How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

If 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 for a number of years.

Pet stores and online sources offer puppies that are typically from puppy mills, which place profit ahead of the health of animals. Pick a reputable breeder.

Choosing a Reputable Breeder

It is important to know your breeder before you buy a German Shepherd puppy. Breeders who are responsible will be happy to give you information about their dogs and breeding practices. They will be happy to discuss genetic and health testing as well as early socialization and the environment that their puppies are fostered.

The best place to begin is to talk to your local German Shepherd club or group. The majority of breed clubs have an officer for deutsche schäferhunde schäferhund welpen österreich kaufen schäferhundwelpen kaufen öSterreich - 121.36.0.167, puppy or secretary who can direct you to credible breeders in your region. You can also contact your state's animal control agency to obtain a list of licensed breeding companies.

Make the effort to meet with a breeder in person once you've located one who meets your breeding standards. You should look for an environment that is clean and comfortable in which the puppy and the mother dog are confined. Find out about the puppy's parents and siblings. You would like to verify that they were checked for hereditary disorders like hip dysplasia, eye problems, heart disease, and Degenerative Myelopathy.

A responsible breeder should be able provide you with a copy of your puppy's medical records and a current vaccination schedule. They should have a solid working relationship with a vet that can conduct all the required tests and vaccines. They should be able tell you the vet's name as well as the number of his phone and give you a consultation note.

Ask the breeder about any concerns they might have about your lifestyle and living circumstances. This might hinder them from bringing the puppy to you. For instance If they know that you have young children, they may be reluctant to sell you a puppy since German Shepherds are known to be aggressive with children.

A reputable breeder will require that you sign a contract when purchasing your German Shepherd puppy. The contract should contain 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 ensure they have a good home.

Health Tests

Breeders with a good reputation will examine the health of the dogs they intend to use as breeding stock. This is to ensure that they don't create puppies that have an inherited condition. These tests include hip dysplasia as well as elbow dysplasia, as well as degenerative myelopathy GDV and Bloat.

Breeders who are trusted strive to know the temperaments and health status of each dog they own. They also are able to freely and completely give this information to other breeders and potential buyers.

The Kennel Club's Assured Breeder Scheme requires members to conduct certain tests on their dogs. The breed clubs for German shepherds also recommend that breeders carry out additional tests.

These tests check for genetic disorders that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. They also permit breeders to make better informed choices about mating which will decrease the chance of developing hereditary diseases in the future.

Typical genetic tests include:

Hip Dysplasia

German Shepherds are at risk of elbow and hip dysplasia especially in the front limbs. These joint conditions that cause degeneration cause discomfort and pain but can be managed through exercise restrictions, weight control and medications. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays with sedation to ensure accurate results.

The OFA test focuses on the presence of hemivertebras, butterfly vertebras, block vertebra, lumbar-sacral transformational vertebrae (LSTV) as well as spondylosis, hemivertebra and spina bifida. This test isn't 100% reliable and cannot tell whether a dog's condition will be degenerative myelopathy.

Socialization

GSDs require rigorous physical exercise in addition to training and mental stimulation to keep them occupied. They get bored very easily and their inactivity can result in destructive behaviors such as excessive digging or chewing up shoes. These behaviors are often the result of unmet emotional requirements. Socialization at an early age is crucial for German Shepherd pups. Proper socialization allows the pup to build confidence with new people and environments. It also reduces the chances that the puppy will be scared or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.

The mother and her littermates play together and interact with one another. This helps puppies learn appropriate social signals and how to deal with their boisterous, and sometimes rough siblings. The puppies are also exposed to various kinds of sounds, sights and smells. The puppies learn to behave appropriately within a group, which is key to their success as dogs who mature.

Introduce the puppy to different household sounds, like vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances and doorbells. The puppy should also be exposed different outdoor sounds such as sirens, traffic, and construction. This is essential to ensure that the puppy doesn't develop scared or anxious about these types of stimuli. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a comfortable pace, and positive reinforcement should be used throughout the process.

It is also crucial for a puppy to get to know numerous people during this period, along with other pets. This can help prevent anxiety over separation when the owner is away from home. A good example of this 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, secure manner with other dogs. At beginning, interactions should be confined so that the dog isn't overwhelmed. The puppy should be able to interact also with older, more relaxed, calmer dogs. This will help your puppy see that bigger, older dogs don't have to be scary. It will also help them develop an excellent attitude.

Training

german shepherd kaufen Shepherds require consistent, firm obedience training. It is crucial to enroll them in an early training class particularly when they are still puppies. This will allow them to grow into confident, well-mannered dogs. This is also a good moment to familiarize them with the basics of commands such as sit down, stay, and come. The earlier you begin teaching your dog these basic behaviors, they will be more likely to follow your commands as they grow older.

Territorial aggression is a frequent issue for was kostet ein reinrassiger schäferhund kaufen - click for source, a lot of German Shepherd owners. They may be extremely cautious of their homes and property which could lead to them barking at other people or animals that enter their territory. Proper training, exercise and socialization can prevent territorial behavior.

Obedience training will also help prevent other problems with behavior in German Shepherds. Dogs that don't have proper obedience training can become a nuisance or even a threat to their family members and neighbours. They can easily be distracted by other pets or toys, or even children and ignore basic commands such as "sit" or "down."

In the early years of their puppyhood it is essential to socialize your German Shepherds with new people locations, sights, and sounds. This is especially important when they are 16 weeks old since they enter 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 more difficult in adulthood and will be more susceptible to fear-based aggression and anxiety.

Many dog owners don't realize that a German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise in order to be content and peaceful. They are herding dogs by nature and have a strong desire to satisfy their owners If they don't have enough to do, they can become bored or destructive. Regular exercise can tone muscles, reduces "cabin fever," improves circulation and aids in weight loss. It's an excellent way to connect with your German Shepherd, too!