Choosing the right puppy/adult - Page 1

With so many beeder's and kennels declaring that their dogs are the best quality and superior to others ..What are some of the things that you look for when choosing a top quality puppy or adult? Besides the bloodline and being titled! Thanks for all replies!!

  I think we all want a dog that is confident rather than a spook, one that can take a correction without shutting down or peeing itself, one that is aloof with strangers, wary enough to alert and courageous enough to act if necessary but not overly aggressive, nor hectic or hyper.  One that is clear of any health defects.

Okay, so finding the one that we want is a little tougher. :)


Well you live and learn. 
Learn that price does not mean quality, titles can be bought,  and training can cover up temperament flaws, breeders are not always honest, and will streeeeetch the truth to make a sale, (the dog all of a sudden has all the traits you are looking for) and then on top of that, you have to be aware of hidden health problems such as food allergies, bloat, DM EPI etc.

The structure you can pretty much determine by the dogs in the pedigree, (ears can be manipulated, so check for naturally strong ears ): the temperament is a little harder to decipher. 
So, one must find a breeder they trust, or a referral to a breeder by someone they trust.
One who will tell you the pros and cons of the dog, or of the parents, as no dog is perfect.  Of course it is best to see the dog or parents of the dog in person.

I don't know if that is what you are asking, as you were not specific in the kind of dog you wanted, sorry if it isn't, just thought I'd post and help get the ball rolling.

Personally, one of the things I am interested in, is what are they doing with their dogs. Whether it be Search and Rescue, AKC showing, Rally, Obedience, German Style Conformation showing, Schutzhund, Personal Protection, Herding, etc. What are they advertising? Are THEY themselves doing anything with the dogs? Are they keeping any of their own and raising and training them for any venue, so that they can better understand their own lines that they are perpetuating? It takes very little effort to purchase an already titled dog, or several of them, and start churning out puppies. If I were buying a dog, I want to deal with someone who knows what they have, the positives AND negatives, and is honest enough to tell me both.

Also, with that said, it is extremely important that the buyer educate themselves as much as possible, and be up front and honest as well. Good luck! Theresa

Pristine good health for several generations and health clearances for several generations back;  HD/ED, cardio, thyroid, eyes, DM and any thing the breeders could add to your knowledge about the lineage.  Titles can be bought by anyone and they aren't worth the paper they are written on if the dog has poor health and of course an impecible good temperament.  Great days,  Nan

I'll be honest here. I've had four GSD's previously, all showlines and good dogs one and all. My previous two dogs were Staffies, the first being a fantastic, loyal protective and intelligent dog. The second has been a bit of a letdown by comparison and I just had this urge to get another GSD rather than another Staffie. I joined the forum, read a lot of threads, looked at hundreds if not thousands of dogs and decided I wanted a working line dog with Czech bloodlines. I based this on appearance more than anything else to be frank but see nothing wrong in that for me personally. I scoured ads for weeks and one friday evening I came across an ad which caught my attention. I researched the breeder, most of their dogs go to the Police up and down the country, I searched for information on the parents, what little I did know was useful and I stayed awake most of the night waiting for an appropriate time to call the seller. The pup I wanted was the one I'd seen in the picture below and if he wasn't still for sale then I knew I'd have to continue my search elsewhere.

I called at 8.30am (couldn't wait any longer), the seller said he didn't know which dog was in the picture I'd seen as his wife had posted the ad and she was out for an hour or so (cue heartstopping anxiety). He said he would let me know as soon as she returned. I then realised that this breeder was a three hour drive away so I made up my mind there and then that it was all or nothing.

An hour later I got an email confirming it was indeed the one I wanted that was for sale and included were some more detailed photos, he looked exactly what I was hoping for. I drove to their kennels and got the right feeling about them and their place right away, it just felt right. I saw the Grandfather and the Dam, saw a few other pups and then laid eyes on the one I'd set my heart on. I've had him 10 weeks now and not a day goes by without me telling myself I got the right one for me, my gut instinct paid off and that was based on a photo and then a night of research. Some would probably mock me as a novice taking a risk by deciding on looks when choosing my pup, but it was so much more than that. I knew the type I wanted, I knew the lines I wanted, I knew the minute I saw that pup he was what I was looking for. Gut instinct is what served me well, go with your initial feeling and don't look back.

John & Chris Smith (Limasmythe) have given me an inseparable companion, one that will make me proud no matter what. I hope I can do him proud too.

That is great Vito!

One thing you need to know is that way back in the breed in Germany, there was a split.  The split was show lines and working lines.  That is important as the two lines are quite different with weakness and strength in each.  There are also American Lines.

I say this because while either side can produce a dog that is has a temperament that is weak or inappropriate, the basic line weakness/inappropriate temperament may or may not bother you.  NOW WHAT YOU WANT. 

I agree with the poster about the person who owns the dogs having done things with those dogs.  If the dogs being bred are German lines, then IMO you want to see V or SG ratings on the dam and sire.   If it is an SG you want to see a Schutzhund 1 on that dog too ( a V rating requires it).   I want to see HOT (handler/Owner titled).  While titles are not everything, a breeder who HOT's the dam and sire (if they own the sire) shows the buyer that they want the dog to have proven something.  Bought dogs can have titles that were.. well.. OK.. I will say it... also bought. 

I also would look very hard at the pedigree for titles going back.. and see if there is any weakness.  For instance, if the dam of the puppies only has a low title (like a BH.. tho that is not really a title) and the grand dam has a Schutzhund title and has been breed surveyed (Kkl 1 or 2) and then the next several generations on the bottom are untitled.. I would be concerned.  Why weren't those dogs titled?  Same with sire.  ASK about that.  Why? is your friend.  Beware of answers that sound like excuses. 

The reason I want to see titles by the Handler/Owner is that I can actually talk to the person who trained the parent or parents.  I can find out if they are didicated and so forth. 

In addtion to this you want to see health test.. hips and elbows, DM, etc.  This will not guarantee your puppy is free of dysplasia.  It will increase your odds statistically of your puppy being free of those things. 

Last, and most important, KNOW WHAT YOU WANT.  Know what traits you can live with and what traits you cannot stand or tolerate.  Be honest with yourself.  Beware of Puppy Cuteness drawing you in.  Puppies are very cute and it is HARD to say NO.   Breeders can be very persuasive and it can be hard to say NO.

These words come from experience.  And, last, CLEARLY KNOW WHAT YOU WANT. 

What Red Sable said.

Can people seriously not see right through a breeder whose dogs suddenly have all the traits the person is looking for? I mean, really? Is anyone that naive? Do the puppy's temperaments change with each caller? 

This must be what I do wrong. I would say the number one phrase that comes out of my mouth when talking to a puppy buyer is "I don't think s/he's what you want." LOL

I don't think breeders can take all the blame here. As Theresa said, buyers need to be honest, too. Most buyers talk a good game, but when you really push them to find out what kind of handling aptitude they have and how much dog they're looking for, it's quite clear who is b.s.ing and who is really competent. But if a breeder is lazy or doesn't care, they'll believe the buyer (who is a K9 handler, usually, ROFL) and send them a dog they can't handle and everyone will be miserable, but only the breeder and the poor dog will be blamed.