So it is time to finally come through on the family decision to get a German Shepherd pup but you have no idea how to find a German Shepherd breeder. Up to this point you probably never even gave looking for a German Shepherd breeder a second thought. They are out there and there are several good ways to find a reputable German Shepherd breeder that you will be very happy with and will supply you and your family with the dog that you want and will also be there for you for a very long time.

It may seem obvious but some German Shepherd breeders do advertise in the phone book. While you won't be using the phone book as a final searching place you can certainly use it as a starting point. Just remember that breeders have their own ways of getting the word out so do not judge a breeder just because they do not advertise in the phone book. Some breeders get their business completely by referral and that may be the breeder you want over anyone in the phone book anyway.

You will never get better advice on your pet than from your vet so your vet should be one of the main sources of information you use to find a German Shepherd breeder that you feel like you can do business with. If you currently have pets and do business with a vet then ask your vet for a referral to a good breeder. If you do not have a vet then the process of looking for a breeder is the perfect time to start a relationship with a vet. Any vet referral is sure to be a good one to a reputable breeder that you will be able to do business with for a long time.

Many breeders also list themselves on the national breeder registries like the American Kennel Club and others. A national breeder registry sets a standard for the member breeders that are listed with them and that is something you can use to see what a prospective breeder's breeding philosophy may be. Plus you can probably rest assured that if they care enough about their business to list it with a national agency then they may be worth talking to.

The Internet is a great resource all around and sometimes even the most reputable of German Shepherd breeders do not list themselves with registries. They may, however, have a website for you to look through. So the Internet is yet another source where you can do your German Shepherd breeder research. The Internet is full of a lot of very useful information that can help you decide if a breeder is right for you or not. You can also use the Internet to see the list of all of the breeders in your area regardless of whether or not they are listed with a registry. It is a great tool to use.

Using just one source to find your German Shepherd breeder is not a great way to go about finding the right one. You need to use a combination of resources to help you find the breeders that you will want to talk to. Remember to take your time and make the right decisions, as the breeder you choose will be the breeder you are with for many years to come.

This article is a great resource if you are looking for German Shepherd breeders. If you are looking for important German Shepherd information you can use this article.

You and your family have made your decision and plan to get a German Shepherd as the new family pet. Now that you have made that decision the time has come for an even more important decision and that is choosing the right German Shepherd breeder for you and your family. This part of the process is extremely important so take it very seriously and make sure you do a thorough check of all the available breeders before you settle on just one.

You will be talking to a lot of breeders and this is necessary because any reputable breeder will expect you to talk to a lot of breeders. You are not going to hurt a good breeder's feelings by exploring options. Don't just settle for the first breeder you talk to, branch out and talk to more. You will be needing to feel comfortable talking with your breeder for many years to come so make sure you feel like you can really talk to the breeder you choose.

Almost all reputable German Shepherd breeders are listed with one of the national breeder registries. The main United States registry is the American Kennel Club but there are other registries as well that have just as acceptable standards. Check out the breeding standards of the registry they belong to and see how they might affect you. If the breeder you are talking to is not listed with a registry then ask why and then ask what they use for breeding standards if they do not subscribe to the standards of a registry.

When you get ready to take your new dog home a good breeder will give you all the information you can handle about raising your dog and what you will need to know to make sure it grows up healthy. A good breeder will also send you home with a sample of your dog's food so you know what you are supposed to be feeding your new dog. You may want to think twice about a breeder that does not offer you this vital information.

Many of the reputable breeders are offered free pet insurance policies by insurance companies to be given away to the owners of new pups. The insurance companies hope that you use the six-week policy to take your dog to the vet and see how wonderful the insurance is and extend it. The German Shepherd breeder just hopes you take the dog to the vet and is happy to offer you something for free that will help you with your vet costs. Ask your breeder about free pet insurance.

A breeder is a very important person in the life of your dog and your family. Take the time to really talk with prospective breeders and find out where they stand on things. Check out the breeding facilities, as this affects the health, both physical and psychological, of your new German Shepherd pup. Take your time when deciding on a German Shepherd breeder.

You can use this article as a helpful resource when searching for German Shepherd breeders. You can use this article as a supplement to any other German Shepherd information about find good breeders.

