The 10 Most Terrifying Things About German Shepherd Buy Puppy
How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
When you buy a German Shepherd puppy, you're making a big commitment. You will be responsible for many years for the training and health of your dog.
Pet stores and online sources sell puppies that are usually from puppy mills that place profit ahead of the health of animals. Choose schäferhundwelpen breeding facility instead.
How to Select a Breeder with a Good Reputation
Before you buy 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 as well as breeding practices. Breeders will be delighted to give you information about their dogs and practices with you.
The best place to begin is to talk to your local German Shepherd club or other organization. Breed clubs usually have a secretary, or puppy officer who can point you to breeders who are reputable. You can also contact your state's animal control agency to find a list of licensed breeders.
Once you've identified a breeder with good breeding standards, make sure you 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. You should inquire about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You should find out if they've been screened for hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia and eye issues.
A responsible breeder should be able to provide you with a copy of your puppy's medical record and an up-to-date shot schedule. They should have a good working relationship with a vet that can conduct all the required tests and vaccines. They will be able to provide you with the name of the doctor and telephone number and give you consultation notes.
Ask the breeder about any concerns they might have about your lifestyle or living circumstances. This could stop them from bringing a puppy to you. If they know that you have young kids they might not want to offer you an German Shepherd puppy because they can be aggressive towards 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 details about the parents as well as their AKC registration number, and the clause that allows them to return the puppy to the breeder. This is an excellent way for responsible breeders to track their dogs and ensure they are placed in good homes.
Health Tests for Health
Reputable breeders conduct health checks on the dogs that form part of their breeding selection. This is to ensure that they don't breed puppies with an inherited disease. These tests include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia as well as degenerative myelopathy GDV and Bloat.
Breeders who are trustworthy are determined to understand the temperaments and health status of every dog they have. They also share this information completely and openly with other breeders and potential buyers.
The Kennel Club's Assured Breeder Scheme requires members to perform certain tests on their dogs. Breed clubs for German Shepherds also recommend that breeders take additional tests.
These tests are designed to identify genetic diseases that affect all German Shepherd Dogs. These tests also help breeders make better decisions about mating that will reduce the incidences of hereditary diseases in the future generations.
Common genetic tests include
Hip Dysplasia
The elbow dysplasia and the hip are common issues in German Shepherds, with the latter suffering from the condition in their front limbs. These joint diseases cause discomfort and pain, but can be managed through exercise restrictions, weight control, supplements and drugs. X-rays are taken under conscious sedation to obtain accurate results and then submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
The OFA test focuses on the presence of hemivertebra, butterfly vertebra block vertebra, lumbar sacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis and spina bifida. This test isn't 100% reliable and cannot tell the likelihood that a dog's spinal problem will be degenerative myelopathy.
Socialization
GSDs need rigorous physical exercise, training, and mental stimulation to stay engaged. They are easily bored and their lack of activity can result in destructive behavior like excessive digging or chewing on shoes. These behaviors are usually the result of unmet emotional needs. This is why early socialization is vital for German Shepherd puppies. Proper socialization can help the puppy gain confidence around new people and situations. It also reduces the likelihood that the puppy will be fearful or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.
Puppy socialization begins with mother and her littermates as they play and interact. This teaches puppies appropriate social cues and how to deal with their boisterous and sometimes rough, siblings. The puppies are also exposed to a variety of smells, sights, and sounds. The puppies are taught how to behave in groups. This is crucial to their success as adults.
Introduce the puppy to a variety of household sounds, including vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances, and doorbells. The puppy should be exposed to different sounds outside, including traffic, sirens and construction. This is crucial to ensure that the puppy doesn't become fearful or anxious of these stimuli. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at an ease pace and positive reinforcement will be utilized throughout the process.
During this time, it's crucial that the puppy interacts with different pets and people. This can help reduce separation anxiety when the owner is away. An excellent example is when a dog is taken to puppy classes and dog parks or play dates with other dogs.
The puppy should be allowed to interact with other dogs in a safe, controlled manner and the interaction should be limited initially to ensure that the puppy does not become overwhelmed. The puppy should also be allowed to be around calmer, older, gentle dogs. This will help your puppy understand that bigger, older dogs don't have to be frightening. It can also aid in developing an excellent attitude.
Training
German Shepherds require constant, consistent obedience training. It is important to get them into an early training class especially when they're still puppies. This will allow them to become confident, well-mannered dogs. It is also a great time to familiarize them with basic commands, such as sit, down and stay. The earlier you begin teaching your dog these basic commands and commands, they'll be more likely to follow your instructions as they get older.
Territorial aggression can be a problem in many families with German Shepherds. They may be extremely cautious of their home and property which could lead to their barking at strangers or animals who enter their territory. Training, exercise and socialization can help to prevent territorial behavior.
Obedience training will also help to prevent other behavioral problems in German Shepherds. Dogs that are not properly trained may be a nuisance to their neighbors and family members. They are easily distracted by other pets toys or children, and ignore basic commands such as "sit" or "down."
During the puppy years, you should continue to socialize your German Shepherds to new people, places 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 sheltered puppy they'll likely face new experiences much more challenging as an adult and be more prone to anxiety and fear-based aggression.
One thing that many pet owners don't know is that a German Shepherd needs lots of physical as well as mental exercise to stay calm and happy. German Shepherds are herding breeds by nature, and are driven to please their owners and work. If they don't get enough exercise they can become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise tones muscles and reduces "cabin-fever." It helps improve circulation, assists with weight loss, and decreases "cabin-fever." It's a great way to be a part of your German Shepherd, too!
