5 People You Oughta Know In The German Shepherd Buy Puppy Industry
How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
You're taking a huge risk when you purchase a German Shepherd pup. You'll be accountable for many years for the health and training of your dog.
Pet stores and online sources typically sell puppies from puppy mills that prioritize profits over animal welfare. Choose a reputable breeder instead.
How to Select a Breeder who is Reputable
Before you purchase a German Shepherd pup, it's important to get to know the breeder. Responsible breeders will be willing to share information about their dogs and the ways they treat you. Breeders will be happy to provide details about their dogs and practices with you.
The best place to begin is to contact your local German Shepherd club or other organization. Breed clubs typically have a secretary or puppy officer, who can guide you to breeders who are reputable. You can also contact the animal control department of your state to find a list of licensed breeders.
Make the effort to meet a breeder in person once you've located one who meets your standards for breeding. Find a clean facility where the mother and puppies are kept in a safe environment. Ask about the puppy's parents and siblings; you would like to verify that they've been screened for hereditary diseases such as hip dysplasia eye issues, heart disease and Degenerative Myelopathy.
A responsible breeder should be in a position to provide you with a copy of your puppy's medical record and an up-to-date shot schedule. They should have a solid working relationship with a vet who can perform all necessary tests and vaccinations. They can tell you the name of the vet, his telephone number, and will provide you with records of your consultation.
Ask the breeder about any concerns they may have about your lifestyle and living circumstances. This could hinder the breeder from selling the puppy to you. For example If they know that you have children, they might be hesitant to sell you a puppy since German Shepherds are known to be aggressive with children.
You should also expect an established breeder to require you to sign an agreement to purchase your German Shepherd puppy. The contract should contain the names of the parents, as well as their AKC registration numbers, as well as a return-to-breeder clause. This is an important way for responsible breeders to monitor their dogs and ensure that they are going to good homes.
Health Tests
Breeders who are trustworthy will examine the health of the dogs they intend to breed as breeding stock. This is to ensure that they don't breed puppies with an inherited disease. These tests include hip and elbow dysplasia, myelopathy degenerative and GDV (also called Bloat).
In addition to health screening breeders who are trustworthy get a better understanding of the temperaments and health of each dog they own. They also freely and fully communicate this information to other breeders and potential buyers.
As part of the Kennel Club's Assured breeder program members are required to perform certain tests with 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 enable breeders to make better choices when mating which will reduce the incidences of hereditary diseases in future generations.
Typical genetic tests include:
Hip Dysplasia
Hip and elbow dysplasia are common problems in German Shepherds with the latter suffering from the condition that affects their front legs. These degenerative joint diseases cause pain and discomfort, but can be controlled through weight control, activity restrictions, supplements, and drugs. X-rays are taken under conscious sedation to obtain exact results. Then, they are sent to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
The OFA test is designed to detect the presence of hemivertebras, butterfly vertebras, block vertebra, lumbar-sacral transformational vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis and spina bifida. The test is not foolproof and does not predict whether a dog's condition will be degenerative myelopathy.
Socialization
GSDs require intense physical exercise, training and mental stimulation to stay engaged. They are prone to becoming bored, and lack of activity may lead to destructive behaviors like excessive digging or eating shoes. Often, these behaviors stem from not being able to satisfy their emotional needs. This is why early socialization is important for German Shepherd puppies. A good socialization program allows the puppy to build confidence around new people and surroundings. It also decreases the chance that the puppy will develop fearful or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.
Puppy socialization starts with the mother and her littermates as they play and interact. This teaches the puppies appropriate social signals and how to deal with their boisterous and sometimes rough, siblings. The pups are also exposed to a variety of sights, sounds and smells. The puppies are taught how to behave in the group. This is vital to their success as adults.
Introduce the puppy to various household sounds, including vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances and doorbells. The puppy should also be exposed to various outdoor sounds like sirens, traffic, and construction. This is crucial to ensure that the puppy doesn't develop fearful or anxious of these stimuli. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at an ease rate, and positive reinforcement is used throughout the process.
It is also very important for a puppy to get to know many different people during this time, as well as other pets. This will help reduce anxiety over separation when the owner is away from home. One good example is when the dog is taken to puppy classes and dog parks or play dates with other dogs.
The puppy should only be allowed to interact in a controlled, safe manner with other dogs. At first, the interaction should be limited to ensure that the puppy does not feel overwhelmed. The puppy should be allowed to interact also with older, more sociable and calm dogs. This will help your puppy see that older, larger dogs do not need to be scary. It will also aid in developing a good attitude.
Training
German Shepherds require constant, consistent obedience training. It is essential to enroll them in classes as soon as possible, especially while they are still young. This will help them develop into confident and well-mannered dogs. This 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 easy it will be for them to follow your directions as they grow older.
Territorial aggression is a typical 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 other people or animals who enter their area. Proper training, exercise and socialization can prevent territorial behavior.
deutsche schäferhunde kaufen can be prevented through obedience training for German Shepherds. If a dog doesn't possess the proper obedience training can become a nuisance or even a danger 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."
In the early years of their puppyhood 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 and their brains are in an important phase of development. If your German shepherd is a protected puppy prior to this it is likely to be much more difficult for them to learn new things as an adult. They may also be more prone towards fear-based aggression or anxiety.
One thing that many pet owners don't know is that a German Shepherd needs lots of physical and mental exercise to remain calm and content. They are herders by nature and have a strong urge to work and satisfy their owners and if they don't have enough to do, they could become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise also tones muscles, decreases "cabin fever," improves circulation and aids in weight loss. It's also a great way to bond with your German shepherd!