Searching for right breeder in Central New Jersey

[Kedyr]

Happy Holidays!

I will be a first time GSD owner and looking for the right breeder in Central New Jersey area. I thought you all here could help guide me to a good breeder in the area (or should I import one or ship one in from another state, seems wierd to me) and also to critique a breeder as a way to educate myself on different things I have little knowledge on thus far (i.e. line breeding, pedigree details, etc).

First and foremost, I am looking for a companion dog to join my pack, wife, two children (4 years and 2 years), and our house cat. I'm also very interested in pursuing Schutzhund with the GSD, but not on a competitive basis (more of a way for the dog and I to learn about the sport together, to bond together, and to enhance his training with professionals). I'm also looking to purchase the pup no earlier then a spring 2008 litter. My budget is up to $2,500. I don't care so far (since I have little knowledge of) which line the dog comes from as long as it's German and not American, healthy (parents OFA normal/good), correct temperment, genetics are stacked my way for a good long term healthy dog.

After the holidays in Jan, I'll be visiting several kennels in the area. I will also start going to the local club events to meet other GSD lovers and really see what the breed, training, and show/sports are about. I'm compiling an entire list of questions for the breeder and preparing myself and my home for the pup (references, financial / time budgetting, fixing the 16x9 kennel i have on my property, etc).

I would appreciate any help you might have in locating the right breeder for me that you think breeds the kind of pup I am looking for, advice/guidance on the type of lines I should look at, and any feedback on the below breeder and dogs.

After doing some research about the local clubs, I found a breeder who is the president of two clubs (one with USA and the other with GSDCA-WDA). The web site for his breeding program is at: Jagermeister Shepherds .

He has a litter planned with the below dogs in 2008. When I do a Mate! check on the pedigrees, there are several linebreedings coming up that I am worried about. The dam also worries me with the linebreeding, but I have no experience to undestand if this is a red flag or not.

Sire: Branco vom Banholz; SchH3, IPO3, FH, KKL2 - Pedigree

Dam: Beau van 't Leefdaalhof ; SchH1 - Pedigree

As somewhat of a case study, what do you think of the above dogs, what kind of litter they might produce, and the kennel in general from the web site I linked.

I understand there are a lot of other important factors to consider with this kennel, and I will gather that information when I visit, but I'm wondering if I'm wasting my time if the dogs he has and plans to breed are just not correct or desirable.

Thank you for any help you can offer and have a great holiday!

[wolfstraum]

Looking at this, it will be a 2-2 on Dasty. the two dogs you list are half siblings. this is an extremely close linebreeding, then besides that....In fact, under the German system - which is much more quality control oriented than AKC, this close a breeding is not normally permitted.

5 - 5,5.............. in SG Timmy von der bösen Nachbarschaft

5 - 5................ in SG Arthus vom Lünsholz

5 - 5................ in Erle vom Buckower Feld

5 - 5,5............. in V Orlie vom Körbelbach

4 - 4............... in SG Half vom Ruhbachtal

4 - 4............... in V Karlo vom Peko Haus

5 - 5............... in V Ork vom Wolfendobel

5 - 5.............. in Jago vom Haus Gremm

5 - 5.............. in Nancy vom Mutzbach

4 - 4.............. in Gipsy von der Schafbachmühle

5 - 5.............. in Dunja vom Bernet

3 - 3............ in SG Pike von der Schafbachmühle

4 - 4............ in Anja vom Kerpener-Land

3 - 3.......... in SG Forma von Karthago

2 - 2.......... in Dasty Von Der Berger Hochburg


As a novice, and for a home companion dog, I would strongly encourage you to look further. This is not lineage known for being laid back, low prey house dogs.

Lee

[Kedyr]

Thank you for the reply.

I'm going to skip that litter as it doesn't make sense for me to get involved with a pup that has so close line breeding like that (I assume they are more likely to be aggressive or have other traits a novice like me might have difficulty handling).

