How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy

You're making a significant commitment when you purchase a German Shepherd pup. You'll be responsible for the health, training and mental stability of your dog over many years.

Online sources and pet stores sell puppies that are usually from puppy mills, which focus on profit over the welfare of animals. Choose a reputable breeding center instead.

How to Select a Breeder who is Reputable

It's important to be aware of your breeder before you buy a German Shepherd puppy. Breeders who are responsible will be happy to give you information about their dogs and breeding practices. Breeders will be delighted to provide information about their dogs and practices with you.

Your local German Shepherd club or group is the best place to begin. Breed clubs usually have a secretary or puppy officer who can point you to reputable breeders. Alternatively, you can contact your state animal control agency to get a list of licensed breeders.

Once you've identified a breeder with good breeding standards, take the time to meet them in person. Find a clean and tidy facility where the mother and puppies are comfortably confined. It is important to inquire about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You should be aware if they've been screened for any hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia, and eye problems.

A responsible breeder should also be able to supply you with a copy of your puppy's medical history and an up-to-date vaccination schedule. They should have a good relationship with a veterinarian who can carry out all the necessary tests and vaccinations. They will be able give you the name of the veterinarian, his telephone number, and will provide you with consultation records.

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

You should also expect a reputable breeder to ask you to sign a contract to purchase 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 important way for a responsible breeder to monitor 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 breed pups with inherited disease. These tests include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, GDV and Bloat.

Breeders who are reputable are determined to understand the temperaments and health conditions of every dog they own. They also share this information in full and freely with other breeders as well as prospective buyers.

The Kennel Club's Assured Breeder Schehaviors are a result of insufficient emotional needs. This is why early socialization is important for German Shepherd puppies. A good socialization program allows the puppy to build confidence with new people and surroundings. It also reduces the chances that the puppy will be fearful or aggressive in new situations.

The mother and her littermates play and interact with one another. This helps them learn to be around their boisterous and sometimes rough siblings. The pups are also exposed to various kinds of sounds, sights and smells. The puppies are taught to behave in groups. This is crucial to their success as adults.

The puppy should be introduced to various household sounds like doorbells, vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances. The puppy should also be exposed different outdoor sounds such as sirens, traffic and construction. This is crucial 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.

It is also crucial that the puppy gets to meet many different people over this period, along with other pets. This will help prevent separation anxiety while the owner is away. This can be achieved by taking the dog to puppy classes, dog parks, or play dates with other dogs.

The puppy should be allowed to interact with the other dogs in a controlled, controlled manner and the interactions should be tempered at first so that the puppy does not become overwhelmed. The puppy should be allowed to interact with older, more sociable, calmer dogs. This will help your puppy realize that bigger, older dogs don't have to be terrifying. It will also aid in developing an excellent attitude.

Training

German Shepherds require regular, strict obedience training. It is crucial to enroll them in classes as soon as you can particularly when they are still young. This will allow them to grow into well-mannered, confident dogs. It is also a good time to get them familiar with the basic commands like sit down, stay, and come. The earlier a dog can learn these basic behaviors, the more simple it will be for them to follow your instructions as they grow older.

Territorial aggression can be a problem for many families with German Shepherds. They can be extremely protective of their home and property, which can lead to barking or yelling at those who enter their territory. Proper training, exercise and socialization can prevent territorial behavior.

Training in obedience can also help prevent other issues with behavior in German Shepherds. Dogs that are not properly trained may cause annoyance to their neighbors and family members. They are easily distracted by other pets or toys, or even children and disregard basic commands like "sit" or "down."

During their puppy years it is essential to keep your German Shepherds in contact with new people places, sights, and sounds. This is particularly important when the puppy is 16 weeks old, when their brains are going through an important stage of development. If your German shepherd is a sheltered puppy it is likely to be much more difficult for them to master new things when they become adults. They may also be more prone towards anxiety or fear-based aggression.

Many dog owners don't realize that a German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise to be calm and happy. They are herding dogs by nature and have a strong desire to please their humans and if they don't have enough to do, they can become bored or destructive. Regular exercise helps tone muscles and decreases "cabin-fever." It also improves circulation, aids in weight loss, Deutsche SchäFerhundwelpen and reduces "cabin-fever." It's an excellent way to bond with your German Shepherd, too!