HOW DO I FIND THE BEST GERMAN SHEPHERD BREEDER?
If you've just begun the puppy shopping journey, the amount of information and research ahead of you can be a little overwhelming. The best way to go about things is to choose your breeder and THEN choose your puppy. So what are the necessary things you need to know when shopping for a breeder?
1. Health Testing
GSDs are prone to various health issues; hip dysplasia and degenerative myelopathy being two common (and devastating) health concerns. Both of these health problems can be tested for in the parents to help genetically avoid an issue in your pup; responsible breeders have the parents tested BEFORE breeding their dogs. You want to see hip ratings on BOTH of the parents, and ask to see the actual certificates, don't just take their word for it. You also want to know the DM status of each parent. Breeders that don’t do proper health testing often respond with answers such as "can't find the certificates", "Im about to do the testing", says "the vet x-rayed them and they look great", or says "we've never had hip problems with our dogs/pups".
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2. Health Guarantee
Responsible breeders will back up their puppies with a health guarantee. Since they have already done the health testing on the parents before breeding puppies, they have genetically stacked the deck in favor of having healthy litters. Breeders are still human and not invincible- health issues can still arise even in pups from health tested parents; what you're looking for is a breeder who will be there for you if this was to happen so you're not stuck with an unhealthy pup. Get your health guarantee in writing and make sure you fully understand the contract that you are committing to.
3. Socialization
Your puppy goes through a variety of stages before he's ready to come home and live with you. All of these stages are CRUCIAL to his development; if overlooked, it may be difficult, if not impossible to "train" your puppy later in life. Your puppy needs to be well socialized and acclimated to the world around him in the early weeks of his life. This includes things like meeting new people and animals, walking over strange surfaces, hearing loud noises- all of these things will add up to a confident, trainable, happy and we'll adjusted adult dog. Avoid breeders that don't have a socialization program in place, or just have guests "play with the puppies" when they visit.
4. Visitation
Meeting the parents and the puppies before you purchase is always a great idea. Its not 100% feasible in all cases; the breeder may have used an outside stud, or you may be located 100s of miles away from each other. Luckily with todays technology, Skype/FaceTime is available to almost everyone. Ask your breeder for a tour of their facility; or ask to FaceTime with them in order to see the parents and the pups yourself. Breeders that won't welcome you to view the conditions of their dogs and puppies, or tells your their kennel has been inspected by an agency so you don't need to see it for yourself- need to be crossed off your list.
5. Registration
No, having papers to a puppy is not an "end all be all". There are plenty of great dogs out there without papers, and plenty of terrible dogs out there with papers. Papers, and more importantly the pedigree they contain, DO tell us the lineage and the genetic history of the pups parentage. Knowing the health issues (or lack there of) that run in the lines, knowing the trainability of the parents and grandparents (through titles), knowing the temperaments, sizes, conformation- all of this adds up into a complete picture of what you can expect from your pup in the future. A breeder that doesn't register their litter, breeds unregistered dogs, or will "get the papers to you later" is doing a disservice to the pups they’re creating. Papers do not guarantee you will have a happy and well adjusted puppy- but they do show that the breeder has some responsibility to the their pups.
THE WORKING LINE GERMAN SHEPHERD
The working line Shepherd is bred just as it sounds- for the purpose of work. These are the dogs that you see working with police and military, and the ones that fiercely protect their families. Focusing on breeding for intelligence, obedience and temperament, breeders start with a solid base of sound and conformationally correct bodies. Temperament is just as important, and is also a genetic trait- as we need our working dogs to have the mindset to WORK, as well as the temperament to be around other people and animals without losing control. The drive to perform tasks and to please their handlers is another trait that is valued in our working line shepherds, and is passed on through genetics. These dogs are typically higher energy and require daily training and exercise; they want to work their bodies as well as their minds. They make excellent companions for active families.
THE SHOW LINE GERMAN SHEPHERD
Show line Shepherds are bred with the focus on appearance and show standards. These gentle giants are made for trotting around a show ring and commonly have sloped backs and sharp angulation of the hock joints. Bloodlines can come from Europe or the USA, and each has a slightly different look. As temperament, nerve, intelligence and workability are not required in the show ring- their temperaments can be more of a lap dog, and some have been known to be shy. Finding a protection dog from these lines is a rare. They are usually lower energy dogs and would work well for a family who wants a large lap dog, or doesn't have the time to spend exercising and training the dog.
Types of Working Line German Shepherds
WEST GERMAN WORKING LINE GERMAN SHEPHERDS
The West German working line has been referred to as the most balanced in terms of appearance, temperament, and working ability. Like its show line counterpart, it traces its origins back to West Germany, which existed when Germany was split into the East and West. It is considered the closest representation of the types of dogs bred initially by Stephanitz.
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In their breeding, greater focus is given to the correct working structure, a stable temperament, a strong working drive, and great ability. The West German working line can be considered in contrast to the West German Show line, bred purposefully to work real jobs in service positions, but it also excels in many different sports. Therefore, their bodies have been bred to take on a more defined working structure relative to the show line types. Unlike the West German show lines, which were bred to conform to specific show standards, the West German working line was bred to excel in jobs such as protection and law enforcement particularly. Nonetheless, the West German working line can also make for a great family pet with an active family.
