How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
You're making a significant commitment when you purchase the German Shepherd pup. You'll be accountable, for many years, for the training and health of your dog.
Online sources and pet stores offer puppies that 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
It's essential to be aware of your breeder before you buy a German Shepherd puppy. Responsible breeders are happy to provide information about their dogs and the ways they treat you. They'll be willing to discuss health and genetic testing as well as early socialization and the environment in which their puppies are being raised.
Your local German Shepherd club or group is the best place to begin. The majority of breed associations have a secretary or puppy officer who can point you to credible breeders in your region. You can also contact the animal control agency in your state to find an updated list of licensed breeding companies.
Once you've identified a breeder who has good breeding standards, take the time to meet them in person. You should search for a clean, comfortable facility where the puppies and their mother are confined. Ask about the puppy's fathers and siblings; you would like to verify that they were examined for hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia, eye issues, heart disease and Degenerative Myelopathy.
A responsible breeder should also be able to supply you with a copy of your puppy's medical history and a current vaccination schedule. They should have a solid working relationship with a vet who can conduct all the necessary tests and vaccines. They should be able give you the name of the veterinarian and phone number, and also provide you with consultation notes.
Ask the breeder about any concerns they might have about your lifestyle or living circumstances. This might stop the breeder from selling a puppy to you. For instance If they know that you have young children, they might be hesitant to offer you a puppy since German Shepherds can be aggressive with children.
A reputable breeder will also require that you sign a contract prior to purchasing your German Shepherd puppy. The contract should contain information about the parents and their AKC registration number and an option to return the puppy to the breeder. This is a vital way for a responsible breeder to keep track of their dogs and ensure that they are going to suitable homes.
Health Tests
Breeders with a good reputation will test the health of the dogs they plan to breed. This is to ensure that they don't produce pups that have an inherited illness. These tests include elbow and hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, and GDV (also called bloat).
Breeders who are reputable are determined to understand the temperaments and health issues of every dog they have. They also share this information fully and openly with other breeders as well as prospective buyers.
The Kennel Club's Assured Breeder Scheme requires members to perform certain tests on their dogs. The breed clubs for German shepherds also recommend that breeders take additional tests.
These tests are designed to detect genetic disorders that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. These tests also enable breeders to make better decisions about mating that will reduce the incidences of hereditary diseases in future generations.
The most common genetic tests are
Hip Dysplasia
German Shepherds are at risk of elbow and hip dysplasia particularly in the front limbs. These joint conditions that cause degeneration cause discomfort and pain, but they can be treated with exercise restrictions, weight control and supplements as well as medications. The X-rays are made under sedation, to get accurate results and then submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
The OFA test focuses on hemivertebra, butterfly vertebra, block vertebra, lumbar-sacral transformational vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis and spina bifida. The test is not 100% reliable and cannot tell the likelihood that a dog's spinal problem will be degenerative myelopathy.
Socialization
GSDs require intense physical exercise, training and mental stimulation to keep occupied. They are prone to becoming bored and inactivity can lead to destructive behavior such as excessive digging or eating shoes. The majority of these behaviors are a result of not being able to satisfy their emotional requirements. Early socialization is important for German Shepherd pups. A good socialization program allows the puppy to build confidence around new people and surroundings. It also reduces the risk that the puppy will grow scared or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.
Puppy socialization starts with the mother and her littermates as they play and interact. This teaches the puppies appropriate social signals and how to deal with their boisterous and sometimes rough siblings. It also exposes the pups to a variety of smells, sights, and sounds. The puppies learn to behave in a group, which is essential to their success as dogs who mature.
The puppy should be exposed to different household sounds including vacuum cleaners, doorbells and kitchen appliances. The puppy should also be exposed to various outdoor sounds like traffic, sirens and construction. This is very important 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 relaxed pace and positive reinforcement will be used throughout the process.
It is also crucial that the puppy gets to meet many different people over this time, in addition to other pets. deutscher schäferhund lebenserwartung can help prevent anxiety over separation 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 the other dogs in a safe, controlled manner and the interaction should be limited initially so that the puppy doesn't become overwhelmed. The puppy should be able to interact with older, more friendly, calmer dogs. This will help the puppy to realize that not all larger, older dogs are fearsome and will aid in developing a good temperament.
Training
German Shepherds require firm and consistent obedience training. It is crucial to enroll them in a class as soon as possible, especially while they are still young. This will allow them to grow into well-mannered, confident dogs. This is also a good moment to familiarize them with the basic commands like sit, down, stay and come. The earlier you can teach your dog these basic commands, they will be more likely to follow your commands as they grow older.
Territorial aggression can be an issue in many families with German Shepherds. They might be extremely protective of their property and homes which could lead to them barking at people or animals who venture into their territory. Training, exercise and socialization can help to prevent territorial behavior.
Other behavioral problems can be prevented by obedience training in German Shepherds. Dogs who aren't properly trained may cause trouble for their family and neighbors. They can be easily distracted by other pets, toys or children. They might not pay attention to basic commands such as "sit" and "down."
During their puppy years it is crucial to keep your German Shepherds in contact with new people locations, sights, and sounds. This is especially important prior to when they reach 16 weeks old since they enter an important period of brain development during this time. If your German Shepherd is a protected puppy until that point they'll likely face new experiences more difficult as they grow older and become more prone to anxiety-based aggression and 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 remain calm and happy. German Shepherds are herders by nature, and they have a strong desire to please their owners as well as work. If they don't exercise enough they can become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise can tone muscles, decreases "cabin fever," improves circulation and helps with weight loss. It's a great way to be a part of your German Shepherd, too!