German Shepherd Buy Puppy Isn t As Tough As You Think
How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
You're taking a huge risk when you purchase the German Shepherd pup. You'll be accountable for many years for the health and education of your dog.
Online sources and pet stores offer puppies that are typically from puppy mills that place profit ahead of the health of animals. Select a reputable breeder instead.
Selecting a Breeder with a Good Reputation
It is important to be aware of your breeder before you buy a German Shepherd puppy. Breeders who are responsible will be happy to share details about their dogs and breeding practices. Breeders will be delighted to provide information about their dogs as well as practices with you.
Your local German Shepherd club or organization is the best place to begin. Most breed clubs have an officer or secretary who can direct you in the right direction for reliable breeders in your area. If you prefer, you can contact your state animal control agency to get an inventory of licensed breeders.
Once you've identified a breeder who has good breeding standards, make sure you take the time to meet them in person. Find a clean and tidy facility where the mother and pups are kept in a safe environment. It is important to inquire about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You should know if they have been screened for any hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia or eye issues.
A responsible breeder should be able to supply you with a copy your puppy's medical record and the most current vaccination schedule. They should have a solid working relationship with a vet who can carry out all necessary tests and vaccines. They will be able to give you the name of the veterinarian and telephone number and provide you with consultation notes.
Ask the breeder about any concerns they may have about your lifestyle and living circumstances. This may prevent them from bringing a puppy to you. If they know that you have young children and they are concerned about your children's safety, they might not wish to sell you a German Shepherd puppy because they can be aggressive towards children.
You should also expect an accredited breeder to require 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 an important way for a responsible breeder to keep track of their dogs and ensure they are going to good homes.
Health Tests for Health
Reputable breeders conduct health checks on the dogs that will be part of their breeding stock. This is to ensure that they don't produce pups with inherited disease. These tests include hip and Blaue SchäFerhunde elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, and GDV (also known as Bloat).
In addition to health screening breeders who are trustworthy get a better understanding of the health and temperament of each dog they have. They also share this information completely and freely with other breeders as well as prospective buyers.
The Kennel Club's Assured Breeder Scheme requires members to carry out certain tests on their dogs. The breed clubs for German shepherds also suggest that breeders conduct 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 reduce the incidences 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 diseases cause pain and discomfort, but can be controlled through weight control, activity limitations supplements, and medications. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays with sedation to ensure that the results are accurate.
The OFA test is designed to detect the presence of hemivertebra, butterfly vertebra block vertebra, SchäFerhund Baby Kaufen lumbar-sacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) as well as spondylosis, hemivertebra and spina bifida. The test isn't 100% reliable, however, and does not tell you if dogs will develop degenerative myelopathy, or other spinal disorders later in life.
Socialization
GSDs require intense physical exercise as well as training and mental stimulation to keep them engaged. They are prone to becoming bored, and lack of activity can lead to destructive behavior such as eating excessively or digging shoes. These behaviors are usually caused by a lack of emotional needs. This is why early socialization is so vital for German Shepherd puppies. Proper socialization helps the pup build confidence around new people and situations. It also decreases the chance that the puppy will develop anxious or aggressive in new situations.
Puppy socialization begins with the mother and her littermates as they play and interact. This helps them learn to interact with their noisy and sometimes rough siblings. The pups are also exposed to a variety scents, sounds and sights. The puppies learn how to behave in a group, which is essential to their success as adult dogs.
Introduce the puppy to various household sounds, like vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances, and doorbells. The puppy should also be exposed to various outdoor sounds like sirens, traffic and construction. This is essential to ensure that the puppy doesn't grow up afraid or anxious of these stimuli. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at a moderate rate and positive reinforcement is used throughout the process.
During this period, it is crucial that the puppy meets many different animals and people. This can help 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 be allowed to interact with other dogs in a safe way, and in a controlled manner. The interactions should be tempered at first so that the puppy does not become overwhelmed. The puppy should be able to interact with older, einen Deutschen Schäferhund kaufen more relaxed 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 a good attitude.
Training
German Shepherds require strict regular obedience training. It is crucial to enroll them in classes early, especially when they are still puppies. This will assist them in developing into well-mannered, confident dogs. It's also a good time to familiarize them with basic commands like sit down, sit and stay. The earlier you begin teaching your dog these basic behaviors and commands, they'll be more likely to obey your instructions as they grow older.
Territorial aggression can be a problem for many families with German Shepherds. They might be extremely protective of their homes and property which could lead to them barking at other people or animals who venture into their territory. Territorial behavior is averted by the proper training, exercise and socialization.
Other behavioral problems can be avoided through obedience training for German Shepherds. Dogs that don't have proper obedience training can become a nuisance and even a threat to their family members and belgischer schäferhund welpen kaufen österreich neighbours. They are often distracted by other pets, toys or children. They may not be able to follow simple commands like "sit" and "down."
During the puppy years it is important to continue to socialize your German Shepherds to new people, places and sounds. This is particularly important before they are 16 weeks old, as they go through a critical period of brain development during this time. If your German Shepherd is a quiet puppy until that point, they will likely find new experiences to be more difficult as they grow older and become more susceptible to anxiety-based aggression and fear.
Many dog owners do not realize that a German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise in order to be calm and happy. German Shepherds are herders by nature, and are driven to please their owners as well as work. If they don't exercise enough, they may become bored or destructive. Regular exercise also tones muscles, decreases "cabin fever," improves circulation and aids in weight loss. It's also a great way to strengthen the bond between you and your German shepherd!