How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
You're taking a huge risk when you purchase a German Shepherd pup. You'll 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 the welfare of the animal. Select a reputable breeding facility instead.
How to Select a Breeder with a Good Reputation
Before you purchase a German Shepherd pup, it's essential to get acquainted with the breeder. Breeders who are responsible will be delighted to provide you with information about their dogs and breeding practices. They will be happy to discuss genetic and health testing early socialization, as well as the environment where their puppies are raised.
The best place to start is to talk to your local German Shepherd club or group. The breed clubs typically have a secretary or puppy officer, who can direct you to reputable breeders. Alternatively, you can contact your state animal control agency to get a list of licensed breeders.
If you've found a breeder who has good breeding standards, take the time to meet them in person. You should seek out an upscale, clean facility in which the puppy and the mother dog are confined. You should ask about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You'll want to be aware if they've been screened for any hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia and eye issues.
A responsible breeder should be able to provide you with copies of your puppy's medical records and the most current schedule of shots. They should have a solid working relationship with a vet who can perform all necessary tests and vaccinations. They will be able to tell you the vet's name and telephone number and give you a consultation note.
It's also a good idea to ask the breeder if they have any concerns regarding your lifestyle or living situation that could hinder them from selling you an animal. If they are aware that you have young children and they are concerned about your children's safety, they might not wish to sell you a German Shepherd puppy because they are known to be aggressive with children.
You should also expect an established breeder to ask you to sign a contract to purchase your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include details about the parents and their AKC registration number as well as a clause allowing 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 will be placed in good homes.
Health Tests
Breeders who are reputable conduct health tests on the dogs that will be part of their breeding stock. This is to ensure that they don't produce pups with inherited disease. These tests include hip dysplasia as well as elbow dysplasia as well as degenerative myelopathy GDV and bloat.
In addition to health screenings Breeders who are reputable strive to gain personal knowledge of the health and temperament of each dog they own. They are also able to freely and openly communicate this information to other breeders as well as potential buyers.
As part of the Kennel Club's Assured breeder scheme, members are required to conduct certain tests on their dogs. The breed clubs for German shepherds also suggest that breeders conduct additional tests.
These tests are designed to detect genetic diseases that affect all German Shepherd Dogs. They also permit breeders to make better informed choices about mating, which will reduce the incidence of hereditary disease 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 that affects their front legs. These joint conditions that cause degeneration cause pain and discomfort, but they can be treated with weight control, activity limitations and supplements as well as medications. X-rays are taken under conscious sedation to obtain exact results. Then, they are sent to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
The OFA test checks for the presence of hemivertebrae as well as butterfly vertebrae. block vertebrae as well as lumbar-sacral verbrae (LSTV) as well as spondylosis and spina bifida. This test is not impervious and cannot predict whether a dog's spinal condition will be degenerative myelopathy.
Socialization
GSDs require intense physical exercise along with training and mental stimulation to keep them busy. They get bored very easily and their inactivity can lead to destructive behavior such as excessive digging or chewing on shoes. The majority of these behaviors stem from insufficient emotional requirements. Socialization early is essential for German Shepherd pups. Proper socialization helps the puppy to build confidence with new people and environments. It also reduces the risk that the puppy will develop anxious or aggressive in new situations.
The mother and her littermates play together and play with each other. This teaches them how to be around their noisy and sometimes rough siblings. The pups are also exposed to a variety kinds of sounds, sights and smells. The puppies learn to behave appropriately within a group, which is key to their success as dogs who mature.
The puppy should be exposed to a variety of household noises like doorbells, vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances. The puppy should also be exposed to various outdoor sounds like traffic, sirens and construction. This is crucial 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 relaxed pace and positive reinforcements will be utilized throughout the process.
During this period, it is essential that the puppy gets to meet many different people and pets. This will help prevent 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 doggies.
The puppy should be allowed to interact in a safe, controlled way with other dogs. At beginning, interactions should be confined so that the pup isn't overwhelmed. The puppy should also be allowed to interact with older, calmer, doggies who are friendly. deutscher schäferhund welpe kaufen will help the puppy realize that not all larger, older dogs are dangerous and will help them to develop a positive temperament.
Training
German Shepherds require regular, strict obedience training. It's important to get them into an early training class particularly when they are still puppy dogs. This will help them become confident and well-mannered dogs. This is also a great moment to familiarize them with the basics of commands such as sit down, down, stay and come. The earlier you teach your dog these basic skills they'll be more likely to obey your instructions as they grow older.
Territorial aggression can be a problem for many families with German Shepherds. They might be extremely protective of their home and property, which can lead to them barking at other people or animals who enter their area. Territorial behavior is averted through the proper training, exercise and socialization.
Other behavioral problems can be prevented by obedience training for German Shepherds. If a dog doesn't have the right obedience training could become a nuisance or even a danger to family members and their neighbors. They can easily be distracted by other animals toys or children, and disregard basic commands such as "sit" or "down."
In the early years of puppyhood it is important to continue to introduce your German Shepherds with new locations, people and sounds. This is especially important when they reach 16 weeks old since they enter a critical period of brain development during this period. If your German Shepherd is a quiet puppy until that point, they will likely find new experiences much more challenging as an adult and be more prone to fear-based aggression and anxiety.
Many dog owners don't realize that the German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise to be content and peaceful. German Shepherds are herders by nature, and are driven to please their owners and work. If they don't get enough exercise they can become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise also tones muscles, decreases "cabin fever," improves circulation and aids in weight loss. It's also a great opportunity to build a bond with your German shepherd!