How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
When you purchase a German Shepherd puppy, you're taking on a massive commitment. You will be responsible, for many years, for the health and education of your dog.
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.
How to Choose a Breeder who is Reputable
It's essential to get acquainted with your breeder prior to you buy a German Shepherd puppy. Breeders who are responsible will be happy to share information about their dogs and breeding practices. Breeders are happy to share information about their dogs and practices with you.
Your local German Shepherd club or group is the best place to begin. Breed clubs usually have a secretary or puppy officer, who can guide you to breeders who are reputable. You can also contact your state's animal control agency to obtain an updated list of licensed breeders.
Make the effort to meet a breeder in person after you've found one that meets your standards for breeding. Find a clean and tidy facility where the mother and puppies are safe. Find out about the puppy's parents and siblings; you need proof that they've been screened for hereditary diseases like hip dysplasia, eye problems, heart disease, and Degenerative Myelopathy.
A responsible breeder should 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 good relationship with a vet who is able to perform all necessary tests and vaccinations. They can tell you the name of the veterinarian and his contact number and provide you with the records of consultation.
Ask the breeder about any concerns they may have about your lifestyle or living situation. This could hinder the breeder from selling the puppy to you. For example, if they know you have young children, they might be reluctant to sell you a puppy due to the fact that German Shepherds can be a bit aggressive with children.
A reputable breeder will also require you to sign a contract when purchasing your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include details about the parents, their AKC registration number as well as a clause allowing them to return the puppy to the breeder. This is a great way breeders who are responsible to monitor their dogs and make sure they have a good home.
Health Tests
Breeders who are reputable will check the health of the dogs they intend to use as breeding stock. This is to ensure that they don't create pups with an inherited disease. These tests include hip dysplasia as well as elbow dysplasia, as well as degenerative myelopathy, GDV and bloat.
Breeders who are reputable seek to be aware of the temperaments and health conditions of each dog they own. They also share this information completely and openly with other breeders as well as prospective buyers.
As part of the Kennel Club's Assured breeder program members are required to conduct certain tests with their dogs. The breed clubs for German shepherds also recommend that breeders conduct additional tests.
These tests check for genetic disorders that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. These tests also enable breeders to make better choices when mating which can reduce the risk of hereditary diseases in future generations.
The most common genetic tests are:
Hip Dysplasia
German Shepherds are susceptible to elbow and hip dysplasia, particularly in the front limbs. These degenerative joint disorders cause pain and discomfort, but can be managed through weight control, activity limitations and medications. The X-rays are made under sedation, to get precise results, and then sent to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
The OFA test looks for the presence of hemivertebras, butterfly vertebras, block vertebra, lumbar sacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis and spina bifida. The test isn't 100% reliable, however, and does not determine whether a dog will develop degenerative myelopathy, or other spinal diseases later in life.
Socialization
GSDs require intense physical exercise along with training and mental stimulation to keep them occupied. They can get bored easily and inactivity can lead to destructive behavior such as excessive digging or eating shoes. The majority of these behaviors are a result of not being able to satisfy their emotional needs. Early socialization is important for German Shepherd pups. Proper socialization allows the pup to build confidence with new people and surroundings. It also reduces the likelihood that the puppy will develop fearful or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.
Puppy socialization begins with the mother and her littermates as they play and interact. This teaches puppies appropriate social signals and how to deal with their boisterous and sometimes rough siblings. The pups are also exposed to a variety of scents, sounds and sights. The puppies learn to behave in a group environment, which is essential to their success as adult dogs.
Introduce the puppy to different household sounds, like vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances and doorbells. The puppy should also be exposed to different outdoor sounds such as traffic, sirens and construction. This is essential to ensure that the puppy doesn't become scared or anxious about these stimuli. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a relaxed pace, and positive reinforcement should be used throughout the process.
It is also very important that the puppy gets to meet many different people during this period, along with other pets. This will help reduce anxiety about separation when the owner is away from home. This can be accomplished by taking the dog to puppy classes, dog parks or play dates with other dogs.
The puppy should only be allowed to interact in a safe, controlled manner with other dogs. At first, the interaction should be restricted to ensure that the puppy isn't overwhelmed. The puppy should also be allowed to interact with calmer, older and friendly dogs. This will help your puppy realize that larger, older dogs do not have to be scary. It will also aid in developing a good attitude.
Training
German Shepherds require constant, consistent obedience training. It's important to start classes early particularly when they are still puppies. This will help them develop into well-mannered, confident dogs. try here 's also a good time to familiarize them with basic commands such as sit down, stay and sit. The earlier you begin teaching your dog these basic commands, they will be more likely to follow your commands as they age.
Territorial aggression can be a problem in many families with German Shepherds. They may be extremely cautious of their home and property and this can result in them barking at other people or animals who enter their area. Training, exercise and socialization can reduce territorial behavior.
Other behavioral problems can be prevented through obedience training in German Shepherds. Dogs who aren't properly trained could cause trouble for their family and friends. They can easily be distracted by other animals or toys, or even children and disregard basic commands such as "sit" or "down."
In the early years of puppyhood it is important to continue to socialize your German Shepherds with new people, places, and sounds. This is especially important prior to when they reach 16 weeks old because they are in an important phase of brain development during this period. If your German shepherd is a protected puppy until then, it will likely be a lot more difficult for them to learn new things as an adult. They may also be more prone to anxiety-based aggression or fear.
One thing that many dog owners don't realize is that a German Shepherd needs lots of physical and mental exercise to remain calm and content. German Shepherds are herding breeds by nature, and have a strong desire to please their owners and work. If they don't get enough exercise, they may become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise can tone muscles, decreases "cabin fever," improves circulation and aids in weight loss. It's also a great way to build a bond with your German shepherd!