17 Reasons Why You Shouldn t Be Ignoring German Shepherd Buy Puppy
How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
When you purchase a German Shepherd puppy, you're making a huge commitment. You'll be responsible for many years for the health and training of your dog.
Pet stores and online resources typically sell puppies from puppy mills who place profit over animal well-being. Select a reputable breeding facility instead.
How to Select a Reputable Breeder
Before purchasing a German Shepherd pup, it's important to get to know the breeder. Breeders who are responsible will be happy to share information about their dogs and breeding practices. They will be willing to discuss health and genetic testing, early socialization, and the environment in which their puppies are being raised.
The best place to start is with your local German Shepherd club or group. The majority of breed associations have an officer for puppy or secretary who can direct you to reliable breeders in your area. Alternatively, you can contact your state animal control agency to get a list of licensed breeders.
Once you've identified a breeder who has good breeding standards, take the time to meet them in person. Find a clean facility in which the mother and her puppies are safe. Find out about the puppy's parents and SchäFerhundwelpen siblings; you would like to verify that they have been checked for hereditary disorders such as hip dysplasia eye problems, heart disease, and Degenerative Myelopathy.
A responsible breeder should be capable of providing you with a copy of your puppy's medical records and the most current schedule of shots. They should have a solid working relationship with a vet that can conduct all the necessary tests and vaccines. They should be able to tell you the name of the vet, his telephone number, and will provide you with records of your consultation.
It's also an excellent idea to inquire with the breeder if they have any concerns about your lifestyle or living conditions that might hinder them from selling you puppies. If they know that you have children they might not want to sell you an German Shepherd puppy because they are known to be aggressive with children.
A reputable breeder will also require that you sign a contract when you purchase your German Shepherd puppy. The contract should contain the names of the parents as well as their AKC registration numbers as well as a return-to-breeder clause. This is an important way for a responsible breeder to monitor their dogs and ensure they are going to good homes.
Health Tests for Health
Breeders who are trustworthy will check the health of the dogs they plan to breed as breeding stock. This is to ensure that they don't produce pups with inherited disease. These tests include hip and elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, and GDV (also called Bloat).
In addition to health screenings, reputable breeders strive to gain personal knowledge of the temperaments and health of each dog they have. They also freely and fully share this information with other breeders and 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 recommend that breeders perform additional tests.
These tests are designed to identify genetic diseases that affect all German Shepherd Dogs. They also permit breeders to make better informed choices about mating, which will reduce the incidence of hereditary disease in the coming generations.
Typical genetic tests include
Hip Dysplasia
German Shepherds are prone to elbow and hip dysplasia especially in the front limbs. These joint conditions that cause degeneration cause discomfort and pain, but they can be treated with exercise restrictions, weight control and supplements as well as medications. X-rays are taken under sedation, to get accurate results and then submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for schäFerhund Kaufen welpe Animals (OFA).
The OFA test is designed to detect the presence of hemivertebras, butterfly vertebras, block vertebra, lumbar sacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis and spina bifida. This test isn't foolproof and does not predict whether a dog's spinal condition is degenerative myelopathy.
Socialization
GSDs require a lot of physical exercise, training, and mental stimulation to keep engaged. They can get bored easily and inactivity may lead to destructive behaviors such as eating excessively or digging shoes. These behaviors are often due to unmet emotional needs. Socialization early is essential for German Shepherd pups. Proper socialization helps the puppy to build confidence with new people and different environments. It also decreases the chance that the puppy will be scared or aggressive in new situations.
The mother and her littermates play together and play with each other. This teaches them to get along with their rough and boisterous siblings. The pups are also exposed to a variety of kinds of sounds, sights and smells. 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, like vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances, and doorbells. The puppy should be exposed to different sounds outside, like sirens, traffic, and construction. This is crucial to ensure that the puppy doesn't become fearful or anxious of these stimuli. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a relaxed pace and positive reinforcements will be used throughout the process.
It is also important for the puppy to meet numerous people during this period, along with other pets. This can reduce separation anxiety when the owner is away. One good example is when the dog is taken to puppy classes, dog parks or play dates with other dogs.
The puppy should be allowed to interact with other dogs in a secure, controlled manner and the interaction should be limited at first so that the puppy doesn't become overwhelmed. The puppy should also be allowed to interact with calmer, older and gentle dogs. This will help the puppy understand that not all older, larger dogs are fearsome and helps them develop an appropriate temperament.
Training
German Shepherds require constant, consistent obedience training. It is essential to get them into a class as soon as possible particularly when they are still young. This will help them become confident, well-mannered dogs. This is also a great moment to familiarize them with the basic commands like sit down, stay, and come. The earlier a dog learns these basic commands the more simple it is for them to follow your directions as they age.
Territorial aggression is a problem for 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 that enter their territory. Territorial behavior can be slowed through the proper training, exercise and socialization.
Training in obedience can aid in preventing other issues with behavior in German Shepherds. Dogs who aren't properly trained may be a nuisance to their neighbors and family members. They can be easily distracted by other pets, toys, schäFerhunde kaufen or children. They might not pay attention to basic commands like "sit" and "down."
During their puppy years it is essential to socialize your German Shepherds with new people places, sights, and schäferhund Beschützerinstinkt sounds. This is particularly important when the puppy is 16 weeks old, when their brains are undergoing an important stage of development. If your German Shepherd is a protected puppy until that point, they will likely find new experiences more difficult as an adult and be more prone to fear-based aggression and anxiety.
Many dog owners don't realize that the German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise in order to be content and peaceful. They are herders by nature and have a strong drive to work and delight their owners If they don't have enough things to do, they could become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise strengthens muscles and decreases "cabin-fever." It also improves circulation, helps in weight loss and helps reduce "cabin-fever." It's also a great method to build a bond with your German shepherd!