How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy
If you purchase a German Shepherd puppy, you're making a huge commitment. deutscher schäferhund kaufen österreich will be responsible for many years for the training and health of your dog.
Pet stores and online sources sell puppies that are usually from puppy mills, which place profit ahead of the health of animals. Choose a reputable breeding facility instead.
Choosing a Reputable Breeder
Before you buy a German Shepherd pup, it's essential to get acquainted with the breeder. Responsible breeders will be willing to provide information about their dogs and the ways they treat you. Breeders are 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. The majority of breed clubs have an officer or secretary who can point you in the right direction for reputable breeders in your area. You can also contact the animal control agency in your state to find an updated list of licensed breeders.
If you've found a breeder who has good breeding standards, take the time to meet them in person. You should look for an upscale, clean facility where the puppy and the mother dog are confined. Ask about the puppy's parents and siblings; you would like to verify that they were screened for hereditary diseases such as hip dysplasia eye issues, heart disease and Degenerative Myelopathy.
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 great working relationship with a vet who can perform all required tests and vaccines. They should be able provide you with the name of the doctor as well as the number of his phone and provide you with consultation notes.
It's also an excellent idea to inquire with the breeder whether they have any concerns about your lifestyle or living conditions that could hinder them from selling you a puppy. For instance If they know that you have young children, they may be hesitant to sell you a puppy since German Shepherds can be aggressive with children.
A reputable breeder will also require you to sign a contract when purchasing your German Shepherd puppy. This contract should include the names of the parents as well as their AKC registration numbers, as well as a return-to-breeder clause. This is an excellent method breeders who are responsible to monitor their dogs and make sure they go to good homes.
Health Tests for Health
Breeders who are reputable will check the health of the dogs they intend to use as breeding stock. This is to ensure that they don't produce puppies that have an inherited condition. These tests include elbow and hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy and GDV (also known as Bloat).
Breeders who are trusted seek to be aware of the temperaments and health conditions of every dog they have. They also share this information in full and openly with other breeders and prospective buyers.
As part of the Kennel Club's Assured breeder program members are required to perform certain tests on their dogs. Breed clubs for German Shepherds also recommend that breeders conduct additional tests.
These tests are designed to detect genetic diseases that affect all German Shepherd Dogs. They also help breeders make better informed decisions about mating that will lower the incidence of hereditary disease in the future.
Common genetic tests include:
Hip Dysplasia
German Shepherds are susceptible to hip and elbow dysplasia, especially in the front limbs. These joint disorders that cause degeneration cause pain and discomfort, but can be controlled through weight control, activity restrictions supplements, and medications. X-rays are taken under anesthesia to ensure accurate results and then submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
The OFA test looks for hemivertebra, butterfly vertebra, block vertebra, lumbar-sacral transformational vertebrae (LSTV) as well as spondylosis, hemivertebra and spina bifida. The test isn't completely foolproof, however, and cannot determine if the dog will develop degenerative myelopathy or any other spinal conditions later in the course of.
Socialization
GSDs need rigorous physical exercise, training, and mental stimulation to stay occupied. They are easily bored and their lack of activity can lead to destructive behavior like excessive digging or chewing on shoes. Most often, these behaviors are a result of insufficient emotional requirements. This is why early socialization is so important for German Shepherd puppies. Proper socialization can help the puppy gain confidence around new people and situations. reinrassiger deutscher schäferhund decreases the chance that the puppy will become anxious or aggressive in new situations.
Puppy socialization starts with the mother and her littermates as they play and interact. This teaches the puppies appropriate social cues and how to deal with their boisterous, sometimes rough siblings. They are also exposed to a variety of sights, smells and sounds. The puppies are taught how to behave in the group. This is vital to their success as adults.
Introduce the puppy to different household sounds, such as vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances and doorbells. The puppy should be exposed to different sounds outside, including traffic, sirens, and construction. This is essential so that the puppy will not become anxious or fearful of these stimuli when they become adults. The puppy should be exposed to all of this at a calming pace, and positive reinforcement should be used throughout the process.
During this time, it is also important that the puppy meets many different animals and people. This will help prevent separation anxiety when the owner is away. This can be achieved by taking the dog to puppy classes, dog parks, or play dates with other doggies.
The puppy should be allowed to interact with the other dogs in a controlled way, and in a controlled manner. The interaction should be restricted initially to ensure that the puppy doesn't become overwhelmed. The puppy should be allowed to interact also with older, more relaxed, calmer dogs. This will help the puppy to realize that not all larger, older dogs are dangerous and helps them develop a good temperament.
Training
German Shepherds require regular, strict obedience training. It is essential to enroll them in an obedience class early enough particularly when they are still young. This will allow them to become confident, well-mannered dogs. This is also a great time to make them familiar with the basic commands like sit down, down, stay and come. The earlier you teach your dog these basic commands and commands, they'll be more likely to follow your commands as they grow older.
Territorial aggression can be an issue in many families with German Shepherds. They might be incredibly protective of their home and property, which can lead to screaming or groaning at other people or animals that enter their area of. Proper training, exercise and socialization can reduce territorial behavior.
Other behavioral problems can be prevented through obedience training in German Shepherds. If a dog doesn't possess the proper obedience training can become a nuisance and even a threat to their family members and neighbors. They are easily distracted by other animals toys or children, and ignore basic commands like "sit" or "down."
During their puppy years, it's important to continue to socialize your German Shepherds with new people, places, sights and sounds. This is particularly important before they reach the age of 16 weeks since they enter a critical period of brain development during this time. If your German Shepherd is a quiet puppy they'll likely encounter new experiences much more challenging as an adult and be more prone to anxiety-based aggression and fear.
One thing that a lot of dog owners aren't aware of is that a German Shepherd needs lots of physical and mental exercise to remain calm and content. German Shepherds are herding breeds by nature, and have a strong desire to please their owners and work. If they don't get enough exercise, they may become bored or even destructive. Regular exercise can tone muscles, decreases "cabin fever," improves circulation and helps with weight loss. It's also a great opportunity to build a bond with your German shepherd!