How to choose a German Shepherd puppy

The German Shepherd is considered to be one of the most popular dog breeds. As they say, there is always a supply for demand, so there should not be any difficulties with finding breeders. However, not all nurseries conscientiously treat animals and their future owners. In order not to stumble on scammers, you must have sufficient knowledge regarding the choice of a puppy. Experienced dog handlers have come up with a number of effective recommendations that will help you become a happy owner of a thoroughbred friend.

For what purposes is a puppy purchased

There are several basic areas for which a puppy is acquired. This includes breeding and domestic breeding, exhibition purposes. Consider each aspect in order.

1. Puppies for shows. In most cases, this type of puppy belongs to the class of "luxury". After the purchase, the owner registers the pet in the club, while the control from the breeder remains. Show Shepherds must meet the highest international standards. The dog has the right to participate in competitions up to 5 years, after this time it acquires the status of "pet". About 2-3 years after the start of the exhibition work, you can enroll a pet in a breeding group. The dog will be able to give offspring with a good pedigree. If the animal has repeatedly won in shows, the price of puppies will be sky-high.
2. Puppies for breeding. Tribal direction is one of the most popular. Many breeders keep girls for these purposes, if bitches meet basic standards (setting paws, bite, direction of the pelvis, etc.). The cost of a puppy for breeding is much lower than in the case of the exhibition direction. At the same time, it is not necessary to give the pet control to the club or nursery. The main difference between breeding dogs from other groups is excellent exterior qualities, good health (physical, psychological), easy adaptation.
3. Domestic puppies. The most common direction for acquiring a puppy. Many people prefer to have a shepherd as a companion and protector of the family. This category of dogs is not inferior in quality characteristics to breeding specimens, however, the offspring will be imperfect. This does not apply to the general state of health, we are talking about the exterior characteristics. The pricing policy is quite reasonable, a shepherd as a pet on the wallet of an average family.

Practical recommendations

1. Do not blindly trust the breeders, check all documents. The kennel in which the puppy is acquired must be recognized as a cynological center of international standard. This is evidenced by the corresponding seal on the front side of the certificate. Important! The color printer and printing are the main allies of scammers. They can print the pedigree of each dog, but these pets will not be registered at the dog training center.
2. Shepherds are prone to various kinds of diseases. For this reason, it is recommended to study the documents of the parents (producers) of a particular puppy. Ask the breeder for information on the state of psychological and physical health, certified by seals. It is important that the pet does not have ophthalmic diseases and a tendency to dysplasia. In addition, the documents should contain information about the exterior assessment, the dog's test for courage and endurance. This applies not only to animals that are producers of "service" puppies. Ask the breeder for a litter inspection report to identify the defect. It is compiled during the first examination of puppies.
3. After studying the documents, you should pay attention to other important aspects. In cases where the bitch and the dog live in the same city, the breeder should freely introduce you to two producers. Mother should be calm, but not wary. The maximum allowable number of puppies in one litter usually does not exceed 10 babies. If the female is smaller, the number is reduced to 8 puppies. Important! Be sure to inspect all puppies from the same litter (condition - if they have not yet been sold). When the breeder shows only part of the offspring, it is worth considering, perhaps the rest have congenital diseases or other characteristics for a serious marriage.
4. Bitches give offspring with an interval of 1 year to 2 years. If the litter was born earlier, think about the quality of the puppies. Babies aged 2-2.5 months should already have a stigma. If it is not, this indicates the absence of a positive assessment obtained during the tribal inspection. The optimal age for buying a puppy is 2.5 months. After this time, the pet begins to grow actively, so it is not recommended to take an older dog.

How to choose a German Shepherd puppy

After examining the documents, do not rush to buy the first pet you like. Carefully study the physiology and psychology of the animal, and then make a decision.

Animal psychology
Shepherd dogs are characterized by a calm temperament, restraint. Two-month-old babies can become fearful if they are often taken out for a walk without proper supervision. Pay attention to the behavior of the pet when it is among its brothers. Curiosity and playfulness must be present.

If the puppy has apathy and lethargy, it is quite possible that upon reaching adulthood he will become shy and lazy. Overly active babies can turn into an aggressive dog at this time. Give preference to a puppy who is moderately playful and calm.