So my search continues. So far, I have the following kennels I will check out:

http://www.vonwyndmoor.com/

http://www.vomfloydhaus.com/

http://workinggermanshepherd.com/

(thanks rezkat5 for the references!)

Does it make sense for me to look outside of my area? I'm not sure if I can justify the expense of flying across country in search of a companion dog. If I were showing or entering into competitive sports, then no doubt I would take that investment of time and money, but I just can't believe I wont be able to find a good companion dog with great genetics from local breeders (with exercising patients to wait on the right litter).

[Castlemaid]

I've never heard of vonwyndmoor, so can't comment.

I know that T.Floyd is very highly respected for his dogs and for the dog training and teaching he does. I've heard nothing but good things about him on the internet, and that is saying something, considering how the internet seems to sometimes bring out the worst in some people. However, his dogs may also be too strong/serious/drivey dogs for what you are looking for.

I think that your best bet is the last link you posted, Molly Graf of Eichenluft. She used to be a member of this board and we have active members here that have dogs from her breeding, and are very happy with them. As a small hobby breeder, temperament suitable for familly environment combined with work ability are a major focus of her breeding program. I know she has produced awesome dogs that do well on the field, and are completely reliable family companions too.

Hope this helps a bit.

[debbiebrown]

yes, i agree that Eichenluft is a winner. molly is one i am considering for my next pup.

debbie

[Smithie86]

Jim Hill is Wyndmoor Kennels and in Philly, close to Jersey. I have seen very nice dogs from his breedings.

One of the nice people in the sport and breeding - one main trait I also look for when refering to breeders.

One of our F girls is out in that area.....

[G-burg]

Quoteoes it make sense for me to look outside of my area?

Never hurts!

Lots of good dogs being produced through out the USA.. Plus lots of good breeders right here on this bb!!

[cafrhe]

T Floyd does sometimes have working line/showline crosses. 2 members of my SAR team have litter mates. They describe their dogs as 'medium' drive. Both are working very well. One is also doing schutzhund.

I worked a bit with T this summer and really like him. He knows his dogs!!!

Good luck with your search!

[EastGSD]

I would also give thumbs up for T. Floyd and Jim Hill in this area for Schh prospects. Jagermeister also has very competative dogs but I am not sure I would recommend them for a novice. Molly also gets a huge thumbs up

Cherri

[Kedyr]

Wow, there are a lot of good breeders in the area, mainly in PA. NJ doesn't really have anyone I am considering, althought I will visit Carlos (Jeigermesiter) as he is only 20 minutes from me.

Here is my list so far. I will take the next week to pair it down some to get to a top 5. I can't visit them all!

http://www.vonwyndmoor.com/ - May not have pup for novice like myself; depends on litter at the time. Highly recommended

http://www.vomfloydhaus.com/ - Again, might not have the right pup for a novice; depends on litter at the time. Highly recommended

http://workinggermanshepherd.com/ - vom Eichenluft - Highly recommended and first kennel I really like the guarentee posted, especially around ethics about breed quality dogs (will not give full registration without proof the dog is suitable for breeding).

http://www.wilmothdogs.com/WK9/ - Highly recommended - have not yet reached out to the breeder

http://www.vomsilbersee.com/ - Again, highly recommended but have not reached out to the breeder

http://www.vomrheinland.com/ - I have not received any references or recommendations on this breeder just yet, but came across her from pedigreedatabase message board. I really like the breeding program and gear towards german breeding standards and 'real' german shepherds. She is in MA so the drive will be a good 5 hours.

http://www.frauengarten.net/index.html - Again, highly recommended but have not yet reached out to them.

http://www.wolfstraum.net/ - Lee has provided a lot of feedback and insight to me and his dogs all appear to be top knotch. Drive is a good 5+ hours from me.

My top five so far:

http://www.vonwyndmoor.com/

http://workinggermanshepherd.com/

http://www.vomrheinland.com/

http://www.wolfstraum.net/

http://www.vomfloydhaus.com/