5 Laws Anybody Working In German Shepherd Buy Puppy Should Know
How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
You're making a significant commitment when you purchase a German Shepherd pup. You'll be accountable for the health, training, and mental stability of your dog for many years.
Pet stores and online resources typically sell puppies from puppy mills who place profits over the welfare of the animal. Choose a reputable breeder instead.
How to Choose a Reputable Breeder
Before you purchase a German Shepherd pup, it's essential to get acquainted with the breeder. Breeders who are responsible will be happy to give you details about their dogs as well as breeding practices. Breeders are happy to provide details about their dogs and practices with you.
The best place to start is to contact your local German Shepherd club or other organization. The majority of breed associations have an officer for puppy or secretary who can direct you to credible breeders in your region. Alternatively, you can contact your state animal control agency for a list of licensed breeders.
Take the time to meet a breeder's representative in person once you've found one who is in line with your standards for breeding. You should look for an upscale, clean facility where the puppies and their mother are kept in a secure. It is important to inquire about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You want to be aware if they've been screened for hereditary issues like hip dysplasia, and eye problems.
A responsible breeder should be able to provide you with copies of your puppy's medical records and a current shot schedule. They should have a great working relationship with a vet who can conduct all the required tests and vaccines. They should be able to tell you the name of the vet and his contact number and also provide you with records of your consultation.
Ask the breeder about any concerns they have about your lifestyle and living situation. This could hinder them from bringing the puppy to you. If they know you have young kids, they may not want to sell you a German Shepherd puppy because they can be aggressive towards children.
You should also expect an accredited breeder to ask you to sign an agreement 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 along with a return-to-breeder clause. This is an excellent method for responsible breeders to keep track of their dogs and ensure they are placed in good homes.
Health Tests
Breeders who are reputable conduct health tests on the dogs that will be part of their breeding collection. This is to make sure that they don't produce pups with an inherited disease. These tests include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia as well as degenerative myelopathy, GDV and Bloat.
Breeders who are reputable strive to know the temperaments and health conditions of every dog they own. They also freely and fully give this information to other breeders and potential 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 recommend that breeders carry out additional tests.
These tests are designed to detect genetic diseases that affect all German Shepherd Dogs. These tests also help breeders make better mating decisions that can reduce the risk of hereditary illnesses in the next generations.
The most common genetic tests are
Hip Dysplasia
Hip and elbow dysplasia are a common problem in German Shepherds with the latter suffering from the condition in their front limbs. These joint conditions that cause degeneration cause discomfort and pain, however, they can be controlled with the control of weight, exercise limitations and medications. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays with sedation to ensure the accuracy of the results.
The OFA test focuses on the presence of hemivertebras, butterfly vertebras, block vertebra, lumbar-sacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) as well as spondylosis, hemivertebra and spina bifida. The test isn't 100% reliable however, and it cannot determine if the dog will develop degenerative myelopathy or other spinal disorders later in the course of.
Socialization
GSDs require intense physical exercise in addition to training and mental stimulation to keep them busy. They are prone to becoming bored and inactivity may lead to destructive behaviors like excessive digging or eating shoes. The majority of these behaviors stem from insufficient emotional needs. This is why early socialization is vital for German Shepherd puppies. Proper socialization can help the puppy develop confidence with new people and situations. It also reduces the chances that the puppy will be scared or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.
Puppy socialization begins with the mother and her littermates as they play and interact. This teaches the puppies appropriate social signals and how to cope with their boisterous, and sometimes rough siblings. The puppies are also exposed to a wide range of smells, sights, and sounds. The puppies are taught how to behave in the group. schäferhunde kaufen is vital to their success as adults.
Introduce the puppy to various household sounds, including vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances, and doorbells. The puppy should be exposed to a variety of sounds outside, including sirens, traffic, and construction. This is crucial to ensure that the puppy doesn't become scared or anxious about these types of stimuli. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at a moderate rate, and positive reinforcement is utilized throughout the process.
It is also important for a puppy to get to know numerous people during this time, in addition to other pets. This will help reduce anxiety about separation when the owner is away from home. This can be accomplished by taking the dog to puppy classes, dog parks or play dates with other doggies.
The puppy should be able to interact with the other dogs in a secure well-controlled manner. The interactions should be tempered at first so that the puppy doesn't become overwhelmed. The puppy should also be allowed to be around calmer, older and doggies who are friendly. This will help your puppy understand that larger, older dogs do not need to be scary. It will also help them develop a good attitude.
Training
German Shepherds require constant, consistent obedience training. It is important to enroll them in classes early especially when they're still puppies. This will allow them to grow into 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 you teach your dog these basic skills and commands, they'll be more likely to follow your instructions as they age.
Territorial aggression is a common issue for a lot of German Shepherd owners. They may be extremely cautious of their homes and property and this can result in them barking at people or animals that enter their territory. Territorial behavior can be slowed through the proper training, exercise and socialization.
Training in obedience can aid in preventing other behavioral problems in German Shepherds. If a dog doesn't have the right obedience training could become a nuisance or even a threat to their family members and neighbors. They can easily be distracted by other animals, toys or children and ignore basic commands such as "sit" or "down."
During the puppy years It is essential to socialize your German Shepherds to new people, places and sounds. This is especially important prior to when they reach 16 weeks old because they are in an important period of brain development during this period. If your German Shepherd is a protected pup until then, they will likely find new experiences to be more difficult as they grow older and become more prone to fear-based aggression and anxiety.
Many dog owners don't realize that the German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise to be happy and calm. German Shepherds are herders by nature, and they are driven to please their owners as well as work. If they don't get enough exercise they can become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise tones muscles and reduces "cabin-fever." It also improves circulation, helps in weight loss and decreases "cabin-fever." It's also a great opportunity to build a bond with your German shepherd!