Choosing The Right German Shepherd Breeder
Finding a reputable German Shepherd breeder should be easy right? Well, not always. Even though German Shepherds are the third most popular dog in the United States, finding a reputable breeder can be very difficult.
If you do your homework and are confident that you can give a German Shepherd the proper exercise and keep their mind stimulated then search on for the puppy of your choice.
When you look for a puppy, you are so excited and can’t wait to bring the little cutie home. All of a sudden, you see an ad that reads “German Shepherd Puppies for sale”. This is not the time to be impulsive. Don’t rush and call the first ad you read. Do all of your homework and research thoroughly every breeder you encounter.
Be sure to buy your puppy from only German Shepherd breeders that are reputable and of high quality. You don’t want to buy a puppy that has a poor temperament or a lot of health issues. This would be painful to you especially once you have bonded with your puppy. Be sure to take time and find a puppy that has a sound and alert mind, good body and good temperament. The only way to get these qualities is by buying your puppy from a reputable German Shepherd breeder.
Beware of ads that say “German Shepherd for Sale”. These are usually puppy mills and less than reputable backyard breeders. People that casually breed German Shepherds are motivated to do so for the wrong reasons including money. Many breeders just breed dogs so that their children can witness the miracle of birth or they believe they have a great dog and want their dog to have puppies. There are two wrong reasons to breed dogs especially German Shepherds.
Breeds that are reputable and responsible and care about the future of the German Shepherd breed normally do not advertise in the classifieds of your local newspaper. Many of these breeders have waiting lists and announce they have puppies for sale by word of mouth or through an organization associated with German Shepherds.
If you are looking for a reputable breeder check out veterinarians, German Shepherd organizations, kennel clubs, or pet supply outlets. You can also buy magazines such as The German Shepherd Quarterly. Of course, you will pay a cheaper price for a puppy from a backyard breeder, however, the puppy may not be a purebred German Shepherd or may have many health issues from poor breeding.
Always ask questions about the breeder and the quality of the puppies. Reputable breeders will have you sign a contract that states you must spay or neuter the puppy when it is of age. This is to prevent backyard breeding in the future. There are also German Shepherd breeders that will give you an AKC limited registration that states the lineage of the puppy. A limited registration means that if the puppy is bred in the future those puppies will not be eligible for AKC registration.