How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

When 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 sources sell puppies that are usually from puppy mills that focus on profit over the welfare of animals. Select a reputable breeder instead.

Selecting a Breeder who is reputable

Before purchasing a German Shepherd pup, it's essential to get acquainted with the breeder. Breeders who are responsible will be happy to provide you with information about their dogs and breeding practices. They'll be willing to discuss health and genetic testing early socialization, as well as the environment in which their puppies are raised.

The best place to start is with your local German Shepherd club or organization. The majority of breed associations have an officer for puppy or secretary who can point you to reliable breeders in your area. If you prefer, you can contact your state animal control agency to get an inventory of licensed breeders.

Make the effort to meet a breeder in person after you've found one who is in line with your breeding standards. You should look for an environment that is clean and comfortable where the puppy and the mother dog are confined. Find out about the puppy's parents and siblings. You need proof that they were examined for hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia, eye problems, heart disease and Degenerative Myelopathy.

A responsible breeder will also be able to provide you with a copy of your puppy's medical records and the most current schedule of shots. They should have a great relationship with a vet who can perform all necessary tests and vaccinations. They should be able give you the name of the veterinarian and telephone number and give you consultation notes.

Ask the breeder about any concerns they might have about your lifestyle or living circumstances. This may prevent them from bringing puppies to you. If they are aware that you have children, they may not want to offer you an German Shepherd puppy because they are known to be aggressive with children.

A reputable breeder will also require that you sign a contract when you purchase your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include details about the parents, their AKC registration number, and the clause that allows them to return the puppy to the breeder. This is a great method for responsible breeders to track their dogs and make sure they have a good home.

Health Tests

Reputable breeders conduct health checks on the dogs that form part of their breeding stock. This is to ensure that they don't produce pups that have an inherited illness. These tests include hip and elbow dysplasia, myelopathy degenerative and GDV (also called 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 share this information fully and openly with other breeders as well as prospective buyers.

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

These tests check for genetic diseases that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. They also allow breeders to make more informed mating decisions, which will reduce the incidence of hereditary disease 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 conditions that are degenerative cause pain and discomfort, but can be controlled through weight control, activity restrictions, supplements, Reinrassiger Deutscher SchäFerhund Kaufen and drugs. X-rays are taken under sedation, deutscher schäferhund kaufen österreich to get precise results, and then sent to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).

The OFA test looks for hemivertebrae, butterfly vertebrae, block vertebrae and lumbar-sacral vertebrae (LSTV) and spondylosis and spina bifida. This test isn't completely foolproof, however, and does not tell you if the dog will develop degenerative myelopathy or any other spinal disorders later in the course of.

Socialization

GSDs require intense physical exercise as well as training and mental stimulation to keep them busy. They are prone to becoming bored and inactivity may lead to destructive behaviors such as eating excessively or digging shoes. These behaviors are usually caused by a lack of emotional requirements. This is why early socialization is vital for German Shepherd puppies. Proper socialization helps the puppy to build confidence with new people and surroundings. It also reduces the risk that the puppy will develop scared or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.

The mother and her littermates play together and play with each other. This teaches them how to interact with their noisy and sometimes rough siblings. They are also exposed to a variety of smells, sights and sounds. The puppies are taught to behave in the group. This is vital to their success as adults.

Introduce the puppy to different household sounds, such as vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances, and doorbells. The puppy should also be exposed various outdoor sounds, including sirens, traffic, and construction. This is crucial so that the puppy will not become anxious or fearful of these sounds when they become adults. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a comfortable pace and positive reinforcement will be used throughout the process.

During this time, it's essential that the puppy interacts with different people and pets. This can help reduce separation anxiety when the owner is away. This can be achieved 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 controlled, buy an Old german Shepherd dog controlled manner and deutscher schäferhund kaufen schweiz the interaction should be restricted at first so that the puppy does not become overwhelmed. The puppy should also be able to interact with calmer, older, gentle dogs. This will allow the puppy realize that not all larger, older dogs are scary and it helps them develop an appropriate temperament.

Training

German Shepherds require regular, strict obedience training. It is essential to enroll them in a class as soon as you can and especially when they are still young. This will allow them to grow into confident, 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 a dog is taught these basic commands the easier it is for them to follow your instructions as they get older.

Territorial aggression is an issue in many families with German Shepherds. They might be incredibly protective of their home and property, resulting in barking or growling at those who enter their territory. Territorial behavior can be slowed through the proper training, exercise and socialization.

Other behavioral problems can be prevented by obedience training for German Shepherds. A dog that doesn't have the right obedience training could become a nuisance and even a threat to their family members and their neighbors. They can easily be distracted by other pets toys or children, and ignore basic commands such as "sit" or "down."

In the early years of puppyhood It is essential to introduce your German Shepherds to new people, places, and sounds. This is especially important prior to when they are 16 weeks old since they enter a critical period of brain development during this period. If your German shepherd is a protected puppy it is likely to be more difficult for them to master new things as an adult. They could also be more susceptible to fear-based aggression or anxiety.

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 remain calm and happy. They are herders by nature and have a strong urge to do their best and please their humans and if they don't have enough work to do, they can become bored or destructive. Regular exercise helps tone muscles and reduces "cabin-fever." It also improves circulation, deutscher schäferhund pflege helps in weight loss and helps reduce "cabin-fever." It's also a great method to strengthen the bond between you and your German shepherd!