The German Shepherd dog has a relatively short history though it is a well-loved and well-worked dog today. The breed began in Germany in 1899 and was registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1911. By World War I, over 48,000 German Shepherds were enlisted in the German army. Though the breed is part of the herding group, the German Shepherd dog has many other talents and can be trained in a variety of fields.

A German Shepherd breeder, unlike any other dog breeder, may specialize in German Shepherds trained in a certain line of work. For example, Shepherds are often trained to be guides for the visually impaired. They are also trained to become members of the police force and must know detailed scent, track and protection techniques.

German Shepherds are easier to train than many other breeds because of their inherent courage, physical and mental strength, work ethic, intelligence, loyalty and hardiness. German Shepherd dogs are well suited to any job that allows them to protect and serve. There is no better protector than a German Shepherd.

When purchasing a German Shepherd it is important to know what to look for. Adult male German Shepherds weigh 85-100 lbs. and stand over two feet tall at the shoulder. Adult females are 55-75 lbs. and almost as tall as a male. Shepherds are prone to certain physical ailments such as hip and elbow dysplasia, other skeletal disorders that can cause lameness, and a blood disorder specific to the breed called von Willebrand's Disease.

It is also important to know how to care for your German Shepherd. These dogs are happiest when working so it is essential that they be given tasks to do. Shepherds also require daily grooming and exercise. Hopefully, you have a purpose for buying this breed since German Shepherds need to work to be happy and they are intelligent enough to be trained in many areas, even only for home protection.

A reputable German Shepherd breeder will provide not only registration papers and certification of ancestry (preferably AKC certified) but also medical records showing evidence of health and immunization. These documents are necessary to determine whether you are getting a purebred, healthy German Shepherd.

An alternative to buying a purebred puppy from a German Shepherd breeder is buying from a rescue center. Rescue centers save purebred dogs from abuse and abandonment. The centers socialize rescues and foster or adopt dogs out to appropriate, loving owners. Rescue centers are often either run by or affiliated with reputable breeders. A sure-fire way to tell a good breeder from bad is to see how involved they are with their dogs. Good German Shepherd breeders love German Shepherds!

Unfortunately, many German Shepherds, among other dog breeds, are raised in what are termed puppy mills, where breeders continuously make the dogs produce litters with no regard for the adult's health and happiness. Breeders who run illegal puppy mills are even worse than those trying to sell fake purebred dogs.

To recap, a reputable German Shepherd breeder will have his or her own kennel, will provide documentation of lineage and health information, and will be affiliated with a rescue center, ASPCA, or other agencies that support animals.

Responsible German Shepherd breeders only sell authentic German Shepherd dogs. This article contains German Shepherd information and gives tips on how to find a good German Shepherd breeder.

The German Shepherd dog breed was registered in the herding group by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1911. Though German Shepherds are descended from sheep herding dogs, they perform many other functions today. German Shepherds are one of the most utilitarian dog breeds in the world.

The first German Shepherd was named Hektor. A dog fancier and German cavalry captain named Max von Stephanitz saw Hektor at a dog show and found him to be an excellent example of a German sheepdog. Stephanitz, who would be the first of many German Shepherd breeders, renamed Hektor as Horand von Grafath and founded the German Shepherd Dog Club in 1899 with the intention of maintaining the inherent traits of the first German Shepherd.

German Shepherds have been bred to retain both their intelligence and utility. Stephanitz also bred the Shepherd to retain its wolf-like appearance. The breed has many strengths including fierce loyalty, trainability, and ability to multi-task. German Shepherd breeders may specialize in training this breed in any of the above areas.

It is very important that German Shepherds begin life in an environment in which they receive stimulation, attention, discipline and training. Because of their very nature, great care goes into raising German Shepherds to be smart and socialized working dogs. Reputable German Shepherd breeders raise dogs in their own kennels and encourage buyers to visit and get to know both the purebred puppy they are buying and its mother. Good breeders specialize in only one or two breeds and are affiliated with the American Kennel Club and dog rescue centers. German Shepherd breeders are involved in training and competition programs with their Shepherds.

