What Is The Right Age To Adopt A German Shepherd Puppy? Important Tips For The New Owners!!!

German Shepherd puppy with mother dog — Image by Anja from Pixabay

German Shepherds are the most lovable and popular dog breed in the USA because of their ability of strength, fierceness, agility, and protective nature toward their owner. I hope you will agree to adopt this gorgeous breed. You must be eager to bring the puppy home, but you must also be unsure about the appropriate age to adopt them. There may be questions about what will be the right age for your German Shepherd puppy to adopt and to make them your family member.

The purpose of adopting a German Shepherd is very simple as you may be a great lover of pets. If you are in the mood to adopt them then you should know that the best age to take German Shepherd puppies into your home is when they become 7 to 8 weeks older as this is the stage where German Shepherd pups are not taken away from their mother dog too early but this is also the time where they can easily integrate with other families.

GSD puppies are just like human children, they also need initial love and care from their mother. You should not take away German Shepherd puppies too early from their mother as it is very important for their growth and they can’t handle separation from their mother when they are too small. However, it is also important to consult a good official agency or actual breeder that follows all the laws and regulations.

Now you know the right age to adopt a German Shepherd puppy and I also understand that this post will be very helpful for the new owner as there is a lot to discuss and know.

Here in this post, you will come to know:

Why you should not adopt a German Shepherd puppy just after its birth?
What should you look for before buying a German Shepherd puppy?
What Should you ask your German Shepherd dog breeder?

Let’s dive into the topic and discuss it thoroughly:

Table of Contents

Why You Shouldn’t Adopt A German Shepherd Puppy Just After Their Birth?

The idea of having a German Shepherd puppy as a pet will be the right choice and you will not regret it as they are known for their ability of strength, agility, intelligence, and protective nature towards their owner. You should also know that the best age to adopt a German Shepherd puppy is when are seven to eight weeks older but at the same time, you should also know why you should not adopt them just after their birth.

German Shepherd pups are just like human children, they too are highly attached to their mothers. They too learn many things from their mother and taking them away from their mother just after their birth will impact them adversely.

German Shepherd puppies also need their mother’s milk during the earlier stage of their life. There are plenty of reasons why you should not take German Shepherd pups just after birth their mother which you should also know before adopting them. Taking German Shepherd pups too sooner will affect both the child as well as the mother so you should avoid adopting them too sooner.

Let’s see some of the important reasons why you should not adopt German Shepherd puppies before they are seven weeks older one by one:

Initial Stage Learning For German Shepherd Puppy

Every pet lover wants to keep some pets in their home and a German Shepherd pup may be the favorite one but taking a German Shepherd pup away from its mother will never be a great idea. German Shepherd pups do learn many things from their mother which play a very important role in their personality development and ultimately in survival in this world.

The mother of a young German Shepherd puppy is also responsible for teaching them during the initial socialization period because they can learn animal behavior and social skills when they are about 3 to 5 weeks older. A mother is the first teacher of not only a human child but also of a young German Shepherd puppy.

With the help of their mother, the German Shepherd puppy can scan and properly play behaviors and communication skills with other dogs and animals. They also understand the impulse bite inhibition from their brothers, sisters, and ofcourse their mother.

However, some research also shows that the puppies who are taken away from their mother at very early stages of their lives show some problems in behavior and temperament when they become adults, here their temperament will include aggression, and fear, and will become difficult to train. This is the reason German Shepherd pups should not be taken away sooner after their birth from their mother.

Basic Socialization Learning

Basic Socialization is one of the major reasons for not taking away German Shepherd puppies from their mother under the actual age recommended or just after their birth as German Shepherd pups learn the initial phase of socialization from their mother.

It is well said that mothers are the best teacher for children at the initial stage of life as is the case with puppies. German Shepherd pups learn many basic socialization techniques from their mother and they teach them to interact with other dogs or animals and also self-discipline.

No doubt mothers play role models for their pups, they play crucial roles in behaving well with other animals. They also play the role of savior for some time as a result their pups feel safe if they see their mother near.

On the other hand, socialization is also important for German Shepherd puppies as according to Dr. Sally Foote, one of the best veterinarian and behaviorists, the socialization period in puppies generally lasts from between 6 and 12-to-14 weeks of age.

