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Selecting a German Shepherd Breeder

Google the term ' German Shepherd Breeder ' and you will come up with more than 650,000 options. I can only imagine how extremely overwhelming this must be for someone looking for a new German Shepherd Puppy. Regardless if you are wanting a top Show/Sport prospect, or just a healthy and sound companion for your family, the following article will hopefully help steer you in the right direction. Choosing the right breeder is almost as important as the puppy itself. The breeder must be active in the breed, well educated in the breed, and established in the breed. First we will look at the "Active Breeder".

An active breeder is someone who is not just active breeding puppies, they are active in the breed itself. They are doing SOMETHING with their dogs other than feeding and breeding. They are involved in showing, agility, competitive obedience, Schutzhund, tracking, etc. They belong to breed, training, and/or kennel clubs. Their dogs are out and about and are being seen by others and have clubs that hopefully have a written code of breeder ethics that must be followed. Purchasing a puppy from an active breeder will also increase your chances of getting a puppy from someone who is educated in the breed.

The educated breeder will know about the common and not so common health and temperament concerns in the breed. What questions should the educated breeder be able to answer? Below are some you should be asking to find out not only if the breeder is educated, but if they are using that knowledge:

What steps do they take to ensure strong hips, elbows, and other orthopedic health in their dogs and the puppies they produce.
Do their dogs have to be fed a specific diet due to allergies, and how common are allergies in their lines.
Have they produced dogs with pannus or other eye problems, and how common is it in their lines.
Have their breeding dogs or any dogs within the first three generations had a problem with gastric torsion or bloat, or have they ever produced a puppy who has torsioned/bloated.
Have there been any cases of Pancreatic problems in their own dogs or in puppies they have produced.
What type of drives and dominance level do the parents have and what type of temperament are they trying to produce in their puppies.
What traits do they admire most in the breed and what are they breeding for.
Has the litter been temperament tested by a third party and can you see the results.
Do their dogs have any problems with dog aggression or child aggression.
Do their dogs respond well to positive reinforcement training or do they require a lot of pressure and correction.
Do their dogs live in or outdoors or a mixture of both. What do they recommend.

The educated breeder will also be able to assist you down the road with any problems or concerns that may come up with your puppy, but only if they are going to be around for the "long haul".

Purchasing your puppy from a breeder who is established in the breed and who plans to be around in the future, is beneficial for a number of reasons:

They will be around to answer questions regarding possible health, temperament, and training concerns down the road.
They will have an established genetic line so you more than likely will be able to purchase another puppy 10+ years down the road that was related to your first if desired.
They will hopefully have a well respected reputation and well known line of dogs that they will want to maintain.
With years of hard work developing a breeding program come years of experience and unless you are not active, years of knowledge.

So to sum things up, find a breeder who is active, educated, and established. And someone you feel comfortable having a relationship with for years to come.

(not to be republished without prior written consent)