15 Gifts For The German Shepherd Buy Puppy Lover In Your Life
How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
When you purchase a German Shepherd puppy, you're making a huge commitment. You'll be accountable for the health, training and mental stability of your dog for many years.
Pet stores and online sources generally sell puppies from puppy mills who place profits over animal welfare. Select a reputable breeding facility instead.
How to Select a Breeder who is Reputable
Before you purchase a German Shepherd pup, it's essential to get acquainted with the breeder. Responsible breeders will be willing to discuss their dogs and practices with you. They'll be willing to discuss genetic and health testing as well as early socialization and the environment that their puppies are raised.
The best place to start is with your local German Shepherd club or group. The breed clubs typically have a secretary, or puppy officer who can point you to breeders who are reputable. If you prefer, you can contact your state animal control agency for a list of licensed breeders.
Once you've identified a breeder that meets breeding standards, take the time to meet them in person. You should look for an environment that is clean and comfortable in which the puppies and their mother are kept. Ask about the puppy's fathers and siblings. You'll want to see 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 your puppy's medical record and the most current vaccination schedule. They should have a great working relationship with a vet that can perform all necessary tests and vaccines. They should 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 have about your lifestyle or living situation. This might prevent the breeder from selling a puppy to you. If they know you have young children they might not want to offer you an German Shepherd puppy because they can be aggressive towards children.
A reputable breeder will require that you sign a contract when purchasing your German Shepherd puppy. The contract should contain information about the parents, their AKC registration number, and a clause allowing them to return the puppy to the breeder. This is a great way for responsible breeders to track their dogs and make sure they have a good home.
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 puppies with an inherited disease. These tests include hip and elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy and GDV (also called Bloat).
In addition to health screenings breeders who are trustworthy get a better understanding of the temperaments and health of every dog they have. They also are able to freely and completely share this information with other breeders and prospective buyers.
The Kennel Club's Assured Breeder Scheme requires members to carry out certain tests on their dogs. Breed clubs for German Shepherds also suggest that breeders perform additional tests.
These tests are designed to identify genetic diseases that affect all German Shepherd Dogs. They also allow breeders to make better informed decisions about mating, which will reduce the chance of developing hereditary diseases in the coming generations.
The most common genetic tests are:
Hip Dysplasia
Hip and elbow dysplasia are common problems in German Shepherds with the latter suffering from the condition in their front legs. These degenerative joint diseases cause discomfort and pain, but can be managed by weight control, activity restrictions supplements, and medications. X-rays are taken under anesthesia to ensure accurate results and then submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
The OFA test checks for hemivertebrae, butterfly vertebrae, block vertebrae as well as lumbar-sacral verbrae (LSTV) and spondylosis and spina bifida. The test isn't completely foolproof, however, and does not tell you if dogs will develop degenerative myelopathy or any other spinal disorders later in life.
Socialization
GSDs require rigorous physical exercise along with training and mental stimulation to keep them engaged. They can easily become bored and inactivity could lead to destructive behaviors such as excessive digging or eating shoes. These behaviors are usually due to unmet emotional requirements. This is why early socialization is crucial for German Shepherd puppies. A good socialization program helps the puppy gain confidence around new people and situations. It also reduces the likelihood that the puppy will be fearful or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.
Puppy socialization begins with the mother and her littermates as they play and interact. This teaches them how to get along with their noisy and sometimes rough siblings. The puppies are also exposed to a variety of scents, sounds and sights. The puppies learn to behave in a group environment, which is crucial to their success as dogs who mature.
The puppy should be exposed to a variety of household noises including vacuum cleaners, doorbells and kitchen appliances. The puppy should also be exposed various outdoor sounds like sirens, traffic and construction. This is essential so that the puppy will not become scared or anxious of these stimuli when they become adults. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a comfortable pace and positive reinforcements will be utilized throughout the process.
It is also very important that the puppy gets to meet numerous people during this time, as well as other pets. This can help 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 dogs.
The puppy should be allowed to interact with other dogs in a safe way, and in a controlled manner. The interaction should be limited at first so that the puppy does not become overwhelmed. The puppy should also be able to be around calmer, older and gentle dogs. This will help your puppy understand that bigger, older dogs do not need to be terrifying. It can also aid in developing an attitude of confidence.
Training
German Shepherds require firm and consistent obedience training. It is essential to get them into classes as soon as possible and especially when they are still young. This will allow them to become confident, well-mannered dogs. This is also a good time to make them familiar with the basics of commands such as sit, down, stay and come. The earlier a dog is taught these basic behaviors, the easier it will be for them to follow your instructions as they grow older.
Territorial aggression is an issue in many families with German Shepherds. They may be overly guarded of their home and property, which can lead to their barking at strangers or animals who enter their area. Training, exercise and socialization can prevent territorial behavior.
Other issues with behavior can be prevented through obedience training in German Shepherds. Dogs who aren't properly trained can be a nuisance to their family and neighbors. They are easily distracted by other pets, toys, or children. They might not pay attention to basic commands like "sit" and "down."
In the early years of their puppyhood it is essential to introduce your German Shepherds with new people places, sights, and sounds. This is especially important before the puppy reaches 16 weeks and their brains are undergoing a critical phase of development. If your German Shepherd is a protected pup until then, they will likely find new experiences much more challenging in adulthood and will be more prone to fear-based aggression and anxiety.
altdeutscher schäferhund kaufen that a lot of pet owners don't know is that a German Shepherd needs lots of physical and mental exercise to stay calm and content. They are herders by nature and have a strong urge to delight their owners and if they don't have enough work to do, they may become bored or destructive. Regular exercise helps tone muscles, decreases "cabin fever," improves circulation and helps with weight loss. It's also a great method to bond with your German shepherd!