How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
You're making a big commitment when you purchase the German Shepherd pup. You'll be accountable for many years for the training and health of your dog.
Pet stores and online resources typically sell puppies from puppy mills that place profits over the welfare of the animal. Select a reputable breeding facility instead.
How to Select a Breeder who is Reputable
Before you purchase a German Shepherd pup, it's important to get to know the breeder. Breeders who are responsible will be delighted to provide you with details about their dogs and breeding practices. Breeders are happy to provide details about their dogs and practices with you.
The best place to start is with your local German Shepherd club or other organization. The breed clubs typically have a secretary or puppy officer who can point you to reputable breeders. You can also contact your state animal control agency to get an inventory of licensed breeders.
Once you've identified a breeder that meets breeding standards, take the time to meet them in person. You should look for a clean, comfortable facility where the puppy and the mother dog are confined. Find out about the puppy's parents and siblings. try here would like to verify that they were screened for hereditary diseases like hip dysplasia, eye problems, heart disease, and Degenerative Myelopathy.
A responsible breeder should be able to supply you with a copy your puppy's medical history and the most current vaccination schedule. They should have a good relationship with a vet who is able to 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 consultation notes.
Ask the breeder about any concerns they may have about your lifestyle or living situation. This might stop them from bringing puppies to you. For instance, if they know you have young children, they may be hesitant to offer you a puppy because German Shepherds can be aggressive with children.
A reputable breeder may require that you sign a contract when purchasing your German Shepherd puppy. The contract should contain the names of the parents, as well as their AKC registration numbers as in addition to a return-to breeder clause. This is a great way for responsible breeders to keep track of their dogs and ensure they are placed in good homes.
Health Tests for Health
Reputable breeders undertake health tests on the dogs that will be part of their breeding stock. This is to ensure that they don't produce puppies that have an inherited condition. These tests include hip and elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy and GDV (also called bloat).
In addition to health screening breeders who are trustworthy gain personal knowledge of the health and temperament of each pet they own. They also share this information completely and freely with other breeders and prospective buyers.
The Kennel Club's Assured Breeder Scheme requires members to carry out certain tests on their dogs. Breed clubs for German Shepherds also suggest that breeders conduct additional tests.
These health tests look for genetic diseases that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. These tests also enable breeders to make better decisions about mating that can reduce the risk of hereditary illnesses in the next 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 that affects their front legs. These joint disorders that cause degeneration cause discomfort and pain, but can be managed by weight control, activity limitations, supplements, and drugs. The X-rays are made under conscious sedation to obtain accurate results and then submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
The OFA test checks for the presence of hemivertebrae as well as butterfly vertebrae. block vertebrae and lumbar-sacral vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis, and spina bifida. This test is not 100% reliable however, and does not tell you if the dog will develop degenerative myelopathy or other spinal diseases later in the course of.
Socialization
GSDs require rigorous physical exercise as well as training and mental stimulation to keep them engaged. They can easily become bored and their inactivity can result in destructive behavior such as excessive digging or chewing on shoes. The majority of these behaviors stem from not being able to satisfy their emotional needs. This is why early socialization is so vital for German Shepherd puppies. Proper socialization can help the puppy build confidence with new people and situations. It also reduces the chances that the puppy will be scared or aggressive when in unfamiliar situations.
Puppy socialization begins with the mother and her littermates as they play and interact. This helps puppies learn appropriate social cues and how to deal with their boisterous, sometimes rough, siblings. The puppies are also exposed to a variety of sights, smells and sounds. The puppies learn to behave appropriately in a group environment, which is essential to their success as adult dogs.
Introduce the puppy to different household sounds, including vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances and doorbells. The puppy should be exposed sounds outside, including sirens, traffic, and construction. This is crucial to ensure that the puppy doesn't develop afraid or anxious of these types of stimuli. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a relaxed pace, and positive reinforcement should be utilized throughout the process.
During this time, it's crucial that the puppy interacts with different animals and people. This can reduce separation anxiety when the owner is away. One good example is when the dog is taken to puppy classes or dog parks, or even play dates with other dogs.
altdeutscher schäferhund kaufen should be able to interact with other dogs in a safe way, and in a controlled manner. The interaction should be limited at first so that the puppy does not become overwhelmed. The puppy should also be allowed to interact with older, calmer and friendly dogs. This will help the puppy realize that not all older, larger dogs are fearsome and will aid in developing a good temperament.
Training
German Shepherds require constant, consistent obedience training. It is important to get them into classes as soon as possible and especially when they are still young. This will help them develop into confident, well-mannered dogs. It is also a great opportunity to teach them basic commands like sit down, sit and stay. The earlier a dog learns these basic behaviors the easier it is for them to follow your commands as they get older.
Territorial aggression is an issue in many families with German Shepherds. They may be extremely cautious of their home and property, which can lead to them barking at people or animals that enter their area. Proper training, exercise and socialization can help to prevent territorial behavior.
Obedience training will also help to prevent other problems with behavior in German Shepherds. Dogs that are not properly trained could be a nuisance to their neighbors and family members. 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 socialize your German Shepherds to new people, places and sounds. This is especially important prior to when the puppy turns 16 weeks old, when their brains are going through a critical phase of development. If your German Shepherd is a quiet pup until then they'll likely encounter new experiences to be more difficult in adulthood and will be more susceptible to anxiety-based aggression and fear.
One thing that a lot of dog owners don't realize is that a German Shepherd needs lots of physical as well as mental exercise to stay healthy and happy. German Shepherds are herders by nature, and are driven to please their owners as well as work. If they don't get enough exercise they can become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise strengthens muscles and reduces "cabin-fever." It also improves circulation, aids in weight loss, and reduces "cabin-fever." It's the perfect way to connect with your German Shepherd as well!