Things to look for in a 'Responsible' Breeder

[MaggieRoseLee]

The more you know and read up on these, the better the questions you'll be able to ask. As well as your ability to figure out truth from evasion in the answers you may get in response. With getting a puppy being a 12 to 15 yr commitment to a dog health and temperment, best to do our research on the front end to get the best pup. Rather the back end with research and cost for HD/aggression/timidness/Mega/

German Shepherd Dog Health Problems

German Shepherd Dog Medical Conditions

And specific breeder sites:

Dog Play: Making a Difference: Being a Responsible Dog Breeder

What is a Breeder


You need a good puppy warranty/paperwork!

Starke Pfoten German Shepherd Puppy Warranty Information

(German Shepherd Health Warranty, by Wildhaus Kennels )

http://www.adlerstein.com/ADLER%20ST...20Contract.htm

Eichenluft German Shepherds

[sagelfn]

vote for sticky

[MaggieRoseLee]

Anyone else have great sites they'd like to recommend if this does get to be a permanent sticky??

[MaggieRoseLee]

More info on responsible breeders and what to look for:

East Texas German Shepherd Puppies - Breeders

Dog Owner's Guide Profile : The German Shepherd

German Shepherd Dog Shopper's Guide

German Shepherd Puppy Guarantees

[MaggieRoseLee]

Different 'flavors' and types of GSDs...

Shawlein Fine Art & Purebred German Shepherd Dogs

German Shepherd Dog Photos and information for Breed Types and Characteristics


Coats and colors

GSD Patterns, Colors, Coat Lengths & More


Understanding and Reading a GSD Pedigree

german shepherd pedigrees

Schutzhund Summary and Working Titles

[GuardianShep]

have read all these sites over and ovr again..
but thanks for consolidating the list - helps me to find the site faster
guides newcomers to pages which offer quality infiormation

[MaggieRoseLee]

Another great site:


Elem. of Temperament by Joy Tiz, MS, JD (a brief excerpt to follow, click the link for more)

1. What Is Temperament?

"My dog has a wonderful temperament! . . . " Except she really hates strangers." "I just got the perfect stud male! His temperament is the best, it's absolutely perfect: he has no defense drive in him at all!" "Oh, I would never breed a dog that had prey drive, they're vicious!"

Yes, all of these statement were actually made by real people. All of them German Shepherd (GSD) fanciers and breeders. We talk all the time about the importance of temperament. What are well all talking about? Are any of us even talking about the same thing?

When we talk about temperament, we are referring to a collection of drives, thresholds, traits and instincts that are inherited and innate. Yes, it's true. Temperament is a function of genetics. It is inherited, not developed. A dog's core temperament never changes. Some behaviors can be modified through training, but the temperament itself never changes. For example, a high energy dervish of a dog isn't going to learn to be a laid back, low energy dog. But, the dog can be taught to control his energy, to an extent.

Most dog owners absolutely refuse to believe this. If I only had a dollar for every time someone has told me "It's all in how they're raised!" . . . No, it's not. It's all in how their DNA came together. A dog with foul temperament will always be a dog with foul temperament, no matter how wonderful the environment. A dog with sound, stable temperament will always be a sound, stable dog, even in a lousy environment.

Good early handling, training and socialization will help develop desirable traits in the dog, but those traits have to be there. Ball drive is a good example, since it forms the foundation for so many types of work. Some dogs aren't interested in chasing a ball. If the dog does enjoy ball games, a good trainer can build that up and bring it out to it's highest possible level, but the drive itself is innate. One cannot install a drive.

Real GSD people are always seeking to produce sound working dogs. An understanding of temperament is crucial to developing a breeding program that makes sense and will preserve working abilities rather than dump more pets into an already overcrowded world.

[susee]

Thanks so much for these, they are great !

[GSD Fan]

Originally Posted by MaggieRoseLee

Different 'flavors' and types of GSDs...

Illustrated Standard of the German Shepherd Dog, TYPE COMPARISON

Breed Types & Related Families

Those two links are broke.

Here is a functioning link on the matter: German Shepherd types and bloodlines with pictures | German Shepherd types | German Shepherd dog | German Shepherds

[Castlemaid]

Thank you GSD fan! Those two links were essentially the same, so I fixed the first one and deleted the second one.

Thanks for the extra info and new link, good stuff there! Love it that they have a sable for the American GSD example.