How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
You're making a big commitment when you purchase a German Shepherd pup. You will be responsible for the health, training and mental stability of your dog over many years.
Pet stores and online sources generally sell puppies from puppy mills who place profit over animal well-being. Select a reputable breeding facility instead.
How to Choose a Breeder with a Good Reputation
Before you buy a German Shepherd pup, it's important to get to know the breeder. Breeders who are responsible will be delighted to give you details about their dogs as well as breeding practices. Breeders will be happy to provide information about their dogs and practices with you.
The best place to start is to contact your local German Shepherd club or group. Most breed clubs have an officer for puppy or secretary who can point you to reputable breeders in your area. Alternatively, you can contact your state animal control agency to get an inventory of licensed breeders.
Take the time to meet a breeder in person once you've found one who meets your breeding standards. You should seek out a clean, comfortable facility in which the puppy and the mother dog are confined. You should inquire about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You want to find out if they've been screened for any hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia and eye problems.
A responsible breeder should be capable of providing you with a copy of your puppy's medical record and an up-to-date shot schedule. They should have a great relationship with a vet who can perform all necessary tests and vaccinations. They should be able provide you with the name of the doctor as well as the number of his phone and give you a consultation note.
Ask the breeder about any concerns they may have about your lifestyle or living circumstances. This might prevent them from bringing puppies to you. For instance, if they know you have young children, they might be hesitant to offer you a puppy due to the fact that German Shepherds can be aggressive with children.
You should also expect a reputable breeder to require you to sign an agreement to purchase your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include the names of the parents as well as their AKC registration numbers as well as a return-to-breeder clause. This is a great way for responsible breeders to track their dogs and make sure they go to good homes.
Health Tests for Health
Reputable breeders conduct health checks on the dogs that form part of their breeding collection. This is to make sure that they do not produce puppies that have an inherited condition. These tests include hip and elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, and GDV (also known as bloat).
Breeders who are trusted strive to know the temperaments and health status of each dog they own. They also share this information fully and freely with other breeders and prospective buyers.
As part of the Kennel Club's Assured breeder program members are required to take certain tests with their dogs. The breed clubs for German shepherds also suggest that breeders conduct additional tests.
These tests are designed to detect genetic disorders that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. These tests also allow breeders make better choices when mating which will reduce the incidences of hereditary diseases in the future generations.
The most common genetic tests are
Hip Dysplasia
German Shepherds are at risk of elbow and hip dysplasia, particularly in the front limbs. These joint disorders that cause degeneration cause pain and discomfort, but can be controlled through weight control, activity restrictions as well as supplements and medications. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays with sedation to ensure accurate results.
The OFA test checks for the presence of hemivertebrae and 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 in addition to training and mental stimulation to keep them occupied. They can easily become bored, and lack of activity could lead to destructive behaviors such as eating excessively or digging shoes. These behaviors are usually the result of unmet emotional requirements. This is why early socialization is important for German Shepherd puppies. A good socialization program allows the puppy to build confidence around new people and surroundings. It also reduces the chances that the puppy will be fearful or aggressive when in unfamiliar situations.
The mother and her littermates play together and play with each other. This helps puppies learn appropriate social signals and how to cope with their boisterous, sometimes rough siblings. The puppies are also exposed to a variety of kinds of sounds, sights and smells. The puppies learn how to behave in a group, which is essential to their success as adult dogs.
Introduce the puppy to various household sounds, such as vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances and doorbells. The puppy should be exposed sounds outside, such as sirens, traffic, and construction. This is very important so that the puppy will not become anxious or fearful of these stimuli as an adult. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at a moderate rate and positive reinforcement is utilized throughout the process.
During this period, it is essential that the puppy meets many different animals and people. This can help reduce separation anxiety when the owner is away. 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 with the other dogs in a secure well-controlled manner. german shepherd kaufen should be tempered initially so that the puppy does not become overwhelmed. The puppy should also be able to interact with older, calmer and more doggies who are friendly. This will help the puppy realize that not all older, larger dogs are scary and it helps them develop a good temperament.
Training
German Shepherds require constant, consistent obedience training. It is crucial to get them into an obedience class as soon as you can particularly when they are still young. This will allow them to grow into confident, well-mannered dogs. This is also a good moment to familiarize them with the basics of commands such as sit down, down, stay and come. The earlier a dog can learn these basic commands, the more simple it is for them to follow your commands as they grow older.
Territorial aggression can be a problem in many families with German Shepherds. They may be overly protective of their homes and property, leading to barking or yelling at those who enter their territory. Proper training, exercise and socialization can prevent territorial behavior.
Obedience training can aid in preventing other problems with behavior in German Shepherds. Dogs that don't possess the proper obedience training can be a nuisance, or even a danger to their family members and neighbors. They can be easily distracted by other pets, toys or children. They may not be able to follow simple commands such as "sit" and "down."
In the early years of puppyhood it is important to continue to socialize your German Shepherds with new locations, people and sounds. This is especially important before the puppy reaches 16 weeks and their brains are undergoing an important stage of development. If your German shepherd is a protected puppy prior to this, it will likely be a lot more difficult for them to learn new things once they are an adult. They may also be more susceptible to anxiety or fear-based aggression.
Many dog owners don't realize that the German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise in order to be happy and calm. German Shepherds are herders by nature, and they are driven to please their owners and work. If they don't exercise enough they could become bored or destructive. Regular exercise helps tone muscles and decreases "cabin-fever." It also improves circulation, aids in weight loss and decreases "cabin-fever." It's also a great way to bond with your German shepherd!