Trying to decide on a breed (GSD/Dobie)
- Thread starter Gguevara
- Start date
I would not use a magazine as the only source to get a quality healthy long lived companion dog for the next 10 plus years.
Instead try breed clubs in the area, dog shows, dog sports, etc.
Look for breeders that health test and are active with their dogs, other than just breeding so many litters they have to advertise. kwim?
I am so happy you are doing your research in advance, this is very smart of you!
Next, once you have decided on your breed is the time to research terms like : responsible breeding, reputable breeding, back yard breeder, puppy mill, commerical breeder, and learn the differences and why they matter. Then, go to google and find breed specific forums on your choice of breed and ask about the particular breeders and what questions you should ask, if anyone has experience with those lines, etc.
Good luck on your search. You are certainly going about this in a responsible way doing lots of research.
Instead try breed clubs in the area, dog shows, dog sports, etc.
Look for breeders that health test and are active with their dogs, other than just breeding so many litters they have to advertise. kwim?
I am so happy you are doing your research in advance, this is very smart of you!
Next, once you have decided on your breed is the time to research terms like : responsible breeding, reputable breeding, back yard breeder, puppy mill, commerical breeder, and learn the differences and why they matter. Then, go to google and find breed specific forums on your choice of breed and ask about the particular breeders and what questions you should ask, if anyone has experience with those lines, etc. Good luck on your search. You are certainly going about this in a responsible way doing lots of research.
Hey Doberdogs, this mag actually has a longer list of breeders then everywhere else I've found - while that doesn't mean they're good breeders, I'm not so bad at telling if they are. The mag is Dogs annual in Canada, and they actually warn against BYBs/puppy mills etc. tell you how to tell the difference between one and a responsible breeder and how to tell if it really is a responsible breeder you're talking to. They included a list of shots and health tests a puppy should already have from the breeder. It's just loaded with information .
However I'm not limiting my breeder selection to the list they have, I've been to a few dog sport shows and have asked around, I do need to get in touch with the GSD club in my area though.
I'm not new to dogs just new to the specifics of these two breeds.
Thanks for the compliment and the advice Doberdogs!
However I'm not limiting my breeder selection to the list they have, I've been to a few dog sport shows and have asked around, I do need to get in touch with the GSD club in my area though.
I'm not new to dogs just new to the specifics of these two breeds.
Thanks for the compliment and the advice Doberdogs!
One more thing, when you're looking into a kennel and they claim they "health test" or OFA, look their dogs up here:
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
You can type in their registration number, or their registered name. You can even type in their ancestors to see if they have been tested and what the results are. That way you can verify the breeder's claims, and if their dogs aren't in there start asking questions as to why.
When we got our griffon, Charlie, my husband drove down to the breeder and met her and the puppies. He wanted to buy one that day, but wanted me to check it out so I typed in Charlie's parents and voila! he has 5 generations of OFA good and excellent ratings behind him, plus cardiac, BAER and CERF testing. It brought such peace of mind. Definitely important with GSDs.
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
You can type in their registration number, or their registered name. You can even type in their ancestors to see if they have been tested and what the results are. That way you can verify the breeder's claims, and if their dogs aren't in there start asking questions as to why.
When we got our griffon, Charlie, my husband drove down to the breeder and met her and the puppies. He wanted to buy one that day, but wanted me to check it out so I typed in Charlie's parents and voila! he has 5 generations of OFA good and excellent ratings behind him, plus cardiac, BAER and CERF testing. It brought such peace of mind. Definitely important with GSDs.
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Wow, really useful site Romy - thanks. How do you get their registration number, do you ask the breeder?
Looks like the dogs of one of the breeders I'm looking at have been breed surveyed and most of them ranked KKL1, they aren't OFA'D but they have the German equivalent which is marked by the "a" stamp. Just like Xandra said lol.
What do you guys think? (this won't be the only breeder I'm looking at) Top German Shepherd Breeder. AKA Xbox Dei Precision Puppies For Sale two of the females appear to have actual roach-backs.
Looks like the dogs of one of the breeders I'm looking at have been breed surveyed and most of them ranked KKL1, they aren't OFA'D but they have the German equivalent which is marked by the "a" stamp. Just like Xandra said lol.
