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 a long time for the health and education of your dog.
Online sources and pet stores offer puppies that are typically from puppy mills that focus on profit over the welfare of animals. Choose a reputable breeder instead.
How to Choose a Breeder who is Reputable
It's important to be aware of your breeder before you purchase a German Shepherd puppy. Breeders who are responsible will be delighted to share details about their dogs as well as breeding practices. Breeders will be delighted to provide information about their dogs as well as practices with you.
Your local German Shepherd club or organization is the best place to start. The majority of breed associations have an officer for puppy or secretary who can point you in the right direction for credible breeders in your region. If you prefer, you can contact your state animal control agency to get the list of breeders who are licensed.
Take the time to meet with a breeder in person after you've found one who meets your breeding standards. You should search for an upscale, clean facility where the puppy and the mother dog are kept. Ask about the puppy's fathers and siblings; you need proof that they were screened for hereditary diseases such as hip dysplasia, eye problems, heart disease, and Degenerative Myelopathy.
A responsible breeder should be capable of providing you with copies of your puppy's medical record and a current shot schedule. They should have a solid working relationship with a vet who is able to carry out all required tests and vaccines. They will be able to give you the name of the veterinarian and phone number, and also provide you with consultation notes.
It's also an excellent idea to inquire with the breeder if they have any concerns about your lifestyle or living situation that might prevent them from selling you an animal. For instance If they know that you have children, they might be hesitant to offer you a puppy due to the fact that German Shepherds are known to be aggressive with children.
A reputable breeder may require that you sign a contract when purchasing your German Shepherd puppy. The contract should contain details about the parents, their AKC registration number and the clause that allows them to return the puppy to the breeder. This is a crucial way for responsible breeders to keep track of their dogs and ensure they are going to suitable homes.
Health Tests for Health
Breeders who are trustworthy will test the health of the dogs they plan to use as breeding stock. This is to ensure that they don't produce pups with inherited disease. These tests include elbow and hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, and GDV (also called bloat).
Breeders who are trusted seek to be aware of the temperaments and health issues of every dog they own. They also share this information in full and openly with other breeders and 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 conduct additional tests.
These tests are designed to identify genetic diseases that affect all German Shepherd Dogs. They also allow breeders to make better informed choices about mating, which will reduce the incidence of hereditary disease in the future.
Typical genetic tests include:
Hip Dysplasia
Hip and elbow dysplasia are a common problem in German Shepherds and sufferers from the condition that affects their front legs. These degenerative joint diseases cause pain and discomfort, but can be controlled with weight control, activity limitations, supplements, and drugs. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays under sedation to ensure that the results are accurate.
The OFA test looks for the presence of hemivertebrae and butterfly vertebrae, block vertebrae and lumbar-sacral vertebrae (LSTV) as well as spondylosis and spina bifida. This test is not foolproof, however, and does not determine whether dogs will develop degenerative myelopathy or any other spinal diseases later in life.
Socialization
GSDs require a lot of physical exercise, training and mental stimulation to stay active. They can easily become bored and their lack of activity can result in destructive behaviors such as excessive digging or chewing on shoes. These behaviors are usually caused by a lack of emotional needs. This is why early socialization is so important for German Shepherd puppies. Proper socialization helps the puppy to gain confidence in new people and surroundings. deutscher schäferhund kaufen decreases the chance that the puppy will become anxious or aggressive in new situations.
Puppy socialization begins with the mother and her littermates as they play and interact. This helps puppies learn appropriate social signals and how to deal with their boisterous, and sometimes rough, siblings. The pups are also exposed to a variety scents, sounds and sights. The puppies learn to behave within a group, which is key to their success as adult dogs.
The puppy should be exposed to various household sounds including vacuum cleaners, doorbells and kitchen appliances. The puppy should also be exposed to various outdoor sounds like sirens, traffic and construction. This is crucial to ensure that the puppy doesn't grow up afraid or anxious of these sounds. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a relaxed pace and positive reinforcements will be used throughout the process.
It is also crucial for the puppy to meet many different people during this time, in addition to other pets. This can reduce separation anxiety while 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 allowed to interact with other dogs in a secure way, and in a controlled manner. The interaction should be limited initially so that the puppy does not become overwhelmed. The puppy should be able to interact also with older, more sociable and calm 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 regular, strict obedience training. It's important to start classes early, especially when they are still puppies. This will allow them to grow into confident, well-mannered dogs. It is also a great time to familiarize them with basic commands like sit down, sit and stay. The earlier you can teach your dog these basic skills and commands, they'll be more likely to follow your commands as they grow older.
Territorial aggression is a frequent issue for a lot of German Shepherd owners. They may be extremely cautious of their home and property which could lead to their barking at strangers or animals that enter their area. Territorial behavior can be prevented by the proper training, exercise and socialization.
Other behavioral issues can be prevented by obedience training in German Shepherds. Dogs that don't have the right obedience training could become a nuisance or even a danger to their family members and neighbours. They are often distracted by other pets, toys, or children. They might not pay attention to basic commands like "sit" and "down."
In the early years of their puppyhood, it's important to continue to introduce your German Shepherds with new people, places, sights and sounds. This is especially important when they reach the age of 16 weeks because they are in an important phase of brain development during this period. If your German Shepherd is a quiet puppy, they will likely find new experiences much more challenging as they grow older and become more prone to anxiety and fear-based aggression.
One thing that a lot of pet owners don't know is that a German Shepherd needs lots of mental as well as physical exercise to remain calm and happy. They are herding dogs by nature and have a strong drive to please their humans and if they don't have enough work to do, they can become bored or even 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 also a great opportunity to strengthen the bond between you and your German shepherd!