How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
You're taking a huge risk when you purchase the German Shepherd pup. You'll be accountable for a long time for the training and health of your dog.
Pet stores and online retailers generally sell puppies from puppy mills that place profits over animal welfare. Choose a reputable breeding facility instead.
Selecting a Breeder who is reputable
It's essential to be aware of your breeder before you purchase a German Shepherd puppy. Breeders who are responsible will be happy to provide you with details about their dogs and breeding practices. Breeders are happy to give you details about their dogs and practices with you.
Your local German Shepherd organization or club is the best place to start. Most breed clubs have an officer or secretary who can direct you to reliable breeders in your area. You can also contact the animal control department of your state to get the list of breeding companies.
Make the effort to meet a breeder in person after you've found one who is in line with your breed standards. You should seek out an environment that is clean and comfortable in which the puppies and their mother are kept. Find out about the puppy's parents and siblings. You'll need proof that they were examined for hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia, eye problems, heart disease, and Degenerative Myelopathy.
A responsible breeder should also be able to provide you with a copy of your puppy's medical record and a current vaccination schedule. They should have a good working relationship with a vet that can perform all required tests and vaccines. They can tell you the name of the doctor, his telephone number, and provide you with records of your consultation.
Ask the breeder about any concerns they have regarding your lifestyle and living circumstances. This may prevent them from bringing the puppy to you. For instance If they know that you have children, they might be hesitant to offer you a puppy because German Shepherds are known to be aggressive with children.
A reputable breeder may require you to sign a contract prior to purchasing your German Shepherd puppy. The contract should contain details about the parents and their AKC registration number, and a clause allowing them to return the puppy to the breeder. This is a vital way for a responsible breeder to monitor their dogs and ensure that they will be placed in good homes.
Health Tests for Health
Breeders who are reputable conduct health tests on the dogs that will form part of their breeding selection. 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).
Breeders who are trusted seek to be aware of the temperaments and health issues of each dog they own. They also freely and fully communicate this information to 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 recommend that breeders perform additional tests.
These health tests look for genetic diseases that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. These tests also allow breeders make better choices when mating which can reduce the risk of hereditary diseases in future generations.
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Hip Dysplasia
The elbow dysplasia and the hip are common issues in German Shepherds, with the latter suffering from the condition that affects their front legs. These joint conditions that are degenerative cause pain and discomfort, but can be controlled with weight control, activity limitations, supplements, and drugs. X-rays are taken with anesthesia to ensure exact results. Then, they are sent to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
The OFA test checks for the presence of hemivertebrae as well as butterfly vertebrae. block vertebrae as well as lumbar-sacral verbrae (LSTV) as well as spondylosis and spina bifida. This test is not impervious and cannot predict whether a dog's condition is degenerative myelopathy.
Socialization
GSDs require a lot of physical activity in addition to training and mental stimulation to keep them busy. They can easily become bored and their inactivity can result in destructive behavior such as excessive digging or chewing up shoes. Often, these behaviors are a result of insufficient emotional needs. Socialization early is essential for German Shepherd pups. Proper socialization helps the pup develop confidence in new people and situations. It also decreases the chance that the puppy will become scared or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.
The mother and her littermates play and interact with each other. This helps them learn to get along with their noisy and sometimes rough siblings. The pups are also exposed to various sights, sounds and smells. The puppies learn to behave in a group environment, which is key to their success as adult dogs.
The puppy should be exposed to different household sounds like doorbells, vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances. The puppy should be exposed to different sounds outside, like traffic, sirens and construction. This is essential to ensure that the puppy does not become scared or anxious of these situations as an adult. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at a moderate pace and positive reinforcement will be utilized throughout the process.
It is also very important for a puppy to get to know many different people over this period, along with other pets. This will help to prevent anxiety about separation when the owner is away from home. This can be achieved by taking the dog to puppy classes, dog parks, or play dates with other dogs.
The puppy should be allowed to interact with the other dogs in a safe, controlled manner and the interaction should be limited initially to ensure that the puppy doesn't become overwhelmed. The puppy should be able to interact also with older, more relaxed, calmer dogs. This will allow the puppy to realize that not all larger, older dogs are scary and it will aid in developing a good temperament.
Training
German Shepherds require constant, consistent obedience training. It is important to get them into a training class early especially when they're still puppies. This will allow them to grow into well-mannered, confident dogs. It's also a great time to familiarize them with basic commands such as sit, down and stay. The earlier you teach your dog these basic commands, they will be more likely to follow your commands as they grow older.
Territorial aggression is a frequent issue for many German Shepherd owners. They might be extremely protective of their homes and property and this can result in them barking at people or animals who venture into their area. Territorial behavior can be slowed by exercising, training, and socialization.
Obedience training can also help to prevent other issues with behavior in German Shepherds. Dogs that don't have proper obedience training can become a nuisance or even a danger to their family members and neighbors. They can easily be distracted by other animals or toys, or even children and ignore basic commands such as "sit" or "down."
In the early years of puppyhood it is important to continue to introduce your German Shepherds with new people, places, and sounds. This is especially important when they reach 16 weeks old, as they go through an important phase of brain development during this period. If your German Shepherd is a sheltered puppy they'll likely encounter new experiences much more challenging as an adult and be more prone to anxiety-based aggression and fear.
Many dog owners do not realize that the German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise to be calm and happy. German Shepherds are herding breeds by nature, and they have a strong desire to please their owners as well as work. If they don't get enough exercise, they may become bored or destructive. Regular exercise can tone muscles, decreases "cabin fever," improves circulation and helps with weight loss. It's also a great way to strengthen the bond between you and your German shepherd!