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Nevertheless, they require great attention in terms of exercise and mental stimulation due to the breed's high working drive characteristic. They have a lot of energy, and hence they need to be continuously occupied with high-intensity activities, lest they grow restless. A slight slope of their backs characterizes their appearance, not quite as much as the West German show line but can be greater than that of other working line types. Their back and hindquarters' angulation lies somewhere between that of the West German show line and the East German working line. The characteristic regal head and shoulders of the German shepherd working lines are present, but they are less bulky in the front of the body. Subsequently, this build allows them to have a relatively balanced body, bred for speed, agility, and bite power.
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EAST GERMAN WORKING LINE GERMAN SHEPHERDS
East German Shepherd dogs, also known as Deutsches Demokratische Republik (DDR), have experienced a growth in popularity over the last few decades. While their popularity was high after the World Wars before subsiding with time, they have since carved out a name for themselves in recent times for their capacity to learn, work and provide companionship. DDRs trace their origin from the guard dogs lines initially bred in East Germany after the Second World War, and they are known mainly for their police work. Their name originates from Germany's official name during the period, Deutsche Demokratische Republik, translating to the Federal Republic of Germany.
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The East Germany Communist Party set up a strict breeding program for German shepherd dogs utilized in the military during the cold war era. DDR German shepherds emerged from these breeding programs, gaining popularity for their high work drive and working ability. The East German shepherd breeding program was established to keep pace with the shift in the security demands of East Germany. Within the territory, the government faced an increasing need to deal with attempted defectors from the military, and the country saw the benefits availed by superior dogs in dealing with their security issue, breeding dogs that excelled in police and military work.
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The East German working line was bred with traits such as withstanding the gruesome winter weather and the capacity to scale six-foot walls, which would help them perform their roles. Because the breeding of East German working lines was highly regulated and isolated from outside influence, the breeding program's discipline and standards were maintained at significantly high levels. The East German working line generally displays high-energy levels and high-intensity, alongside what can be termed as a ‘hard edge' working drive. It possesses many of the qualities that human soldiers are endowed with, which helps them adapt and thrive in the roles they perform. Like soldiers, East German working lines have high endurance levels, an iron will, courage, high intelligence, and a strong capacity to maintain focus.
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However, in modern times, not all DDRs display the same soldier-like characteristics, as some may be quite laid back and less drive-y. Their temperament enables them to be gentle with their family while still being protective. The dog devotes unending loyalty to anyone who shares a home with it and is increasingly wary of anyone or anything that can be considered a threat. This includes strangers, who may require a careful and thorough introduction with it. Their loyalty to their family fully extends to even its youngest members.
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East German working lines have appearances that strongly conform to what is expected from a working line dog. Their appearance leans more towards resembling that of the West German Working Line German shepherd. Very different from the stereotypical German shepherd appearance embodied by the American show lines. A distinct large blocky head, thicker paws, and a thick barrel chest compose some of the East German working line's primary characteristics. The dogs have a thick bone structure characterized by low-fat composition and more muscle. Such a body structure enables the dog to display superior athleticism, with great strength, agility, speed, and stamina. East German working lines have recorded a bite force of up to 230 pounds of pressure, almost twice that of humans who recorded 120 pounds of pressure.
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CZECH GERMAN SHEPHERDS
The Czech German shepherd, otherwise known as the Czechoslovakian shepherd, originated from the communist Czech Republic. They had been bred as working dogs in the Czech since 1955, but their popularity grew from 1989 when East and West Germany were reunified. Since the reunification, Czech German shepherds replaced the DDR German shepherds in terms of popularity. While initially they had been bred purposefully for border control jobs, the Czech German shepherds were bred more as family dogs, rather than working dogs, from the time after the reunification of Germany. The Czech Army initially managed the kennels where the Czech German shepherds were bred, mainly from the DDR German shepherd. They took up many of the East German working line traits, including loyalty, intelligence, strong nerves, and working potential.
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While the two types of German shepherds have very similar bloodlines, they are not the same. Nevertheless, DDR and Czech German shepherds are often referred to as and compared to each other. Czech German Shepherds tend to have higher drives than their West German or East German lineages. They may generally be smaller in size, with the males measuring 24″ to 26″ at the shoulder, and 66 to 68 pounds, as the females measuring 22″ to 24″, and 49-61 pounds. They commonly have a more slender yet dense appearance and can appear more powerful. They stand on thick tight paws and a deep chest, with strong jaws and a robust body, which was useful in catching criminals when they were initially bred in Czechoslovakia.
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What Kind Should I Choose?
Always allow your breeder to help you choose and guide you to the puppy that fits your needs. Working with a reputible breeder will help you feel comfortable in knowing what you will be getting and also that the puppy will suit your lifestyle needs. Knowing the differences between the lineages can help you decide which you feel will be the better fit for you. Whether you are looking for an active pup to add to your family or a sport dog.
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Common GSD Questions
