German Shepherd dog

Hi Shany, Welcome to the board. Can you share with us what country you are from?

Since you are looking at buying a bitch both for sport /competiion AND for breeding, you may want to spend a bit more time learning about the breed before choosing a brood bitch. In addition to the questions you asked are you familiar enough with GSD bloodlines to know the potential of the puppies you are looking at? Do their parents express their breeding and the style/type you are looking for or is the pedigree at this point only names on a piece of paper to you? Why are you looking at these two litters. Because they are local, because they have lines you like and want to go forward with, because you know the owners or because? 

You also should understand that when you buy a puppy basically you are buying puppy breath. There is no way to fully predict or guarantee that the puppy will grow up to be a breeding quality animal. She will need at a minimum correct structure, hip and elbow certifications, all her teeth as well as the ability to be trained and compete for her titles. If you are ok with the fact the puppy may not turn out to be breeding quality and you will be happy to just have the opportunity to raise and train your own dog, then a puppy purchase would be appropriate. If however your prime interest in her is as a brood bitch I would suggest you look at bitches between the ages of 8 months to 2 years when some of these items can be screened for and you will have a more realistic idea of her potential as a brood bitch. This is likely to cost you more than a puppy however as most good breeders will have but training and time into an older puppy/young adult.

There is a difference betwen fast normal and normal. Fast normal either has more remodeling changes or laxity to the hip than a normal has. Some when comparing the US system to the SV system place a fast normal as equivalent to OFA fair. There are many many different points of views on hip rating and the use of those ratings.. Some prefer only to breed normal to normal. Others will breed to a fast normal but not a noch zuglassen. sitll others will say all three are passing and any are breedable. You also need to inquire what the parents ZW #'s are since that is now an imprortant part of the German scheme to reduce hip dysplasia.

The number in the litter can be important in selecting a bitch since reproductive traits are very strongly inheritable. Both litters mentioned are on the small size. There are things that can influence litter size beyond the gentic propensity and I would inquire about the possible causes of the small litters (stud not available at the right time, thryoid deficiency, transmissable sexual virus, mom too young or old etc). You should also ask how frequently the dam comes into heat(can be anywhere from every 4 months to once a year) since bitches seem to follo their dams in that respect also. (every 6-8 months is better than shorter)

Hope this information answers the questions you had.  Beth