How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

When you purchase a German Shepherd puppy, you're making a big commitment. You will be responsible for a long time for the health and training of your dog.

Online sources and pet stores sell puppies that are usually from puppy mills, which place profit ahead of the health of animals. Choose a reputable breeder instead.

Selecting a Breeder with a Good Reputation

It's essential to know your breeder before you purchase a German Shepherd puppy. Responsible breeders will be willing to share information about their dogs and the ways they treat you. 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. Breed clubs usually have a secretary or puppy officer who can point you to reputable breeders. You can also contact your state's animal control agency to find the list of breeding companies.

Once you've identified a breeder that meets breeding standards, make sure you take the time to meet them in person. You should look for a clean, comfortable facility in which the puppies and their mother are kept. Find out about the puppy's parents and deutscher belgischer schäferhund welpen kaufen österreich schäferhunde kaufen - Highly recommended Resource site, siblings. You need proof that they have been examined for hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia eye problems, heart disease, and Degenerative Myelopathy.

A responsible breeder will be able to provide you with copies of your puppy's medical record and a current shot schedule. They should have a good relationship with a vet who can perform all the necessary tests and vaccinations. They should be able to provide 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 may have about your lifestyle or living situation. This could hinder them from bringing puppies to you. If they are aware that you have young kids, they may not want to sell you a German Shepherd puppy because they can be aggressive towards children.

You should also expect an accredited breeder to require you to sign a contract to purchase your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include the names of the parents as well as their AKC registration numbers, as along with a return-to-breeder clause. This is an excellent method for responsible breeders to keep track of their dogs and ensure they are placed in good homes.

Health Tests

Breeders who are reputable will check the health of the dogs they intend to breed as breeding stock. This is to ensure that they don't produce puppies with an inherited disease. These tests include elbow and hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, and GDV (also known as bloat).

Breeders who are trustworthy strive to know the temperaments and health issues of every dog they own. They also share this information fully and openly with other breeders and 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 recommend that breeders conduct additional tests.

These tests are designed to detect genetic diseases that affect all German Shepherd Dogs. These tests also allow breeders make better decisions about mating that can reduce the risk of hereditary diseases in future generations.

The most common genetic tests are

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 limbs. These joint disorders that cause degeneration cause pain and discomfort, but can be controlled with weight control, activity restrictions supplements, and medications. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays under sedation to ensure that the results are accurate.

The OFA test looks for hemivertebrae, butterfly vertebrae, block vertebrae, lumbar-sacral vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis, and spina bifida. This test isn't 100% reliable, however, and does not tell you if the dog will develop degenerative myelopathy, or other spinal conditions later in life.

Socialization

GSDs require rigorous physical exercise as well as training and mental stimulation to keep them occupied. They can get bored easily, and lack of activity can lead to destructive behavior such as eating excessively or digging shoes. Most often, these behaviors are a result of not being able to satisfy their emotional needs. This is why early socialization is vital for German Shepherd puppies. A good socialization program helps the puppy build confidence around new people and situations. It also decreases the chance that the puppy will be fearful or aggressive when in unfamiliar situations.

The mother and her littermates play together and interact with each other. This teaches puppies appropriate social signals and how to deal with their boisterous and sometimes rough, siblings. The pups are also exposed to a variety scents, sounds and sights. The puppies learn to behave within a group, Deutscher SchäFerhund Kaufen which is key to their success as adult dogs.

Introduce the puppy to a variety of household sounds, such as vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances, and doorbells. The puppy should also be exposed to various outdoor sounds, including sirens, traffic and construction. This is important to ensure that the puppy doesn't grow up scared or Belgian Shepherd Dog Puppies for Sale Austria anxious about these stimuli. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at a comfortable rate and positive reinforcement is utilized throughout the process.

During this time, it's also important that the puppy interacts with different people and pets. This will help reduce anxiety over separation when the owner is away from home. An excellent 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 other dogs in a safe way, and in a controlled manner. The interactions should be tempered at first so that the puppy does not become overwhelmed. The puppy should be able to interact with older, more friendly and calm dogs. This will allow the puppy realize that not all larger, older dogs are scary and it helps them develop a positive temperament.

Training

German Shepherds require firm and consistent obedience training. It's important to enroll them in a training class early, especially when they are still young. This will help them develop into confident and 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 you teach your dog these basic skills, they will be more likely to follow your instructions as they get older.

Territorial aggression is a frequent issue for a lot of German Shepherd owners. They might be incredibly protective of their home and property, resulting in screaming or groaning at other those who enter their territory. Training, exercise and socialization can prevent territorial behavior.

Obedience training will aid in preventing other problems with behavior in German Shepherds. Dogs who aren't properly trained may cause annoyance to their family and friends. They are often distracted by other pets, toys, or children. They may ignore basic commands like "sit" and "down."

During their puppy years it is essential to socialize your German Shepherds with new people places, sights, and sounds. This is especially important before the puppy turns 16 weeks old, when their brains are in an important phase of development. If your German Shepherd is a quiet pup until then they'll likely face new experiences to be more difficult as they grow older and become more susceptible to fear-based aggression and anxiety.

One thing that a lot of dog owners aren't aware of is that a German Shepherd needs lots of mental as well as physical exercise to remain calm and content. German Shepherds are herding breeds by nature, and they have a strong desire to please their owners and work. If they don't get enough exercise, they may become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise can tone muscles, reduces "cabin fever," improves circulation and helps with weight loss. It's an excellent way to bond with your German Shepherd as well!