How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
If you purchase a German Shepherd puppy, you're making a big commitment. You'll be responsible for the health, training, and mental stability of your dog for many years.
Pet stores and online retailers typically sell puppies from puppy mills that place profits over animal welfare. Pick a reputable breeder.
How to Choose a Reputable Breeder
It's essential to get acquainted with your breeder prior to you buy a German Shepherd puppy. Responsible breeders are happy to share information about their dogs and the ways they treat you. Breeders will be delighted to provide details about their dogs and practices with you.
Your local German Shepherd club or group is the best place to start. The majority of breed clubs have a secretary or puppy officer who can direct you to reputable breeders in your area. Alternatively, you can contact your state animal control agency to get the list of breeders who are licensed.
If you've found a breeder with good breeding standards, take the time to meet them in person. Look for a clean facility in which the mother and her puppies are kept in a safe environment. Ask about the puppy's fathers and siblings. You'll would like to verify that they have been screened for hereditary diseases such as hip dysplasia, eye issues, heart disease and Degenerative Myelopathy.
A responsible breeder should be able to provide you with copies of your puppy's medical record and the most current schedule of shots. They should have a great working relationship with a vet that can perform all necessary tests and vaccines. They can give you the name of the doctor and his phone number and will provide you with consultation records.
It's also a good idea to ask the breeder whether they have any concerns about your lifestyle or living situation that could prevent them from selling you an animal. For example If they know that you have young children, they may be hesitant to offer you a puppy since German Shepherds can be aggressive with children.
You should also expect an established breeder to require you to sign a contract for the purchase of your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include information about the parents, their AKC registration number and the clause that allows them to return the puppy to the breeder. This is an excellent method breeders who are responsible to monitor their dogs and ensure they are placed in good homes.
deutschen schäferhund kaufen for Health
Breeders who are reputable conduct health tests on the dogs that will form part of their breeding selection. This is to ensure that they don't 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 Breeders who are reputable strive to gain personal knowledge of the temperaments and health of every dog they have. They also share this information completely and openly with other breeders and potential buyers.
As part of the Kennel Club's Assured breeder scheme members are required to take certain tests on their dogs. The breed clubs for German shepherds also recommend that breeders conduct additional tests.
These tests are designed to identify genetic diseases that affect all German Shepherd Dogs. They also help breeders make better informed decisions about mating, which will reduce the chance of developing hereditary diseases in the coming generations.
Typical genetic tests include:
Hip Dysplasia
The elbow dysplasia and the hip are common problems in German Shepherds with the latter suffering from the condition in their front legs. These joint conditions that cause degeneration cause pain and discomfort, but they can be treated with the control of weight, exercise limitations and medications. X-rays are taken under anesthesia to ensure precise results, and then sent to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
The OFA test looks for the presence of hemivertebrae and butterfly vertebrae, block vertebrae as well as lumbar-sacral verbrae (LSTV) as well as spondylosis and spina bifida. This test is not 100% reliable, however, and does not determine whether dogs will develop degenerative myelopathy or any other spinal conditions later in the course of.
Socialization
GSDs require rigorous physical exercise as well as training and mental stimulation to keep them occupied. They can easily become bored and a lack of exercise could lead to destructive behaviors like excessive digging or eating shoes. These behaviors are usually due to unmet emotional requirements. Socialization early is essential for German Shepherd pups. Proper socialization allows the pup to build confidence with new people and different environments. It also decreases the chance that the puppy will be fearful or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.
The mother and her littermates play and play with each other. This helps puppies learn appropriate social signals and how to cope with their boisterous, sometimes rough, siblings. The pups are also exposed to a variety sights, sounds and smells. The puppies learn to behave appropriately within a group, which is crucial to their success as dogs who mature.
The puppy should be exposed to different household sounds like doorbells, vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances. The puppy should also be exposed to various outdoor sounds, including traffic, sirens and construction. This is important to ensure that the puppy doesn't grow up fearful or anxious of these sounds. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at an ease rate and positive reinforcement is used throughout the process.
During this time, it is essential that the puppy meets many different people and pets. 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 allowed to interact with other dogs in a controlled well-controlled manner. The interactions should be tempered at first so that the puppy doesn't become overwhelmed. The puppy should be able to interact also with older, more sociable, calmer dogs. This will help the puppy realize that not all older, larger dogs are dangerous and helps them develop a positive temperament.
Training
German Shepherds require regular, strict obedience training. It is important to get them into classes early, especially when they are still puppy dogs. This will allow them to grow into 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 learns these basic commands, the more simple it will be for them to follow your instructions as they get older.
Territorial aggression is a common issue for a lot of German Shepherd owners. They might be extremely protective of their property and homes which could lead to them barking at people or animals who venture into their territory. Proper training, exercise and socialization can reduce territorial behavior.
Obedience training will also help to prevent other behavioral problems in German Shepherds. Dogs who aren't properly trained can be a nuisance to their neighbors and family members. They are easily distracted by other pets toys or children, and disregard basic commands such as "sit" or "down."
During their puppy years, it's important to continue to keep your German Shepherds in contact with new people places, sights, and sounds. This is especially important prior to when the puppy reaches 16 weeks, when their brains are undergoing a critical phase of development. If your German Shepherd is a quiet puppy until that point, 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 don't realize that the German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise 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 could become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise tones muscles and decreases "cabin-fever." It helps improve circulation, assists with weight loss, and reduces "cabin-fever." It's a great way to connect with your German Shepherd as well!