How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
When you purchase a German Shepherd puppy, you're making a huge commitment. You'll be responsible for the health, training and mental stability of your dog over many years.
Pet stores and online resources generally sell puppies from puppy mills that place profit over animal well-being. Choose a reputable breeding facility instead.
How to Choose a Breeder with a Good Reputation
It is important to get acquainted with your breeder prior to you purchase a German Shepherd puppy. Responsible breeders will be willing to share information about their dogs and their practices with you. Breeders will be happy to share information about their dogs and practices with you.
Your local German Shepherd club or organization is the best place to begin. The majority of breed clubs have an officer or secretary who can point you in the right direction for credible breeders in your region. If you prefer, you can contact your state animal control agency to get the list of breeders who are licensed.
If you've found a breeder that meets breeding standards, take the time to meet them in person. Find a clean and tidy facility where the mother and pups are kept in a safe environment. Ask about the puppy's parents and siblings. You would like to verify that they were examined for hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia, eye issues, heart disease and Degenerative Myelopathy.
A responsible breeder should be able to supply you with a copy your puppy's medical record and an up-to-date vaccination schedule. They should have a good working relationship with a vet that can conduct all the necessary tests and vaccinations. They should be able to tell you the vet's name and phone number, and also give you consultation notes.
It's also an excellent idea to inquire with the breeder if they have any concerns regarding your lifestyle or living situation that could hinder them from offering you a puppy. For instance when they know that you have young children, they may be hesitant to sell you a puppy since German Shepherds can 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, their AKC registration number as well as an option to return the puppy to the breeder. This is an important way for responsible breeders to keep track of 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 will be part of their breeding selection. This is to ensure that they don't create puppies with an inherited disease. These tests include hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia, as well as degenerative myelopathy GDV and bloat.
schäferhund beschützerinstinkt who are trustworthy seek to be aware of the temperaments and health status of each dog they own. They are also able to freely and openly share this information with other breeders and potential buyers.
As part of the Kennel Club's Assured breeder scheme members are required to perform certain tests on their dogs. Breed clubs for German Shepherds also recommend that breeders perform additional tests.
These tests are designed to detect genetic diseases that affect all German Shepherd Dogs. These tests also enable breeders to make better decisions about mating that can reduce the risk of hereditary illnesses in the next generations.
Typical genetic tests include
Hip Dysplasia
German Shepherds are susceptible to elbow and hip dysplasia particularly in the front limbs. These joint conditions that are degenerative cause pain and discomfort but can be controlled with weight control, activity limitations, supplements, and drugs. X-rays are taken under sedation, to get exact results. Then, they are sent to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
The OFA test is designed to detect hemivertebra, butterfly vertebra, block vertebra, lumbar-sacral transformational vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis and spina bifida. The test is not 100% reliable and cannot tell whether a dog's condition is degenerative myelopathy.
Socialization
GSDs require intense physical exercise as well as training and mental stimulation to keep them busy. They are prone to becoming bored, and lack of activity could lead to destructive behaviors such as eating excessively or digging shoes. Most often, these behaviors stem from not being able to satisfy their emotional needs. This is why early socialization is so important for German Shepherd puppies. Proper socialization helps the puppy to gain confidence in new people and surroundings. It also reduces the likelihood that the puppy will grow anxious or aggressive in new situations.
Puppy socialization begins with the mother and her littermates as they play and interact. This helps puppies learn appropriate social cues and how to deal with their boisterous and sometimes rough siblings. The puppies are also exposed to a variety of smells, sights, and sounds. The puppies learn to behave within a group, which is essential to their success as adult dogs.
Introduce the puppy to various household sounds, like vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances, and doorbells. The puppy should also be exposed to different outdoor sounds such as traffic, sirens 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 will be used throughout the process.
During this period, it is crucial that the puppy meets many different pets and people. This will help prevent separation anxiety when the owner is away. schäferhund kaufen österreich is when the dog is taken to puppy classes or dog parks, or even play dates with other dogs.
The puppy should only be allowed to interact in a controlled, safe way with other dogs. At first, the interactions should be confined to ensure that the puppy isn't overwhelmed. The puppy should also be allowed to interact with calmer, older and gentle dogs. This will help the puppy to realize that not all larger, older dogs are dangerous and will help them to develop a good temperament.
Training
German Shepherds require firm and consistent obedience training. It is crucial to enroll them in classes early, especially when they are still young. This will allow them to become confident and well-mannered dogs. It is also a good moment to familiarize them with the basics of commands such as sit down, down, stay and come. deutsche schäferhunde kaufen can learn these basic commands, the more easy it will be for them to follow your directions as they age.
Territorial aggression can be a problem for many families with German Shepherds. They can be extremely protective of their home and property, resulting in barking or growling at people or animals that enter their territory. Territorial behavior can be slowed by exercising, training, and socialization.
Other issues with behavior can be avoided through obedience training for German Shepherds. A dog that doesn't have proper obedience training can be a nuisance, or even a danger to their family members and neighbours. They are easily distracted by other pets, toys or children. They may not be able to follow simple commands like "sit" and "down."
In the early years of puppyhood it is important to continue to introduce your German Shepherds to new locations, people and sounds. This is especially important prior to when they reach 16 weeks old, as they go through an important phase of brain development during this period. If your German Shepherd is a protected puppy until that point they'll likely face new experiences to be more difficult as an adult and be more susceptible 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 mental as well as physical exercise to remain calm and content. They are herders by nature and have a strong urge to work and satisfy their owners and if they don't have enough work to do, they could become bored or destructive. Regular exercise tones muscles and reduces "cabin-fever." It also improves circulation, helps in weight loss, and decreases "cabin-fever." It's also a great method to build a bond with your German shepherd!