How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

If you purchase a German Shepherd puppy, you're making a huge commitment. You'll be responsible for many years for the health and education of your dog.

Pet stores and online retailers typically sell puppies from puppy mills who place profit over animal well-being. Choose a reputable breeding facility instead.

Choosing a Reputable Breeder

It's essential to be aware of your breeder before you buy a German Shepherd puppy. Responsible breeders will be happy to share information about their dogs and the ways they treat you. They will be willing to discuss genetic and health testing, early socialization, and the environment in which their puppies are raised.

The best place to start is to contact your local German Shepherd club or group. Most breed clubs have an officer for puppy or secretary who can point you in the right direction for reputable breeders in your area. Alternatively, you can contact your state animal control agency to get an inventory of licensed breeders.

If you've found a breeder who has good breeding standards, make sure you take the time to meet them in person. Find a clean facility where the mother and pups are safe. You should ask about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You should know if they have been screened for hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia and eye problems.

A responsible breeder should be able to supply you with a copy of your puppy's medical record and a current vaccination schedule. They should have a solid working relationship with a vet who is able to perform all required tests and vaccines. They should be able tell you the vet's name as well as the number of his phone and provide you with consultation notes.

Ask the breeder about any concerns they may have about your lifestyle and living situation. This might hinder them from bringing a puppy to you. For example when they know that you have young children, they may be reluctant to sell you a puppy due to the fact that German Shepherds 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 information about the parents and their AKC registration number and the clause that allows them to return the puppy to the breeder. This is a vital way for a responsible breeder to monitor their dogs and ensure that they will be placed in good homes.

Health Tests for Health

Reputable breeders conduct health checks on the dogs that will form part of their breeding selection. This is to ensure that they don't create pups that have an inherited illness. These tests include hip and elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy and GDV (also known as Bloat).

In addition to health screenings breeders who are trustworthy gain personal knowledge of the temperaments and health of each dog they have. They also share this information in full and openly with other breeders and potential buyers.

The Kennel Club's Assured Breeder Scheme requires members to conduct certain tests on their dogs. Breed clubs for German Shepherds also suggest that breeders conduct additional tests.

These tests are designed to identify genetic diseases that affect all German Shepherd Dogs. They also allow breeders to make more informed mating decisions, which will reduce the chance of developing hereditary diseases in future generations.

Common genetic tests include:

Hip Dysplasia

The elbow dysplasia and german shepherd kaufen the hip are a common problem in German Shepherds, with the latter suffering from the condition in their front limbs. These degenerative joint diseases cause pain and discomfort, but can be managed by weight control, activity restrictions supplements, and deutschen Schäferhund kaufen medications. The X-rays are made under conscious sedation to obtain precise results, and then sent to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).

The OFA test focuses on the presence of hemivertebras, butterfly vertebras, block vertebra, lumbar sacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) as well as spondylosis, hemivertebra and spina bifida. This test is not impervious and cannot predict the likelihood that a dog's spinal problem is degenerative myelopathy.

Socialization

GSDs require a lot of physical activity as well as training and mental stimulation to keep them busy. They can easily become bored and inactivity may lead to destructive behaviors like excessive digging or eating shoes. Often, these behaviors stem from unmet emotional needs. This is why early socialization is vital for German Shepherd puppies. Proper socialization helps the puppy to gain confidence in new people and surroundings. It also decreases the chance that the puppy will develop anxious or aggressive in new 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 puppies are also exposed to a wide range of smells, sights, and sounds. The puppies are taught how to behave in groups. This is crucial to their success as adults.

Introduce the puppy to various household sounds, including vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances, and doorbells. The puppy should also be exposed different outdoor sounds such as sirens, traffic and construction. This is essential so that the puppy will not become scared or anxious of these stimuli when they become adults. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a calming pace and positive reinforcement will be utilized throughout the process.

During this time, Reinrassiger SchäFerhund it's essential that the puppy interacts with different animals and people. This will help to prevent 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 with other dogs in a secure well-controlled manner. The interactions should be tempered initially to ensure that the puppy doesn't become overwhelmed. The puppy should also be allowed to be around calmer, older and more doggies who are friendly. This will help your puppy see that larger, older dogs do not need to be terrifying. It will also help them develop an attitude of confidence.

Training

German Shepherds require firm, consistent obedience training. It is essential to enroll them in an obedience class early enough particularly when they are still young. This will help them develop into well-mannered, confident dogs. It's also a good time to introduce them to basic commands, such as sit down, sit and stay. The earlier you can teach your dog these basic commands and commands, they'll be more likely to follow your commands as they get older.

Territorial aggression is a typical problem for many German Shepherd owners. They may be overly protective of their home and property, resulting in screaming or groaning at other those who enter their territory. Territorial behavior deutschen Schäferhund kaufen can be prevented through proper training, exercise, and socialization.

Other behavioral issues can be prevented by obedience training for german shepherd kaufen Shepherds. Dogs who aren't properly trained could cause annoyance to their family and friends. They can be easily distracted by other pets, toys, or children. They may not be able to follow simple commands like "sit" and "down."

During the puppy years It is essential to introduce your German Shepherds with new locations, people and sounds. This is particularly important before they reach 16 weeks old because they are in an important period of brain development during this time. If your German Shepherd is a quiet puppy, they will likely find new experiences much more challenging as they grow older and become more prone to anxiety-based aggression and fear.

Many dog owners do not realize that the German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise to be calm and happy. German Shepherds are herders by nature, reinrassiger schäFerhund and they have a strong desire to please their owners and work. If they don't exercise enough they could become bored or destructive. Regular exercise helps tone muscles, reduces "cabin fever," improves circulation and helps with weight loss. It's also a great opportunity to bond with your German shepherd!