How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
You're taking a huge risk when you purchase the German Shepherd pup. You'll be accountable for the health, training, and mental stability of your dog over many years.
Pet stores and online sources generally sell puppies from puppy mills that place profit over animal well-being. Choose a reputable breeding center instead.
Selecting a Breeder who is reputable
Before you buy a German Shepherd pup, it's crucial to know the breeder. Breeders who are responsible will be delighted to give you details about their dogs and breeding practices. Breeders are happy to provide information about their dogs and practices with you.
The best place to start is to contact your local German Shepherd club or group. The majority of breed clubs have an officer or secretary who can point you in the right direction for credible breeders in your region. You can also contact the animal control agency in your state to obtain the list of breeders.
Take the time to meet a breeder in person once you've found one who meets your standards for breeding. Find a clean and tidy facility in which the mother and her puppies are safe. Find out about the puppy's parents and siblings. You want to see proof that they've been examined for hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia, eye issues, heart disease and Degenerative Myelopathy.
A responsible breeder will be able to provide you with a copy of your puppy's medical records and an up-to-date shot schedule. They should have a good working relationship with a vet that can conduct all the required tests and vaccines. They should be able to give you the name of the veterinarian and his phone number and provide you with consultation records.
It's also a good idea to ask the breeder whether they have any concerns regarding your lifestyle or living circumstances that might prevent them from selling you puppies. If they know that you have children and they are concerned about your children's safety, they might not wish to offer you a German Shepherd puppy because they are known to be aggressive with children.
A reputable breeder may require that you sign a contract when you purchase your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include the names of the parents as well as their AKC registration numbers as well as a return-to-breeder clause. This is an excellent method for responsible breeders to track their dogs and make sure they have a good home.
Health Tests for Health
Reputable breeders conduct health checks on the dogs that will be part of their breeding stock. This is to ensure that they don't create puppies with an inherited disease. These tests include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy GDV and bloat.
Breeders who are trusted are determined to understand the temperaments and health conditions of every dog they have. They also are able to freely and completely communicate this information to other breeders and potential buyers.
The Kennel Club's Assured Breeder Scheme requires members to conduct certain tests on their dogs. Breed clubs for German Shepherds also suggest that breeders perform additional tests.
These tests are designed to detect 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 future.
Common genetic tests include:
Hip Dysplasia
German Shepherds are at risk of hip and elbow dysplasia, particularly in the front limbs. These joint conditions that are degenerative cause discomfort and pain, but can be controlled with weight control, activity restrictions as well as supplements and medications. X-rays are taken under sedation, to get accurate results and then submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
The OFA test is a check for hemivertebrae, butterfly vertebrae, block vertebrae as well as lumbar-sacral verbrae (LSTV) as well as spondylosis and spina bifida. This test is not foolproof and does not predict the likelihood that a dog's spinal problem is degenerative myelopathy.
Socialization
GSDs require a lot of physical exercise, training, and mental stimulation to keep engaged. They are prone to becoming bored and inactivity can lead to destructive behavior such as excessive digging or eating shoes. Often, these behaviors are a result of not being able to satisfy their emotional requirements. This is why early socialization is so crucial for German Shepherd puppies. Proper socialization can help the puppy build confidence around 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 them learn to be around their rough and boisterous siblings. The pups are also exposed to a variety kinds of sounds, sights and smells. The puppies learn to behave appropriately in a group, which is essential to their success as dogs who mature.
Introduce the puppy to different household sounds, like vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances and doorbells. The puppy should be exposed to different sounds outside, including traffic, sirens and construction. sneak a peek at these guys is essential so that the puppy will not become anxious or fearful of these situations as an adult. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a relaxed pace and positive reinforcements will be used throughout the process.
During this time, it is also important that the puppy gets to meet many different animals and people. This will help prevent separation anxiety when the owner is away. A good example of this is when a dog is taken to puppy classes or dog parks, or even play dates with other dogs.
The puppy should be allowed to interact with other dogs in a secure well-controlled manner. The interaction should be restricted initially so that the puppy doesn't become overwhelmed. The puppy should also be able to interact with older, calmer and more doggies who are friendly. This will help your puppy understand that bigger, older dogs don't have to be frightening. It can also aid in developing a good attitude.
Training
German Shepherds require strict, consistent obedience training. It is crucial to enroll them in an obedience class as soon as you can, especially while they are still young. This will allow them to grow into well-mannered, confident dogs. This is also a great time to get them familiar with the basic commands like sit down, stay, and come. The earlier you teach your dog these basic behaviors and commands, they'll be more likely to obey your instructions as they grow older.
Territorial aggression can be an issue in many families with German Shepherds. They may be overly protective of their home and property, which can lead to screaming or groaning at other people or animals that enter their area of. Territorial behavior can be prevented by the proper training, exercise and socialization.
Other behavioral issues can be prevented through obedience training in German Shepherds. Dogs that don't have proper obedience training can become a nuisance and even a danger to their family members and neighbors. They are easily distracted by other pets, toys, or children. They may not be able to follow simple commands such as "sit" and "down."
In the early years of their puppyhood 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 because they are in a critical period of brain development during this time. If your German Shepherd is a protected puppy they'll likely face new experiences much more challenging as they grow older and become more susceptible to fear-based aggression and anxiety.
Many dog owners do not realize that the German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise to be happy and calm. 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 can become bored or destructive. Regular exercise helps tone muscles, decreases "cabin fever," improves circulation and aids in weight loss. It's a great way to connect with your German Shepherd also!