How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
You're making a significant commitment when you purchase the German Shepherd pup. You will be responsible for the health, training, and mental stability of your dog over many years.
Pet stores and online resources typically sell puppies from puppy mills who place profits over the welfare of the animal. Pick a reputable breeder.
How to Choose a Breeder with a Good Reputation
Before you purchase a German Shepherd pup, it's crucial to know the breeder. Breeders who are responsible will be delighted to give you details about their dogs and breeding practices. They'll be willing to discuss health and genetic testing, early socialization, and the environment in which their puppies are raised.
Your local German Shepherd club or group is the best place to begin. Breed clubs typically have a secretary, or puppy officer who can point you to reputable breeders. If you prefer, you can contact your state animal control agency to get an inventory of licensed breeders.
It is a good idea to meet a breeder in person once you've found one who meets your standards for breeding. Find a clean and tidy facility where the mother and puppies are kept in a safe environment. Find out about the puppy's parents 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 also be able provide you with a copy your puppy's medical history and the most current vaccination schedule. They should have a strong relationship with a veterinarian who is able to perform all the necessary tests and vaccinations. They should be able provide you with the name of the doctor and telephone number and give you consultation notes.
It's also an excellent idea to inquire with the breeder if they have any concerns regarding your lifestyle or living conditions that could stop them from selling you an animal. For schäferhund beschützerinstinkt when they know that you have children, they might be reluctant to sell you a puppy because German Shepherds are known to be aggressive with children.
Read Homepage should also expect a reputable breeder to ask you to sign a contract for the purchase of your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include information about the parents as well as their AKC registration number as well as an option to return the puppy to the breeder. This is a crucial way for responsible breeders to monitor their dogs and ensure that they will be placed in good homes.
Health Tests
Breeders who are reputable will examine the health of the dogs they intend to use as breeding stock. This is to ensure that they don't create pups that have an inherited illness. These tests include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia as well as degenerative myelopathy, GDV and bloat.
Breeders who are reputable seek to be aware of the temperaments and health status of every dog they own. They also freely and fully give this information to other breeders as well as prospective buyers.
As part of the Kennel Club's Assured breeder program, members are required to perform certain tests on their dogs. Breed clubs for German Shepherds also suggest that breeders perform additional tests.
These health tests look for genetic disorders that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. They also permit breeders to make better informed decisions about mating which will decrease the risk of inheritable diseases in future generations.
The most common genetic tests are:
Hip Dysplasia
The elbow dysplasia and the hip are common issues in German Shepherds with the latter suffering from the condition in their front limbs. These degenerative joint disorders cause discomfort and pain but they can be treated with weight control, activity limitations, supplements and drugs. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays under sedation to ensure accurate results.
The OFA test looks for the presence of hemivertebrae and butterfly vertebrae, block vertebrae and lumbar-sacral vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis, and spina bifida. This test is not foolproof and does not predict the likelihood that a dog's spinal problem will be degenerative myelopathy.
Socialization
GSDs need rigorous physical exercise, training and mental stimulation to stay active. They are easily bored and their lack of activity can result in destructive behavior like excessive digging or chewing on shoes. Often, these behaviors stem from unmet emotional needs. Socialization early is essential for German Shepherd pups. Proper socialization can help the puppy gain confidence in new people and situations. It also reduces the chances that the puppy will be scared or aggressive in new situations.
The mother and her littermates play together and play with each other. This teaches them how to get along with their boisterous 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 crucial to their success as adults.
The puppy should be exposed to a variety of household noises like doorbells, vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances. The puppy should be exposed to different sounds outside, such as traffic, sirens and construction. This is very important so that the puppy will not be scared or anxious of these situations as an adult. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a calming pace, and positive reinforcement should be used throughout the process.
During this time, it is crucial that the puppy gets to meet many different animals and people. This will help reduce anxiety over separation when the owner is away from home. This can be achieved by taking the dog to puppy classes, dog parks, or play dates with other doggies.
The puppy should be able to interact with the other dogs in a secure, controlled manner and the interaction should be limited initially so that the puppy doesn't become overwhelmed. The puppy should also be able to interact with calmer, older and gentle dogs. This will help your puppy realize that older, larger dogs don't have to be frightening. It will also help them develop an excellent attitude.
Training
German Shepherds require consistent, firm obedience training. It is essential to get them into a class early enough particularly when they are still young. This will allow them to grow into well-mannered, confident dogs. This is also a great time to get them familiar with the basic commands like sit down, stay, and come. The earlier a dog learns these basic behaviors and commands, the easier it will be for them to follow your directions as they grow older.
Territorial aggression is a common issue for a lot of German Shepherd owners. They may be extremely cautious of their property and homes and this can result in them barking at people or animals that enter their area. Territorial behavior can be prevented by the proper training, exercise and socialization.
Other issues with behavior can be prevented by obedience training in German Shepherds. If a dog doesn't have the right obedience training could be a nuisance, or even a danger to their family members and neighbors. They are easily distracted by other pets, toys or children. They may ignore basic commands such as "sit" and "down."
In the early years of puppyhood It is essential to introduce your German Shepherds with new people, places, and sounds. This is particularly important when the puppy reaches 16 weeks as their brains are going through a critical phase of development. If your German Shepherd is a sheltered pup until then, they will likely find new experiences to be more difficult as an adult and be more susceptible to anxiety and fear-based aggression.
Many dog owners do not realize that a German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise to be calm and happy. German Shepherds are herders by nature, and have a strong desire to please their owners as well as work. If they don't exercise enough they can become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise can tone muscles, reduces "cabin fever," improves circulation and helps with weight loss. It's also a great way to build a bond with your German shepherd!