Okay, jumping in head first.
I have a GSD, who is a resuce, like most of you know: Bella. She has issues. However, none are HEALTH wise (or that we've seen, yet). They're behaviour wise. Bella's from a BYB, or a puppy mill. Either way, not a good breeder. She's supposedly registered, but I know nothing of health tests that were done.
Now, I don't support BYBs, or Puppy Mills, and from my dogs, you should know that since learning about puppy mills after Zoey, I'm a "rescuer" now.
Bella's problems, in my opinion ARE NOT from her BYB history. They're from her jackass second owners, and the first who screw the hell out of her, mentally and physically (meaning she was thin when she came to me, and hadn't gotten the exercise she needed).
Now think, had I went out and BOUGHT Bella from a BYB, I may have had a normal puppy who I had a chance with to raise correctly, and set up so she could be a dog friendly dog. But, I got her from a rescue, so I got doomed to her issues.
All I'm saying is that sometimes, it's easier to start off with a dog who may come with some health issues rather then a dog who probably will come with behaviour issues.
The breeder to me, sounds like a hobby breeder. For all we know this man could have bought GSDs saying "I'm going to breed affordable GSDs who are good for pets, but wont have the same issues as most other GSDs that are affordable". And in MY dictionary, there's a difference between a Hobby breeder, who may breed because he loves the breed and wants to let others experience a good dog with out the expensive price tag you'd get on a well bred GSD, and a BYB is strictly in it for the money.
- And about Kenya and Fran. That was wrong. You guys may have said nothing rude about it, but the fact that a dogs health issues were brought up on the forum publicaly by someone who ISN'T HER OWNER is that's rude to me. That's something Fran should have been able to announce on the forum BY HERSELF. (Sorry to hear about that, Fran, but I know you'll do well by her).