Which breeder is right for me? - Page 2

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/classifieds/62108.html

I was going to buy a female puppy from this breeding but there was not enough.

Father: V 8 Djenges Kahn v. Santes Home

Mother V48 Gina vom Zisawinkel

I am just as curious what people think. 

I am the kind of person that goes and meets the breeder before buying anything from any one. I will suggest you to do the same. Even if it looks good on paper, it dose not mean that it will be a good match for you. Ask for hips and elbows certifications, see the dam and sire if possible. You should be at least be able to see dam. Talk with the breeder if he is sweet talking you too much, be cautious. If he thinks that his dogs are the best thing since sliced bread, think twice. Ask, ask, ask any questions that will come to your head the more you ask the better you will be able to tell how good or bad the breeder is. I would never buy a dog from a breeder that thinks that their pup is flawless, if he say that they are good but how they will end up is totally up to you that’s the kind of breeder I like to deal best. I prefer breeders that have at least some training experience. My breeder always states he breeds what he likes to train, never tried to force a dog on me, and never tried to say that his dogs are flawless. Good luck.

Here are my thoughts on what I will do (pardon my english it's been a while)

I would never buy a dog over the internet. No matter where I buy, I'm gonna do my research, I want to pick a puppy based on his/hers pedigree. I'm going to go to shows, kennel club events and see for myself what types of dog attract me. There's one thing seeing them on a pictures and a whole other thing seeing the dog live.

I'm looking for an outgoing dog (parent), that goes without saying that he has to have done well on the mental test, and if I get a working show dog (is there such a thing?) I'd like to see him in action. I'd want to see dogs from previous litters if possible. I want the breeder to have evaluated the pups so he knows which pup suits which owner. Hence I want a breeder that knows his lines and breeding.

I would never get a pup from a fishy breeder, if I can't see the dam nor the sire, well that's not an option. I want to "make friends" with my potential breeder, that is I want to know him before I get a pup be it through email og face to face interaction.

I want hips and elbows to be clear. I'd prefer not to get from C dogs and anything lower is not an option. I'd also like to see the pedigree, see if these dogs are still alive and how long they lived, there comes again the tricky part of having a breeder you trust. Answers like uhh... yes she was driven over by a car uhh..... (you know the type)

First and foremost, I'm not going to meet with a breeder just when he has a litter, I want to establish some sort of trust.

I for example don't like breeders that advertise in the local paper. People should breed if they have people to own the pups or simply breed that good dogs that advertising is not needed, the breeder's name is enough.

I don't like breeders that don't work their dogs at all. Don't do tracking or simply obidience tests, the GSD was not meant for the show ring alone. It was bred as a working dog!

The German Shephard dog is a service dog and he must only be bred as a service dog. He must only be judged as a service dog. With service dogs, suitability ranks higher than beauty.

Escobar, it looks like you like the German showline dog. Just look for parents without the roach topline that you don't like.  A showline dog has to have a schutzhund title to get a koerklasse rating, so they can do obedience, tracking and protection. They may not be as driven as the workingline dogs, but that isn't what you are looking for anyway. 

I'm in the USA, so likely can't help you with breeders. Try contacting some local GSD or all breed dog clubs in your area to see what kind of dogs they have and who is having litters. You're on the right track with how to pick a breeder based on your comments.

Thanks for lovely comments.

I live in Iceland. And I'm not very fond of the breeding stock here, I don't know any breeder that works his dogs here.

I do like Gildewangen's Istan,  he's a real beauty!!

I hope to move to Spain and there for hope to get a dog in Europe!

I don't dislike the working type, I'm simply afraid that I might do more damage than good, owning a working dog for the first time. There for I think the Schafer will be enough for me to train and make mistakes with, and not put oil on the fire with getting a very high driven working type dog.

Am I making sence or just worrying for nothing?

I own today a beautiful unregistered black labrador. We've been doing some obidience training, but I'm not doing too good there.

Do you good people of this board know any good breeders in Spain, Italy or France?

Escobar, why not buy a dog from a good German kennel like Kirschental? I have heard nothing bad about them and they have the type of dog you like. Look them up on the web. Yes, that would require having the dog or puppy shipped, but it is done safely all the time. http://www.kirschental.de

Hey if you looking around in france and spain might as well get one from germany :) just a sugestion. Good luck

Thank youso much for that information on the kirschental kennel. I checked out their website, and they really have all that I've been looking for.

Although they keep their dogs in a kennel, not all to happy about that, but with working dogs I imagine they only spend their nights there.

I am going to write them an email and hopefully this is the start of a long journey towards the perfect puppy.

Thank you I'm forever grateful!