How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

When you buy a German Shepherd puppy, you're making a huge commitment. You'll be responsible, for many years, for the training and health of your dog.

Pet stores and online sources offer puppies, which are typically from puppy mills, which prioritize profit over the well-being of animals. Select a reputable breeder instead.

How to Select a Breeder who is Reputable

It's important to know your breeder before you buy a German Shepherd puppy. Breeders who are responsible will be happy to share details about their dogs as well as breeding practices. They'll be willing to discuss health and genetic testing, reinrassiger Deutscher schäferhund early socialization, and the environment in which their puppies are raised.

Your local German Shepherd organization or club is the best place to begin. Breed clubs typically have a secretary or puppy officer, deutscher Schäferhund Lebenserwartung who can guide you to breeders who are reputable. Alternatively, you can contact your state animal control agency for an inventory of licensed breeders.

Take the time to meet a breeder's representative in person once you've located one who meets your standards for breeding. You should look for an upscale, clean facility where the puppy and the mother dog are confined. You should ask about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You'll want to be aware if they've been screened for any hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia and eye issues.

A responsible breeder should also be able to supply you with a copy your puppy's medical history and the most current vaccination schedule. They should have a great relationship with a veterinarian who is able to perform all necessary tests and vaccinations. They will be able provide the name of the doctor and his contact number and also provide you with records of your consultation.

Ask the breeder about any concerns they might have about your lifestyle or living circumstances. This might stop the breeder from selling a puppy to you. If they are aware that you have young children and they are concerned about your children's safety, they might not wish to sell you an German Shepherd puppy because they can be aggressive towards children.

You should also expect an established breeder to require you to sign an agreement for the purchase of your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include details about the parents and their AKC registration number, and an option to return the puppy to the breeder. This is an important way for a responsible breeder to keep track of their dogs and ensure that they are going to good homes.

Health Tests

Breeders who are reputable will check the health of the dogs they intend to breed as breeding stock. This is to ensure that they don't produce pups with inherited disease. These tests include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia as well as degenerative myelopathy GDV and Bloat.

In addition to health screening Breeders who are reputable strive to gain personal imulation to keep them engaged. They can get bored easily, and lack of activity could lead to destructive behaviors such as eating excessively or digging shoes. Most often, these behaviors stem from insufficient emotional needs. This is why early socialization is so important for German Shepherd puppies. Proper socialization can help the puppy develop confidence around new people and situations. It also reduces the risk that the puppy will become anxious or aggressive in new situations.

The mother and her littermates play together and interact with one another. This teaches the puppies appropriate social signals and how to deal with their boisterous, and sometimes rough, siblings. It also exposes the pups to a wide range of smells, sights and sounds. The puppies learn to behave appropriately in a group, which is crucial to their success as adult dogs.

Introduce the puppy to a variety of household sounds, including vacuum cleaners, deutscher Schäferhund lebenserwartung kitchen appliances, and doorbells. The puppy should be exposed to a variety of sounds outside, like traffic, sirens, and construction. This is crucial to ensure that the puppy does not become anxious or fearful of these situations when they become adults. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at a comfortable pace and positive reinforcement will be used throughout the process.

During this period, it is crucial that the puppy interacts with different animals and people. This can reduce separation anxiety when the owner is away. 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 the other dogs in a secure well-controlled manner. The interaction should be restricted initially to ensure that the puppy doesn't become overwhelmed. The puppy should also be able to be around calmer, older, gentle dogs. This will help your puppy see that older, larger dogs do not need to be frightening. It can also aid in developing a good attitude.

Training

German Shepherds need firm regular obedience training. It is important to enroll them in an obedience class early enough particularly when they are still young. This will allow them to grow into well-mannered, confident dogs. This is also a great 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 more easy it is for them to follow your commands as they age.

Territorial aggression is a common issue for a lot of German Shepherd owners. They might be extremely protective of their homes and property and this can result in them barking at people or animals who venture into their area. Territorial behavior can be prevented by exercising, training, and socialization.

Other behavioral problems can be prevented through obedience training for German Shepherds. If a dog doesn't have proper obedience training can become a nuisance and even a danger to family members and their neighbors. They are easily distracted by other pets toys or children, and ignore basic commands such as "sit" or "down."

During their puppy years it is crucial to introduce your German Shepherds with new people places, sights, and sounds. This is especially important prior to when the puppy reaches 16 weeks as their brains are in an important stage of development. If your German Shepherd is a protected pup until then they'll likely encounter new experiences to be more difficult in adulthood and will be more susceptible to fear-based aggression and anxiety.

One thing that a lot of dog owners aren't aware of is that a German Shepherd needs lots of physical as well as mental exercise to stay healthy and content. They are herding dogs by nature and have a strong drive to delight their owners If they don't have enough things to do, they could become bored or destructive. Regular exercise tones muscles and decreases "cabin-fever." It also improves circulation, helps with weight loss, and reduces "cabin-fever." It's a great way to bond with your German Shepherd as well!