Need help on picking a breeder - Page 1

I have been wanting a sable male for sometime and a working dog you try this go around (4th shepherd). I plan to keep as a companion dog and pact animal with my fixed male working line. But want to do light sport work or something similar. It has been a whirlwind of opinions, comments, feelings on the breeding so now I’ve become overwhelmed and feel like I can’t get a dog because there are sooooooo many opinions. I really want a healthy dog

So any help would be great!

Main focus too is on health as my breeder I got dogs with: congenital heart failure, lupus, cups disease, base narrow canine, horrible allergies, bad hips, bad elbows and more. That’s just on three of my dogs.

So what breed and pairing would provide a pact type dog, on and off switch, medium drive, and aggression (towards animals/people a no go) ** may be the wrong wording

I’ve talked with Christina (Wendelin Farm) and am looking at these two litters:

Hakova x Egon
Charmer x Norik

https://www.wendelinfarm.com/upcoming-litters-1

I’ve talked with Malinda at Weberhaus for the following pairing:

Her line

Darkfall zzTop x Darfkall Gracie

https://www.weberhausgsd.com/

I’ve talked with MelloDee at Gremelhaus for the following pairing:

N litter

Lucian von heurta Hof x yoni vom Gremelhaus

And lastly

Jill from von der tetiaro for the following pairing:

Yankee von kaltwasser x Ditto von der tetiaro
* nice looking German male sable

I’ve had other folks look at these and got wide array of feelings between they’re exceptional to dogs that will die early and be aggressive.

Any input or suggestion towards making a good decision is gratefully appreciated

@TheDemonCowboy Just saw your post. Private message sent.

DemonCowboy, am I understanding from your post that you have had three previous dogs from the SAME breeder, and that you have been very unlucky with health issues in all 3 ? Can I ask what precautions you took when you initially found that breeder, and what you looked for from him/her with each successive dog purchased ?

See, a lot of problems occur when buyers just get the first pup available and don't arm themselves with the questions they ought to ask / documentation they want to see. Now, nobody can guarantee you every dog you buy will always have 100% great health; but some background research into common health problems in the breed and some diligent questioning of breeders usually avoids buyers getting SO much heartbreak. Did you do any of that ?
If not, have you learnt from experience and do you now have a checklist of issues to look for and ask about, when buying the next pup ?

I'm not in your country so will not attempt to answer your specific questions about breeders' reputations, but you can (and should) do site searches on the kennels you are interested in; I know PDB has varying opinions archived about Wendelin Farm, for example. There are also Articles stored about common problems and things to look out for (see column of buttons on left). Good luck in your search, and in deciding what you want to look for in a dog.

I personally like the resulting pedigree from the Yankee von Kaltwasser x Ditto von der Tetiaro breeding.

the only recommendations I make are for breeders I would check out if I was in the market and not that you should buy here or there.

it would be useful to know what part of the U.S. you are located as some may be more familiar with lesser known breeders in certain areas.

this is one I would look at, owned by a veterinarian, which is niether good nor bad, but with all those issues you've run into, just the first one I thought of.

Sequoia

 

SENT PM , just letting you know :)

Involved question. I get asked this all the time. I mentor breeders but let's start with the simplest answer I gave. I told would be breeders when someone asks, "What makes your puppy special?" You better have a bible thick answer. Papered is a one liner.

Secondly, do they take back their dogs, and willing to put that in writing (meaning they mean it). I have seen breeders flip flop on AKC market place when asked to take back. The reason why this is important?? Because it makes you slow down your production, make better dogs and vet your owners better. We are second on the chip.

Third, ask if they have ever had any health issues? If they say, "never had a problem" run not walk away. Either they are new to this or they are lying. We health test our dogs but even with all our efforts and some might be environmental, I know no breeder who didn't have an issue of some sort. You are new, lying, or willfully blind and owners didn't tell you. 

Fourth? Ask them why they opted to breed and how long they have been breeding. Most breeders? Stop after first litter. Why? Because they didn't realize the work, expense, and made the mistake of thinking what one breeder commands, I can get that too! I suspect others will chime in with titles/health stats pedigree etc. And those are important. But it is after the sale that matters.

Finally, ask other reputable breeders that don't have a litter up. Breeders know other breeders well! I attached a link I loved! And I know you are about to get the standard answers but wanted to chime in on some less common responses.

I know both "Sequoia" in Tennessee..

...and...

I also know "von der Tetiaro"...and can recommend them...

Where are you located? The best advice I can give you when looking for a puppy is to know what you want and get to know the breeder...

Remember a Puppy is a "Question Mark"...When buying a puppy you're buying their parents...

~Bob~

@jurkgsd, LUV that Comparison Matrix, can I steal it to use elsewhere please ??