How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
When you purchase a German Shepherd puppy, you're taking on a massive commitment. You'll be responsible for the health, training, and mental stability of your dog for many years.
Pet stores and online resources generally sell puppies from puppy mills who place profits over the welfare of the animal. Select a reputable breeder instead.
Selecting a Breeder with a Good Reputation
It's essential to get acquainted with your breeder prior to you purchase a German Shepherd puppy. Responsible breeders will be happy to share information about their dogs and the ways they treat you. They'll be willing to discuss health and genetic testing early socialization, as well as the environment in which their puppies are raised.
Your local German Shepherd organization or club is the best place to start. The majority of breed clubs have a secretary or puppy officer who can point you to reliable breeders in your area. You can also contact your state animal control agency to get the list of breeders who are licensed.
Make the effort to meet a breeder in person once you've found one that meets your breeding standards. You should seek out a clean, comfortable facility where the puppies and their mother are kept. Ask about the puppy's parents and siblings. You need proof that they've been checked for hereditary disorders such as hip dysplasia eye problems, heart disease, and Degenerative Myelopathy.
A responsible breeder should also be able to supply 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 that can perform all required tests and vaccines. They should be able to provide you with the name of the doctor as well as the number of his phone and provide you with consultation notes.
Ask the breeder about any concerns they might have about your lifestyle or living circumstances. This may hinder the breeder from selling a puppy to you. If they are aware that you have young kids they might not want to offer you a German Shepherd puppy because they are known to be aggressive with children.
You should also expect an established breeder to ask you to sign a contract to purchase your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include details about the parents and their AKC registration number as well as a clause allowing them to return the puppy to the breeder. This is an important way for responsible breeders to monitor their dogs and ensure that they are going to good homes.
Health Tests
Reputable breeders conduct health checks on the dogs that will be part of their breeding collection. This is to ensure that they don't produce puppies with an inherited disease. These tests include hip and elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, and GDV (also known as bloat).
Breeders who are trustworthy strive to know the temperaments and health issues of each dog they own. They also share this information in full 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. Breed clubs for German Shepherds also suggest that breeders perform additional tests.
These tests check for genetic diseases that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. These tests also allow breeders make better mating decisions that will decrease the likelihood of hereditary illnesses in the next generations.
Typical genetic tests include:
Hip Dysplasia
German Shepherds are susceptible to elbow and hip dysplasia, especially in the front limbs. These degenerative joint diseases cause discomfort and pain, but can be managed by weight control, activity limitations as well as supplements and medications. X-rays are taken with anesthesia to ensure accurate results and then submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
The OFA test checks for the presence of hemivertebrae as well as butterfly vertebrae. block vertebrae, lumbar-sacral vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis, and spina bifida. This test is not impervious and cannot predict the likelihood that a dog's spinal problem will be degenerative myelopathy.
Socialization
GSDs require a lot of physical exercise, training, and mental stimulation to keep active. They are prone to becoming bored and inactivity could lead to destructive behaviors such as excessive digging or eating shoes. The majority of these behaviors are a result of unmet emotional needs. Socialization early is essential for German Shepherd pups. Proper socialization helps the puppy to gain confidence in new people and environments. It also reduces the likelihood that the puppy will be scared or aggressive when in unfamiliar situations.
Puppy socialization begins with mother and her littermates as they play and interact. This teaches them to interact with their noisy and sometimes rough siblings. The pups are also exposed to a variety of kinds of sounds, sights and smells. The puppies are taught how to behave in groups. This is vital to their success as adults.
Introduce please click the following internet page to a variety of household sounds, such as vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances and doorbells. The puppy should be exposed to a variety of sounds outside, including traffic, sirens, and construction. This is crucial to ensure that the puppy does not become anxious or fearful of these situations when they become adults. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a relaxed pace and positive reinforcements will be utilized throughout the process.
During this time, it is essential that the puppy interacts with different pets and people. This will help prevent separation anxiety while the owner is away. This can be accomplished by taking the dog to puppy classes, dog parks, or play dates with other doggies.
The puppy should be able to interact with other dogs in a safe, controlled manner and the interaction should be restricted initially to ensure that the puppy does not become overwhelmed. The puppy should be allowed to interact with older, more friendly and calm dogs. This will allow the puppy to realize that not all larger, older dogs are dangerous and will help them to develop an appropriate temperament.
Training
German Shepherds require firm regular obedience training. It is important to enroll them in an obedience class early enough, especially while they are still young. This will help them become confident and well-mannered dogs. It is also a good time to get them familiar with the basic commands like sit, down, stay and come. The earlier you begin teaching your dog these basic skills and commands, they'll be more likely to follow your commands as they grow older.
Territorial aggression can be an issue in many families with German Shepherds. They may be overly guarded of their home and property which could lead to them barking at other people or animals who enter their territory. Proper training, exercise and socialization can reduce territorial behavior.
Other issues with behavior can be avoided through obedience training for German Shepherds. A dog that doesn't have proper obedience training can be a nuisance, or even a threat to their family members and their neighbors. They can be easily distracted by other pets, toys or children. They may ignore basic commands like "sit" and "down."
During their puppy years it is essential 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 period. If your German shepherd is a quiet puppy it is likely to be more difficult for them to master new things when they become adults. They could also be more prone to anxiety-based aggression or fear.
One thing that a lot of pet owners don't know is that a German Shepherd needs lots of physical as well as mental exercise to stay calm and content. They are herding dogs by nature and have a strong desire to work and please their humans, so if they don't have enough things to do, they could become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise can tone muscles, reduces "cabin fever," improves circulation and helps with weight loss. It's an excellent way to bond with your German Shepherd, too!