How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
If you purchase a German Shepherd puppy, you're making a huge commitment. You'll be accountable for the health, training and mental stability of your dog over many years.
Pet stores and online sources offer puppies, which are typically from puppy mills, which focus on profit over the welfare of animals. Choose a reputable breeder instead.
Choosing a Reputable Breeder
It's important to know your breeder before you purchase a German Shepherd puppy. Responsible breeders will be willing to share information about their dogs and practices with you. They'll be willing to discuss genetic and health testing early socialization, as well as the environment where their puppies are raised.
The best place to start is to contact your local German Shepherd club or organization. Most breed clubs have an officer for puppy or secretary who can point you to reputable breeders in your area. You can also contact your state animal control agency for an inventory of licensed breeders.
Make the effort to meet a breeder's representative in person once you've located one who is in line with your standards for breeding. You should seek out an environment that is clean and comfortable where the puppies and their mother are kept in a secure. Ask about the puppy's fathers and siblings; you want to see proof that they've been screened for hereditary diseases such as hip dysplasia eye problems, heart disease, and Degenerative Myelopathy.
A responsible breeder will also be capable of providing you with a copy of your puppy's medical records and an up-to-date shot schedule. They should have a solid working relationship with a vet that can conduct all the required tests and vaccines. They can give you the name of the doctor, his telephone number, and will provide you with records of your consultation.
It's also recommended to ask the breeder if they have any concerns regarding your lifestyle or living situation that could stop them from selling you a puppy. For instance when they know that you have young children, they may be hesitant to offer you a puppy due to the fact that German Shepherds can be aggressive with children.
You should also expect an established breeder to ask you to sign an agreement to purchase your German Shepherd puppy. The contract should contain the names of the parents and their AKC registration numbers as well as a return-to-breeder clause. This is a vital way for responsible breeders to keep track of their dogs and ensure they will be placed in good homes.
Health Tests for Health
Reputable breeders undertake health tests on the dogs that will form part of their breeding stock. url is to ensure that they don't produce pups that have an inherited illness. These tests include hip and elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy and GDV (also known as bloat).
In addition to health screenings breeders who are trustworthy acquire a personal understanding of the temperaments and health of every pet they own. They also share this information completely and freely with other breeders and prospective buyers.
As part of the Kennel Club's Assured breeder program members are required to take certain tests with their dogs. Breed clubs for German Shepherds also suggest that breeders take additional tests.
These tests check for genetic diseases that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. They also help breeders make better informed choices about mating, which will reduce the incidence of hereditary disease in the future.
The most common genetic tests are
Hip Dysplasia
German Shepherds are susceptible to elbow and hip dysplasia especially in the front limbs. These degenerative joint diseases cause pain and discomfort but can be managed by weight control, activity limitations as well as supplements and medications. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays while sedating to ensure that the results are accurate.
The OFA test looks for the presence of hemivertebrae as well as butterfly vertebrae. block vertebrae as well as lumbar-sacral verbrae (LSTV) and spondylosis and spina bifida. The test isn't completely foolproof however, and cannot determine if dogs will develop degenerative myelopathy, or other spinal disorders later in life.
Socialization
GSDs require intense physical exercise, training, and mental stimulation to keep engaged. They can easily become bored and their lack of activity can result in destructive behavior such as excessive digging or chewing up shoes. These behaviors are usually the result of unmet emotional requirements. This is why early socialization is important for German Shepherd puppies. A good socialization program helps the puppy gain confidence in new people and situations. It also reduces the likelihood that the puppy will grow anxious or aggressive in new situations.
The mother and her littermates play and interact with one another. 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 variety of smells, sights, and sounds. The puppies learn how to behave appropriately in a group, which is essential to their success as dogs who mature.
Introduce the puppy to different household sounds, such as vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances and doorbells. The puppy should be exposed to different sounds outside, including sirens, traffic and construction. This is important to ensure that the puppy doesn't grow up fearful or anxious of these stimuli. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a calming pace and positive reinforcement will be used throughout the process.
During this period, it is essential that the puppy gets to meet many different pets and people. This can reduce separation anxiety when 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 only be allowed to interact in a controlled, secure way with other dogs. At beginning, interactions should be restricted to ensure that the puppy isn't overwhelmed. The puppy should also be allowed to be around calmer, older and gentle dogs. This will help your puppy understand that bigger, older dogs do not need to be scary. It can also aid in developing an excellent attitude.
Training
German Shepherds require regular, strict obedience training. It is essential to get them into an obedience class as soon as you can and especially when they are still young. This will assist them in developing into confident, well-mannered dogs. This is also a great time to get them familiar with the basics of commands such as sit, down, stay and come. The earlier you begin teaching your dog these basic skills, they will be more likely to follow your commands as they grow older.
Territorial aggression is a typical issue for a lot of German Shepherd owners. They might be incredibly concerned about their home and property, resulting in barking or growling at people or animals that enter their territory. Proper training, exercise and socialization can reduce territorial behavior.
Other behavioral issues can be prevented through obedience training for German Shepherds. Dogs that don't have proper obedience training can become a nuisance or even a threat to their family members and neighbors. They are easily distracted by other animals toys or children, and disregard basic commands such as "sit" or "down."
In the early years of their puppyhood it is essential to introduce your German Shepherds with new people places, sights, and sounds. This is especially important prior to when the puppy turns 16 weeks old as their brains are going through an important phase of development. If your German Shepherd is a quiet puppy until that point they'll likely encounter new experiences more difficult as an adult and be more prone to anxiety and fear-based aggression.
One thing that a lot of dog owners don't realize is that a German Shepherd needs lots of physical as well as mental exercise to stay healthy and happy. German Shepherds are herding breeds by nature, and have a strong desire to please their owners as well as work. If they don't exercise enough they could become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise strengthens muscles and decreases "cabin-fever." It also improves circulation, aids with weight loss, and helps reduce "cabin-fever." It's the perfect way to be a part of your German Shepherd as well!