Animal physiology

1. The main indicator of health, of course, is the appearance of the puppy. It should be well-fed, strong, whipped. Feel free to ask the breeder to show you each of the kids to appreciate them.
2. The coat of the animal must be clean, uniform, short. Scabs in the ears and directly the brushes themselves appear by three months of age. Another option (lack of scratching) indicates a possible pathology. Make sure that the puppy's coat is even, smooth, glossy, without curls.
3. Inspect the animal’s ears; in a healthy dog, they smell good. If you feel musty, stench - it is quite possible for a puppy to have ear mites. It is impossible to withdraw them yourself; regular medical supervision and the passage of a course of antibiotics will be required. To check whether the pet is hearing or not, clap your hands. The puppy must respond instantly.
4. If you want to get a male, examine the genitals of the animal. The testicles descend into the scrotum when the pet reaches 1.5 months. Otherwise, you risk buying a puppy who in the future will not be able to produce offspring (infertility).
5. Particular attention should be paid to the eyes. In shepherd dogs they are almond-shaped, dark brown, dry (not watery), not convex. In the field of pupils there should not be inclusions of a foreign color. If you observe white or yellow spots, it is possible that the animal has previously undergone surgery. Initially, puppies can be born with blue eyes, but subsequently this shade will change to kareem.
6. Examine the dog's paws, the forelimbs are much thicker than the hind legs. They have convex nodular joints that are clearly visible. Paw setting should also be appropriate: in a healthy puppy they do not move apart, the pet moves confidently, does not whine. The paw pads of the shepherd dogs are quite large, oval, the claws are black or dark brown.
7. Unlike other dog breeds, shepherd dogs have a scissor bite. Open the jaws of the animal, make sure that the upper jaw is 0.5-0.7 cm. Protrudes above the lower. In some cases, the figure may be greater. The distance between the incisors usually does not exceed a mark of 2 mm., The teeth should not be fused.
8. The wide muzzle indicates the good health of the dog; in no case should it be narrow. Examine the puppy’s head, you will notice a smooth transition from an unsharp muzzle to a wide enough forehead.
9. A serious defect can be a croup leaning down. When the pet grows up, it will begin to throw up its hind legs in different directions, provoking a curvature of the spine. Ultimately, the animal will suffer, will not be able to actively move. Choose a puppy with a slightly sloping pelvis. When it grows, the back will become even.
10. Healthy puppies of the German Shepherd have rather wide hips and shoulders (shoulder area), a short loin and back, an elongated and straight neck, strong limbs with a long bend at the knees (legs do not give way).
11. Put the puppy on a flat surface, bring it to a comfortable state. When the animal becomes more or less playful, value the tail. In no case should it be wrapped in a hook or an arc, the correct position is a completely straight tail with no tassels on the tip. As a rule, small puppies drag him above the ground without throwing him on his back.
12. Many believe that two-month-old puppies must have ears, but this error is extremely erroneous. Usually they get up to 5 months. If the ears are set high, they will rise much faster. There are frequent cases when one of the cartilage is weaker than the other, respectively, the ears stand up in turn.
13. Turn the baby upside down, evaluate the condition of the skin. On the surface there should be no redness, small pimples, ulcers. A smooth pinkish skin tone without dark spots indicates the good health of the baby. If you notice subcutaneous tubercles, the puppy most likely has a lymph node inflamed.
14. It is worth paying attention to the size of the puppy, it should not be larger than its brothers (if we are talking about one litter). No need to choose the largest pet that stands out from the rest. Such specimens are usually lagging behind in development, both psychologically and physiologically.
15. Ask your breeder for a veterinary passport and puppy registration information. Carefully study the availability of vaccinations, as a rule, at the age of two months, puppies have already been vaccinated against carnivore plague (vaccination against rabies is done at 3 months). Also in the passport there should be marks on deworming (worms run), subsequently it is carried out every six months.

Today, not all breeders are conscientious about the health of four-legged wards. For this reason, future owners have a headache associated with choosing a puppy. It is necessary to study a lot of information, get acquainted with the physiology and psychology of the German Shepherd. Only a sober mind and memory will help to acquire a healthy animal.

Video: how to put ears to a German shepherd puppy