Where to Find German Shepherd Breeders

by Jan Ryan

The German Shepherd dog has a relatively short history though it is a well-loved and well-worked dog today. The breed began in Germany in 1899 and was registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1911. Briefly renamed the Alsatian Wolf Dog due to anti-German sentiment surrounding World War II, the German Shepherd regained popularity so much that over 48,000 German Shepherds were enlisted into the German army. The intelligent and hard-working breed can be trained in a variety of areas.

The German Shepherd dog is wolfish in appearance and has been bred to retain its lupine beauty, intelligence and utility. This breed is one of the most popular dogs in the world. It was renamed the Alsatian Wolf Dog briefly in the 1900s due to anti-German sentiment surrounding World War II. Though this breed is classified by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as part of the herding group, German Shepherds perform many other functions. Though other breeds may be able to defeat the German Shepherd in specific tasks, the Shepherd is one of the best-rounded dogs and is capable of being trained to do many tasks. German Shepherd breeders may often train these dogs. The breed is commonly used in police work, as guides for the blind, and as security for many families and businesses.

Purebred German Shepherds have specific characteristics. Max von Stephanitz inbred the first German Shepherds so that certain traits would be guaranteed in the line. The German Shepherd Dog Club of Germany sets the breed standard. It defines characteristics from body measurements to character to gait. German Shepherd breeders should be familiar with the breed standard as well as what health problems to expect and to have dogs evaluated for. For example, German Shepherds are prone to hip dysplasia and other skeletal disorders.

Good German Shepherd breeders will also have registration papers or some form of pedigree for each Shepherd they sell, preferably from the American Kennel Club. German Shepherd breeders will also provide medical records and offer a guarantee against the dog developing hip dysplasia at least within the first year.

German Shepherd breeders will provide not only registration papers and certification of ancestry (preferably American Kennel Club certified) but also medical records showing evidence of health and immunization. These documents are necessary to determine whether a buyer is getting a purebred, healthy German Shepherd. There are many illicit breeders in the market to make money with little regard for the dogs they are breeding. These bad breeders often are puppy brokers as well, meaning they sell dogs that they may have never even seen. Worse are breeders who run puppy mills, which churn out litters but in poor conditions with little socialization.

How does a buyer avoid bad or illicit German Shepherd breeders? There are some obvious signs by which to recognize bad breeders. Unlike good breeders, bad breeders often do not have their own kennels, or if they do they refuse to allow buyers to visit. This is a clue that the breeder does not want the buyer to see the environment in which the German Shepherd has been raised or that the breeder does not have a kennel at all. Some so called breeders are actually brokers who take a fee for finding buyers for German Shepherd breeders.

Another sign is that the breeder cannot or will not provide health information. Some may have ties with specific veterinarians and may want a buyer to get medical documentation only from certain vets. A buyer should be able to take their puppy for evaluation at the veterinarian’s office of their choice.

A final sign of a bad breeder is not asking the buyers for any information about themselves. Good breeders interview buyers to make sure the household their puppy is going to will be appropriate and have adequate discipline, care and training. Breeders that don’t ask questions don’t care about their German Shepherds.

About the Author:

Jan Ryan is a passionate lover of the German Shepherd and has a popular website where you’ll discover how to have a happy, healthy and well behaved German Shepherd. Among other topics there, you can also learn all about German Shepherd Breeder Information plus a whole lot more.