State Of Legalization

Legalization is another process why you should not adopt German Shepherd pups at a very early stage of their life as many states do not allow the purchase of German Shepherd pups that are under 8 weeks of age. However, there are some states like Maine, Wisconsin, and Virginia that allow the purchase of pups that must be at least seven weeks of age.

This very law is very impactful and good for the pups as it prohibits the greed of backyard breeders or other irresponsible breeders whose only purpose is to earn profit through illegal breeding. So you should also think twice before buying German Shepherd pups and go through the legal process implemented by the government.

What should You Look For When Buying A German Shepherd Puppy?

German Shepherds are considered to be the best companion of their owners and they are known for their protective nature towards their beloved ones. They are also popular for their strength, intelligence, and loyalty which makes them the perfect breed to be pet by lovable owners.

Every dog lover will enjoy German Shepherds as a pet and their dream will come true if they bring this new companion home. However, there are a few things that you should also look at before buying a GSD puppy if you want full service of this breed.

Here are 5 key points that you should look at before buying a German Shepherd:

1. Research On Reputable Breeder

One of the most important things before buying a German Shepherd puppy is you should do proper research on breeders. They should be experienced, genuine and follow all government rules and regulations.

You should also do inquiries about the parents of German Shepherd pups and look after their appearance and temperament. You should also understand that there are many breeders whose main purpose is to earn profit while some breed with good intentions. So always do some research before having German Shepherds as your pet and do a proper investigation of the breeders.

2. Find The Reputable Breeder

If you have done some research about the breeders before the purchase of a GSD puppy then you must be able to find a genuine and reputable breeder. Finding a suitable breeder will allow you to get the original breed and will prohibit the false breeder whose only aim is to earn profit.

Always choose a breeder who has already completed all the certifications of German Shepherds and also done necessary health issues. The health certificate must include German Shepherd dogs who must not have any symptoms of hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, eye disorder, and their mental temperament.

3. Evaluation Method

Every new dog owner must go through an evaluation method before buying a German Shepherd. The evaluation method includes, you must evaluate the breeder and asking your query regarding the breeding of German Shepherds.

You may ask the breeder the following queries:

Their Breeding Experience
Bloodline of the breed
Health Issues
Temperament
Appearance
About their parents

4. Decision On Buying a Male Or Female German Shepherd

The decision of buying a German Shepherd pup is good but you must be sure before their purchase whether you have to buy a male German Shepherd or a female German Shepherd. You must be comfortable with their gender before their purchase.

5. Consider Your Budget

This is the main factor that you should always consider before buying a German Shepherd. If you are going to have a puppy in your home, you must consider your budget as after buying a German Shepherd as a pet you can’t compromise their health and expenditure.

6. Attending Breed Events

The new owners should be mentally prepared before buying a German Shepherd. They must do proper research and attend various breed events are among them. There is a lot to learn in these events and every new owner must attend this before buying a German Shepherd.

7. Decision Of Shelter

Today almost everyone wants a pet in their home but before having them as your pet or buying you must make a proper shelter for them. As your German Shepherd pup will arrive in a new environment and they need to make a favorable and friendly environment.

8. Meet the Veterinarian

Meeting vets is always beneficial and when you are bringing a new pup into your home it will act like Icing on the cake. The professional veterinarian will provide you with proper suggestions regarding your pup’s health, diet plan, surroundings, exercise, and many more.

You can know detailed suggestions about this new breed, their temperament, and their grooming skills. So you must meet your vet before purchasing any pet for proper suggestions as it will be good for you as well as your German Shepherd puppy.

Final Thought:

Interested pet lovers who are willing to adopt a German Shepherd as their pet will be a great idea as they are highly friendly and protective towards their owner. Some of the new owners hesitate to buy a new pet because of the lack of information.

Here are the key points from this post that you should not miss:

The right age to adopt a German Shepherd pup is when they become seven to eight weeks older.
You should buy a German Shepherd who is less than 7 weeks of age as they learn many things from their littermates.
If you are willing to buy a German Shepherd pup then always buy from a reputable breeder who follows all the rules and regulations implemented by the government.
Do proper research before buying them and consult your vets which will be helpful for you as well as your pet.

I hope this post provided you with the relevant information and if you are willing to have German Shepherd dogs as your pet then go for proper research and buy from a genuine breeder and also consult your vets or some professionals. Enjoy this little mate as your new companion. Till then good luck!!!.