Do you want to buy a German Shepherd puppy from a genuine and well-reputed breeder, but don’t know exactly how to determine whether they are genuine or not and selling purebred healthy, well-socialized German Shepherds? Don’t worry! You’re in the right place.
Purchasing a German Shepherd puppy from a pet store or pet market is often risky because the majority of these puppies come from unscrupulous puppy mills or backyard breeders whose sole purpose is to generate profits rather than prioritizing the well-being of the dogs.
The large-scale commercial German Shepherd breeding operations are notorious for keeping their dogs in cramped, unsanitary conditions with little regard for their health or socialization, leading to a multitude of potential issues down the line.
Following topics will be covered in this post:
- Types of German Shepherd Breeders
- How to Differentiate Between Genuine and Non-genuine German Shepherd Breeders
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01. Types of German Shepherd Breeders
German Shepherd breeders have been divided into 5 types:
- German Shepherd Puppy Mill
- German Shepherd Commercial Breeder
- German Shepherd Backyard Breeder
- German Shepherd Reputable Hobby Breeder
- German Shepherd Reputable Experienced Breeder
01. German Shepherd Puppy Mill
German Shepherd Puppy Mill primarily focuses on profit, with little to no regard for the health, temperament, or genetic integrity of the breed. They churn out large volumes of puppies to sell to pet stores and dog markets.
They have no real interest in improving the German Shepherd breed standard or preserving its desirable traits. Instead, they simply use whatever breeding stock is readily available, often inbreed closely related dogs or introduce undesirable genetic material to maximize their litters and output.
To further cut corners, these puppy mills frequently obtain generic registration papers from less reputable registries that have far more lenient requirements than the major kennel clubs. This allows them to market their puppies as purebred German Shepherds, even if the puppies do not conform to the breed’s appearance, temperament, or health guidelines.
02. German Shepherd Commercial Breeder
German Shepherd Commercial Breeders operate as profit-driven enterprises, prioritizing financial gain over the well-being of the dogs they breed. These breeders take a more generalized approach, focusing primarily on the outward appearance of the puppies they produce rather than their genetic health and temperament. Some of them may provide a 7-day guarantee.
They supply their stock to pet stores and markets, where unsuspecting buyers are drawn in by the cute, cuddly appeal of the dogs and puppies, unaware of the substandard breeding practices and health issues.
These breeders make no effort to screen potential owners whether they are eligible to pet a puppy or ensure that their puppies are going to loving, permanent homes. Once the transaction is completed, they have no further concern for the dogs’ long-term care and outcome. All German Shepherd puppies that they sell are given full breeding rights.
03. German Shepherd Backyard Breeder
German Shepherd Backyard Breeders are driven primarily by profit motives or a desire to simply reproduce one of their existing dogs. These breeders often lack the proper guidance, knowledge, and oversight required to responsibly produce healthy, well-bred puppies. Without familiarity with the established breed standard, they may breed their dogs to any convenient partner, with little regard for the long-term genetic implications.
They rarely attend dog shows and trials, which they may dismiss as too “political”. These breeders focus solely on their current dogs with no comprehensive records or understanding of the genetics.
They may charge more for “breeding papers. They make broad, unsubstantiated claims about the health of their puppies to impress consumers, offering little to no genuine health guarantee beyond basic proof of vaccinations. Tragically, when problems do arise, these backyard breeders are often unable to provide the necessary guidance and support.
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04. German Shepherd Reputable Hobby Breeder
Reputable German Shepherd Hobby Breeders are deeply passionate about the breed and strive tirelessly to better it through their thoughtful breeding programs. As dedicated members of breed clubs, they continuously expand their knowledge and expertise.
These breeders are driven by a relentless pursuit of the breed’s ideal standard, carefully select breeding pairs to produce the healthiest, most temperamentally sound puppies. They participate in dog shows and trials, and rigorously health test all their breeding stock for genetic diseases. They maintain a record of dogs in the gene pool, including each puppy’s lineage and progress. They sell their dogs and puppies with spay/neuter contracts and try to stay in touch with new owners.
They provide a clean, nurturing, and mentally stimulating environment with great care and affection, ensuring the puppies are well-socialized and prepared for their new homes. Prospective buyers are guided through the selection process, and if needed introduce to the parents of the puppies, and also make sure that each of their puppies goes to the right family.
Furthermore, these breeders offer comprehensive written guarantees and make themselves available to provide guidance and support to new owners long after the sale. They will also take back the dog or puppy at any time.
05. German Shepherd Reputable Experienced Breeder
German Shepherd Reputable Experienced Breeders are deeply devoted to the beloved breed. They strive tirelessly to perfect a specific type of German Shepherd to leave a lasting legacy.
