When purchasing a purebred German Shepherd, a great deal of research must be performed in advance of buying. Key questions a potential buyer must ask include the following. What is the history of the German Shepherd? What is the breed standard and what are potential health concerns of this breed? Where do I find a reputable German Shepherd breeder? How do I care for a German Shepherd? What should I look for as far as a warranty or guarantee for my purebred German Shepherd? What other German shepherd information is available to me?
Additionally, buyers should ask themselves why they want a German Shepherd. Some may desire this breed for its utilitarian nature. Others may want a dog that is a good protector. Others may just want a household companion. If the dog is to be used as a working dog, buyers will need to buy from specific breeders that handle dogs with a family history of training in relevant tasks.
The German Shepherd dog has a relatively short history. The first German Shepherd breeder, Max von Stephanitz, registered the breed in Germany in 1899. The American Kennel Club registered the breed in 1911. German Shepherds are sheep herding dogs and are still used in some countries for that purpose today but they are more likely to be used in the workforce for a variety of purposes including police work and as aides to the visually impaired.
German Shepherds, closely followed by Labradors, are one of the easiest breeds to train due to their high intelligence, trainability and physical and mental endurance. This breed is also known to be loyal, courageous and protective. Because of these inherent traits, it is very important that German Shepherds begin life in an environment in which they receive stimulation, attention, discipline and training. Reputable German Shepherd breeders take great care in providing a foundation upon which German Shepherds can grow to be smart and socialized working dogs.
A bad German Shepherd breeder only breeds dogs for cold hard cash and nothing more. They see the puppies and the parents as merchandise, not as living creatures. The term puppy mill or backyard breeder is the name given to these illicit breeders. The females are bred each and every season leading to shorter life spans and ill health. They are confined to very small cages and have no socialization of any kind. The puppies are kept in the same kind of conditions, which can lead to physically and emotionally unhealthy litters. These are the kind of puppies found at pet stores.
The best advice is to find a reputable German Sherperd breeder that really cares about the puppies they produce. This kind of breeder will ask questions of potential buyers to ensure the well being of the puppy in it’s new home. They will have all the appropriate paperwork such as American Kennel Club registration and veterinarian health reports as well as plenty of care information to pass on to the new family.
When finding German Shepherd information and researching places to buy a German Shepherd, the focus should be on finding ethical German Shepherd breeders. This article contains German Shepherd information and advises the reader on choosing a good German Shepherd breeder.
Subscribe To Blog RSS