How do you? - Page 1

Okay, as we all know I am very upset with events of the past few weeks. So I need to know:

Where do you find a good dog?

How can you trust the owners and or trainers?

Where do you go to become trained and certified?

How do you check them out?

This is something you usually have to find out for yourself. A good dog is what you think a good dog is. Although you can usually find out if the breeder/owner/trainer is trustworthy and honest from happy, or perhaps disgruntled customers.  You'll have further explain your question "Where do you go to become trained and certified?" for me to answer. And to check the breeder out? Website, videos, pictures, or if you can go and see the parents and pups! You learn SO SO SO much more seeing the dog in person than from a video. I recomend doing a lot of research on the breed in general before even looking for a dog, then read read read some more, on the breeder on their dogs, on pedigree.. Etc etc. Knowledge is power. ;) heheh. Hope I was a little help if any.

-Emily.

I have looked for dogs local as well on the internet. I have spoken to so many that my head spins inside and out. Everyone of them has a different story and out look on this. It's so complicated to find the right person and or dog that you feel comfortable with. Who, knows it might just be me. or the term " Once bite-Twice Shy" ! Comes to mind

Candis

I have to assume you want a nice, smart, healthy pet for your family.  If I'm right, all you need to do is find a breeder who does the following:

1) keeps no more than half a dozen dogs -- giving attention to every one of  them.

2) breeds no more than two litters per year, and never more than one litter per year per dog.

3) gets all her breeding dogs certified for hips and elbows.

4) either shows or works with her dogs in some reasonable capacity.

5) can email you a pedigree quickly and can discuss it easily.

6) can describe how she raised the litter -- is excited to tell you all the little milestones for each puppy INDIVIDUALLY.  If she tries to tell you they are all the same she didn't pay attention.

7) Can tell you a lot about the dam and something reasonable about the sire -- and why she picked him for the breeding.  That is, she can describe the logic behind the breeding.

8) Knows how much the puppies weigh at each age (key sign that she is attentive and the pups were cared for).

9) Can tell you what sort of puppy food she used to wean the litter (and you check the brand out and make sure it is first-rate).

10) Is happy to show you around the kennel and it is pretty clean and the dogs look happy.

11) Is very concerned about YOU and whether you are going to be good enough for her puppy!  Asks lots of questions about your home, yard, family, etc. and tries to match you to the best fit for you.

12) Guarantees at least hips for at least two years.  This means there is some rebate if the pup's hips prove dysplastic (not very likely if she's good).

13) Insist on European bloodlines and avoid American dogs.

For a nice pet who meets these criteria, plan to spend $1000 and you will have a nice pick.

IF you want to show the dog, your list a little different.  The parents MUST be successful show dogs and the kennel will likely be bigger, sadly.  Expect to pay $2000-$2500 for a great show pup (parents must be V, with sire preferably VA).

IF you want to work the dog, the parents must be working dogs.  The sire should be SchH3 and the dam at least SchH1.  Do not let someone tell you untitled parents create working dogs.  If the sire is SchH3 and the dam's parents are both titled, and you love the puppies, take a chance, otherwise walk.  Expect to pay at least $1200.  No one will sell you a real $2000 working pup, as you are not ready for that puppy.  If someone tries to charge you more than $1500, something is wrong, as you can't handle that puppy's drives.

If you follow these rules, you will probably be fine.  There are no guarantees, not even for the most experienced, so you have to take a chance.

Remember: health clearances, healthy happy parents and puppies, friendly breeder, clean kennel, dam of litter is a family pet, $1000 -- and you probably get a nice pet.   If you want some zip/working ability, pay $1500 and make sure the parents have SchH titles.  If you really want to show, get a pup whose parents are showing with titles, but pay a lot.

If you want to work the dog in service, the parents should be doing that work now!

The rest is easy -just make sure the pups are well cared for, loved, and the parents have all their medical clearances.

That was very nicely explained  MVF.

wuzzup- thanks

That was a good post MVF. 

Hang in there candis.  It takes time.  And when you've found your breeder you mught have to get on a waiting list for your puppy.   Good breeders don't always have pups available.  I had to wait 7 months to get one of my dogs as I liked the mother as she had a good temperament and OFAs (hips and elbows) and was a nice working dog with titles.  It was hard waiting but I'm glad I did wait.

Also the breeder should be someone you can go to for the life of your dog and ask for advise such as training health clubs, wherew to show or train and so on.  So you are looking for a long term knowledge partnership  with the breeder not just a puppy.  That is another important reason for doing lots of research and a lot of the smaller good breedrs are found by word of mouth.  They're not always the big advertisers in the magazines or on the web or he lists.

If you want a nice family pet, here is an idea go to your local obedience club (not sure what country you're in--to find an obedience or working club or go to your country's major kennel club, here it would be the AKC) and ask who has nice tempered GSDs with working/obedience titles and who does the health checks (here it is OFA hips and elbows or Pennhip).  When you get your puppy be sure to go to puppy kindergarten, do lots of socalization and get in an obedience class when the puppy is old enough.  This way your nice puppy will get early training and get off to a good start and you will eventually have a well mannered dog that your neighbors will admire and you will be proud to have as a member of your family.

Just my 2 cents worth thought I'm not sure if it adds anything to the very good post  of  MVF. 

Terri

Heartily agree with all that MVF has said - exceedingly good advice.

One thing I would add is that have you ever thought of buying an adolescent dog rather than a pup? Yes, I know you miss out on the early playful stages of puppyhood but with an older dog you see pretty much the finished article.

I couldn't comment regarding working line breeders but show line breeders will often have retained a pup for show that didn't turn out as well as expected that the breeder would be willing to release. These faults would be of importance in the ring e.g. too high at the withers, too long back etc but these are minor when it comes to a lifelong companion.

These aren't always adverstised and by applying the same rules MVF has spelled out for finding a breeder you can ask if they have any available. Even if they don't they might know someone who does.

As the dog is older it probably already has hips/elbow certified and any good breeder will have built a relationship with the dog and will probably only want to realease it to a good pet home. It's possible to get a very well bred dog for not much more than the price of a pup.

Remember good breeders want to find good owners just as much as owners want to find good breeders. Patience & happy hunting.

AandA

Hi, thank you all.. My intentions is to purchase an adult.. But want to find the right adult. Recently I paid $5000.00 for a dog that was very much misrepresented. I have had the dog now for 10 months and can do nothing with her..

She is non-breedable will not house train well what can I say.. Other than the fact I have been taken. I have contacted the person I purchased the dog from and they refuse to refund and of course take the dog back. I'm stuck with a dog that I can not do anything with and that's not fair to anyone . I have tried to place the dog for the individuals only wanting the dog for breeding. Which as noted this dog may have great breeding lines but not of breed standard. What do you do in this case?