As extremely dedicated members of breed clubs, these breeders take on a multitude of roles – they are seasoned mentors, published authors, and sought-after seminar speakers. They use the knowledge to help define the breed standard and mentor the responsible hobby breeders.
With decades of experience, these exemplary breeders have a deep understanding of the breed’s health history and genetic makeup. They meticulously plan each breeding to produce the ideal physical and temperamental qualities in their dogs. Intensive health and genetic testing are always a priority. They can explain how breeding was planned to emphasize specific qualities and can speak at length about how puppies compare.
Committed to the well-being of every puppy they produce, they sell their pups with spay/neuter contracts and maintain close relationships with new owners, and also provide health guarantees, ongoing support, training advice, and replacement options for any dogs affected by genetic or health issues.
They provide the highest standards of care, create a clean, stimulating, and mentally enriching environment for their breeding stock, and are heavily involved in organizing club-sponsored health clinics and seminars to promote the breed.
02. How to Differentiate Between Genuine and Non-genuine German Shepherd Breeders
In this section, we will share some hints and information to differentiate between genuine and non-genuine German Shepherd breeders.
01. How to Know Non-Genuine German Shepherd Breeders
The non-genuine or unethical German Shepherd breeders lack fundamental knowledge about the breed and the official breed standards. They may display ignorance or even outright denial of common genetic defects that plague the breed, such as hip and elbow dysplasia.
They don’t participate in dog sports, trials, and activities.
They may not allow you to observe the puppies or adult dogs in person, as this could indicate they are trying to hide poor living conditions or undesirable traits.
They don’t ask detailed questions about your lifestyle, living situation, and experience with dogs because they don’t care where their puppies are going. Their only concern is money and profit.
They don’t provide comprehensive health documentation, including genetic testing results and a complete pedigree.
Their puppies may appear sickly, shy, or unsocialized.
Instead of talking about the health, breeding program, pedigree, and temperament of a puppy, they try to impress customers by claiming that it is the descendant of a champion dog. While claims of “champion lines” may sound impressive, what matters are the actual health and temperament of the puppy’s direct parents(sire and dam).
02. How to Know Genuine German Shepherd Breeders
Genuine or Ethical German Shepherd breeders are deeply committed to the preservation and betterment of the breed. They produce puppies that exemplify the highest standards of conformation, trainability, and temperament as outlined in the GSD breed standard.
These dedicated breeders only bred physically sound, emotionally stable adult dogs that have reached full maturity.
They keep learning about genetic diseases that can affect the breed like hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. They provide documentation of hip and elbow screenings such as an OFA OVC or Penn Hip report or a letter of evaluation from a board-certified veterinary radiologist. This ensures that the puppies are healthy and have been bred responsibly reducing the risk of passing on genetic diseases to future generations.
The same high standards are applied to any outside bitches sent to their stud dogs which are applied to their breeding stock. Extensive temperament testing of each litter is conducted before placement, allowing the breeder to carefully match each puppy’s personality to a compatible family or individual.
Before sending a puppy to its new home, the breeder ensures the puppy receives a thorough veterinary examination, and is up-to-date on vaccinations and deworming. To promote responsible ownership, breeders often require spay/neuter contracts, limited registrations, or offer financial incentives.
They maintain detailed records on the health, temperament, and performance of every dog they’ve produced, and share this valuable data openly and honestly to guide future breeding decisions and support the breed’s advancement.
They also stand behind their dogs, gladly accept the return of any they’ve bred, and assist with relocation if needed.
Genuine German Shepherd breeders refrain from deceptive marketing and do not use GSDCA membership as a marketing tool. They never supply dogs to pet stores, laboratories, or other commercial sources, ensuring each puppy is placed in a loving, properly equipped home. They encourage new owners to enroll their puppies in obedience training to earn the Canine Good Citizen certification.
Final Thoughts
While the temptation to opt for a less expensive option from a non-genuine breeder may be sometimes alluring, the benefits of purchasing from a reputable, genuine breeder far outweigh any short-term savings. The puppies from these breeders are not merely products, but the culmination of years of careful breeding, extensive knowledge, and a genuine passion for the breed.
In contrast, non-genuine breeders often prioritize profit over the well-being of the dogs, potentially subjecting the puppies to substandard living conditions, inadequate veterinary care, and a lack of proper socialization – factors that can lead to a large number of behavioral and health problems.
By investing in a German Shepherd puppy from a genuine breeder, you are not only securing a loyal, intelligent, and well-adjusted companion, but you are also supporting the preservation of the breed’s exceptional qualities.
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