Pre breeding questions - Page 1

First I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my post, and I’m sorry that it is so long. I would like to start by saying that if I do decide to proceed with breeding GSDs  that it would not be for another 10 to 15 + years from now and only if I felt I could do right by the breed and any dogs I produced. I would greatly appreciate both positive and negative comments and opinions, as I am looking to get as wide a spectrum of views as I can. I believe negative info as long as it’s true is just as important to making an educated decision as the positive ones. Please feel free to answer one or all questions with facts or opinions, and if there is anything extra you would like to add please do. :)
 
-In your opinion what makes the GSD great, and what are the most common faults being bred into the dogs?

-I plan on breeding specifically working line GSDs. What do you think are the best lines and why? Also do you like seeing the lines crossed or stay 100%?

-When looking into a dogs pedigree what are the most important things to look for?

-What are all the test that can be done to decide if a dog is “health-wise” breeding worthy? And in what order do you consider their importance?

-I personally would want to title any dog that I planned on breeding. What are your opinions on how important this is?

-As a breeder what questions do you ask to people interested in one of your dogs?

-As a buyer what do you look for in a reputable breeder?

-when creating a contract what are something’s to consider?

- Knowing there are many jobs a GSD can do, What do you yourself enjoy doing the most with your dogs and why? What are the top qualities you look for in a dog training to do that job/sport?

-If I were to breed dogs would want them returned to me if the owner could no longer keep them or be allowed to screen the family the dog was being replaced to. My questions, Is it inappropriate to ask to
screen a new family the dogs’ owner was sending them to or not?

-I already plan to take vet classes so that I will be able to catch and care for in the best of my ability and problems that may come up until I could get to a vet, but what should you look for in a vet that you plan on using for your own dogs and puppies?
 
Now I have about a million other questions I would love to ask and learn but again I have years to do so. But if there is something important I have may have not asked please feel free to let me know. Thank you all again very much!

I would tell you to NOT plan for breeding until you can work what you have. Its only through working the dogs that you can get a sense of what you want.

Take back what you breed and not make the community responsible.

I'm no longer a fan of contracts (used to be but have changed my stand on that) so I look for breeders who test for genetic problems in ALL their stock. Hips, elbows and DM at the minimum. Some contracts I read are ridiculous. Either you stand behind your dogs or you don't.

If the breeder does NOT work their own dogs, I won't buy from them.

By your questions I would ask what experience you have with the breed that you would want to breed and are not asking training questions instead.

Barb

Thank you for getting back to me so quickly. As of now I am not planning on breeding unless I were to get a sound dog with all test for health and temperment and worked toward geting them titiled. That was one of the readons I was asking about looking into a dogs petigree and what were somethings to look at. It was more of a question as to pick a good starting point to hopefully get a breeding worth dog to start. If I were to ever breed a dog I would want all test done to insure that I have a dog that will truly add to the breed. I myself have been around GSDs for year but never the Working lines which is something I would love to spend the next few years learning and participating in with my GSD that i have now whom is my first working line dog. If i were to ever breed dogs I would stand behind them 100% but I have know people to buys dogs and rehome them with the breeders permission. I am ify on that as I would want my dogs in only the best homes and not bounced from place to place. Which is why I was wondering if and owner insisted on placing a dog with say a friend of theirs if it would be totaly out of line to screan the new home or to just tell the owner no that the dog needs to be placed back with me. I right now am at a new learning phase. One of the reasons I want to learn as much as I can and get into the sport with my dog now to make sure I can 100% dedicate myself. I understand i have limited knowledge so any info is appricated and a main reason as to why I would never breed unless I 100% felt it would be for the right reasons :)

For rescue dogs I require a home check. I havent bred a litter is several years but if placed locally I did for that litter as well. People get all nutty when you say it and more than one have denied me from it. It isn't without risk as you have no idea what your walking into. That is one of the reasons I got pretty much out of rescue.

My ex placed one of my pups in a home, while I was out of town that turned out to be a vacant lot. Boy was I pissed. So now I take steps in hopes things like that don't happen again. In the end, it falls on you so as I say, if I want it done, I usually do it myself.

Barb

Let me first start by saying that I'm not a breeder. If I were you I would start by getting to know as much as you can about the working line dogs. I'm fairly new to working lines myself and I can tell you there's a lot to learn. There are a few different types of working line GSD's. Someone that knows more about the differences I'm sure can chime in. You can learn a lot by searching the boards here and sifting through the information. You'll find there are different views about different topics so just ask questions if you're confused about something and the folks on here will help you out. I would also get involved with a local club in your area and work toward titling your current dog. It will be good for you to see how much goes into training and titling these dogs. You'll also get to know the breed better and be able to understand what people are talking about on here when they refer to the different drives in the dogs. It takes a lot of work to train just one dog, I can only imagine what it would take to train a  handful from a breeding program. I imagine that if it's done correctly it becomes a full time job. Good luck in your learning.

Thank you :) I want to know everything I can before I even seriously consider breeding so I figure the best time to start learning is years before hand. My current dog is just in obediance as of now only because I have not been able to find a club around my area but Im still looking because I would love to get into some sort of sport with him. If any one knows of a club in the Quad City area or even with in about an hours drive please let me know the best Ive found around here is just rally. And as far a sports go If anyone is involved in any that could give me more info and what you and your dog seam to like about it would be very helpful!

Some additional points for you.

You have to actually get out there, visit trials and training clubs. You need to look at a lot of dogs and start leaning lines, temperaments and training methods. And then you need to actually train a pup and trial him. 

You will need to talk to breeders, study pedigrees, try to learn what works and what doesn't. Try to find a few people to mentor you. Be prepared to gamble, because not every litter is a top litter and not every puppy is a top puppy.

 Puppy buyers will be very specific in what they want in a pup. You will need to understand them. You will need to know if you can breed it and select the right puppy. Buyers will demand workability and you will need to guarantee it. You will need to know how your pups mature out and what their training requirements will be at various stages of development.
 
Be prepared to really scope buyers out. Triple check novice owners and pet owners to make sure they don't get in over their heads and get too much dog. Be prepared to take all dogs back. You brought them into the world and it's not their fault that they ended up in an inappropriate home. Have a plan for your retired bitches. Toughen your heart to handle puppies that die during whelping or the decision to euthanize a puppy or dog due to health or temperament problems.

Be prepared to lose money. You will not do this for the money, but for your own personal passion.
 

100% agree and very helpful information thank you! :)