The German Shepherd Dog- Where to Find and How to Choose a German Shepherd Puppy- Part III

At this point you are ready to choose your German Shepherd puppy, although there is one more thing we haven’t discussed yet and you have to determine before you choose your new puppy. Do you want a male or a female? That’s actually a big decision and many people choose one or the other for the wrong reasons. There is a lot to say about this topic and I don’t want to digress from the topic at hand, so I will not write about this on this post. For now, let’s concentrate on learning how to choose the right puppy whether it’s a male or a female.

The first thing you should look for is for the puppy to be the right age. Some breeders might want you to take your puppy at 6 weeks of age, but you shouldn’t. The puppy should be physically and emotionally ready to be separated from his mother and littermates by the time you take him home. Typically you shouldn’t separate a German Shepherd puppy from his mother any earlier than at 8 weeks of age; for the most part between 8 and 12 weeks old.

Something that is very important in this process is to meet the parents of the puppies and the littermates. Study the parent’s temperament; how they interact with you and if they are too shy or too aggressive. Many times puppies inherit the parents’ personality. The puppy you choose must be well socialized too. He should be playful and friendly. Remember; physical characteristics are very important, but temperament is equally critical.

Make sure the puppies are kept in a clean area. The puppy you end up choosing should have the proper weight. He shouldn’t be too chubby or too thin. His eyes should be clear and the ears should be clean. He should have a full coat, with healthy looking hair and skin, and he shouldn’t scratch excessively. It is also important to confirm that the puppy you have picked is a healthy one. Take him to the veterinarian for a complete exam within the first couple of days of your purchase.

Umbilical hernias are the most common hernias in canines. Hernias can have severe and even fatal complications, and often require surgery. Make sure you touch his belly near the navel and check for an outward bulging in the area around the belly button.

Considering you are choosing a show quality German Shepherd puppy, you have to check for disqualifying faults such as coat length, color, bite faults and any flaws that would not change with age. If you are just looking for a pet quality puppy, the following parameters don't apply.

The only correct coat is the medium smooth. Puppies’ coats change as they grow, but even as puppies the coat must be short on the ears, the front of the legs, the feet and the toes.

Although the final color of a puppy is determined when the outer coat completely develops, he shouldn’t have fading pigmentation and he must be one of the colors described in the standard of the breed.

The puppy should not have an overbite, an underbite, or any other faults of dentition.

Monorchism and Cryptorchidism are faults, but since testicles in male dogs usually do not drop permanently until a few months later, there is no need to examine the puppy for missing testicles or testicles that have failed to descend into the scrotum.

The way German Shepherd dogs are shown in the show ring is very unique and the way they are stacked is completely different from any other breed. The stack, which is the way the dog stands, is a crucial component in showing off the dog’s physical structure. In order to choose the right show quality German Shepherd puppy you must stack the puppy and see how closely he resembles the ideal described in the standard. Dogs change with age, but doing this will give you a pretty good idea of the dog’s future conformation.

Refining this process takes a little practice, but for now you should do ok with the basics. Pick up the puppy’s front feet and set them down squarely under the shoulders. The front legs should be perpendicular to the ground, with the feet flat and the toes pointing straight forward. Now stack your puppy’s hind legs. Start with the interior hind leg first. Pick up your puppy’s foot and pull the leg up and forward under the body. The hock should be near the ground. Now take the exterior hind leg, slide it back gently until the hock is perpendicular to the ground and make sure the puppy’s foot is flat against the ground. The puppy should have the appropriate topline, proper angles, strong bones and the masculinity of the male or femininity of the female must be apparent.

Ahead are a few pictures of German Shepherd puppies owned by some friends. These puppies range from 40 days to three and a half months old and illustrate the correct conformation for a German Shepherd puppy.

40 Day Old German Shepherd Puppy
Bohan Von Der Napos (Horby Von Batu - Ultra Von For Ever)

6 Week Old German Shepherd Puppy
Geck vom Team Zellwaldrand (Joker vom Eichplatz - Quenda vom Team Zellwaldrand)

8 Week Old German Shepherd Puppy
Kessi vom Team Zellwaldrand (Tarzan Zellwaldrand - Quenda Team Zellwaldrand)

11 Week Old German Shepherd Puppy
Trix (VA9 Paul's daughter)

3 1/2 Month Old German Shepherd Puppy
Kessi vom Team Zellwaldrand (Tarzan Zellwaldrand - Quenda Team Zellwaldrand)

Additionally, remember to ask the breeder for some kind of guarantee, registration papers and the pedigree. Finally, ask him about shots, dewormings and any other exams the puppies may have had.

If everything works out right and you find a puppy you feel comfortable about taking home; go ahead and do it! You just found your new German Shepherd puppy.