TOP TIPS from breeders - Page 1

Start with a good female.

Start with knowledge gained from years of study and having and training GSDs. Make sure you have attended many, many shows, trials, or other events highlighting good examples of the breed. Work with many, many dogs. Understand temperament. Maybe in this way you will know what it is you wish to breed and have some understanding of the mating pairs' traits and what they are likely to produce.  Be prepared to KEEP every pup you breed if you cannot find an appropriate home. This means not simply thinking how great it is to see the money come in from a sale, but that you will make certain that the persons you sell to will provide the dog with a good home. Know your market, and know your limitations.

Too often people just get two dogs and put them together....and then call themselves a breeder. Be honest when it is about nothing more than making money.

Find a mentor.

Be prepared with the knowledge of what each parent will bring to their offspring.  Do your homework well before choosing any stud. 

Be prepared for total exhaustion.  To properly raise a litter is a full time job if you do it right.

Be prepared to put out a considerable amount of money for the proper care and well being of the little ones and their mother.

Be prepared to feed the highest quality food available to give them the best start in life that you can provide.  The early years are the foundation for future health.

Be prepared as Hodie said  to keep each and every one should the right homes not come along.  if it isn't just about money, then you will easily turn down hands flush with cash knowing that their home isn't what you would wish for any youngster.

Breeding is not for the faint of heart.  Much can go wrong and luckily much goes right but the risks are great and the heartache is mighty at times. 

Above all, love them as if they were all destined to stay in your home as your most prized possessions and they will reflect that joy in their demeanor knowing that you gave them your best.

DON'T be "Kennel Blind".............just because you own it or bred it....doesn't mean it's worthy of future breeding.

Do a lot of research on contracts also.  Make sure you have a good one and that it is written for the good of the furkid, the seller (you) and the purchaser.  Make sure that you also have written in your contract that the puppy has to be returned to you if it ever needs to be rehomed.  That way you make sure you know where your dogs are at all times.  

Always do health certifications on hips/elbows and anything/everything else that is available to you.  Invest much time in raising the litter, lots of hands on socialization with children and other animals.  Keep everything just as clean as you possibly can, as coccidiosis and giardia are a problem with kennels and they can be a real problem in young pups. 

Do a lot of research before ever purchasing your female in the first place!  Then even more when selecting the proper male to breed to her.  Make sure that you understand what correct temperament is in the GSD.  Learn how to read body language before selecting your dogs. Study Study Study and read and work with others who have devoted their lives to studying canine behavior.  And then when you have pups, make sure that you have the litters temperament tested by a professional who knows what they are doing. 

I could go on and on LOL

peggy

NEVER GIVE UP!!!!

its hard somtimes but as i have found out all the work pays off in the end.

always think of your dogs wellbeing.

and above all enjoy your dogs.

Kennel blindness is number one if you have the greatest love of a dog and he or she has faults don't breed them spay and neuter. I have had German Shepherd for the better part of my adult life and payed for outside stud  service  until the last few years on my females to try and produce better even tho I had inhouse adult males. ...Listen to people who have experience with PROVEN records that have produced well.   Remember every  podium dog is not always going to produce well winning  does not always fiter down to the puppies.  When choosing a stud dog/breeder female look at some dogs he /she has produced if possible.  Good training does not pass on to offspring...only genetics...ask if buying a titled dog was he./she natural in tracking, obedience. bite work or did they struggle ...be careful when line breeding no matter what genius breeders in Europe do it is not something for everyone especially a newbie and could cause some health issues. Put emphasis on temperament/health as well as drives and good balance of what you are trying to produce. Do not mistake hardness for a nervy dog. Always look at what you are trying to market or produce family dogs, police dogs, schutzhund dogs, therapy dogs and pick lines suitable to what you want to produce and focus on just that. If you make mistakes learn from them dont rebreed again what was a bad litter. Be prepared as a  breeder not to make much money if it is done correctly. Sort dogs  out of a program it will cost more than buying two dogs finding out they do not mix well and keep on breeding them anyway ,yes the money would be more profit but your reputation will soon be bad.  Take care of your dogs be prepared to have more vets bills than doctor bills and spend more on frontline/heartguard/dog food than you do for groceries/gas.  Good stud dogs are not cheap and neither is quality females investment is high for anyone starting out. 

 Be prepared for a fair share of difficult customers who will be impossible to deal with expect to take dogs back for any reason it is your responsibity to make sure what you produce has a suitable home even if money is lost.. Contracts a must, never sell dogs on credit or you will have a pile of AKC papers to burn and never hear from them again the nicest people who you try and help are the very ones who will stiff you. Your relatives who want a free dog because you have a kennel ask them for a free car because they have a car lot watch the reaction. If you find a rival kennel who is friends with you cherish them, I only know a few personally expect for automatic foes from  most breeders selling your breed.   When everything gets too much go to the kennel and play with a happy, healthy , beautiful litter of pups it some how numbs the stress at the end of a bad day. When you go to a trial and see one of your dogs titled and doing well your reward is priceless but also find comfort in the people who have a puppy from you that no one will ever see that is the love of their life just as important.

 Last of all  and most important have a thick skin if german shepherds are your choice everyone will want to discredit anything you do and anything you say and every dog you own and breed.  You better have a passion for the breed and a strong nervous system.