Are you thinking of taking on a German Shepherd Dog? A new love in your life?? Ideally purchased at 8 weeks from a breeder who not only had him in peak condition physically but believed in environmental enrichment for puppy, your little one will spend the next few weeks learning the rules of your home. Give him time to settle. He will soon try to teach YOU the rules, HIS rules! From getting up at daybreak to feed an ever hungry pup to playing ball with the intrepid little hunter, he'll keep you on your toes. From hiding all the best shoes behind the couch to decorating the kitchen with Kitty Litter, he fits in well, he's mum's little helper! So let him help! GIVE him environmental enrichment! Toys to play with, a quiet place of his own where he can retire for a nap. Give him a little bit of play training every day and once he's had his shots, introduce him to the world!
Protect him from harm while he is a youngster and as an adult, he will guard you with his life. If you want a steady and loyal guard / companion dog for your home, you need look no further. Whether black and gold or sable, the two most popular colours, he is a dog of natural shape. Unless he is a long coated specimen, he requires little grooming time. Gleaming with health and eye catching with his look of nobility and strength, your German Shepherd Dog catches the imagination even as he lazily stretches out in front of the fire, half closes his eyes and dreams his hunters' dreams of dark woods and long eared bunnies. Or is he dreaming of a shepherd's idyll, 300 woolly lambs frolicking in the sun, and one carelessly leaving the narrow strip of grass they should be grazing to pluck a mouthful of silver beet from the field near the brook? He'll sort him out! He's running now, leaping in his dreams! Dream on my pup, guardian of the flock, the die is cast, I own you now, a GSD, why not?
Do you have the parents on site? May I see them? This is a bit of a trick question. You should always be able to see the mother -- unless she died giving birth -- but reputable breeders often don't have the father on hand. That's because the best match for any particular dog may be owned by another breeder, and the female was sent away for breeding.
As for the mother, she may be a little anxious with strangers around her puppies, but on her own you want to see a well-socialized, calm and well-mannered dog. So, too, should be the rest of the breeder's dogs. If you don't like the temperaments of a breeder's grown dogs, what makes you think you'll get a good temperament in one of the puppies? --
What are the good and bad points of the parents? You may be looking for a pet-quality purebred, but you still want to buy from someone who knows what top-quality examples of the breed are -- and uses such animals in a breeding program. You want to see some titles in the pedigree. It doesn't matter if you go home and throw that fine pedigree in a drawer. --
Where were these puppies raised? How have you socialized them? "In the house" is the best answer to the first question. You want a puppy who knows what the dishwasher sounds like, whom you don't have to peel off the ceiling when a pan drops, who has set a paw on linoleum, carpet and tile. Environmental socialization is important, but so, too, is the intentional kind. The best breeders make sure puppies have been handled by adults of both genders and by children. --
What guarantees do you provide? You want to see a contract explaining the breeder's responsibilities should the puppy develop a congenital ailment. In most cases, such contracts state either replacement with a new puppy or refunding of your purchase price.
The contract also states your responsibilities, such as neutering your pet. You may also be required to return the dog to the breeder if you can no longer keep him. Such language is the sign of a concerned and responsible breeder.
Read and discuss the paperwork with the breeder. The best breeders offer contracts that protect not only the buyer and seller, but also the most vulnerable part of the transaction: the puppy. --
www.ASuperiorGSD.com
Lane's House Of Shepherds
Old Fashion Large German Shepherds
Intelligent, Noble, Dignified, Sensitive,
Loyal. Sound in mind and body. LanesShepherds@Gmail.com http://userla64.bravejournal.com/ 
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