How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

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

Pet stores and online sources offer puppies, which are typically from puppy mills that focus on profit over the welfare of animals. Choose a reputable breeding center instead.

How to Choose a Reputable Breeder

Before you buy a German king shepherd kaufen pup, it's essential to get acquainted with the breeder. Responsible breeders are happy to share information about their dogs and practices with you. Breeders will be happy to give you details about their dogs and practices with you.

Your local German Shepherd organization or club is the best place to start. Breed clubs typically have a secretary, or deutscher schäferhund schwarz Kaufen puppy officer who can point you to reputable breeders. Alternatively, you can contact your state animal control agency to get a list of licensed breeders.

Once you've identified a breeder with good breeding standards, take the time to meet them in person. You should seek out an upscale, clean facility in which the puppy and the mother dog are confined. Ask about the puppy's fathers and siblings; you need 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 provide you with a copy of your puppy's medical record and a current shot schedule. They should have a good working relationship with a vet that can carry out all necessary tests and vaccinations. They will be able to provide you with the name of the doctor and phone number, and also give you consultation notes.

It's also a good idea to ask the breeder if they have any concerns about your lifestyle or living circumstances that could stop them from selling you an animal. If they are aware that you have children they might not want to sell you a German Shepherd puppy because they can be aggressive towards children.

A reputable breeder will require you to sign a contract when purchasing 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 a great way breeders who are responsible to monitor Deutschen SchäFerhund Kaufen their dogs and ensure they have a good home.

Health Tests

Breeders who are trustworthy will examine the health of the dogs they intend to breed as breeding stock. This is to ensure that they don't create pups that have an inherited illness. These tests include elbow and hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy and GDV (also called Bloat).

Breeders who are trustworthy are determined to understand the temperaments and health issues of every dog they have. They also freely and fully give this information to other breeders and potential buyers.

As part of the Kennel Club's Assured breeder scheme, members are required to perform certain tests on their dogs. Breed clubs for German Shepherds also suggest that breeders conduct additional tests.

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

The most common genetic tests are:

Hip Dysplasia

German Shepherds are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, particularly in the front limbs. These joint diseases cause discomfort and pain, however, they can be controlled with weight control, activity limitations, supplements and drugs. X-rays are taken with sedation, to get accurate results and then submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).

The OFA test is designed to detect the presence of hemivertebras, butterfly vertebras, block vertebra, lumbar-sacral transformational vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis and spina bifida. This test is not 100% reliable however, and cannot determine if the dog will develop degenerative myelopathy or other spinal conditions later in life.

Socialization

GSDs need rigorous physical exercise, training, and mental stimulation to keep occupied. They get bored very easily and their lack of activity can result in destructive behaviors such as excessive digging or chewing up shoes. These behaviors are often the result of unmet emotional needs. Early socialization is important for German Shepherd pups. Proper socialization helps the pup build confidence in new people and situations. It also reduces the likelihood that the puppy will become fearful or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.

Puppy socialization starts with the mother and her littermates as they play and interact. This teaches them to be around their noisy and sometimes rough siblings. The pups are also exposed to a variety of sights, sounds and smells. The puppies learn to behave appropriately in a group environment, which is essential to their success as adult dogs.

The puppy should be introduced to different household sounds like doorbells, vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances. The puppy should also be exposed various outdoor sounds like sirens, traffic, and construction. This is essential so that the puppy will not become scared or anxious of these situations as an adult. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at an ease rate, and positive reinforcement is used throughout the process.

It is also important that the puppy gets to meet many different people during this time, as well as other pets. This will help to prevent anxiety about separation 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 able to interact with other dogs in a safe way, and in a controlled manner. The interaction should be restricted initially to ensure that the puppy does not become overwhelmed. The puppy should be able to interact with older, more sociable, calmer dogs. This will help the puppy realize that not all larger, older dogs are scary and it helps them develop an appropriate temperament.

Training

German Shepherds require constant, consistent obedience training. It is important to get them into an early training class, especially when they are still puppies. This will help them develop into confident and well-mannered dogs. This is also a good time to make them familiar with the basic commands like sit down, stay, and come. The earlier you begin teaching your dog these basic skills they'll be more likely to follow your commands as they age.

Territorial aggression is a frequent issue for a lot of German Shepherd owners. They may be extremely cautious of their home and property and this can result in them barking at other people or animals who venture into their territory. Territorial behavior can be prevented by proper training, exercise, and socialization.

Other behavioral issues can be avoided through obedience training in German Shepherds. Dogs that are not properly trained can cause trouble for their family and friends. They are often 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 with new people, places and deutscher schäferhund schwarz kaufen sounds. This is especially important when they reach the age of 16 weeks since they enter an important period of brain development during this time. If your german shepherd Kaufen Shepherd is a quiet puppy until that point, Einen Deutschen SchäFerhund Kaufen they will likely find new experiences much more challenging as they grow older and become more susceptible to anxiety and fear-based aggression.

Many dog owners do not realize that the German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise in order to be happy and calm. German Shepherds are herding breeds by nature, and are driven to please their owners and work. If they don't exercise enough they could become bored or destructive. Regular exercise can tone muscles, reduces "cabin fever," improves circulation and aids in weight loss. It's also a great opportunity to bond with your German shepherd!