How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

You're making a significant commitment when you purchase a German Shepherd pup. You will be responsible for the health, training and mental stability of your dog for many years.

Pet stores and online retailers typically sell puppies from puppy mills that prioritize profit over animal well-being. Choose a reputable breeding facility instead.

Choosing a Reputable Breeder

Before you purchase a German Shepherd pup, it's important to get to know the breeder. Breeders who are responsible will be happy to provide you with details about their dogs and breeding practices. They will be willing to discuss health and genetic testing, early socialization, buy german Shepherd Dog austria and the environment that their puppies are raised.

The best place to begin is with your local German Shepherd club or blaue schäferhunde organization. The majority of breed clubs have an officer or secretary who can point you in the right direction for credible breeders in your region. Alternatively, you can contact your state animal control agency to get the list of breeders who are licensed.

Once you've identified a breeder that meets breeding standards, take the time to meet them in person. You should look for a clean, comfortable facility where the puppy and the mother dog are kept. Find out about the puppy's parents and siblings; you need proof that they have been screened for hereditary diseases such as hip dysplasia, eye problems, heart disease and Degenerative Myelopathy.

A responsible breeder should also be able to provide you with a copy your puppy's medical records and an up-to-date vaccination schedule. They should have a good working relationship with a vet who can perform all necessary tests and vaccines. They can provide the name of the doctor and his contact number and provide you with consultation records.

Ask the breeder about any concerns they have regarding your lifestyle and living circumstances. This might hinder the breeder from selling the puppy to you. For instance when they know that you have young children, they might be hesitant to offer you a puppy since German Shepherds are known to be aggressive with children.

You should also expect an accredited breeder to ask you to sign a contract to purchase your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include the names of the parents and their AKC registration numbers as in addition to a return-to breeder clause. This is a great way for responsible breeders to keep track of their dogs and make sure they are placed in good homes.

Health Tests

Reputable breeders conduct health checks on the dogs that will be part of their breeding stock. This is to make sure that they don't create pups with an inherited disease. These tests include hip and elbow dysplasia, myelopathy degenerative and GDV (also called Bloat).

Breeders who are reputable are determined to understand the temperaments and health conditions of every dog they own. They also are able to freely and completely communicate this information to other breeders as well as potential buyers.

As part of the Kennel Club's Assured breeder scheme, members are required to conduct certain tests with their dogs. Breed clubs for German Shepherds also suggest that breeders perform additional tests.

These health tests look for genetic disorders that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. They also allow breeders to make better informed choices about mating that will lower the incidence of hereditary disease in the coming generations.

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, however, they can be controlled with exercise restrictions, weight control and medications. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays with sedation to ensure the accuracy of the results.

The OFA test looks for hemivertebra, butterfly vertebra, block vertebra, lumbar-sacral transformational vertebrae (LSTV) as well as spondylosis, hemivertebra and spina bifida. This test is not 100% reliable and cannot tell the likelihood that a dog's spinal problem will be degenerative myelopathy.

Socialization

GSDs require a lot of physical activity along with training and mental stimulation to keep them occupied. They can easily become bored and their lack of activity can result in destructive behavior like excessive digging or chewing up shoes. The majority of these behaviors stem from insufficient emotional needs. This is why early socialization is so vital for deutsche schäferhunde kaufen German Shepherd puppies. Proper socialization helps the pup build confidence in new people and situations. It also reduces the risk that the puppy will become fearful or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.

Puppy socialization begins with mother and her littermates as they play and interact. This teaches them how to get along with their boisterous and sometimes rough siblings. The puppies are also exposed to various scents, sounds and sights. The puppies are taught to behave in a group. This is vital to their success as adults.

Introduce the puppy to a variety of household sounds, including vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances and doorbells. The puppy should also be exposed different outdoor sounds such as traffic, sirens and construction. This is essential to ensure that the puppy does not become afraid or anxious of these stimuli. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at an ease rate and positive reinforcement is used throughout the process.

It is also crucial for a puppy to get to know many different people during this time, in addition to other pets. This can help reduce separation anxiety when the owner is away. This can be achieved by taking the dog to puppy classes, dog parks or play dates with other dogs.

The puppy should only be allowed to interact in a safe, controlled manner with other dogs. At first, the interaction should be confined to ensure that the puppy isn't overwhelmed. The puppy should be able to interact also with older, more sociable, calmer dogs. This will help the puppy realize that not all older, Schäferhund Kaufen welpe larger dogs are dangerous and helps them develop a good temperament.

Training

German Shepherds require strict, consistent obedience training. It is crucial to get them into an early training class especially when they're still young. This will help them develop into confident and well-mannered dogs. It's also a good time to familiarize them with basic commands like sit down, stay and sit. The earlier you can teach your dog these basic commands and commands, they'll be more likely to obey your instructions as they age.

Territorial aggression can be an issue in many families with German Shepherds. They may be extremely cautious of their home and property which could lead to them barking at other people or animals who venture into their territory. Territorial behavior is averted by exercising, training, and socialization.

Training in obedience can aid in preventing other issues with behavior in German Shepherds. Dogs that are not properly trained could cause annoyance to their family and friends. They can easily be distracted by other animals, toys or children and ignore basic commands such as "sit" or "down."

During their puppy years, it's important to continue to introduce your German Shepherds with new people places, sights, and sounds. This is especially important when they reach the age of 16 weeks, as they go through a critical period of brain development during this time. If your German Shepherd is a sheltered puppy they'll likely face new experiences more difficult in adulthood and will be 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 stay calm and content. German Shepherds are herding breeds by nature, and have a strong desire to please their owners as well as work. If they don't get enough exercise, they may become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise strengthens muscles and reduces "cabin-fever." It also improves circulation, aids in weight loss and reduces "cabin-fever." It's also a great opportunity to build a bond with your German shepherd!