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How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
You're making a significant commitment when you purchase the German Shepherd pup. You'll be responsible for a long time for the training and health of your dog.
Pet stores and online resources typically sell puppies from puppy mills that place profits over the welfare of the animal. Pick a reputable breeder.
Choosing a Reputable Breeder
It is important to know your breeder before you purchase a German Shepherd puppy. deutscher schäferhund pflege will be willing to provide information about their dogs and their practices with you. They will be happy to discuss genetic and health testing early socialization, as well as the environment that their puppies are raised.
Your local German Shepherd club or group is the best place to begin. The breed clubs typically have a secretary, or puppy officer, who can direct you to reputable breeders. You can also contact your state's animal control agency to get an updated list of licensed breeders.
Take the time to meet a breeder in person once you've found one that meets your breed standards. Find a clean and tidy facility in which the mother and her puppies are comfortably confined. Ask about the puppy's parents and siblings. You need proof that they've been examined for hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia, eye problems, heart disease, and Degenerative Myelopathy.
A responsible breeder will also be in a position to provide you with copies of your puppy's medical record and the most current schedule of shots. They should have a great working relationship with a vet that can perform all necessary tests and vaccines. They will be able to give you the name of the veterinarian as well as the number of his phone and give you consultation notes.
It's also a good idea to ask the breeder if they have any concerns about your lifestyle or living circumstances that would prevent them from offering you a puppy. For instance, if they know you have children, they may be hesitant to sell you a puppy since German Shepherds can be aggressive with children.
You should also expect a reputable breeder to require you to sign an agreement for the purchase of your German Shepherd puppy. The contract should contain the names of the parents and their AKC registration numbers, as in addition to a return-to breeder clause. This is a crucial way for a responsible breeder to keep track of their dogs and ensure they are going to suitable homes.
Health Tests
Reputable breeders conduct health checks on the dogs that form part of their breeding collection. This is to ensure that they don't produce puppies with an inherited disease. These tests include elbow and hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, and GDV (also called bloat).
In addition to health screening breeders who are trustworthy acquire a personal understanding of the temperaments and health of each dog they have. They are also able to freely and openly give this information to other breeders as well as prospective buyers.
The Kennel Club's Assured Breeder Scheme requires members to carry out certain tests on their dogs. Breed clubs for German Shepherds also suggest that breeders take additional tests.
These tests are designed to detect genetic diseases that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. These tests also allow breeders make better choices when mating which will reduce the incidences of hereditary illnesses in the next generations.
Typical genetic tests include:
Hip Dysplasia
German Shepherds are susceptible to hip and elbow dysplasia, especially in the front limbs. These degenerative joint diseases cause pain and discomfort but can be managed by weight control, activity restrictions as well as supplements and medications. X-rays are taken under conscious sedation to obtain accurate results and then submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
The OFA test looks for the presence of hemivertebras, butterfly vertebras, block vertebra, lumbar-sacral transformational vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis and spina bifida. This test is not foolproof and does not predict whether a dog's condition is degenerative myelopathy.
Socialization
GSDs require intense physical exercise, training, and mental stimulation to stay active. They can get bored easily and a lack of exercise can lead to destructive behavior like excessive digging or eating shoes. These behaviors are usually due to unmet emotional requirements. Early socialization is important for German Shepherd pups. Proper socialization helps the pup gain confidence around new people and situations. It also reduces the likelihood that the puppy will develop scared or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.
Puppy socialization begins with mother and her littermates as they play and interact. This teaches the puppies appropriate social signals and how to deal with their boisterous and sometimes rough siblings. The puppies are also exposed to a wide range of sights, smells and sounds. The puppies are taught to behave in a group. This is vital to their success as adults.
The puppy should be introduced to various household sounds such as doorbells, vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances. The puppy should be exposed sounds outside, such as traffic, sirens and construction. This is crucial to ensure that the puppy does not become scared or anxious of these sounds as an adult. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at a comfortable rate and positive reinforcement is used throughout the process.
It is also crucial for the puppy to meet many different people over this period, along with other pets. This can reduce separation anxiety when the owner is away. A good example of this is when the dog is taken to puppy classes, dog parks or play dates with other dogs.
The puppy should only be allowed to interact in a controlled, secure manner with other dogs. At first, the interaction should be restricted so that the dog does not feel overwhelmed. The puppy should also be able to be around calmer, older and more doggies who are friendly. This will allow the puppy realize that not all larger, older dogs are dangerous and will aid in developing a positive temperament.
Training
German Shepherds require regular, strict obedience training. It is important to get them into classes early, especially when they are still puppy dogs. This will allow them to grow into confident, well-mannered dogs. This is also a good time to get them familiar with the basics of commands such as sit down, down, stay and come. The earlier a dog can learn these basic behaviors, the easier it is for them to follow your directions as they age.
Territorial aggression can be a problem in many families with German Shepherds. They may be extremely cautious of their homes and property which could lead to them barking at people or animals who enter their territory. Proper training, exercise and socialization can prevent territorial behavior.
Other behavioral issues can be prevented by obedience training in German Shepherds. If a dog doesn't have proper obedience training can become a nuisance and even a danger to their family members and neighbors. They can easily be distracted by other animals, toys or children and ignore basic commands like "sit" or "down."
During their puppy years, it's important to continue to socialize 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 an important phase of brain development during this period. If your German shepherd is a sheltered puppy prior to this it is likely to be much more difficult for them to grasp new things as an adult. They may also be more prone to fear-based aggression or anxiety.
Many dog owners don't realize that a German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise to be calm and happy. They are herders by nature and have a strong drive to do their best and please their humans, so if they don't have enough work to do, they may 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 as well!