The 10 Scariest Things About German Shepherd Buy Puppy
How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
You're making a significant commitment when you purchase a German Shepherd pup. You will be responsible for the health, training and mental stability of your dog for a number of years.
Pet stores and online sources offer puppies that are typically from puppy mills, which place profit ahead of the health of animals. Select a reputable breeder instead.
How to Select a Breeder who is Reputable
It's essential to know your breeder before you buy a German Shepherd puppy. Responsible breeders are happy to discuss their dogs and the ways they treat you. Breeders will be happy to give you information about their dogs as well as practices with you.
Your local German Shepherd club or group is the best place to start. The majority of breed associations have a secretary or puppy officer who can direct you to reliable breeders in your area. You can also contact your state's animal control agency to get the list of breeding companies.
Once you've identified a breeder with good breeding standards, take the time to meet them in person. You should search for an environment that is clean and comfortable in which the puppy and the mother dog are confined. Find out about the puppy's parents and siblings. You'll need proof that they have been screened for hereditary diseases such as hip dysplasia eye issues, heart disease and Degenerative Myelopathy.
A responsible breeder should also be able provide you with a copy your puppy's medical record and the most current vaccination schedule. They should have a good working relationship with a vet who can perform all required tests and vaccines. They should be able to provide you with the name of the doctor and phone number, and also give you consultation notes.
Ask the breeder about any concerns they may have about your lifestyle or living situation. This may prevent them from selling the puppy to you. For instance when they know that you have children, they might be hesitant to offer you a puppy due to the fact that German Shepherds can be a bit 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, as well as their AKC registration numbers as well as a return-to-breeder clause. This is a great way for responsible breeders to track their dogs and ensure they have a good home.
Health Tests
Breeders with a good reputation will test 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, elbow dysplasia, as well as degenerative myelopathy GDV and bloat.
Breeders who are trusted seek to be aware of the temperaments and health issues of every dog they have. They also share this information completely and openly with other breeders and prospective buyers.
The Kennel Club's Assured Breeder Scheme requires members to perform certain tests on their dogs. The breed clubs for German shepherds also suggest that breeders carry out 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 that will lower the incidence of hereditary disease in the future.
Common 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 managed by weight control, activity limitations supplements, and medications. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays under sedation to ensure accurate results.
The OFA test looks for the presence of hemivertebrae as well as butterfly vertebrae. block vertebrae as well as lumbar-sacral verbrae (LSTV), spondylosis, and spina bifida. This test is not foolproof and does not predict whether a dog's condition will be degenerative myelopathy.
Socialization
GSDs require a lot of physical exercise, training and mental stimulation to keep active. They are easily bored and their lack of activity can result in destructive behaviors such as excessive digging or chewing on shoes. These behaviors are often caused by a lack of emotional requirements. Socialization at an early age is crucial for German Shepherd pups. Proper socialization helps the pup gain confidence around new people and situations. It also decreases the chance that the puppy will be scared or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.
Puppy socialization begins with the mother and altdeutscher schäferhund kaufen her littermates as they play and interact. This teaches puppies appropriate social cues and how to deal with their boisterous and sometimes rough siblings. They are also exposed to a wide range of smells, sights and sounds. The puppies learn to behave appropriately in a group, which is key to their success as dogs who mature.
The puppy should be introduced to different household sounds like doorbells, vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances. The puppy should also be exposed various outdoor sounds like sirens, traffic and construction. This is essential to ensure that the puppy doesn't grow up fearful or anxious of these types of stimuli. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a calming pace and positive reinforcement will be utilized throughout the process.
During this period, it is also important that the puppy meets many different people and pets. This will help to prevent anxiety about separation when the owner is away from home. A good example of this is when the dog is taken to puppy classes or dog parks, or even play dates with other dogs.
The puppy should be able to interact with other dogs in a secure, controlled manner and the interaction should be restricted at first so that the puppy does not become overwhelmed. The puppy should be allowed to interact also with older, more sociable and calm dogs. This will help your puppy realize that bigger, older dogs do not need to be scary. It can also help them develop an attitude of confidence.
Training
German Shepherds need strict, consistent obedience training. It is important to get them into an obedience class as soon as possible, especially while they are still young. This will allow them to become confident, well-mannered dogs. This is also a great moment to familiarize them with the basics of commands such as sit down, down, stay and come. The earlier a dog learns these basic behaviors and commands, the easier it will be for them to follow your commands as they grow older.
Territorial aggression is an issue in many families with German Shepherd buy puppy Shepherds. They may be overly guarded of their property and homes, which can lead to them barking at people or animals who enter their territory. Territorial behavior reinrassiger deutscher schäferhund welpen kaufen schäferhund welpe (mutde2xgea.execute-api.us-east-1.Amazonaws.com) is averted by proper training, exercise, and socialization.
Other behavioral problems can be avoided through obedience training for German Shepherds. Dogs who aren't properly trained can cause trouble for their family and neighbors. They can be easily distracted by other pets, toys, or children. They may not be able to follow simple commands like "sit" and "down."
During the puppy years, you should continue to socialize your German Shepherds to new people, places 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 quiet puppy, it will likely be a lot more difficult for them to grasp new things as an adult. They could also be more susceptible to anxiety or fear-based aggression.
One thing that a lot of dog owners don't realize is that a German Shepherd needs lots of physical and mental exercise to stay healthy and happy. German Shepherds are herding breeds by nature, and have a strong desire to please their owners and work. If they don't exercise enough they can become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise tones muscles and reduces "cabin-fever." It helps improve circulation, assists in weight loss and decreases "cabin-fever." It's also a great way to build a bond with your German shepherd!