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Things to look for in a 'Responsible' Breeder

101K views 38 replies 30 participants last post by  shepdownsouth 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Please be advised, the links in this thread are in the process of being updated - 8/23/20

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/

Types of Breeders

Making a Difference: Being a Responsible Dog Breeder

You need a good puppy warranty/paperwork!

https://sequoyah-german-shepherds.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/puppycontract.pdf

(German Shepherd Health Warranty, by Wildhaus Kennels )

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

Eichenluft Working German Shepherd Guarantee - German Shepherd Breeder PA - German Shepherd Breeder VA - German Shepherd Breeder MD - German Shepherd Breeder OH - German Shepherd Breeder DC - German Shepherd Breeder NY - German Shepherd Breeder NJ
 
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#3 ·
Anyone else have great sites they'd like to recommend if this does get to be a permanent sticky??
 
#4 · (Edited)
#5 ·
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
 
#6 · (Edited)
Another great site:


http://www.dogstuff.info/elements_of_temperament_what_is_temperament.html Elements 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.
 
#17 ·
@motoracer51 thank you for the response...that's another issue I am fighting: do I ever really want to breed? Same days its a yes and some days it's a no hence why I haven't rushed out and done so. As stupid as this sounds, I'm leaning towards my mother in laws male because of where he came from, his sire. His sire was my first experience with a GSD and he set the bar high. Even if I never do breed, keeping him around in a great environment with the ability to work or play or whatever would be ok by me. I say that because he is essentially the "dog nobody wanted so my mother in law kept him" ...she feeds him well and yeah he gets pets every now and then, but I think I could better his life. That's where my head is at now...I think her male would be great for a therapy dog and canine good citizen....I appreciate your input.


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#22 ·
This is a front for a broker selling pups from puppy producers.

Responsible breeders won't got through a middleman to sell the pups, not knowing who ends up with the puppy. Responsible breeders want to get to know their future puppy owners and get as much info about what they are looking for in a puppy so that they can make a good match of the right puppy to the right person.

The big giveaway is that if you phone, you are not talking with the breeder, but with a puppy specialist - in other words, a sales person. No better than buying a puppy from a pet shop.

The same or similar website will come up with other states/areas in the title.
Looks familiar?

Top German Shepherd Breeders - California German Shepherd Breeders

Top German Shepherd Breeders - Nevada German Shepherd Breeders

Virginia German Shepherd Breeders - Top German Shepherd Breeders

So you can see that you have no idea where the puppy they have a picture of on the website is coming from.

Oh look! They also have Labs!
Arizona Labrador Breeders - Top Labrador Retriever Breeders

And poodles!
Arizona Poodle Breeders - Top Poodle Breeders

And purse dogs!
Arizona Chihuahua Breeders - Top Chihuahua Breeders

Looks like a nation-wide extensive fancy front for nothing more than a puppy-mill. I wouldn't believe a word they say on the website about ethics, temperament and health. Responsible breeders won't ever, EVER, EVER sell their pups through such a system.
 
#27 ·
This is a front for a broker selling pups from puppy producers.

Responsible breeders won't got through a middleman to sell the pups, not knowing who ends up with the puppy. Responsible breeders want to get to know their future puppy owners and get as much info about what they are looking for in a puppy so that they can make a good match of the right puppy to the right person.

The big giveaway is that if you phone, you are not talking with the breeder, but with a puppy specialist - in other words, a sales person. No better than buying a puppy from a pet shop.

The same or similar website will come up with other states/areas in the title.
Looks familiar?

Top German Shepherd Breeders - California German Shepherd Breeders

Top German Shepherd Breeders - Nevada German Shepherd Breeders

Virginia German Shepherd Breeders - Top German Shepherd Breeders

So you can see that you have no idea where the puppy they have a picture of on the website is coming from.

Oh look! They also have Labs!
Arizona Labrador Breeders - Top Labrador Retriever Breeders

And poodles!
Arizona Poodle Breeders - Top Poodle Breeders

And purse dogs!
Arizona Chihuahua Breeders - Top Chihuahua Breeders

Looks like a nation-wide extensive fancy front for nothing more than a puppy-mill. I wouldn't believe a word they say on the website about ethics, temperament and health. Responsible breeders won't ever, EVER, EVER sell their pups through such a system.
This is a great list!
 
#25 ·
Sorry, long post.

Sometimes, one can be fooled all the way up to the point of driving hours out to pick up their puppy.
Personal experience here.

1) Breeder found on AKC site and has the AKC Breeder of Merit label

2) Breeder has listed on AKC site a litter that was born, price for puppy, as well as checking off that there is health guarantees, dogs are tatooed, and or microchipped. Breeder belongs to several clubs and is very active in them. (I had checked that out, and it was true)

3) Breeder shows dogs and has several champions

4) 4 generation pedigree that has only 5 dogs who are not champions.

Breeder was great sending emails with pics, talking on the phone, the love for the GS breed, etc. How much was spent with time on the puppies in this litter by this breeder and they are well socialized, etc.

Day has come. Driving 4 hours to get my puppy. I get there and breeder has me come into the home and immediately signals for me to sit me down to pay for puppy. My response was "Well, can I see her first please?" (flag goes up a tad)

Then I was brought out to the kennels that looked pretty clean/kept up. Mother was on premises but I wasn't allowed to walk up to the pen to see her as she wasn't "feeling well"
Litter of 6 but only 2 were in dog run. No one had picked theirs up yet so I was a bit confused on where the other pups were. Then I started looking around and the area didn't look like what had been in the pics I had seen of the puppies. Oh well, I shrugged it off figuring the other pups were probably spoken for and no need to have them all in the same run.
Fell in love with the puppy. (of course)
Back in the house now. Had me pay the 1500.00. and once money was all counted and put away, I was told I had to choose from names the breeder had picked out to put on the AKC registration form.
This wasn't just the kennel name, I had to pick what this breeder wanted for the entire registered name. I had never heard of this before. I started feeling a bit uncomfortable as I hated everything that was written down on the "pick list".. I mean, really dumb names!
Then I was told NOT to spay my female because she came from nice lines and SHOULD be bred at least once.
Mind you, she doesn't know me from Adam..
She then showed me a folder with the guarantees, as well as crate training stuff, etc. and basically said "keep in touch, good bye!" She was expecting another person to pull up to get their puppy and there wasn't much parking room.
Just went through the folder this morning. There was NO guarantees for hips, elbows, naddah, though on AKC site it was stated how this breeder did. I called the breeder to ask if there had been an error where the guarantee papers had missed the folder. The response about hip guarantee? "Yeah, I don't do that" When I asked why it stated this on the AKC site that there was guarantees, as well as what had been said to me, the reply was "I said HEALTH guarantee. Make sure she is checked within 48 hours and if she is sick I will take her back, but after 2 days if she gets sick, it is all on you. Dysplasia can be caused by all different factors that are not genetic." When I started to ask more questions I heard "I have people here now and I have to go" click.
I looked at the emails I had been sent from this breeder and realized in the lower body that the pics were sent to this breeder by someone who was raising the litter. The litter was never at this breeder's kennel. That is why there was only 2 pups there. That is why the landscaping that I saw in the pics were WAY different from where this breeder lived. Also, the puppies were NOT microchipped, or tattoed as stated. My guess is, this breeder co-owned or had some deal made with a family to get 1 male and 1 female from the litter. Hence the no guarantees, microchips, etc.
So...I messed up. I will get her microchipped, and be extra careful to make sure I don't do anything that may harm the hip/elbow development.
Everything had seemed right and I feel a bit foolish now. Oh well.
 
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