What do you guys think? (this won't be the only breeder I'm looking at) Top German Shepherd Breeder. AKA Xbox Dei Precision Puppies For Sale two of the females appear to have actual roach-backs.
The dogs seem decent... I'm not wow'd but then again that just ain't my style of dog lol. I don't like roach backs att alll.
However. Look at their "warranty" (this is usually referred to as a guarantee IME). It only is good for two years. Which I've seen before, whatever. It isn't great, but you can get Pennhip done at 16 weeks. However these people only accept hip ratings from the Ontario Veterinary College (why??) which can be done, at earliest, at 18 months. I don't like that. My brain isn't working right and I can't seem to find the right way to say how that attitude (get it done in 6 months or it's not our responsibility anymore!!!) bothers me. Hopefully someone else will expand. lol
However. Look at their "warranty" (this is usually referred to as a guarantee IME). It only is good for two years. Which I've seen before, whatever. It isn't great, but you can get Pennhip done at 16 weeks. However these people only accept hip ratings from the Ontario Veterinary College (why??) which can be done, at earliest, at 18 months. I don't like that. My brain isn't working right and I can't seem to find the right way to say how that attitude (get it done in 6 months or it's not our responsibility anymore!!!) bothers me. Hopefully someone else will expand. lol
another place to look, tho I wouldn't take everything in stone is
German Shepherd Pedigree Search
there is also a forum there, with very knowledgeable people who can direct you to breeders in your area. THere is an ad site, as well as map of breeders.
The last website you posted, while I am not real familiar with west lines, (my preference is ddr/czech) I have heard Zamp is a very popular /well talked about dog..
German Shepherd Pedigree Search
there is also a forum there, with very knowledgeable people who can direct you to breeders in your area. THere is an ad site, as well as map of breeders.
The last website you posted, while I am not real familiar with west lines, (my preference is ddr/czech) I have heard Zamp is a very popular /well talked about dog..
You don't have to use the reg # to get the ratings, you can cut and paste the dog's full registered name (like Hassenpfeffer von Whatever) off the breeder's website and search for the records that way. You can also type in partial names, so can do just the kennel name and any tested dogs they bred that have the kennel name as part of theirs will pop up.
For example:
Our dog Charlie has some Stonepoint dogs behind him. If you go to the database and type in "stonepoint", all the dogs with that in their name pop up. Under the breed column I can see that the dogs on the page are vizslas, so scroll through the pages until you get to wirehaired pointing griffons. It has all the stonepoint griffs listed who have been tested, with their results.
Any breeder claiming to OFA their dogs should have them in the database. If not, then start asking hard questions. A breeder should never waffle or lie to you. If they are reluctant to answer a question, it's best to run the other way.
As for that breeder's dogs, it's not a look I personally am fond of. You have to go with what you like. Since you're looking for a companion dog and not a Sch prospect, you might look into finding a breeder whose dogs have been used for things like search and rescue, service animals, etc. You're likely to get a less sharp dog from those kinds of lines.
And yeah, the two year health guarantee is a bit worrying. It's better than nothing. I don't know how common it is for GSD breeders do to a lifetime guarantee for orthopedic issues.
For example:
Our dog Charlie has some Stonepoint dogs behind him. If you go to the database and type in "stonepoint", all the dogs with that in their name pop up. Under the breed column I can see that the dogs on the page are vizslas, so scroll through the pages until you get to wirehaired pointing griffons. It has all the stonepoint griffs listed who have been tested, with their results.
Any breeder claiming to OFA their dogs should have them in the database. If not, then start asking hard questions. A breeder should never waffle or lie to you. If they are reluctant to answer a question, it's best to run the other way.
As for that breeder's dogs, it's not a look I personally am fond of. You have to go with what you like. Since you're looking for a companion dog and not a Sch prospect, you might look into finding a breeder whose dogs have been used for things like search and rescue, service animals, etc. You're likely to get a less sharp dog from those kinds of lines.
And yeah, the two year health guarantee is a bit worrying. It's better than nothing. I don't know how common it is for GSD breeders do to a lifetime guarantee for orthopedic issues.
