Breeding: what do I look for in a potential sire - Page 1

Hello all. Being very new here, and green in general in the realm of GSD breeding, I could use some advice. Though I've owned several GSD's, I am just now really learning about the breed. We are looking into breeding our dogs in the near future, but wish to do it right, and would like to know how to objectively consider our male dogs for breeding. Thanks.

Why are you wanting to start breeding? What are your goals?

The very first step would be health checks, hip and elbow xrays to the OFA for evaluation, if your dog has poor joints, there is no need to look any further.

After all the health checks, have they achieved any working titles. Something to prove workability, and temperament.

The most important aspect of breeding the right way is to be honest. By being honest you cannot automatic assume that your dogs are breedable. You cannot have the “My dog is better then yours” attitude because in reality there’s dogs out there that are better then your dogs. That’s why we breed is to improve the quality of future dogs. Before breeding your dogs you must get yourself educated on the bloodlines that you’re going to be using (research the goods and the bad) You need to learn about the sport (Schutzhund) of which you may want to talk to your future clients about. The only way to actually know that you’re breeding correctly is by the title of the off springs. You should learn everything that there is to know about the German shepherd breed (The origin, the behavior, Health/common problems, etc). You must educate your clients. By the time you’re ready to breed you would be very knowledgeable. Just imagine… A knowledgably client decides to test out the breeder (you), by asking them questions.. It would be soo embarrassed to stumble and not know the answer to the questions that the knowledgably client is asking you (the breeder) It would be a great idea to go to a local Schutzhund club and have your dogs tested for temperament and for drives and get them all titled up. Do not forget to take them in for Hip/elbow x-rays.

If you bought a good dog from a good kennel, one with a history of success, chances are they are your best source for advice. They know your female better than most others as they know the ancestors and what's behind her. There's the obvious like the health checklist to check in a male. Most accomplished males, titled, surveyed, shown regularly are decent breeding dogs. Otherwise the owners would not have invested the effort to do all the training and campagining. If you have access to some videos of the sieger shows. They usually show the males in the ring and on the field. See if there's something there that looks like your type of dog. If you have an opportunity to view a group of offspring from different males. You can get some insight to the traits they posses they produce in their offspring. If you have the opportunity to meet the dog, you can tell much from a meeting in person. Maybe take a breed survey and using that as a list, prioritize those that are most important to you starting with temperament. Once you have selected a prospect, call the owner and work out the details. Call back when your female starts her heat to let the owner know. Do whatever health tests need to be done in advance and schedule shipping or transportation to the male. Don't wait until the last minute. If this is too complicated, find an accomplished breeder, one you are comfortable with and seek their advice.

grimmdog - I've been in love with the breed since I was given my first dog as a young child. 30+ years later, I find myself still enamored with the GSD, and the more I learn about the true GSD - their history, purpose, and significance, the more I wish to be a part of conserving, protecting, and enjoying the breed the way they were intended, and envisioned.

Sugarbear, before you contact me about any of my males please be prepared to tell me what you have done with your females. What are you looking to do for the breed? Brittany, there are other qualifications other than Schutzhund ie SAR (of which most organizations prefer dogs that are NOT SchH)and Herding. Is your female X-rayed? Have you DNAd your female? Has there been any health issues with your female? Just a few questions I would have for the owner of the female. And Sugarbear, please feel free to contact me privately if I can help you in any way.

Grmmdog made 2 very important questions "Why are you wanting to start breeding? What are your goals?" WHY? Breeders come a dime a dozen. We don’t need anymore. We already have enough GSD in shelters and rescues. Too many flyby night experts. Too many people that import dogs, breed them and then claim to be improving the breed. Too many people breeding what sells rather than breeding to improve. Too many people that can’t get a real job and use breeding GSD to fill their pockets. Too many people out there claiming to be improving the breed and yet don’t even know the history of the GSD or have a Knowledgeable plan to reach their goal. Too many people that don’t raise, train or compete with their breeding stock. My last breeding female I raised, trained and titled from 7 weeks to 13X SchH3, IPO3, FH2. How can anyone say their dog is breed worthy if you do not test the dog under several different helpers, make SchH titles under LEGITAMATE Judges, make KKL, OFA and know the health issues both good and bad of your breeding stock. And then above all be ready to cull or at the very least spay/neuter the inferior pups from the litter. There are a few breeders out there that have bred, raised , trained, titled and competed at National level with their breeding stock. There are breeders that are always educating themselves, be it genetics, Health issues, etc. There are breeders that don’t just stud out their males to inferior females because someone pays enough for stud fee. There are breeders that are at the GBM meetings making sure GSD organizations continue to go the direction that is best for the GSD future. And I commend them for their efforts. But until you put that amount of time and effort into this I would just be happy with the dog you have and stay out of the breeding venture. But if you are ready to take the plunge talk to breeders that have actually done more than just produce pups. Remember you can learn more about auto repair from the mechanic rather than the car salesman. Uwe

<<<>>>> AND this is very important to actually know what you are talking about and not just reciting something you read in a book the night before. There is a lot more info out there than there was 30yrs ago when I started. This site as well as many other sites, videos, books, breeders, trainers, etc.