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April10 Things We Hate About German Shepherd Buy Puppy
How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
You're making a big commitment when you purchase the German Shepherd pup. You'll be responsible for the health, training and mental stability of your dog for a number of years.
Online sources and pet stores sell puppies that are usually from puppy mills, which place profit ahead of the health of animals. Select a reputable breeding facility instead.
How to Select a Breeder who is Reputable
It is important to be aware of your breeder before you purchase a German Shepherd puppy. Breeders who are responsible will be happy to provide you with information about their dogs and breeding practices. They'll be willing to discuss genetic and health testing early socialization, as well as the environment in which their puppies are being raised.
Your local German Shepherd club or organization is the best place to start. The majority of breed clubs have a secretary or puppy officer who can direct you to credible breeders in your region. You can also contact your state animal control agency for an inventory of licensed breeders.
Once you've identified a breeder with good breeding standards, make sure you take the time to meet them in person. Find a clean facility where the mother and pups are kept in a safe environment. You should inquire about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You want to find out if they've been screened for hereditary issues like hip dysplasia, and eye issues.
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 good working relationship with a vet who is able to conduct all the required tests and vaccines. They will be able to provide you with the name of the doctor and phone number, and also give you a consultation note.
Ask the breeder about any concerns they have regarding your lifestyle and king Shepherd Kaufen living circumstances. This might hinder them from bringing puppies to you. If they know you have young children 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 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 along with 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 reputable will examine the health of the dogs they plan to breed. 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, reputable breeders strive to acquire a personal understanding of the temperaments and health of each dog they own. They also are able to freely and completely share this information with other breeders as well as 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 conduct additional tests.
These health tests look for genetic diseases that affect the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. They also help breeders make more informed mating decisions, which will reduce the chance of developing hereditary diseases in the coming generations.
Common genetic tests include
Hip Dysplasia
The elbow dysplasia and the hip are common problems in German Shepherds, with the latter suffering from the condition in their front limbs. These joint conditions that cause degeneration cause discomfort and pain but can be managed through exercise restrictions, weight control and medications. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals receives the X-rays under sedation to ensure the accuracy of the results.
The OFA test checks for hemivertebrae, butterfly vertebrae, block vertebrae, lumbar-sacral vertebrae (LSTV), spondylosis, and spina bifida. This test isn't 100% reliable however, and it cannot determine if the dog will develop degenerative myelopathy or other spinal diseases later in life.
Socialization
GSDs require a lot of physical activity along with training and mental stimulation to keep them busy. They are easily bored and their lack of activity can lead to destructive behavior like excessive digging or chewing on shoes. Often, these behaviors are a result of not being able to satisfy their emotional requirements. Socialization at an early age is crucial for German Shepherd pups. A good socialization program helps the puppy gain confidence in new people and situations. It also reduces the likelihood that the puppy will be fearful or aggressive in new situations.
The mother and her littermates play and interact with one another. This teaches them how to be around their noisy and sometimes rough siblings. The puppies are also exposed to a variety of smells, sights and sounds. The puppies are taught to behave in groups. This is vital to their success as adults.
Introduce the puppy to different household sounds, like vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances, and doorbells. The puppy should be exposed to a variety of sounds outside, including traffic, sirens, and construction. This is crucial to ensure that the puppy does not become anxious or fearful of these sounds as an adult. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at an ease rate, and positive reinforcement is utilized throughout the process.
It is also important that the puppy gets to meet many different people over this time, as well as other pets. This will help to prevent anxiety over separation when the owner is away from home. One good example is when a 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 safe, controlled way with other dogs. At first, the interaction should be restricted to ensure that the puppy isn't overwhelmed. The puppy should be able to interact with older, more sociable, calmer dogs. This will allow the puppy to realize that not all older, larger dogs are dangerous and helps them develop a positive temperament.
Training
German Shepherds require firm and consistent obedience training. It is crucial to start an early training class particularly when they are still young. This will help them become confident, well-mannered dogs. This is also a great time to get them familiar with the basics of commands such as sit, down, stay and come. The earlier you can teach your dog these basic skills they'll be more likely to obey your instructions as they grow older.
Territorial aggression can be a problem for many families with German Shepherds. They might be incredibly protective of their home and property, resulting in barking or growling at any animal or person who enters their territory. Territorial behavior is averted through the proper training, exercise and socialization.
Obedience training will aid in preventing other issues with behavior in German Shepherds. A dog that doesn't possess the proper obedience training can be a nuisance, or even a danger to their family members and their neighbors. They are easily distracted by other animals, toys or children and disregard basic commands such as "sit" or "down."
In the early years of puppyhood, you should continue to introduce your German Shepherds to new people, reinrassiger deutscher schäferhund züchter schäferhund welpe deutsche schäferhunde kaufen (this content) places, and sounds. This is especially important when they reach 16 weeks old since they enter an important phase of brain development during this period. If your German Shepherd is a sheltered pup until then they'll likely encounter new experiences more difficult as they grow older and become more prone to anxiety and fear-based aggression.
Many dog owners don't realize that a German Shepherd requires mental and physical exercise in order to be happy and calm. They are herding dogs by nature and have a strong drive to satisfy their owners If they don't have enough work to do, they may become bored or destructive. Regular exercise helps tone muscles and decreases "cabin-fever." It also improves circulation, aids in weight loss, and helps reduce "cabin-fever." It's an excellent way to be a part of your German Shepherd, too!
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