How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

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

Pet stores and online resources generally sell puppies from puppy mills who place profits over animal welfare. Select a reputable breeding facility instead.

Choosing a Reputable Breeder

It's essential to get acquainted with your breeder prior to you buy a German Shepherd puppy. Responsible breeders will be willing to provide information about their dogs and their practices with you. Breeders will be delighted to give you details about their dogs and practices with you.

The best place to begin is with your local German Shepherd club or group. Breed clubs usually have a secretary, or puppy officer, who can guide you to reputable breeders. You can also contact your state's animal control agency to find a list of licensed breeders.

It is a good idea to meet a breeder in person once you've located one that meets your standards for breeding. Look for a clean facility where the mother and puppies are kept in a safe environment. Find out about the puppy's parents and siblings. You'll would like to verify that they've been screened for hereditary diseases such as hip dysplasia eye problems, heart disease and Degenerative Myelopathy.

A responsible breeder will be able to provide you with copies of your puppy's medical record and a current shot schedule. They should have a great relationship with a veterinarian who is able to perform all the necessary tests and vaccinations. They should be able to tell you the name of the doctor schäferhund Welpe kaufen and reinrassiger deutscher schäferhund züchter his phone number and will provide you with the records of consultation.

Ask the breeder about any concerns they might have about your lifestyle and living situation. This may prevent them from selling puppies to you. If they know you have young kids, they may not want to sell you a German Shepherd puppy because they can be aggressive towards children.

You should also expect a reputable breeder to require you to sign a contract for the purchase of your German Shepherd puppy. The contract should contain information about the parents and their AKC registration number and schäferhund beschützerinstinkt an option to return the puppy to the breeder. This is an excellent method for responsible breeders to keep track of their dogs and ensure they have a good home.

Health Tests

Breeders who are trustworthy will examine the health of the dogs they plan to breed as breeding stock. This is to ensure that they do not produce pups with an inherited disease. These tests include hip dysplasia as well as elbow dysplasia as well as degenerative myelopathy, GDV and Bloat.

Breeders who are reputable are determined to understand the temperaments and health status of every dog they own. They also freely and fully share this information with other breeders and potential buyers.

As part of the Kennel Club's Assured breeder program, members are required to conduct certain tests with their dogs. Breed clubs for German Shepherds also recommend that breeders perform 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 that will lower the risk of inheritable diseases in the future.

Typical genetic tests include

Hip Dysplasia

German Shepherds are susceptible to hip and elbow dysplasia, especially in the 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. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays under sedation to ensure that the results are accurate.

The OFA test looks for hemivertebra, butterfly vertebra, block vertebra, lumbar-sacral transformational vertebrae (LSTV) as well as spondylosis, hemivertebra and spina bifida. This test isn't 100% reliable and cannot tell whether a dog's spinal condition will be degenerative myelopathy.

Socialization

GSDs require a lot of physical activity in addition to training and mental stimulation to keep them engaged. They can easily become bored and a lack of exercise could lead to destructive behaviors such as excessive digging or eating shoes. Often, these behaviors are a result of unmet emotional needs. This is why early socialization is important for German Shepherd puppies. Proper socialization helps the puppy to build confidence with new people and surroundings. It also decreases the chance that the puppy will be fearful or aggressive when in unfamiliar situations.

The mother and her littermates play and play with each other. This helps them learn to get along with their noisy and sometimes rough siblings. The puppies are also exposed to a variety sights, sounds and smells. The puppies are taught how to behave in groups. This is essential to their success as adults.

The puppy should be exposed to a variety of household noises such as doorbells, vacuum cleaners and Deutscher schäferhund schwarz kaufen kitchen appliances. The puppy should be exposed to a variety of sounds outside, including sirens, traffic and construction. This is important to ensure that the puppy doesn't become afraid or was kostet ein reinrassiger schäferhund anxious of these stimuli. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a calming pace, and positive reinforcement should be used throughout the process.

It is also crucial that the puppy gets to meet many different people over this time, as well as other pets. This will help reduce separation anxiety when the owner is away from home. One good example is when a dog is taken to puppy classes, dog parks or play dates with other dogs.

The puppy should be allowed to interact in a controlled, secure way with other dogs. At first, the interaction should be restricted so that the pup isn't overwhelmed. The puppy should also be allowed to interact with older, calmer and more doggies who are friendly. This will help your puppy realize that older, larger dogs do not need to be frightening. It will also help them develop an excellent attitude.

Training

German Shepherds require regular, strict obedience training. It is important to get them into classes as soon as possible and especially when they are still young. This will allow them to become confident, well-mannered dogs. It's also a good opportunity to teach them basic commands such as sit, down and stay. The earlier a dog can learn these basic behaviors the easier it is for them to follow your directions as they get older.

Territorial aggression is a frequent issue for a lot of German Shepherd owners. They may be overly concerned about their home and property, leading to barking or yelling at those who enter their territory. Training, exercise and socialization can help to prevent territorial behavior.

Obedience training will also help to prevent other behavioral problems in German Shepherds. Dogs who aren't properly trained could cause annoyance to their neighbors and family members. They can be easily distracted by other pets, toys or children. They may not be able to follow simple commands like "sit" and "down."

During the puppy years it is important to continue to introduce your German Shepherds with new people, places, and sounds. This is especially important prior to when the puppy is 16 weeks old as their brains are going through an important stage of development. If your German shepherd is a protected puppy, it will likely be more difficult for them to master new things as an adult. They could also be more prone towards fear-based aggression or anxiety.

One thing that many pet owners don't know is that a German Shepherd needs lots of mental as well as physical exercise to stay healthy and happy. German Shepherds are herders by nature, and they are driven to please their owners as well as work. If they don't exercise enough, they may become bored or destructive. Regular exercise helps tone muscles and reduces "cabin-fever." It helps improve circulation, assists in weight loss and helps reduce "cabin-fever." It's the perfect way to bond with your German Shepherd also!