How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

You're making a significant commitment when you purchase a German Shepherd pup. You'll be accountable for the health, training, and mental stability of your dog over many years.

Pet stores and online sources offer puppies that are typically from puppy mills, which prioritize profit over the well-being of animals. Select a reputable breeding facility instead.

How to Choose a Reputable Breeder

It's important to be aware of your breeder before you buy a German Shepherd puppy. Responsible breeders are happy to share information about their dogs and their practices with you. Breeders are happy to share information about their dogs and practices with you.

Your local German Shepherd organization or club is the best place to begin. Breed clubs typically have a secretary, or puppy officer, who can guide you to reputable breeders. You can also contact your state's animal control agency to obtain the list of breeding companies.

Once you've identified a breeder who has good breeding standards, make sure you take the time to meet them in person. Look for a clean facility in which the mother and her puppies are kept in a safe environment. Ask about the puppy's parents and siblings. You would like to verify that they have been screened for hereditary diseases such as hip dysplasia, eye problems, heart disease and Degenerative Myelopathy.

A responsible breeder should be able to provide you with a copy of your puppy's medical history and the most current vaccination schedule. They should have a strong relationship with a vet who can perform all the necessary tests and vaccinations. They should be able to give you the name of the veterinarian, his telephone number, and will provide you with records of your consultation.

Ask the breeder about any concerns they may have regarding your lifestyle and living situation. This could hinder them from bringing puppies to you. If they know you have young kids 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 a reputable breeder to require you to sign an agreement to purchase your German Shepherd puppy. The contract should contain the names of the parents as well as their AKC registration numbers as along with a return-to-breeder clause. This is a great method for responsible breeders to track their dogs and make sure they are placed in good homes.

Health Tests

Breeders who are reputable conduct health tests on the dogs that will be part of their breeding selection. This is to ensure that they don't produce pups that have an inherited illness. These tests include elbow and hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy and GDV (also called Bloat).

In addition to health screening breeders who are trustworthy get a better understanding of the temperaments and health of every dog they have. They also freely and fully share this information with other breeders and potential buyers.

As part of the Kennel Club's Assured breeder program members are required to perform certain tests on 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. These tests also help breeders make better mating decisions that will reduce the incidences of hereditary diseases in future generations.

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 legs. These joint diseases cause discomfort and pain, but can be managed through weight control, activity limitations, supplements and deutsche schäferhunde Welpen kaufen österreich drugs. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays with sedation to ensure that the results are accurate.

The OFA test looks for the presence of hemivertebra, butterfly vertebra block vertebra, lumbar sacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis and spina bifida. This test is not 100% reliable and cannot tell the likelihood that a dog's spinal problem will be degenerative myelopathy.

Socialization

GSDs require a lot of physical activity in addition to training and mental stimulation to keep them busy. They can easily become bored and a lack of exercise could lead to destructive behaviors such as eating excessively or digging shoes. These behaviors are usually caused by a lack of emotional requirements. This is why early socialization is so important for German Shepherd puppies. Proper socialization helps the pup build confidence in new people and situations. It also reduces the likelihood that the puppy will be scared or aggressive in new situations.

The mother and her littermates play and interact with each other. This helps puppies learn appropriate social signals and how to deal with their boisterous, sometimes rough siblings. The pups are also exposed to a variety kinds of sounds, sights and smells. The puppies learn to behave appropriately in a group environment, which is key to their success as dogs who mature.

The puppy should be introduced to different household sounds like doorbells, vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances. The puppy should also be exposed to various outdoor sounds like sirens, traffic, and construction. This is crucial so that the puppy will 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 German Shepherd puppies for sale in Switzerland positive reinforcement should be utilized throughout the process.

It is also important for the puppy to meet many different people during this time, deutscher schäferhund baby kaufen welpe kaufen (ellison-herskind-3.Blogbright.net) in addition to other pets. This will help reduce anxiety about 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 in a controlled, safe manner with other dogs. At beginning, interactions should be restricted to ensure that the puppy does not feel overwhelmed. The puppy should also be allowed to interact with calmer, older and doggies who are friendly. This will help your puppy see that larger, older dogs don't have to be terrifying. It will also aid in developing an attitude of confidence.

Training

German Shepherds need firm and consistent obedience training. It is essential to enroll them in an obedience class as soon as possible and especially when they are still young. This will help them develop into confident, well-mannered dogs. It's also a great opportunity to teach them basic commands like sit down, deutsche schäferhunde welpen kaufen österreich stay and sit. The earlier a dog learns these basic commands the more simple it will be for them to follow your directions as they get older.

Territorial aggression is a typical issue for a lot of German Shepherd owners. They can be extremely protective of their homes and property, which can lead to barking or yelling at people or animals that enter their territory. Training, exercise and socialization can prevent territorial behavior.

Other behavioral issues can be prevented through obedience training for German Shepherds. Dogs that don't have the right obedience training could be a nuisance, or even a threat to their family members and neighbours. They can easily be distracted by other animals toys or children, and disregard basic commands such as "sit" or "down."

During their puppy years it is crucial to socialize your German Shepherds with new people, places, sights and sounds. This is especially important prior to when the puppy reaches 16 weeks and their brains are in an important stage of development. If your German Shepherd is a quiet pup until then, they will likely find new experiences much more challenging as an adult and SchäFerhund BeschüTzerinstinkt be more susceptible to anxiety and fear-based aggression.

Many dog owners don't realize that a German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise in order to be content and peaceful. They are herding dogs by nature and have a strong drive to do their best and please their humans, so if they don't have enough things to do, deutsche schäferhunde Welpen kaufen österreich they can become bored or destructive. Regular exercise strengthens muscles and decreases "cabin-fever." It also improves circulation, aids in weight loss and blaue Schäferhunde helps reduce "cabin-fever." It's also a great method to strengthen the bond between you and your German shepherd!