By now you know that you don't only desire a dog, but that you can have one and that it will be a German Shepherd puppy. Now what? Well, first you have to find out what you are looking for in your German Shepherd puppy. I'm presuming that if you are reading this article you are looking for either a pet or a show dog.
Let's start by examining the show dog possibility. Bear in mind that if you are an experienced breeder, owner, or have shown GSDs previously, this article is not designed for you. I'm writing it to assist people who are new at this and who still need a little assistance. If you are looking for a show quality German Shepherd puppy you will have to determine first what kind of GSD you desire. Basically, you can choose from American lines and German lines. If you don't know the variance, you can read my articles on the; "The German Shepherd Dog Breed- Which Are Better; German Lines or American Lines" and "The German Shepherd Dog Breed- Difference Between German Lines or American Lines". You will get a very good idea of the predominant differences if you read these articles.
If you opt for American lines I can only assist you with the first part of the procedure, since I'm not as familiar with them as I am with German lines. Either way, in both circumstances there are a number of usual steps you should take in your purchasing process, but when it comes to choosing a quality German Shepherd of American lines, I'm not skilled to tell you what physical attributes you should look for.
The first thing you should realize is that the only way to get a puppy of show quality is to purchase it from a reputable breeder. Pet stores don't sell show quality dogs, regardless of what they say. Furthermore, no one will give you a show quality puppy for free, unless you agree to some kind of co-ownership or it's a very close friend or family member and even then, the odds of getting it for free are lean. Reputable breeders are not in this for the money, but for their admiration of the breed. Nevertheless, they need to cover some of their expenses and they do so by selling their puppies to people they believe in. Most importantly, they want to make sure that their show quality German Shepherd puppy goes to the appropriate person; someone who will show their dog and is open to their recommendations.
So how can you find the right breeder? Well, I would start by getting in contact with my local club and getting a list of breeders and the schedule for the following few specialty conformation shows. When you do, make sure the club you are contacting is the right club. If you are looking for a German Shepherd puppy of American lines it should be a local club, member of the American Kennel Club and if you are looking for a German Shepherd puppy of German lines your best bet would likely be to contact the United Schutzhund Clubs of America if you live in the United States or locate your local German Shepherd club if you live somewhere else.
The next step; go to a few shows, familiarize yourself with the regulations and talk to the people visiting the show. Make friends. Ask questions. investigate as much as you can. If you like a specific dog, talk to his owner or to his breeder. People love talking about their dogs. Find out what others think of that breeder or that specific dog. Find out who has fresh litters and which breeder has litters intended for the near future. Schedule visits to their kennels. Once you have narrowed it down to two or three dogs or kennels, you need to find out as much information as you can about the probable litters. Examine the stud and the bitch. Which dogs are in their pedigrees? What particular genetic conditions do their lines carry? Make sure the breeder you choose has all breeding stock tested and cleared for frequent genetic concerns in GSDs, like hip dysplasia.
Now it's time to choose the right German Shepherd puppy for you and I will clarify what you have to look for on my next article.
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