The Alabama German Shepherd Dog Club
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The Alabama German Shepherd Dog ClubServing Alabama and the Southeastern USAAn on line educational resource for German Shepherd dog fanciers |
1. Can you refer me to a responsible breeder?
You have to find your own responsible breeder.
2. Okay, how do I go about finding a reputable, responsible breeder?
One of the best places to find a responsible breeder of German Shepherds is through your nearest chapter of the German Shepherd Dog Club of America GSDCA.
See FAQ #8 below: Suggestions for finding a responsible breeder.
3. Where is the nearest chapter of the German Shepherd Dog Club of America?
If you are from Alabama contact the chapters below:
GSDC OF NORTHERN ALABAMA
Pres: Rick Pearce
Corr Sec: Vicki Terry
3524 Deere Rd., S.E., Decatur, AL 35603-9804
256-355-2224
(pl 9-18-01)
GSDC OF SOUTH ALABAMA
Pat Robinson
8536 Shaw Street
Mobile, AL 36608
251-633-5319
If you are from Georgia contact the chapters below:
Pres: Joan Turner
Corr. Sec: Janet Barwick,
1910 Fairway Cir NE
Atlanta, GA 30319-3823
404-636-2621
EmailPOC: Joyce Quick
update pl 9-5-01
or Augusta GSDC, President Bob Turman (see below)
Pres: Bob Turman
Sec: Angie Hubbard
2117 Silverdale Rd.
Augusta, GA 30906
(706)793-1919
u/d 9-5-01
4. Where can I find a responsible GSD breeder in my area?
Check to see if there is a GSDC in your areas and contact an official for referral to a GSD breeder in your area.
5. Is there a national list of GSD breeders? You may search for GSD breeders on the Internet. See links below:
German Shepherd Dog Breeders via Yahoo
GDS Breeders Listed on Yahoo (last updated 1 Jan. 2003
6. You have a really beautiful black German Shepherd. Who is Jade's breeder?
The German Shephered breeder I use is Lynda Montgomery of Bahnbrecher Old-Style German Shephered Dogs in Scottsdale, Arizona.
7. Where may I find out more information about German Shepherd Dogs?
You may also find general inforamtion about German Shepherds with many links at: AGSDC
8. Suggestions for finding a responsible breeder.
Generally speaking a responsible breeder is someone who takes the time, effort, care and expense to breed healthy canines. A responsible breeder will guarantees the dogs they breed. Reputable and responsible do NOT necessarily mean the same thing. A responsible breeder is someone who has not only been breeding dogs for a long time and established a reputation as a breeder, but someone who does everything possible to insure they are producing dogs that will be healthy. This means taking precautions to breed disease free dogs, screening sire and dam to reduce genetic diseases, providing veterinary care, using temperament testing of puppies, screening prospective buyers and any number of other criteria to insure the health of their dogs. But YOU are the one who is buying a dog so YOU are the one who has to decide what qualities you are looking for in a dog and whether or not a given breeder can supply you with the type of dog you want. So although anyone can refer you to a breeder, YOU are the one who has to communicate with the breeder, that the two of you may decide if you want to do business together, given the criteria both buyer and seller demand.
In general, any chapter of the GSDC of America can refer you to a member who is a breeder. But buyer and seller still must meet, learn about each other and see if they are right for each other. This is NOT a cut and dry process. Buying a dog is not like shopping for groceries. You are dealing with living animals and which are very complex in terms of not only physical features, but temperament and a host of unseen characteristics.
What I recommend that buyers do in screen the breeders. Make a list of questions to ask breeders. Find out if they have all the required test done, such as hip dysplasia, x-ray of elbows, eye examination, etc. See if dogs are tested for sexually transmitted diseases before being breed. Try to get recommendations from other who have purchased dogs from the breeder before. Find out if the puppies will be temperament tested. Will you be able to examine the entire litter? Also describe the qualities you are looking for in a dog so you can find a breeder most able to satisfy your desires in that regard. Remember, each individual dog is different, and the better you can determine its temperament and match this with the type of dog you are looking for then the more likely you will be to find the type of dog you are looking for as a puppy.
You should also find a breeder who guarantees his/her dogs. The type of guarantees breeders use varies from breeder to breeder. Generally you should be able to return a puppy after it is examined by your vet if you find for any reason that you are not then happy with the purchase. Also you should be able to return any dog that has hip dysplasia, especially severe hip dysplasia at two years of age, or at least get another dog. A responsible breeder will also provide you with complete instruction on the care of your puppy as well as its pedigree. You will probably find that those who are most responsible breeders will enthusiastically provide you with photographs of all the dogs that they have breed in the past, especially those which may have won awards in shows and competitions. Serious breeders usually have entire scrap books full of the photographs of dogs they have breed and reared in the past and can rattle of their histories and achievements. Of course this is not a substitute for paper work and documentation. A responsible breeder will provide you with copies of registrations, pedigree, health certificates, a sales contract and guarantee when you purchase a dog. If you have a reasonable request and want something put in writing and can not get it, then I suggest you deal with a breeder who is more willing to back up their words with their signature.
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