How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
You're making a significant commitment when you purchase a German Shepherd pup. You will be responsible, for many years, for the health and education of your dog.
Pet stores and online sources typically sell puppies from puppy mills that place profit over animal well-being. Pick a reputable breeder.
Choosing a Reputable Breeder
It's essential to get acquainted with your breeder prior to you purchase a German Shepherd puppy. Responsible breeders will be happy to share information about their dogs and their practices with you. Breeders will be happy to share information about their dogs as well as practices with you.
Your local German Shepherd club or organization is the best place to begin. Breed clubs usually have a secretary or puppy officer who can point you to breeders who are reputable. You can also contact your state's animal control agency to find an updated list of licensed breeding companies.
Once you've identified a breeder that meets breeding standards, take the time to meet them in person. Find a clean and tidy facility in which the mother and her puppies are safe. It is important to inquire about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You want to know if they have been screened for hereditary issues like hip dysplasia, and eye problems.
A responsible breeder should also be able to supply you with a copy of your puppy's medical records and a current vaccination schedule. They should have a great working relationship with a vet who is able to conduct all the necessary tests and vaccines. They should be able to give you the name of the veterinarian and his phone number and also provide you with the records of consultation.
Ask the breeder about any concerns they have about your lifestyle or living situation. This could prevent them from selling the puppy to you. For example when they know that you have young children, they might be reluctant to sell you a puppy since German Shepherds can be a bit aggressive with children.
A reputable breeder may require that you sign a contract prior to purchasing your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include information about the parents as well as their AKC registration number, and a clause allowing them to return the puppy to the breeder. This is a crucial way for a responsible breeder to keep track of their dogs and ensure they are going to suitable homes.
Health Tests
Reputable breeders undertake health tests on the dogs that will form part of their breeding stock. This is to ensure that they don't create puppies with an inherited disease. These tests include hip and elbow dysplasia, myelopathy degenerative and GDV (also called Bloat).
Breeders who are trusted strive to know the temperaments and health status of every dog they own. They also share this information completely and openly with other breeders as well as prospective buyers.
As part of the Kennel Club's Assured breeder program, members are required to perform certain tests with their dogs. Breed clubs for German Shepherds also suggest that breeders conduct additional tests.
These tests are designed to detect genetic diseases that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. They also allow breeders to make better informed decisions about mating, which will reduce the incidence of hereditary disease in the future.
The most common genetic tests are:
Hip Dysplasia
Hip and elbow dysplasia are common problems in German Shepherds, with the latter suffering from the condition in their front limbs. These joint conditions that are degenerative cause discomfort and pain, but can be controlled with the control of weight, exercise restrictions, supplements, and drugs. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays with sedation to ensure that the results are accurate.
The OFA test looks for hemivertebra, butterfly vertebra, block vertebra, lumbar-sacral transformational vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis and spina bifida. This test is not foolproof and does not predict whether a dog's condition will be degenerative myelopathy.
Socialization
GSDs require rigorous physical exercise as well as training and mental stimulation to keep them busy. They are prone to becoming bored, and lack of activity may lead to destructive behaviors such as excessive digging or eating shoes. Often, these behaviors are a result of not being able to satisfy their emotional requirements. Socialization at an early age is crucial for German Shepherd pups. A good socialization program allows the puppy to build confidence around new people and environments. It also decreases the chance that the puppy will become anxious or aggressive in new situations.
The mother and her littermates play and play with each other. This teaches them to be around their rough and boisterous 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 crucial to their success as adult dogs.
The puppy should be exposed to a variety of household noises including vacuum cleaners, doorbells and kitchen appliances. The puppy should be exposed sounds outside, such as sirens, traffic, and construction. This is very important to ensure that the puppy does not become scared or anxious of these sounds when they become adults. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a relaxed pace, and positive reinforcement should be used throughout the process.
During this time, it's also important that the puppy gets to meet many different people and pets. This will help reduce separation anxiety 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 allowed to interact in a controlled, secure way with other dogs. At first, the interactions should be restricted so that the dog does not feel overwhelmed. The puppy should also be allowed to interact with calmer, older and more friendly dogs. This will help your puppy see that larger, older dogs do not have to be scary. It will also help them develop a good attitude.
Training
German Shepherds require regular, strict obedience training. reinrassiger deutscher schäferhund is crucial to get them into a class early enough, especially while they are still young. This will help them develop into well-mannered, confident dogs. This is also a good time to get them familiar with the basic commands like sit, down, stay and come. The earlier you can teach your dog these basic skills and commands, they'll be more likely to follow your instructions as they get older.
Territorial aggression can be a problem in many families with German Shepherds. click here to investigate may be overly guarded of their property and homes which could lead to them barking at other people or animals who enter their territory. Territorial behavior can be slowed through proper training, exercise, and socialization.
Other behavioral issues can be prevented by obedience training in German Shepherds. Dogs who aren't properly trained may cause trouble for their family and friends. They are easily distracted by other pets, toys or children. They may ignore basic commands like "sit" and "down."
In the early years of puppyhood it is important to continue to socialize your German Shepherds to new people, places, 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 time. If your German shepherd is a protected puppy until then, 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 fear-based aggression or anxiety.
Many dog owners don't realize that the German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise in order to be happy and calm. They are herding dogs by nature and have a strong drive to work and please their humans and if they don't have enough things to do, they can become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise helps tone muscles, decreases "cabin fever," improves circulation and helps with weight loss. It's the perfect way to be a part of your German Shepherd also!