How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
When you buy a German Shepherd puppy, you’re making a huge commitment. You’ll be responsible for the health, training, and mental stability of your dog for many years.
Pet stores and online resources generally sell puppies from puppy mills who place profit over animal well-being. Choose a reputable breeder instead.
How to Select 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 information about their dogs and breeding practices. 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 start. Most breed clubs have a secretary or puppy officer who can point you in the right direction for credible breeders in your region. You can also contact your state animal control agency for 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 puppies are safe. Ask about the puppy’s parents and siblings; you need proof that they’ve been checked for hereditary disorders like hip dysplasia, eye issues, heart disease and Degenerative Myelopathy.
A responsible breeder will be able to provide you with copies of your puppy’s medical record and the most current schedule of shots. They should have a solid working relationship with a vet that can perform all necessary tests and vaccinations. They will be able to 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 might have about your lifestyle and living situation. This may hinder them from selling puppies to you. For instance when they know that you have young children, they might be hesitant to offer you a puppy since German Shepherds are known to be aggressive with children.
You should also expect an established breeder to ask you to sign a contract for the purchase of your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include information about the parents, their AKC registration number as well as a clause allowing them to return the puppy to the breeder. This is an important way for a responsible breeder to monitor their dogs and ensure they will be placed in good homes.
Health Tests for Health
Breeders who are reputable conduct health tests on the dogs that form part of their breeding collection. This is to ensure that they don’t produce pups with inherited disease. These tests include hip and elbow dysplasia, myelopathy degenerative and GDV (also called bloat).
In addition to health screenings, buy German Shepherd dog austria reputable breeders strive to get a better understanding of the temperaments and health of every dog they own. They also are able to freely and completely communicate this information to other breeders as well as potential buyers.
As part of the Kennel Club’s Assured breeder program members are required to take certain tests with their dogs. The breed clubs for German shepherds also recommend that breeders conduct additional tests.
These tests are designed to identify genetic diseases that affect all German Shepherd Dogs. They also permit breeders to make better informed choices about mating, which will reduce the risk of inheritable diseases in future generations.
Common genetic tests include
Hip Dysplasia
The elbow dysplasia and the hip are common issues in German Shepherds, with the latter suffering from the condition in their front legs. These degenerative joint disorders cause discomfort and pain but can be managed through weight control, activity limitations and supplements as well as medications. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays under sedation to ensure accurate results.
The OFA test looks for the presence of hemivertebrae and butterfly vertebrae, block vertebrae as well as lumbar-sacral verbrae (LSTV), spondylosis, and spina bifida. The test isn’t 100% reliable however, and does not tell you if dogs will develop degenerative myelopathy, or other spinal diseases later in life.
Socialization
GSDs require a lot of physical exercise, training and mental stimulation to keep engaged. They get bored very easily and their inactivity can result in destructive behavior such as excessive digging or chewing up shoes. These behaviors are usually the result of unmet emotional needs. Early socialization is important for Reinrassiger Deutscher SchäFerhund German Shepherd pups. Proper socialization helps the pup build confidence with new people and situations. It also decreases the chance that the puppy will become scared or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.
Puppy socialization starts with the mother and her littermates as they play and interact. This teaches them how to interact with their boisterous and sometimes rough siblings. The pups are also exposed to various sights, sounds and smells. The puppies learn how to behave within a group, which is key to their success as adult dogs.
Introduce the puppy to different household sounds, such as vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances and doorbells. The puppy should also be exposed various outdoor sounds, including sirens, traffic and construction. This is essential to ensure that the puppy does not grow up fearful or anxious of these sounds. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a relaxed pace, and positive reinforcement should be utilized throughout the process.
During this time, it is also important that the puppy meets many different pets and people. This can help reduce separation anxiety while the owner is away. A good example of this is when the dog is taken to puppy classes, dog parks or play dates with other dogs.
The puppy should be allowed to interact in a controlled, secure way with other dogs. At beginning, interactions should be confined to ensure that the puppy does not feel overwhelmed. The puppy should also be able to be around calmer, older and friendly dogs. This will allow the puppy to realize that not all older, Belgian Shepherd Dog Puppies for Sale Austria larger dogs are scary and it will help them to develop a good temperament.
Training
German Shepherds require constant, consistent obedience training. It is important to enroll them in classes as soon as possible particularly when they are still young. This will help them develop into confident, well-mannered dogs. This is also a good time to get them familiar with the basic commands like sit down, down, king shepherd kaufen (https://nerdgaming.science/wiki/What_Is_Purebred_German_Shepherd_Breeder_And_Why_Is_Everyone_Dissing_It) stay and come. The earlier a dog learns these basic behaviors the more simple it will be for them to follow your directions as they get older.
Territorial aggression is a common issue for many German Shepherd owners. They may be overly concerned about their home and property, which can lead to screaming or groaning at other people or animals that enter their territory. Proper training, exercise and socialization can help to prevent territorial behavior.
Other issues with behavior can be avoided through obedience training in German Shepherds. A dog that doesn’t possess the proper obedience training can be a nuisance, or even a threat to their family members and their neighbors. They are easily distracted by other animals or toys, or even children and ignore basic commands like “sit” or “down.”
In the early years of their puppyhood, it’s important to continue to keep your German Shepherds in contact with new people places, sights, SchäFerhundwelpen and sounds. This is especially important before the puppy reaches 16 weeks, blaue schäFerhunde when their brains are going through an important phase of development. If your German shepherd is a quiet puppy it’s likely to be much more difficult for them to master new things once they are an adult. They could also be more prone towards anxiety-based aggression or fear.
Many dog owners do not realize that the German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise to be calm and happy. German Shepherds are herding breeds by nature, and they are driven to please their owners as well as 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 aids in weight loss. It’s the perfect way to connect with your German Shepherd, too!