How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
You're making a big commitment when you purchase the German Shepherd pup. You'll be responsible for the health, training, and mental stability of your dog for many years.
Pet stores and online sources offer puppies, which are typically from puppy mills that focus on profit over the welfare of animals. deutscher schäferhund kaufen schweiz .
How to Select a Reputable Breeder
Before you purchase a German Shepherd pup, it's crucial to know the breeder. Breeders who are responsible will be happy to provide you with details about their dogs as well as breeding practices. They will be happy to discuss health and genetic testing as well as early socialization and the environment that their puppies are fostered.
Your local German Shepherd organization or club is the best place to begin. The majority of breed clubs have a secretary or puppy officer who can direct you in the right direction for reputable breeders in your area. You can also contact the animal control department of your state to get an updated list of licensed breeders.
Once you've identified a breeder with good breeding standards, make sure you take the time to meet them in person. Look for a clean facility where the mother and pups are safe. It is important to inquire about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You'll want to be aware if they've been screened for hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia and eye issues.
A responsible breeder will also be in a position to provide you with copies of your puppy's medical records and the most current schedule of shots. They should have a great relationship with a veterinarian who is able to perform all the necessary tests and vaccinations. They should be able to tell you the vet's name and telephone number and give you a consultation note.
Ask the breeder about any concerns they may have about your lifestyle or living circumstances. This may stop them from bringing a puppy to you. For instance, if they know you have children, they might be hesitant to offer you a puppy because German Shepherds are known to be aggressive with children.
You should also expect a reputable breeder to ask you to sign a contract to purchase your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include 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 responsible breeders to monitor their dogs and ensure they will be placed in good homes.
Health Tests for Health
Breeders who are trustworthy will check the health of the dogs they plan to breed. This is to ensure that they don't breed pups that have an inherited illness. These tests include hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy GDV and Bloat.
Breeders who are trusted seek to be aware of the temperaments and health status of each dog they own. They are also able to freely and openly communicate this information to other breeders and prospective buyers.
As part of the Kennel Club's Assured breeder scheme members are required to take certain tests with 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. These tests also allow breeders make better mating decisions that will decrease the likelihood of hereditary diseases in the future generations.
Common genetic tests include
Hip Dysplasia
The elbow dysplasia and the hip are common problems in German Shepherds, with the latter suffering from the condition that affects their front limbs. These degenerative joint disorders cause discomfort and pain, however, they can be controlled with weight control, activity limitations, supplements and drugs. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays while sedating to ensure accurate results.
The OFA test is a check for the presence of hemivertebrae as well as butterfly vertebrae. block vertebrae as well as lumbar-sacral verbrae (LSTV) and spondylosis and spina bifida. This test isn't foolproof and does not predict whether a dog's spinal condition will be degenerative myelopathy.
Socialization
GSDs need rigorous physical exercise, training and mental stimulation to stay occupied. They are easily bored and their lack of activity can result in destructive behaviors such as excessive digging or chewing on shoes. Often, these behaviors stem from not being able to satisfy their emotional requirements. This is why early socialization is so crucial for German Shepherd puppies. Proper socialization can help the puppy gain confidence with new people and situations. It also decreases the chance 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 them to interact with their rough and boisterous siblings. The puppies are also exposed to a wide range of smells, sights, and sounds. The puppies learn how to behave appropriately within a group, which is crucial to their success as adult dogs.
The puppy should be exposed to various household sounds including vacuum cleaners, doorbells and kitchen appliances. The puppy should be exposed sounds outside, like traffic, sirens, and construction. This is essential to ensure that the puppy does not be scared or anxious of these situations when they become adults. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at an ease rate and positive reinforcement is utilized throughout the process.
It is also important for the puppy to meet many different people during this period, along with other pets. This can reduce separation anxiety while 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 be allowed to interact in a controlled, safe way with other dogs. At first, the interaction should be confined so that the pup does not feel overwhelmed. The puppy should be allowed to interact also with older, more sociable and calm dogs. This will help your puppy see that larger, older dogs do not need to be scary. It will also help them develop an excellent attitude.
Training
reinrassiger deutscher schäferhund kaufen need constant regular obedience training. It is important to enroll them in classes early, especially when they are still puppy dogs. This will allow them to grow into confident, well-mannered dogs. It is also a good time to make them familiar with the basic commands like sit, down, stay and come. The earlier a dog is taught these basic commands, the more easy it will be for them to follow your commands as they grow older.
Territorial aggression is a problem in many families with German Shepherds. They can be extremely protective of their home and property, resulting in barking or yelling at those who enter their area of. Proper training, exercise and socialization can prevent territorial behavior.
Other issues with behavior can be prevented by obedience training for German Shepherds. A dog that doesn't have proper obedience training can be a nuisance, or even a danger to their family members and their neighbors. They can easily be distracted by other pets, toys or children and ignore basic commands such as "sit" or "down."
In the early years of puppyhood, you should continue to introduce your German Shepherds to new people, places and sounds. schäferhunde suchen ein zuhause is especially important before the puppy turns 16 weeks old and their brains are going through an important stage of development. If your German Shepherd is a quiet pup until then, they will likely find new experiences to be more difficult as they grow older and become 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. They are herders by nature and have a strong desire to work and satisfy their owners, so if they don't have enough to do, they could become bored or destructive. Regular exercise helps tone muscles and reduces "cabin-fever." It also improves circulation, helps in weight loss and reduces "cabin-fever." It's also a great method to build a bond with your German shepherd!