How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
You're making a big commitment when you purchase the German Shepherd pup. You'll be responsible for many years for the health and education of your dog.
Pet stores and online resources generally sell puppies from puppy mills that place profits over animal welfare. Choose a reputable breeding facility instead.
How to Choose a Reputable Breeder
Before you purchase a German Shepherd pup, it's essential to get acquainted with the breeder. Responsible breeders will be happy to discuss their dogs and practices with you. Breeders will be delighted to provide information about their dogs and practices with you.
Your local German Shepherd organization or club is the best place to start. The breed clubs typically have a secretary or puppy officer who can point you to reputable breeders. You can also contact the animal control agency in your state to find an updated list of licensed breeders.
If you've found a breeder that meets breeding standards, take the time to meet them in person. You should look for a clean, comfortable facility in which the puppies and their mother are confined. It is important to inquire about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You want to know if they have been screened for hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia and eye problems.
A responsible breeder should also be able to supply you with a copy of your puppy's medical records and an up-to-date vaccination schedule. They should have a solid working relationship with a vet who is able to perform all necessary tests and vaccinations. They will be able to give you the name of the veterinarian and phone number, and also provide you with consultation notes.
Ask the breeder about any concerns they have about your lifestyle or living circumstances. This may prevent them from bringing the puppy to you. If they know that you have children they might not want to offer you an German Shepherd puppy because they can be aggressive towards children.
A reputable breeder may require that you sign a contract when you purchase your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include details about the parents, their AKC registration number as well as a clause allowing them to return the puppy to the breeder. This is a great method breeders who are responsible to monitor their dogs and ensure they go to good homes.
Health Tests
Breeders who are reputable conduct health tests on the dogs that will form part of their breeding collection. This is to ensure that they don't create puppies that have an inherited condition. These tests include elbow and hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, and GDV (also known as bloat).
Breeders who are reputable strive to know the temperaments and health conditions of each dog they own. They also share this information fully and freely with other breeders as well as prospective buyers.
The Kennel Club's Assured Breeder Scheme requires members to carry out certain tests on their dogs. The breed clubs for German shepherds also suggest that breeders carry out additional tests.
schäferhund welpen kaufen schweiz are designed to identify genetic diseases that affect all German Shepherd Dogs. They also help breeders 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 susceptible to elbow and hip dysplasia particularly in the front limbs. schäferhund welpen österreich kaufen that cause degeneration cause pain and discomfort but can be controlled with weight control, activity restrictions, supplements, and drugs. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays with sedation to ensure that the results are accurate.
The OFA test checks for the presence of hemivertebrae as well as butterfly vertebrae. block vertebrae, lumbar-sacral vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis, and spina bifida. The test is not 100% reliable and cannot tell whether a dog's condition will be degenerative myelopathy.
Socialization
GSDs require a lot of physical activity along with training and mental stimulation to keep them occupied. They can get bored easily and inactivity could lead to destructive behaviors like excessive digging or eating shoes. The majority of these behaviors stem from insufficient emotional requirements. This is why early socialization is important for German Shepherd puppies. Proper socialization can help the puppy develop confidence with new people and situations. It also reduces the likelihood that the puppy will be scared or aggressive when in unfamiliar situations.
The mother and her littermates play together and interact with one another. This teaches them to interact with their noisy and sometimes rough siblings. They are also exposed to a variety of smells, sights, and sounds. The puppies are taught to behave in groups. This is vital to their success as adults.
The puppy should be exposed to a variety of household noises such as doorbells, vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances. The puppy should be exposed sounds outside, like traffic, sirens and construction. This is important to ensure that the puppy does not become scared or anxious about these types of stimuli. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a comfortable pace and positive reinforcement will be used throughout the process.
During this time, it's also important that the puppy gets to meet many different pets and people. This will help reduce separation anxiety 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 first, the interactions should be restricted 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 do not have to be frightening. It will also aid in developing an attitude of confidence.
Training
German Shepherds require consistent, firm obedience training. It is important to start an early training class especially when they're still puppies. This will allow them to grow into well-mannered, confident dogs. It's also a good opportunity to teach them basic commands like sit down, stay and sit. The earlier a dog is taught these basic behaviors, the more easy it will be for them to follow your instructions as they get older.
Territorial aggression is 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 any animal or person who enters their territory. Territorial behavior can be prevented through proper training, exercise, and socialization.
schäferhunde suchen ein zuhause can be avoided through obedience training in German Shepherds. If a dog doesn't possess the proper obedience training can be a nuisance, or even a threat to their family members and neighbours. They can easily be distracted by other animals, toys or children and disregard basic commands like "sit" or "down."
During the puppy years it is important to continue to introduce your German Shepherds to new people, places, and sounds. This is especially important when they are 16 weeks old, as they go through a critical period of brain development during this time. If your German Shepherd is a quiet pup until then they'll likely encounter new experiences to be more difficult as they grow older and become more susceptible to anxiety and fear-based aggression.
One thing that many pet owners don't know is that a German Shepherd needs lots of physical and mental exercise to stay calm and content. They are herding dogs by nature and have a strong desire to satisfy their owners, so if they don't have enough to do, they may become bored or destructive. Regular exercise helps tone muscles, reduces "cabin fever," improves circulation and helps with weight loss. It's the perfect way to be a part of your German Shepherd as well!