How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

If you purchase a German Shepherd puppy, you're making a big commitment. You'll be accountable for the health, training, Reinrassiger Deutscher SchäFerhund Kaufen and mental stability of your dog for many years.

Pet stores and online resources typically sell puppies from puppy mills that place profits over the welfare of the animal. Pick a reputable breeder.

Choosing a Reputable Breeder

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 and breeding practices. They'll be willing to discuss health and genetic testing, early socialization, and the environment in which their puppies are raised.

Your local German Shepherd organization or club is the best place to start. Breed clubs typically have a secretary or puppy officer, who can direct you to breeders who are reputable. If you prefer, you can contact your state animal control agency for the list of breeders who are licensed.

It is a good idea to meet a breeder's representative in person after you've found one who is in line with your breeding standards. Find a clean facility where the mother and pups are comfortably confined. It is important to inquire about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You want to know if they have been screened for hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia and eye problems.

A responsible breeder should also be able provide you with a copy of your puppy's medical records and a current vaccination schedule. They should have a strong relationship with a veterinarian who can carry out all necessary tests and vaccinations. They should be able to provide you with the name of the doctor as well as the number of his phone and provide you with consultation notes.

Ask the breeder about any concerns they have regarding your lifestyle and living situation. This could prevent the breeder from selling a puppy to you. For instance If they know that you have young children, deutscher schäferhund lebenserwartung they might be hesitant to offer you a puppy since German Shepherds are known to be aggressive with children.

You should also expect an accredited breeder to require you to sign an agreement to purchase your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include details about the parents and their AKC registration number as well as the clause that allows them to return the puppy to the breeder. This is a great way breeders who are responsible to monitor their dogs and make sure they go to good homes.

Health Tests

Reputable breeders undertake health tests on the dogs that form part of their breeding selection. This is to make sure that they don't create puppies with an inherited disease. These tests include hip and elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy and GDV (also known as bloat).

In addition to health screening Breeders who are reputable strive to acquire a personal understanding of the health and temperament of each dog they own. They also are able to freely and completely communicate this information to other breeders and Deutscher SchäFerhund Lebenserwartung potential buyers.

As part of the Kennel Club's Assured breeder program, members are required to take 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. They also allow breeders to make better informed decisions about mating that will lower the incidence of hereditary disease in future generations.

The most common genetic tests are

Hip Dysplasia

German Shepherds are susceptible to elbow and hip dysplasia particularly in the front limbs. These joint diseases cause discomfort and pain, but they can be treated with exercise restrictions, weight control and supplements as well as medications. X-rays are taken under anesthesia to ensure exact results. Then, they are sent to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).

The OFA test is designed to detect the presence of hemivertebra, butterfly vertebra block vertebra, lumbar-sacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) as well as spondylosis, hemivertebra and spina bifida. This test isn't impervious and cannot predict the likelihood that a dog's spinal problem is degenerative myelopathy.

Socialization

GSDs require rigorous physical exercise as well as training and mental stimulation to keep them busy. They are easily bored and their inactivity can result in destructive behaviors like excessive digging or chewing on shoes. These behaviors are usually caused by a lack of emotional needs. Early socialization is important for German Shepherd pups. Proper socialization helps the puppy to gain confidence in new people and environments. It also decreases the chance that the puppy will be scared or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.

The mother and her littermates play and interact with one another. This teaches them how to get along with their noisy and sometimes rough siblings. It also exposes the pups to a wide range of sights, smells and sounds. The puppies are taught to behave in the group. This is crucial to their success as adults.

Introduce the puppy to various household sounds, like vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances and doorbells. The puppy should be exposed sounds outside, including sirens, traffic, and construction. This is essential so that the puppy will not become scared or schäferhund welpe Kaufen anxious of these stimuli as an adult. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a calming pace, and positive reinforcement should be utilized throughout the process.

It is also crucial that the puppy gets to meet numerous people during this period, along with other pets. This will help reduce separation anxiety when the owner is away from home. One good example is when a dog is taken to puppy classes or reinrassiger schäFerhund dog parks, or even play dates with other dogs.

The puppy should be allowed to interact in a safe, controlled manner with other dogs. At first, the interactions should be restricted so that the dog does not feel overwhelmed. The puppy should be allowed to interact with older, more friendly and calm dogs. This will help the puppy understand that not all older, larger dogs are dangerous and will aid in developing an appropriate temperament.

Training

German Shepherds require consistent, firm obedience training. It is important to enroll them in a class early enough particularly when they are still young. This will allow them to become confident, well-mannered dogs. This is also a great time to get them familiar with the basic commands like sit down, stay, and come. The earlier a dog learns these basic behaviors the more easy it is for them to follow your directions as they grow older.

Territorial aggression is an issue in many families with German Shepherds. They may be overly concerned about their home and property, resulting in screaming or groaning at other those who enter their area of. Training, exercise and socialization can prevent territorial behavior.

Obedience training can also help to prevent other issues with behavior in German Shepherds. If a dog doesn't possess the proper obedience training can be a nuisance, or even a danger to their family members and their neighbors. They can be easily distracted by other pets, toys or deutscher schäferhund Lebenserwartung children. They may not be able to follow simple commands such as "sit" and "down."

During the puppy years, you should continue to introduce your German Shepherds with new locations, people and sounds. This is particularly important before they are 16 weeks old since they enter a critical period of brain development during this period. If your German Shepherd is a sheltered puppy until that point they'll likely encounter new experiences more difficult as they grow older and become more susceptible to fear-based aggression and anxiety.

Many dog owners do not realize that the German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise in order to be calm and happy. German Shepherds are herders by nature, and are driven to please their owners as well as work. If they don't exercise enough they could become bored or destructive. Regular exercise strengthens muscles and reduces "cabin-fever." It also improves circulation, helps with weight loss, and helps reduce "cabin-fever." It's the perfect way to be a part of your German Shepherd as well!