German Shepherd Dog Breeder
How to Find a Reputable Breeder
What you are looking for is not just a German Shepherd breeder, but a reputable German Shepherd dog breeder! This is certainly not a breed that should be purchased from a pet store or just anybody that has bred the two dogs in the back yard! A reputable German Shepherd dog breeder has years of experience and knowledge, has done the research and knows the lines that they are breeding. They are more likely to have healthy puppies than a person who has two dogs in the yard. This does not mean that they do not have problems, even when they have tried their best; it means that they will stand behind the breeding.
When you are looking for reputable breeders, it is important to ask questions:
Ask about a written guarantee - what do they guarantee? Health, Hips, Ears? What do they require to return a puppy or dog?
Are they a member of a national or local breed club - this is no guarantee of responsibility, but most clubs have a code of ethics their breeders need to abide by.
Do they show the dogs? - A reputable breeder that shows their dogs will be proud to show you ribbons and awards they have won, and they are usually very dedicated to the breed.
What can they tell you about the breed, including history, behavioral tendencies and health concerns? A reputable breeder will have detailed knowledge about the breed.
The puppies' parents - are their hips and elbows x-rayed and certified by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). What (if any) health concerns do they have? What is their opinion of the temperament of their dogs? Usually just the mother will be present; the father is often brought in only for the mating. Ask about the father and ask to see any pictures and records. The puppies - if they are socialized properly - should grow up to have physical and mental characteristics similar to those of their relatives.
Will they require you to sign a contract? Reputable breeders will require that you sign a contract, more than likely it will contain a spay/neuter clause, requiring that the dog be spayed or neutered within a set period of time. It should outline the guarantee and any stipulations regarding the dog.
NEVER buy a dog from a pet shop! Responsible breeders do NOT sell their puppies to pet shops. Most of the pups sold in pet shops are supplied by puppy mills, wholesale operations that breed dogs in large numbers purely for economic gain. Most of these dogs are sickly products of poor and indiscriminate breeding. Do not even buy supplies from a pet shop that sells dogs; avoid them altogether. Only when their profits dry up will the puppy millers be forced out of business for good.
