Quote Originally Posted by areias
I found one that I personally liked.
Hunt German Shepherds
looks like a nice breeder but those are Shutzund dogs(personal protection) those dogs have ALOT of drive, i dont think they'd make a good pet for her parents. These type of dogs NEED to be WORKED.


just a few things you want to look for in a breeder.
health tests- OFA hips, patellas and elbows. Cerf and thyroid. and if there are any other genetic health problems in the GSD, make sure they test for those too.
Titles- conformation and or working.
Temperment testing- it's a big plus, *i* personally probably wouldnt buy from a breeder who didnt temperment test.
does the breeder have homes lined up BEFORE a breeding takes place or does he/she just sell the puppies whenever they are olde enough? (a responsible breeder has at leaste 8-10 homes lined up BEFORE the sire and dam even mate, each of these homes should have been throughly screened)

those are the major points that need to be looked for.

and the obvious things are like.
how are the dogs kept? in the house or in kennels? if in kennels are they clea kennels with good insulated dog houses.
are the dogs fed a quality food or are they fed a cheap store bought brand?
are the dogs part of the family or just dogs that that work and make puppies for the breeder?(you'd be suprised at the amount of breeders who show their dogs but that is ALL they do with them, when the dogs arent being shown they are locked in their kennels)
are the puppies whelped and raised in a clean environment(in the house) and are they well socialized til the day they leave?
what age do the puppies go to their new families? a responsible breeder wont even think about selling a puppy before 8 weeks most prefer closer to 10 weeks.
does the breeder take back dogs whos familys can no longer care for them? or do they give you a puppy and wish you best of luck but dont keep in contact with you to see how the dog grows and lives? a responsible breeder keeps in contact with ALL families that buy a puppy from them until the day the dog dies

if you're parents buy from a RESPONSIBLE breeder they will most likely have to be on a waiting list first unless they get really lucky, seriously alot of people wait a year or two before getting to buy from a responsible breeder.

also any responsible breeder wont have more than 2 litters MAX a year, MOST only have 1 breeding every one or two years.

and remember that REPUTABLE doesnt always mean RESPONSIBLE.

a breeder can get lots of praise and recomendation from alot of people and be "reputable" but that doesnt mean their breeding ethics are responsible.