Schraderhaus K9? - Page 2

That's really nice that people joined the forum to post testimonials.  

Schraderhause as far as I know is decent outfit. But to look for info on Internet on  any  kennel you want to deal with is not very wise. 
 

Googling a kennel name is an excellent idea, doing a forum search here and on other forums is another great idea.  Be wary of those members that just pop up and have one post proclaiming how great a breeder is.  Be wary in general of what you read on internet forums.  But, it is an excellent place to start your research.  Get references and check them out.  If you are looking for a working line dog for sport or work; search for dogs that have been bred by the breeder and see if they have accomplished anything.  Be very wary of breeders that claim they have great working dogs but never really work their own dogs.  Be very wary of breeders that claim their dogs are the best working dogs in the world and sell 99% of their dogs to pet homes.  If their dogs were that great, the working dog people would be standing in line waiting to get a dog from them.  Check out the OFA website and see how many dogs from a breeder actually ahve their hips and elbows done and rated.  Don't believe some nonsense story that the breeder gives you for not x-raying, OFA'ing or submitting the x-rays.  If the breeder says the dog has great hips but for some reason can't send them in, ask for copies of the x-rays, their vets name and contact the vet.  Bring the x-rays to your vet and see what they say.  There are some great breeders out there; but many, many more unscrupulous, poor breeders that care for nothing more than making a buck on selling a puppy.  Searching the internet can separate the wheat from the chaff.  In searching you will find glowing reviews and some horror stories, where there is smoke there is sometimes fire.  You will find how breeders deal with issues, and those that would sell a dog with glaring health defects.  

I have no personal experience with Schraderhaus, but searching here and other forums is a very good idea and a very good start.  

The best way is to deal with breeder you know personally well  or your trusted friend knows personally well.  Some of my first dogs came from a person I was working for and have seen what she had. All my dogs now come from people I know personally well or they are seen and tested by people I know personally well and they are dogs which are descendants from dogs on the pedigree I know personally.  Internet is a cesspool of good and bad and it is hard to discern which is which. There is nothing more valuable then personal experience and relationship with breeder or word of a trusted friend who knows such breeder and personal knowledge of their dogs and dogs on their pedigree. If you like to buy a dog from Jean Schrader go and visit her. See her dogs. Spend some time. If you like what you see buy.  If you have a personal friend who knows her well  then listen to them too.  I would and I am considering to buy a dog from her myself. I know her dogs and her lines and the way she breeds. I would not hesitate to buy a dog from her.

GSD sport says: "​That's really nice that people joined the forum to post testimonials.".

I have been watching this German shepherd forum on pedigreedatabase for years, have it RSS feeding my reader so I get updates, and never really felt I had anything to contribute to the discussions as there appears to be many knowledable people, and I could read them without joining, and that was my choice.  It seems there is alot of trolling, baiting and unkind behavior here that I didn't want to be anywhere near, and I could get the beneifts of reading the forum and the good posts without joining.  There are alot of politics in Shepherds, and often that is seen in this forum and instead of a group working together I more often see dissension and meanness here. 

However when i saw a question about a breeder I really like and respect, asking for opinions and experience, I felt I could contribute and to make a comment I had to join.  It would appear GSDsport you take offence at that, and your comment seems to be baiting and completely unneeded, and this forum would be so much more inviting if people didn't feel the need to make senseless comments and was exactly the reason I haven't joined before.  

In every other forum I join I ALWAYS get a welcome, and instead here I get a kick in the face for joining.  Thanks for that.  My mom taught us "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all". Too bad we all weren't taught that.
 
bzarcov - Do as much research as you can, consider this a starting point, and good luck in your search.  I can't emphasize enough to go and visit Jean in person and check out who she is, what she does, and how she does things in person, opinions are valuable but seeing it in person will satisfy most of the questions you have.  I to did pretty much what you are doing when deciding where my next dog would be coming from.  My last boy, from show lines, died of Torsion (I'm still paying that vet bill!). And for the first couple weeks said no more dogs, then reality set in I can't live without dogs.  I remembered a friend knew a lady in Hope, BC, with working GSD's, and I searched for her kennel online, but when I contacted her she wasn't going to have a litter anytime soon.  But while I was looking through her site, I found that she had bred to a Schraderhaus male, and was really happy with her results (see here: http://www.tehillahgermanshepherds.com/pastlitters.html).  So that took me to Schraderhaus, and from there I did internet searches, poured through forums and online chats.  If you take away the extremes on both ends, often somewhere in the middle is the truth.  There are lots of people with lots of opinions, consider that a start. I wasn't going to decide until I met the person, and so I made the trip. You will know when you meet her if  Jean is a lady you want to buy a puppy from, or not.  And maybe she won't have what you are looking for, but maybe it will be a perfect match.  You will be the one who has to decide.  I know for me it was a great match and I don't regret it for a minute.  Feel free to PM me if you like with more questions.  


 

Whether it was entirely necessary to post on this  thred or not, sadly
GSDSport has a point, in that we too often see new names appear in
sudden support of some kennel or other that is being asked about,
and yes sometimes that raises concerns.  However, let me point out
that the first couple of favourable replies, this time, are from Gildaf and
Sentinelhearts, who have both contributed on here for some time.  I
would always look to someone, whose name I recognised and whose
earlier postings I could check out, to answer any questions about a
breeder;  if they are well satisfied with their dogs and the help they have
received, that goes a long way to reassure me.

BTW, "Welcome aboard" to both Islandgal and Bzarcov !!  We do quite
often do this, guess we all let things slip this time.  Betcha if you had
made your first appearance with any other topic, it would have been said.

I flew to WA to look at a couple of kennels after years of browsing and emailing, planning for my next gsd.  After spending hours with Jean at her place, talking, looking at her stock, I knew I wanted a pup from Jean.  I am thankful people like Jean have the focus and desire to breed responsibly these working gsds.  

I am a very, very happy owner of a gorgeous and bold 10 month old male from Schraderhaus.  If you are a responsible and committed  potential owner I would recommend her.

I, too, have a Schraderhaus K9 (Lux x Franzi). I could not be happier with my boy, Kaimi. He is focused in his work, very high energy and an excellent ambassador for the breed. I can, and do, take him everywhere.


II

Be very wary of breeders that claim they have great working dogs but never really work their own dogs. Be very wary of breeders that claim their dogs are the best working dogs in the world and sell 99% of their dogs to pet homes





Kim

Slamdunc pretty much summed it all up;  great advice Slam, thanks for sharing your  knowledge.  Nan