1.  What health testing do you do?  All German Shepherds should have their hips and elbows x-rayed and certified by either the OFA or the SV.  Ask the breeder for proof of these results or look them up yourself (OFA.org).  Avoid breeders who claim that “the parents are healthy, so the puppies will be too” (many dogs with hip dysplasia show no signs until they are older) or “hips cleared by parentage” (there is no such thing – having OFA certified parents decreases the risk of dysplasia but does not eliminate it).  Many breeders are now also testing for degenerative myelopathy (DM), as well, and it may become standard.

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2.  What is included in your puppy contract and do you have a health guarantee?  Make sure to ask to see the document and actually read it.  These documents should protect both you and the breeder.  However, too often, a dog ends up with hip dysplasia and only then does the owner read the contract and realize the “guarantee” requires you give the dog back.

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3.  How are the puppies raised?  Puppies go through a number of critical developmental stages before they even reach 8 weeks old and are ready for their new homes.  You want your puppy exposed to all sorts of novel things – new surfaces to walk on, friendly people to play with, different sites, sounds, and smells.  This can be critical to the dog’s confidence and trainability later in life.You probably want to avoid a breeder whose pups spend 8 weeks in a kennel.

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4.  What do you do with the parents?  German Shepherds are working dogs.Ideally, this ability to work should be proven in some manner.In Germany, in addition to health screening, all German Shepherds must pass at least Schutzhund I in order to be bred.  This test involves tracking, obedience, and protection work and is the gold standard for the breed.  For those not involved in schutzhund, there are other options for proving their GSD has a sound temperament.  Ask about them!  Be wary of the breeder who only has their dogs for breeding.

 

5.  Can I meet the parents?  Sometimes this is not possible for a good reason – a breeder may use a quality stud dog owned by someone else.  However, it is a red flag if neither parent is available.  Most of us are very happy to show off our adult dogs!

 

6.  What medical care has the puppy received?  All pups should have their first vaccinations and multiple rounds of worming before going to a new home.

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7.  Are the parents registered?  Tell me about the bloodlines.  Registration is, in theory, proof of purebred ancestry.  However, please know that registration is not synonymous with quality.  A dog can be AKC registered and come from generations of poorly bred dogs that were never health tested. The breeder should be able to tell you about the parents’ ancestors and why this dam/sire was a good combination.  Each litter should contribute to the breed rather than just add to pet overpopulation.

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8.  Can you provide references?  Ask to talk to other puppy owners – see how their experience was.

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9.  Tell me about your experience in the breed?  This may be a person’s first litter – that’s fine, as all breeders start somewhere, but what have they done to get to know the breed better prior to breeding.  Are they involved in their local breed club?  Do they train and show the dogs themselves?  I’d much prefer going to someone who has been involved with dog sports for ten years and this is their first litter, than someone who has been breeding multiple litters a year to untitled, unhealth tested dogs.  Repeating the wrong thing over and over does not equal experience.  Your breeder should be able to serve as a source of information and support for the lifetime of your dog.  Part of paying that puppy price is paying for a lifetime supply of information.  With the right breeder, it is money well spent.

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10.  What are you looking in a puppy buyer?  Try to get a sense of what sort of home the breeder thinks these pups will do well in.  Is that your home?  Some GSDs may be too intense for a family and others too laid back for schutzhund.  You want to find a breeder with a good understanding of the type of pups they produce and where they flourish, understanding that there is variability in temperament within a litter.  The breeder has spent far more time with these pups than you will be able to before you make your decision.  You want a breeder that can help match a pup with the right home.

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Good luck in your search for a new puppy.  You get what you pay for, but only if you do your homework first.  A little research up front can go a long way to setting you on the road to success with your new four-legged family member.