Need to find a breeder I can trust as an inexperienced semi-newbie - Page 1

Over the past decade plus I have bought from 4-5 USA breeders,first West German showlines, and more recently working  lines.I  have been sold dogs with no drive for the ball(showlines),with poor nerves/borderline fear biter ,including one female  that would get sick every time she went in the car  regardless of how long before the car ride she had been fed,andhave been sold pups whose hips I had xrayed and were diagnosed withhip dysplasia(working Czech and Czech/DDR bloodlines most recently) I  am so fed up with dealing with unethical  breeders that I may never get another German shepherd. I was not allowed to see one of thesales contracts until after I paid for a pup ,in spite of numerous requests asking to see it,a nd I soon found out why. The contract was written to make it nearly impossible to replace a pup. One  breeder even said  that not feeding a raw diet caused the hd, even though I used an alternate diet she had given  approval for in no uncertain terms, based on it being on her website ,(for her  non raw feeders clients). I would appreciate private messages on this  .Most of you know the people I have dealt with and some of them have either posted here or on the vomdomburgerland website and I will leave it at that. I am going out of the country on vacation in Feb to late March. last week I had an  incident involving a stranger showing up on my 10 acres, after dark,at my door ,and I am 200 ft or more off the road! This proved  to me that my Czech/DDR female with mild hd is worthless as even a noisemaker/deterrent,  I will be looking for an older dog later this year,and wish to talk to members who will actually sell a good dog to a newbie at a fair price.I  now know I way overpaid for the puppies I had(all have long since been rehomed  except for one I bought for my daughter whom I stil have),.I have since been studying pedigrees,go on various messageboards/blogs and have a better idea of what I should be paying for a quality pup/young adult. If anyone could help me I would be very grateful .I am in Oklahoma.

What part of the country are you in? It would help to know that.

last line says they are in oklahoma.   how about an age range of dog you are looking for?  when  will you be wanting to take the dog?  male/female?  what will you be doing with the dog sport, pet, personal protection? 

the more details you are able to give the better idea people will get of the type of dog you need.  at least the ones who would truly help you and not those that just want to sell you another dog.

john

I'd say go young adult or adult. You see what is in front of you, the hips/elbows and health will be obvious..  The Temperament and nerves will show itself, you can see the fully developed drives etc etc... It's hard for someone to bullshit ya when you can see with your own eyes what is standing infront of you, yup yup, I think an adult is the right way to go... Good luck...!

How about Dean and Karla Calderon? They are right in Oklahoma and breed outstanding dogs!

Sorry to hear of your previous bad experiences, I sincerely hope you can find what you have been looking for.

I too would recommend speaking to Dean Calderon, since you are in Oklahoma - can't go wrong with that!

molly

Eichenluft Working German Shepherds

http://workinggermanshepherd.com

I like Dean and Carla very much, but I had a problem with someone   who occasionally trains with them and do not wish to see her again .And that could happen if I went to their house again.  Plus I am not an avid schutzhund person. I admire their dogs very much, but would never do one of their dogs justice ,as I do not have the financial means, time or frankly interest  to be a sch competitor even though Dean is one of the best  dog handler/trainers in the world and  lives practically in my backyard LOL!!! I am primarily looking for a companion, and not a high energy dog as I have been there done that and it drove me up the wall.(is there a Basset Hound in German Shepherd disguise?) LOL I am most likely looking for a female ,as I am not strong enough to handle a male IMHO, nor deal with dominance issues that often arise with them.  I woiuld like a dog with just enough suspicion/civil attitude  to deterr most people from doing what that stranger did recently.  I know enough to know I have no business having a high drive or dominant dog as I have never trained a dog in my life.  and dogs can sense I am not someone they have to "respect" as I have not been a  lifelong dog owner . I am sure someoen is going to tell me to get a golden retriever but I do love shepherds - not all have high drive and "pet quality" dogs need forever homes too !!!:)

Please don't take this the wrong way, but have you considered rescue? Especially if you are looking for a young adult. There are many quality GSDs in rescues, you just have to do some looking!

Now, if you prefer to know that the dog has a healthy background, is well socialized, etc. then I can completely understand going the breeder route, but just thought I would throw the rescue option out there. :)

I tried rescue to  get a Labrador companion dog for my current GSD and he  wanted to eat her for lunch and vice versa-and iI had not  taken him out of my SUV yet! So I have to be careful what I bring home. Either way he or she can not be in the same yard as my female( who is in an ~30 x 30 enclosure, 6 ft high fence) as the only dogs she has ever befriended have been part or full blooded Basset Hounds(no joke!!!LOL)... otherwise she may be  dog aggressive .It is too bad as i wish she could have a buddy ,but I may have blown that a long time ago by not having her around more dogs,..but I live in the country and  my nearest neighbor is 1.4-1/2 mile away and nearest town (500 or less here)  is like 20 miles away ,so she did not get to see alot of other dogs when younger and  I am paying the price now for not socializing her better when younger. I wish I  could learn without making mistakes you know? :(

No rescues, as they have issues., not all but most., and no one knows the dogs on a one on one, because they were rescued....................You can contact  grimmdog , here on base,,,Nate Harves, and Russell Osborne, is also close to you.  In the Forth worth /dallas area are some I would recommend also.

.I will pm you privately...not all working  lines are the real high drive and some of our breeders can pick from litters they know would suit you.

.Do not get a rescue..For a person like you, you need to start with a young pup   even a 6 mos old if someone has one they kept to see the conformation on and like it but not enough to keep for themselves..

.Then you imprint to the level you want ...with help from a reputable trainer recommended by several people. My 6 mos old pups are very ready to alert and let anyone strange know they dont belong on or even near my front or back gate...so you can find them..and it is a built in radar .

YR