia

German Shepherds are prone to elbow and hip dysplasia, especially in the front limbs. These joint diseases cause discomfort and pain but can be managed through exercise restrictions, weight control and supplements as well as medications. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays with sedation to ensure accurate results.

The OFA test is designed to detect the presence of hemivertebras, butterfly vertebras, block vertebra, lumbar-sacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis and reinrassiger deutscher schäferhund züchter spina bifida. This test isn't 100% reliable and cannot tell the likelihood that a dog's spinal problem will be degenerative myelopathy.

Socialization

GSDs require intense physical exercise along with training and mental stimulation to keep them busy. They can get bored easily and a lack of exercise may lead to destructive behaviors like excessive digging or eating shoes. Most often, these behaviors are a result of not being able to satisfy their emotional requirements. Socialization at an early age is crucial for German Shepherd pups. Proper socialization can help the puppy build confidence with new people and situations. It also decreases the chance that the puppy will be fearful or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.

Puppy socialization begins with mother and her littermates as they play and interact. This helps puppies learn appropriate social signals and how to deal with their boisterous, sometimes rough siblings. It also exposes the pups to a wide range of smells, sights, and sounds. The puppies are taught to behave in groups. This is essential to their success as adults.

Introduce the puppy to various household sounds, including vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances, and doorbells. The puppy should also be exposed various outdoor sounds like traffic, sirens and construction. This is important to ensure that the puppy doesn't develop fearful or anxious of these types of stimuli. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a relaxed pace and positive reinforcements will be used throughout the process.

During this time, it is essential that the puppy meets many different people and pets. This will help to prevent separation anxiety when the owner is away from home. This can be accomplished by taking the dog to puppy classes, dog parks or play dates with other doggies.

The puppy should be allowed to interact in a controlled, safe way with other dogs. At beginning, interactions should be restricted so that the dog isn't overwhelmed. The puppy should also be able to interact with calmer, older, gentle dogs. This will allow the puppy realize that not all older, larger dogs are scary and it will help them to develop a good temperament.

Training

German Shepherds require constant, consistent obedience training. It's important to get them into an early training class, especially when they are still young. This will allow them to grow into well-mannered, confident dogs. It's also a good time to introduce them to basic commands, such as sit down, stay and sit. The earlier a dog learns these basic commands the more simple it will be for them to follow your commands as they age.

Territorial aggression is a frequent issue for many German Shepherd owners. They may be overly guarded of their property and homes which could lead to them barking at people or animals who venture into their territory. Training, exercise and socialization can help to prevent territorial behavior.

Other issues with behavior can be prevented through obedience training in German Shepherds. Dogs that don't have proper obedience training can be a nuisance, or even a danger to family members and their neighbors. They are easily distracted by other animals, toys or children and ignore basic commands such as "sit" or "down."

During their puppy years it is essential to keep your German Shepherds in contact with new people, places, sights and sounds. This is particularly important before they reach 16 weeks old since they enter an important period of brain development during this time. If your German shepherd is a protected puppy it's likely to be more difficult for them to grasp new things as an adult. They could also be more susceptible to anxiety or fear-based aggression.

One thing that a lot of dog owners aren't aware of is that a German Shepherd needs lots of physical and mental exercise to stay healthy and happy. They are herding dogs by nature and have a strong urge to satisfy their owners If they don't have enough work to do, they may become bored or destructive. Regular exercise can tone muscles, decreases "cabin fever," improves circulation and helps with weight loss. It's a great way to bond with your German Shepherd as well!