German Shepherd Buy Puppy Explained In Less Than 140 Characters

How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

If you purchase a German Shepherd puppy, you're taking on a massive commitment. You'll be responsible for the health, training and mental stability of your dog for many years.

Pet stores and online retailers typically sell puppies from puppy mills that prioritize profits over animal welfare. Choose a reputable breeder instead.

Choosing a Reputable Breeder

It is important to get acquainted with your breeder prior to you buy a German Shepherd puppy. Breeders who are responsible will be happy to provide you with information about their dogs and breeding practices. Breeders are happy to share details about their dogs and practices with you.

The best place to start is with your local German Shepherd club or other organization. Most breed clubs have an officer or secretary who can direct you to reputable breeders in your area. You can also contact your state's animal control agency to find an updated list of licensed breeders.

Take the time to meet a breeder's representative in person once you've found one who is in line with your breeding standards. Find a clean facility where the mother and puppies are safe. Ask 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 be able provide you with a copy of your puppy's medical records and a current vaccination schedule. They should have a good working relationship with a vet who can perform all required tests and vaccines. They will be able to give you the name of the veterinarian and phone number, and also give you consultation notes.

Ask the breeder about any concerns they may have regarding your lifestyle and living situation. This could hinder them from bringing the puppy to you. If they know that you have young kids, they may not want to sell you an German Shepherd puppy because they can be aggressive towards children.

You should also expect a reputable breeder to ask you to sign a contract for the purchase of your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include the names of the parents as well as their AKC registration numbers as in addition to a return-to breeder clause. This is a crucial way for a responsible breeder to keep track of their dogs and ensure that they are going to good homes.

Health Tests for Health

Reputable breeders undertake health tests on the dogs that will be part of their breeding stock. This is to make sure that they don't create puppies with an inherited disease. These tests include elbow and hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy and GDV (also known as bloat).

Breeders who are reputable strive to know the temperaments and health status of every dog they have. They also share this information completely and openly with other breeders and potential buyers.

As part of the Kennel Club's Assured breeder program, members are required to take certain tests on their dogs. Breed clubs for German Shepherds also suggest that breeders perform additional tests.

These tests check for genetic disorders that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. These tests also help breeders make better decisions about mating that will decrease the likelihood of hereditary diseases in the future generations.

Typical genetic tests include

Hip Dysplasia

German Shepherds are prone to elbow and hip dysplasia particularly in the front limbs. These degenerative joint diseases cause pain and discomfort, but can be controlled with weight control, activity restrictions supplements, and medications. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays under sedation to ensure the accuracy of the results.

The OFA test looks for the presence of hemivertebrae as well as butterfly vertebrae. block vertebrae, lumbar-sacral vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis, and spina bifida. This test isn't 100% reliable and cannot tell whether a dog's spinal condition is degenerative myelopathy.

Socialization

GSDs require a lot of physical exercise, training, and mental stimulation to stay engaged. They are prone to becoming bored and inactivity can lead to destructive behavior like excessive digging or eating shoes. Most often, these behaviors stem from unmet emotional needs. This is why early socialization is vital for German Shepherd puppies. A good socialization program helps the puppy develop confidence with new people and situations. It also reduces the likelihood that the puppy will develop anxious or aggressive in new situations.

The mother and her littermates play and play with each other. This helps them learn to be around their boisterous and sometimes rough siblings. It also exposes the pups to a variety of smells, sights and sounds. The puppies are taught how to behave in a group. This is essential to their success as adults.

Introduce the puppy to various household sounds, including vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances and doorbells. The puppy should be exposed sounds outside, including traffic, sirens and construction. This is important to ensure that the puppy does not develop scared or anxious about these sounds. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at a comfortable rate and positive reinforcement is used throughout the process.

It is also crucial for a puppy to get to know many different people during this period, along with other pets. This will help reduce separation anxiety when the owner is away from home. An excellent example is when the dog is taken to puppy classes and dog parks or belgischer schäferhund welpen kaufen österreich play dates with other dogs.

The puppy should be able to interact with the other dogs in a secure well-controlled manner. The interactions should be tempered initially so that the puppy doesn't become overwhelmed. The puppy should be allowed to interact with older, more sociable and calm dogs. This will help your puppy understand that bigger, older dogs do not have to be scary. It will also aid in developing a good attitude.

Training

German Shepherds require consistent, firm obedience training. It is crucial to get them into an obedience class as soon as you can particularly when they are still young. This will help them become confident, well-mannered dogs. It is also a great opportunity to teach them basic commands like sit down, stay and sit. The earlier a dog is taught these basic commands, the more easy it is for them to follow your instructions as they get older.

Territorial aggression can be an issue in many families with German Shepherds. They may be overly guarded of their homes and property, which can lead to them barking at people or animals who enter their area. Proper training, exercise and socialization can prevent territorial behavior.

Other issues with behavior can be prevented by obedience training in German Shepherds. If a dog doesn't possess the proper obedience training can be a nuisance, or even a threat to their family members and neighbours. They can be easily distracted by other pets, toys or children. They may not be able to follow simple commands such as "sit" and "down."

In the early years of their puppyhood it is essential to socialize your German Shepherds with new people places, sights, and sounds. This is especially important prior to when they are 16 weeks old because they are in an important phase of brain development during this time. If your German Shepherd is a protected pup until then, they will likely find new experiences to be more difficult in adulthood and will be more susceptible to anxiety and fear-based aggression.

Many dog owners do not realize that a German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise to be calm and happy. German Shepherds are herding breeds by nature, and are driven to please their owners as well as work. If they don't exercise enough they could become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise tones muscles and reduces "cabin-fever." It helps improve circulation, assists in weight loss and reduces "cabin-fever." It's also a great opportunity to bond with your German shepherd!