GERMAN SHEPHERD PUPPIES FOR SALE
WHERE TO GET YOUR PUPPY?
Never buy a German Shepherd puppy from a pet store, or from an Internet site that will ship a pup to you without asking you any questions beyond “Check or charge?” These puppies come from puppy mills. They will not only be sickly, but they will have missed a major learning period for basic training and will be harder to train and more uncontrollable.
FINDING A PUPPY
The easiest way to find German Shepherd puppies for sale is by looking on the Internet. That, at least, is a good start.
Locating a good breeder is one of the main considerations. The breeder should be very knowledgeable about the breed and about the American Kennel Club (AKC).
The American Kennel Club tries to regulate all registered puppy breeders, but because there are so many breeders it is difficult to watch over all of them. But if you know what you are looking for and ask the breeder a lot of questions, you will soon know whether you have found a good breeder.
The breeder should be very open about his breeding policies and provide the proper AKC papers for every puppy. He must give you all of the medical information on the puppy, as well as information about his social behavior and any problems. He must show you where the puppy has lived during its short life, and he and his family should be interacting with the puppy as if it were their own. He should know the characteristics of each and every puppy in the litter (German Shepherds often have litters of about ten). He must also ask you specific questions that you will expect from reading the information about the breed.
The puppies for sale should be wormed, and have their initial shots plus a very generous health guarantee. Some breeders will also provide a good crate with a favorite toy to help make the moving transition easier on the puppy and the owner.
Be sure and ask about these considerations before even looking at the puppies, because there will be no need to spend time with this breeder if he does not provide you with this essential information on the new puppy.
ADVICE ABOUT PICKING A PUPPY
When you look at the puppies, they are all going to be cute and lovable, so how do you make a choice? Whether you are purchasing from a breeder or adopting from a rescue center, there are some signs to look for which will give you an indication of how the puppy may act in your home. Any sign of abuse or neglect must be considered; you want to know if you are bringing home a puppy that has been through trauma. Take a look at the breeder and at the location where the puppies have lived for the last few weeks. If there is something there that causes you any reason for concern. then it is best to look somewhere else.
You want to make sure that the puppy that you are considering is as active as his or her siblings and seems physically up to speed with them. Also, make sure that the puppy seems to play well with you. If the puppy distances himself, and tries to avoid affection or being held, you may want to consider another puppy, because a puppy that doesn’t like affection is likely to grow into an adult that doesn’t like affection. Then again, a German Shepherd puppy who is okay with being alone might make a good guard dog. It is important to figure out what you want in your dog, and then evaluate the puppy to see if it fits into your expectations, so that you and your puppy will both be happy and content.
Looking at these few things will help make sure that your purchase is the right one and that you can avoid problems later down the road. Once you have considered everything and you have carefully examined the puppy and its personality, the adoption process should be a smooth and happy experience for everyone involved. Take your time and never make any snap decisions.
RAISING AND TRAINING A GERMAN SHEPHERD PUPPY
When thinking of bringing a German Shepherd pup into your home, it is important to understand the responsibility you will need to take. Giving your puppy the care, love and training it needs while it is still young is vital, so that you have a well-behaved dog in the future. A German Shepherd is not only a wonderful friend to have in the house but a wonderful alarm, as he is ready to bark at any sign of danger. But German Shepherd puppies must be taught who is in control.
Fun-loving pups need proper care and guidance so they do not grow into large, mean animals. With the right combination of love, compassion and guidance, your puppy can grow into a well-behaved and tame dog that no one has to fear.
Even though many raise a German Shepherd with the intent of making him or her a guard dog inside the home, you do not want your dog to be mean. You don’t want him or her to ever turn on a family member, causing them both emotional and physical harm. Training them right from the beginning can mean a lifetime of friendship. Your grown dog will alert you of danger to protect you, not in order to harm another person.
Seek the help of a professional trainer the moment you begin to notice problems with biting or barking. You want to make sure any sign of aggression towards the dog’s family is stopped right away. Dogs are pack animals by nature, and you must make sure your dog knows its place in the pack and sees you as the pack leader. If the dog sees himself as the pack leader, behavior problems such as violence can come into play.
But even while you are trying to establish yourself as the pack leader, it is important that you never strike the dog. This will only physically hurt the dog or make them end up resenting you, which can end poorly once the dog has grown into an adult. Teach a dog with love and respect, not violence and fear. What you put into raising your dog will be what you reap later. The way that a German Shepherd turns out as an adult is never its own fault, but the result of its training or lack thereof.
Make sure that you provide your puppy with the proper nutrition so that he or she can grow into a healthy dog, instead of a dog who is always ill. Poor health can lead to behavior problems if a dog has no other way of showing you their discomfort.
Make sure that potty training and basic commands are taught right away. All German Shepherd puppies should know the basic commands such as “sit,” “stay,” “heel,” and “come.” These commands are vital in order to maintain control of every situation and even to protect the dog’s life.