Buying a German Shepherd Dog from a Breeder

Buying from a breeder is a big decision and not all breeders are created equal. With the popularity of the German Shepherd Dog there are many people simply trying to cash in on the breeds popularity.

Here are some tips to make buying from German Shepherd breeders easier. By following this tips you will increase the odds of getting a solid dog for your needs.

Why do you want to buy a German Shepherd? Are you looking for a house pet? Working dog? Service dog? What purpose will the dog serve in your life?

If you are looking for a family companion you should consider saving your money and adopting a German Shepherd from a purebred rescue.

If you are looking for a working dog then you want to purchase from a ethical breeder who uses their dogs for the work you are looking to get involved in. For example, if you are looking for a herding dog then find a breeder who titles and uses their German Shepherds for herding.

If you are looking to get involved in protection sports then look for a breeder who actively titles their dogs in the protection sport you plan on competing in.

Breeders reputation. Ask the breeder for references from customers who have bought dogs from them in the past. Ask for pedigrees, if they are selling working dogs ask them what work they specialize in, you should really dig in and ask a lot of questions.

Always go see the dogs. Never buy sight unseen and never buy over the Internet. You are making a huge investment here this is not toaster oven. It is an animal that will live in your house for upto 12 years, possibly up to 15 years. Go to the breeders, meet them, meet their dogs and get to know them.

Get OFA Information. With the popularity of the breed comes morons who want to breed for cash. Breeders who are only in it for the money will cut corners, make bad decisions and you will end up with a four legged health problem.

Hip issues have been a problem with the German Shepherd for many years and ethical breeders will OFA the breeding pairs hips before they breed them. Ask for the OFA results on the breeding pair. You are looking for good to excellent OFA results. If the breeder says they never OFA their hips because they "know what they breed" thank them for their time and move on to a breeder who makes the investment in their dogs.

Proof. This is a big one if you are looking for a working dog. The breeder should be able to show you ample proof their dogs excel in the work they are chosen for. Whatever that may be.

If the breeder says, "Yeah, we have Schutzhund titles on our dogs." Ask them what levels. If they say, "Our dogs rock at scent detection and are used by law enforcement agencies the world over" ask them for a list of agencies currently deploying their dogs as detection dogs.

They should be able to show you proof instantly. No need to wait 5 days. You should be able to get a list of references from law enforcement if their dogs are being used as Police K9's from them. You should be able to see their dogs in action if they are actively training dogs for sport or work.

Imported vs. Home Grown. Are you wanting a dog from American lines or German lines? Do your homework on the benefits of each line. Back in the day the German lines started to suffer due to the breeds popularity and the Germans felt the need to cut corners to get their dogs out there. Since then the roles have reversed. German Shepherds bred for shows in America are starting to show hip problems, over angulation, and are basically extremely pretty statues of the dogs that are available from Germany.

With that said, not all American bred dogs are useless. You should do your homework on the breeders lines before you make a decision. Who was their foundation sire and dam? What are they breeding for? Show or work? Take your time and really invest the effort into studying the dogs and the breeders ethics.

When You're Ready to Buy

Once you have done your homework and feel good about your decision stop. Take a day or two more and think it over again. Then if you're still set on a specific breeder or a specific dog get the ball rolling.

Ethical breeders will be willing to work with you and help you choose the right dog for your needs. Be up front with the breeder about why you want one of their dogs. They will care where they are going and what they are going to be used for so expect them to ask you a lot of questions.

In the end, buying a German Shepherd can be a great decision if you plan and make sure you are dealing with an ethical breeder. Take your time. It is a big decision and you will have to live with the dog for a long time.

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