German Shepherd — Frequently Asked Questions

At minimum, expect an official FCI pedigree (or the application already filed), a health booklet showing full vaccinations and deworming, a registered microchip, a veterinary health certificate, and the parents' HD/ED and DNA test results. Note that the FCI pedigree itself can take a few weeks to arrive after the litter is registered.
→ Complete puppy documentation info

Not before 8 weeks — that window is critical for behavioral development and for socializing with the mother and littermates. We aim for somewhere between 8 and 10 weeks.

ENS, Early Neurological Stimulation, is a set of brief exercises done between days 3 and 16 of a puppy's life, timed to a critical window in nervous system development. The payoff is dogs that handle stress better, adapt more easily and show steadier emotions.

Look for super-premium, high-protein food formulated specifically for large breeds — Royal Canin Maxi Puppy, Acana and Orijen are common choices. Nutrition in that first year directly shapes bone and muscle development, and any diet switch should happen gradually, spread over 7–10 days.

Between weeks 3 and 16, gradually introduce the puppy to a wide range of experiences — different people including kids, other animals, household and street noise, varied surfaces, vehicles. Keep every exposure positive and stop before the puppy gets overwhelmed. Skip this step and you'll likely end up with a dog that reacts with fear or overreacts to ordinary things.

It's the internationally recognized document that confirms a dog's lineage, its place in a controlled bloodline, and its conformity to the breed standard. Without one, there's no real proof a dog is what it's claimed to be. Every dog at Casa Arancina carries at least 7 generations of verified pedigree.
→ Why the FCI pedigree matters

Price swings a lot based on bloodline, the parents' titles, health certification and the breeder's standing. As a general market reference, a puppy with a genuine FCI pedigree, HD/ED-tested parents and a proper socialization protocol behind it usually falls between 1,500 and 3,500 €. Anything noticeably cheaper is worth questioning — it often signals missing testing, no real pedigree, or no meaningful selection process at all. Casa Arancina isn't a commercial dog-selling operation; these figures are simply a market reference based on current European pricing.

IGP (Internationale Gebrauchshund Prüfung) tests tracking, obedience and protection together, evaluating the dog as a whole — its courage, nerve stability, working drive and obedience when under pressure. Of everything in a pedigree, IGP results tell you the most about a dog's genuine character.

It's the official temperament assessment, run by SV judges, covering nerve stability, response to unfamiliar stimuli, courage and emotional balance. Every subsequent title builds on this foundation — a dog that fails it has no place in a breeding program.

This is the companion dog test, the entry-level formal obedience exam, checking behavior around the public, response to traffic and basic obedience in front of a certified judge. No dog can sit an IGP exam without passing BH first.

Körung is the toughest filter in the system — the official assessment required for entry into the SV breeding program. Without it, a dog can't be bred within SV-affiliated kennels. The evaluation covers structure, movement, temperament and health records together.

The BSZS (Bundessieger-Zuchtschau) is SV Germany's annual flagship breeding show and the most significant event of its kind worldwide for the breed. A V27 placement puts the dog among the top 30 out of hundreds of international entrants — a strong reference point for any breeding dog. Cosmo di Casa Beggiato, Pako von Hingabe's father, placed V27 at BSZS 2024.
→ Pako von Hingabe profile

An affix is the officially recognized kennel name, registered internationally through the FCI — not something every breeder actually holds. Casa Arancina's affix, No. 4653, was issued on 03.10.2023 under FCI aegis.
→ About Casa Arancina Kennel

SV (Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde), based in Augsburg, is the society that originally founded the breed. It maintains FCI Standard No. 166, runs the SV-DOxS registry and organizes the WUSV World Championship. We follow SV's rules at Casa Arancina.

Yes — support doesn't stop once the dog goes home. We offer ongoing guidance on feeding, training, competing and settling into family life, in line with the Italian ENCI and SAS reference bodies, and we stay reachable for any questions down the line, whether about the breed generally or your specific dog.

Reach us through the contact form, by email at contact@casaarancina.it, or by phone/WhatsApp at +39 329 452 0695. We typically reply within 24 hours, and breed counseling is always free, no strings attached.
→ Contact page