1. Find a breeder that breeds not just for "color", but for genetic soundness, good temperament, and conformation to breed standard. If not, you may end up with an aggressive or hyper temperament, or a dog that succumbs to premature death.
2. Just because a dog has "papers" or is "AKC registered" does not make it a good dog. This merely means the dog’s parents are in the AKC registry (the AKC does not police QUALITY, they are only a registry!), ...anybody can put two dogs together who have AKC registration, but they can be horrible specimens of the breed. Hint: if all a newspaper ad can say is "shots, wormed..." that’s pretty pitiful if that’s all you can say about your pups!
3.Don’t buy the Shepherd that is "closest in distance", or "the cheapest in the newspaper"...this is the WORST criteria to determine the quality of dog you will have to live with for 12-15 years! Choose a breeder who has been breeding to improve the breed, who is selecting excellent breeding stock, and who is doing CERF and OFA clearances (hips/eyes). If you call a "breeder", ask, "what was your purpose in breeding this litter?" If they say, , to let our kids enjoy the experience", or because they "love their dog" (commonly called "hobby breeders)"...these are poor excuses. If you ask if their dogs are OFA and CERF and they say "huh?????" HANG UP!!!! Or if they just say "yeah", ask "what was the hip rating on the sire or dam of this litter?" Remember...even if you are just looking for a "pet" you don’t need to give up a good temperament and genetic soundness for the possibility of a poor temperament and a crippled or blind dog in the first year (literally!) Who wants to fall in love with a new family companion, just to have the heartbreak of death, serious illness, or premature euthanasia because of poor attention paid to the breeding of the dog? The extra $100-200 is worth it in the end...you’ll pile up hundreds or thousands of dollars in vet bills if you "skimp" on your initial investment of the "right dog"!
4. Ask if the pup comes with a health guarantee and what this includes. Most "hobby breeders" who have lower priced dogs will not do this, thus, the price is lower. Plus, they are not investing in testing for genetic clearances or investing in the most excellent of breeding stock. |
