How to Buy schäferhund beschützerinstinkt making a big commitment when you purchase the German Shepherd pup. You'll be accountable for many years for the health and training of your dog.
Pet stores and online sources offer puppies, which are typically from puppy mills, which focus on profit over the welfare of animals. Choose a reputable breeder instead.
How to Choose a Reputable Breeder
It's essential to know your breeder before you buy a German Shepherd puppy. Responsible breeders will be happy to share information about their dogs and the ways they treat you. They will be happy to discuss genetic and health testing early socialization, as well as the environment in which their puppies are fostered.
Your local German Shepherd club or organization is the best place to start. Most breed clubs have an officer or secretary who can point you to credible breeders in your region. You can also contact the animal control department of your state to get a list of licensed breeders.
Take the time to meet a breeder in person after you've found one who meets your standards for breeding. Find a clean facility where the mother and puppies are safe. You should ask about the parents and siblings of the puppy. You'll want to find out if they've been screened for hereditary issues such as hip dysplasia and eye issues.
A responsible breeder should also be able to supply you with a copy of your puppy's medical record and the most current vaccination schedule. They should have a solid working relationship with a vet that can conduct all the necessary tests and vaccines. They should be able provide you with the name of the doctor as well as the number of his phone and give you consultation notes.
Ask the breeder about any concerns they may have about your lifestyle or living situation. This may stop the breeder from selling the puppy to you. For example If they know that you have young children, they may be reluctant to sell you a puppy due to the fact that German Shepherds can be aggressive with children.
schäferhund beschützerinstinkt will require you to sign a contract prior to purchasing 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 a vital way for a responsible breeder to keep track of their dogs and ensure they will be placed in good homes.
Health Tests for Health
Reputable breeders conduct health checks on the dogs that will be part of their breeding collection. This is to ensure that they don't create puppies with an inherited disease. These tests include hip and elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, and GDV (also known as Bloat).
In addition to health screening breeders who are trustworthy get a better understanding of the temperaments and health of every dog they own. They also freely and fully communicate this information to other breeders and prospective buyers.
The Kennel Club's Assured Breeder Scheme requires members to perform certain tests on their dogs. 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 allow breeders make better choices when mating which can reduce the risk of hereditary diseases in the future generations.
The most common genetic tests are:
Hip Dysplasia
The elbow dysplasia and the hip are common issues in German Shepherds and sufferers from the condition in their front limbs. These joint diseases cause discomfort and pain, but can be managed through the control of weight, exercise limitations, supplements and drugs. The X-rays are made under conscious sedation to obtain accurate results and then submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
The OFA test is designed to detect hemivertebra, butterfly vertebra, block vertebra, lumbar sacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) as well as spondylosis, hemivertebra and spina bifida. The test is not impervious and cannot predict whether a dog's spinal condition will be degenerative myelopathy.
Socialization
GSDs require a lot of physical exercise, training and mental stimulation to stay engaged. They are prone to becoming bored and a lack of exercise could lead to destructive behaviors like excessive digging or eating shoes. These behaviors are usually caused by a lack of emotional needs. Socialization early is essential for German Shepherd pups. Proper socialization helps the puppy to gain confidence in new people and environments. It also reduces the likelihood that the puppy will become fearful or aggressive in unfamiliar situations.
The mother and her littermates play together and interact with one another. This teaches the puppies appropriate social signals and how to deal with their boisterous and sometimes rough siblings. The puppies are also exposed to a variety kinds of sounds, sights and smells. The puppies learn to behave within a group, which is key to their success as adult dogs.
Introduce the puppy to various household sounds, such as vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances, and doorbells. The puppy should also be exposed various outdoor sounds, including sirens, traffic, and construction. This is crucial to ensure that the puppy does not develop afraid or anxious of these types of stimuli. The puppy will be exposed to these stimuli at a comfortable pace and positive reinforcement will be utilized throughout the process.
It is also important for a puppy to get to know numerous people during this time, as well as other pets. This will help reduce separation anxiety 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 allowed to interact with other dogs in a controlled well-controlled manner. The interactions should be tempered at first so that the puppy doesn't become overwhelmed. The puppy should be able to interact with older, more friendly and calm dogs. This will help the puppy understand that not all older, larger dogs are fearsome and will aid in developing a good temperament.
Training
German Shepherds require constant, consistent obedience training. It's important to enroll them in a training class early, especially when they are still young. This will help them develop into well-mannered, confident dogs. It is also a good time to get them familiar with the basics of commands such as sit down, down, stay and come. The earlier a dog can learn these basic commands, the more easy it will be for them to follow your directions as they get older.
Territorial aggression is a common issue for a lot of German Shepherd owners. They can be extremely protective of their home and property, leading to screaming or groaning at other those who enter their territory. Territorial behavior can be slowed through exercising, training, and socialization.
Obedience training will also help prevent other problems with behavior in German Shepherds. Dogs that are not properly trained may cause trouble for their family and friends. They are easily distracted by other pets, toys or children. They may not be able to follow simple commands such as "sit" and "down."
In the early years of puppyhood, you should continue to introduce your German Shepherds with new people, places, and sounds. This is especially important prior to when the puppy turns 16 weeks old, when their brains are undergoing a critical phase of development. If your German Shepherd is a protected pup until then they'll likely face new experiences to be more difficult as an adult and be more prone to anxiety and fear-based aggression.
Many dog owners do not realize that the 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 work and please their humans and if they don't have enough things to do, they could become bored or destructive. Regular exercise helps tone muscles, decreases "cabin fever," improves circulation and aids in weight loss. It's also a great way to strengthen the bond between you and your German shepherd!