How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
When you buy a German Shepherd puppy, you're taking on a massive commitment. You'll be accountable for the health, training, and mental stability of your dog for a number of years.
Pet stores and online sources offer puppies, which are typically from puppy mills that prioritize profit over the well-being of animals. Choose a reputable breeder instead.
Selecting a Breeder with a Good Reputation
Before you buy a German Shepherd pup, it's important to get to know the breeder. Breeders who are responsible will be delighted to share details about their dogs and breeding practices. Breeders are happy to give you details about their dogs and practices with you.
Your local German Shepherd club or organization is the best place to start. Breed clubs typically have a secretary, or puppy officer, who can direct you to breeders who are reputable. You can also contact the animal control agency in your state to get the list of breeders.
Make the effort to meet with a breeder in person after you've found one who is in line with your standards for breeding. You should look for an environment that is clean and comfortable where the puppy and the mother dog are kept in a secure. Ask about the puppy's parents and siblings; you need proof that they've been checked for hereditary disorders like hip dysplasia, eye problems, heart disease and Degenerative Myelopathy.
A responsible breeder will be capable of providing you with a copy of your puppy's medical records and an up-to-date shot schedule. They should have a solid working relationship with a vet that can carry out all necessary tests and vaccines. They will be able provide the name of the vet, his telephone number, and will provide you with records of your consultation.
It's also a good idea to ask the breeder if they have any concerns about your lifestyle or living circumstances that might stop them from selling you puppies. If they know that you have young kids, they may not want to offer you an German Shepherd puppy because they can be aggressive towards children.
You should also expect a reputable breeder to require you to sign a contract to purchase your German Shepherd puppy. The contract should contain the names of the parents and their AKC registration numbers as well as a return-to-breeder clause. This is a crucial way for responsible breeders to monitor their dogs and ensure that they are going to suitable homes.
Health Tests for Health
Reputable breeders undertake health tests on the dogs that form part of their breeding selection. This is to ensure that they don't produce puppies that have an inherited condition. These tests include hip and elbow dysplasia, myelopathy degenerative and GDV (also known as bloat).
In addition to health screenings Breeders who are reputable strive to get a better understanding of the temperaments and health of every dog they own. They also share this information completely and openly with other breeders and prospective 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 recommend that breeders take additional tests.
These health tests look for genetic diseases that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. They also permit breeders to make better informed decisions about mating, which will reduce the incidence of hereditary disease in the coming generations.
Typical genetic tests include:
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 conditions that cause degeneration cause discomfort and pain, but they can be treated with exercise restrictions, weight control, supplements and drugs. X-rays are taken with conscious sedation to obtain accurate results and then submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
The OFA test focuses on hemivertebra, butterfly vertebra, block vertebra, lumbar-sacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis and spina bifida. This test isn't impervious and cannot predict whether a dog's spinal condition will be degenerative myelopathy.
Socialization
GSDs require intense physical exercise in addition to 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. These behaviors are usually due to unmet emotional requirements. This is why early socialization is so important for German Shepherd puppies. Proper socialization helps the pup develop confidence with 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 one another. This helps puppies learn appropriate social signals and how to deal with their boisterous and sometimes rough, siblings. The pups are also exposed to various sights, sounds and smells. The puppies are taught to behave in a group. This is vital to their success as adults.
The puppy should be exposed to a variety of household noises such as doorbells, vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances. The puppy should be exposed to a variety of sounds outside, like traffic, sirens and construction. This is crucial to ensure that the puppy does not become scared or anxious of these situations when they become adults. altdeutscher schäferhund kaufen should be exposed to all of this at a calming pace and positive reinforcements will be used throughout the process.
During this time, it's essential that the puppy interacts with different pets and people. This will help reduce separation anxiety when the owner is away from home. This can be accomplished by taking the dog to puppy classes, dog parks or play dates with other dogs.
The puppy should be able to interact with the other dogs in a secure, controlled manner and the interactions should be tempered at first so that the puppy doesn't become overwhelmed. The puppy should be able to interact also with older, more sociable and calm dogs. This will help the puppy to realize that not all older, larger dogs are dangerous and will aid in developing an appropriate temperament.
Training
German Shepherds require regular, strict obedience training. It's important to get them into a training class early especially when they're still puppies. This will help them become confident and well-mannered dogs. It's also a good time to introduce them to basic commands like sit, down and stay. The earlier you begin teaching your dog these basic behaviors they'll be more likely to follow your commands as they grow older.
Territorial aggression is a common issue for many German Shepherd owners. They may be extremely cautious of their homes and property and this can result in their barking at strangers or animals who enter their territory. Training, exercise and socialization can help to prevent territorial behavior.
Other behavioral issues can be prevented by obedience training in German Shepherds. Dogs that are not properly trained can be a nuisance to their neighbors and family members. They can be easily distracted by other pets, toys or children. They might not pay attention to basic commands such as "sit" and "down."
In the early years of puppyhood it is important to continue to socialize your German Shepherds to new locations, people and sounds. This is especially important prior to when the puppy reaches 16 weeks and their brains are in an important phase of development. If your German shepherd is a quiet puppy prior to this it's likely to be more difficult for them to master new things when they become adults. They may also be more susceptible to anxiety-based aggression or fear.
One thing that a lot of dog owners don't realize is that a German Shepherd needs lots of mental as well as physical exercise to stay healthy and happy. German Shepherds are herders by nature, and have a strong desire to please their owners as well as work. If they don't exercise enough they could become bored or 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!