German Shepherd breeders will provide not only registration papers and certification of ancestry (preferably American Kennel Club certified) but also medical records showing evidence of health and immunization. These documents are necessary to determine whether a buyer is getting a purebred, healthy German Shepherd. There are many illicit breeders in the market to make money with little regard for the dogs they are breeding. These bad breeders often are puppy brokers as well, meaning they sell dogs that they may have never even seen. Worse are breeders who run puppy mills, which churn out litters but in poor conditions with little socialization.

It is important for buyers to know the qualities of bad German Shepherd breeders and to report bad breeders if they come across them. Bad dogs are not born they are made- by bad breeders and owners. Breeders have the responsibility of raising their breed in nurturing, suitable environments. Buyers also have responsibilities. The first is doing their research. A buyer that doesn't know what to expect in a dog breed, may inadvertently neglect the dog's needs in turn creating a bad dog.

Buyers must know the breed standard including it's characteristics, needs and potential medical conditions. Buyers must also research breeders to make sure they and their dogs are legitimate. Most importantly, buyers must be ready for the responsibility of raising (particularly in the case of the German Shepherd) a large, intelligent, energetic dog for possibly the next thirteen years and they must be committed to doing so. Good breeders ask that a dog be returned if a buyer cannot care for it. This is the last and best sign of a good breeder.

It is important to know how to locate reputable German Shepherd breeders. This article contains German Shepherd information and gives tips on how to find good German Shepherd breeders.

Who hasn't passed a pet store and noticed the cute, sad-eyed puppies behind the glass? What most don't know is the history behind those puppies and the pet store itself. Unfortunately, pet stores are not the best place to purchase puppies. This article will explain the reasons why. Pet buyers shopping for purebred German Shepherd puppies must take care in where they buy their desired pet. Thorough research into German Shepherd breeders and other sellers must be done. Additionally, pet buyers must research the breed they are buying and be prepared to care for its specific needs.

The German Shepherd is a large sheep-herding dog breed. The breed's history is recent. The first German Shepherd breeder, Max von Stephanitz, founded The German Shepherd Dog Club of Germany which classified the German Shepherd in 1899. The American Kennel Club (AKC) registered the breed in the herding group in 1911. Though German Shepherds come from one of many versions of German sheep-herding dogs, they perform many other functions today.

The German Shepherd dog has a large body and is wolfish in appearance. Stephanitz initially inbred the line to retain its lupine beauty, intelligence and utility. Unfortunately, inbreeding also caused genetic defects. German Shepherds are highly prone to hip dysplasia and other skeletal disorders. It is recommended that any potential buyer ask for a warranty from the breeder that their dog has been evaluated and cleared for hip dysplasia.

There are many places where a buyer can acquire a purebred German Shepherd. These include breeders, brokers, the Internet, the newspaper (private owners), pet stores, shelters and rescue centers. Simply put, the best place to buy a purebred German Shepherd is from a certified, ethical German Shepherd breeder. These breeders have their own kennels and often work in tandem with rescue centers or house rescues within their own kennels. All other sellers of German Shepherds cannot provide a full history and put buyers at risk of purchasing dogs with health and behavioral problems as well an uncertain ancestry.

A reputable German Shepherd breeder will provide registration papers for each Shepherd they sell, preferably certified by the American Kennel Club. German Shepherd breeders will also provide medical records on demand and offer a warranty or guarantee regarding certain health conditions like hip dysplasia. A good German Shepherd breeder may also ask the buyer to sign a contract stating that he or she will have the dog spayed/neutered or evaluated for other medical conditions within specific time frames.

Good breeders do not sell their dogs to pet stores. Breeders care what happens to their breed and want to know information about the potential homes puppies are going to. Though pet stores display adorable puppies to consumers, the background that these puppies come from is not so pretty. Puppies are born and shipped in cages. Like any other merchandise, they are stored and then sold. Unsold puppies are destroyed. The parents of these puppies are bred twice a year in cages with little to no socialization. Every purchase from a pet store funds the perpetuation of this cycle. This is why it is important that buyers purchase only from ethical German Shepherd breeders and rescue centers.

One main difference between good and bad German Shepherd breeders is that a good German Shepherd breeder will never sell puppies to a pet store. German Shepherd information about locating a reputable German Shepherd breeder is provided in this article.