How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
When you buy a German Shepherd puppy, you're making a huge commitment. You will be responsible for the health, training, and mental stability of your dog for a number of years.
Online sources and pet stores offer puppies, which are typically from puppy mills that focus on profit over the welfare of animals. Choose a reputable breeder instead.
Choosing a Reputable Breeder
It's essential to know your breeder before you purchase a German Shepherd puppy. Responsible breeders are happy to provide information about their dogs and practices with you. They will be willing to discuss health and genetic testing as well as early socialization and the environment where their puppies are being raised.
Your local German Shepherd club or organization is the best place to begin. Breed clubs usually have a secretary or puppy officer, who can guide you to reputable breeders. You can also contact the animal control department of your state to get an updated list of licensed breeders.
It is a good idea to meet a breeder in person after you've found one who meets your breeding standards. Find a clean and tidy facility where the mother and pups are kept in a safe environment. You should inquire about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You want to be aware if they've been screened for hereditary issues like hip dysplasia, and eye problems.
A responsible breeder should be able to provide you with a copy of your puppy's medical records and a current shot schedule. They should have a strong relationship with a vet who can perform all necessary tests and vaccinations. They should be able provide you with the name of the doctor and phone number, and also give you a consultation note.
Ask the breeder about any concerns they have about your lifestyle and living circumstances. This may prevent the breeder from selling puppies to you. For instance, if they know you have children, they may be hesitant to offer you a puppy since German Shepherds can be aggressive with children.
A reputable breeder will require you to sign a contract prior to purchasing 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 great way for responsible breeders to track their dogs and ensure they are placed in good homes.
Health Tests
Reputable breeders conduct health checks on the dogs that will form part of their breeding collection. This is to ensure that they don't create puppies with an inherited disease. german shepherd kaufen include hip dysplasia as well as elbow dysplasia, as well as degenerative myelopathy, GDV and bloat.
In addition to health screenings, reputable breeders strive to get a better understanding of the temperaments and health of every dog they have. They also share this information completely and freely with other breeders as well as prospective buyers.
The Kennel Club's Assured Breeder Scheme requires members to carry out certain tests on their dogs. Breed clubs for German Shepherds also recommend that breeders take additional tests.
These tests are designed to detect genetic diseases that affect all German Shepherd Dogs. They also help breeders make better informed choices about mating, which will reduce the chance of developing hereditary diseases in future generations.
Typical genetic tests include:
Hip Dysplasia
The elbow dysplasia and the hip are common issues 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 can be managed through the control of weight, exercise limitations and medications. X-rays are taken with sedation, to get precise results, and then sent to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
The OFA test looks for 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 foolproof, however, and does not determine whether the dog will develop degenerative myelopathy, or other spinal diseases later in life.
Socialization
GSDs require a lot of physical activity along with training and mental stimulation to keep them occupied. They are prone to becoming bored, and lack of activity may lead to destructive behaviors such as eating excessively or digging shoes. These behaviors are usually due to unmet emotional needs. This is why early socialization is so crucial for German Shepherd puppies. Proper socialization helps the puppy to build confidence with new people and surroundings. It also reduces the risk that the puppy will develop anxious or aggressive in new situations.
The mother and her littermates play and interact with one another. This teaches them to interact with their noisy and sometimes rough siblings. The pups are also exposed to a variety sights, sounds and smells. The puppies are taught how to behave in groups. This is vital to their success as adults.
The puppy should be introduced to different household sounds such as doorbells, vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances. The puppy should be exposed to a variety of sounds outside, including traffic, sirens, and construction. This is essential to ensure that the puppy does not become scared or anxious about these stimuli. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a calming pace, and positive reinforcement should be used throughout the process.
During this time, it is essential that the puppy gets to meet many different pets and people. This will help prevent separation anxiety while the owner is away. This can be accomplished by taking the dog to puppy classes, dog parks or play dates with other dogs.
The puppy should be allowed to interact in a safe, controlled way with other dogs. At first, the interactions should be confined so that the pup does not feel overwhelmed. The puppy should also be allowed to be around calmer, older, gentle dogs. This will help your puppy see that bigger, older dogs do not need to be scary. It will also help them develop a good attitude.
Training
German Shepherds require firm and consistent obedience training. It is crucial to start an early training class particularly when they are still young. This will help them develop into well-mannered, confident dogs. It's also a great time to introduce them to basic commands such as sit down, stay and sit. The earlier a dog learns these basic behaviors and commands, the more simple it will be for them to follow your directions as they age.
Territorial aggression can be a problem in many families with German Shepherds. They might be extremely protective of their home and property, which can lead to them barking at other people or animals who enter their area. Proper training, exercise and socialization can help to 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 are easily distracted by other pets, toys, or children. They may ignore basic commands such as "sit" and "down."
During their puppy years, it's important to continue to socialize your German Shepherds with new people locations, sights, and sounds. This is especially important prior to when they reach the age of 16 weeks because they are in an important period of brain development during this time. If your German Shepherd is a quiet puppy until that point they'll likely encounter new experiences to be more difficult in adulthood and will be more prone to anxiety and fear-based aggression.
One thing that a lot of dog owners aren't aware of is that a German Shepherd needs lots of physical and mental exercise to stay calm and happy. German Shepherds are herding breeds by nature, and they have a strong desire to please their owners as well as work. If they don't exercise enough they could become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise also tones muscles, decreases "cabin fever," improves circulation and aids in weight loss. It's a great way to connect with your German Shepherd also!