If you want to do Schutzhund, get a working line dog...while a showline might be able to do it, you're much more likely to get a good prospect from working lines that breed for working ability. Those dogs are bred to have the correct drives, which you may or may not find in a show-line dog.
You might want to look on the Pedigree Database website.
The pedigree tool for professionals - click on German Shepherd Dog...you can look at the classifieds and through the threads on the right hand side.
You might want to look on the Pedigree Database website.
The pedigree tool for professionals - click on German Shepherd Dog...you can look at the classifieds and through the threads on the right hand side.
GUARDIAN ANGEL SHEPHERDS - GERMAN SHEPHERD K9 PARTNERS FOR LIFE! Just found this breeder and I'm liking the looks of it so far, tell me what you guys think.
Please, no. The last one was better.
I've never seen a website that talked about "old fashioned" German shepherds that I liked the look of.
The spiel about "not bred for aggression" like the RCMP dogs. WTF. RCMP dogs are honest GERMAN SHEPHERDS, silly woman. "Aggression," how general and ignorant sounding. Dog is a fear biter, that is aggression. Dog bites the **** out of a guy that is trying to rape you, that is also aggression. A GSD that isn't selectively "aggressive" isn't a GSD.
What is she doing comparing them to RCMP dogs? If that ain't marketing to people who don't know **** about dogs I don't know what is.
Their dogs do not have German Shepherd bodies. I mean the showlines at the previous kennel you mentioned, at least were bred to a standard of some sort. GSD's are SUPPOSED to have some angulation.
110 lbs? And they are breeding this dog why? Because he's old fashioned and has no angulation? What, could they find no other stud, even with AI?
FTR, GSD's aren't meant to be 110 lbs. I will post some pics of mine for you. He is too big for the standard but nowhere near 110 lbs. But hey wait a minute, this breeder ignores the standard altogether!
Random longcoat dog. Not hip tested and bred because he's 11 and she needs the bloodline?
Speaking of hip testing. Where are the X rays? OFA ratings?
Where are titles? Anything? She went to the trouble and expense of importing a dog and didn't buy one with titles?
Her dogs are not angels. They are dogs and bitches. Just like everyone else's.
Alright. So no. Please, no.
In my next post I will find you some nice looking breeders.
Oh, and that my friend is what we call a BYB.
I've never seen a website that talked about "old fashioned" German shepherds that I liked the look of.
The spiel about "not bred for aggression" like the RCMP dogs. WTF. RCMP dogs are honest GERMAN SHEPHERDS, silly woman. "Aggression," how general and ignorant sounding. Dog is a fear biter, that is aggression. Dog bites the **** out of a guy that is trying to rape you, that is also aggression. A GSD that isn't selectively "aggressive" isn't a GSD.
What is she doing comparing them to RCMP dogs? If that ain't marketing to people who don't know **** about dogs I don't know what is.
Their dogs do not have German Shepherd bodies. I mean the showlines at the previous kennel you mentioned, at least were bred to a standard of some sort. GSD's are SUPPOSED to have some angulation.
110 lbs? And they are breeding this dog why? Because he's old fashioned and has no angulation? What, could they find no other stud, even with AI?
FTR, GSD's aren't meant to be 110 lbs. I will post some pics of mine for you. He is too big for the standard but nowhere near 110 lbs. But hey wait a minute, this breeder ignores the standard altogether!
Random longcoat dog. Not hip tested and bred because he's 11 and she needs the bloodline?
Speaking of hip testing. Where are the X rays? OFA ratings?
Where are titles? Anything? She went to the trouble and expense of importing a dog and didn't buy one with titles?
Her dogs are not angels. They are dogs and bitches. Just like everyone else's.
Alright. So no. Please, no.
In my next post I will find you some nice looking breeders.
Oh, and that my friend is what we call a BYB.
How about these guys Jinopo.CZ Czech, Slovak, DDR, East German K9 working dogs
Well, they don't do what we'd call normal health testing... And they have three litters on the ground which is a bit much for one GOOD facility at any given time. I see no OFA but if their foreign language deal is the equivalent in Czech or whatever, maybe they're not at weird as they seem. I'm not really a fan of any kennel breeding for "dark pigmentation".