( German Shepherd World )

Breeding Basics

There is far more to dog breeding than could possibly fit into this brief page, but this represents a run-down on the most basic things that your dog should qualify on before you even begin to research more about breeding.

Your dog meets the standard set for its breed, as set by the American Kennel Club or one of the other major kennel clubs, such as the following: FCI, Canadian Kennel Club, The Kennel Club, or the United Kennel Club.
Your dog has a rock-solid temperament that complies with the standard set for its breed.
Your dog is at least two years of age and has been tested for all genetic disorders commonly inherited in its breed.
Your dog has been worked and titled in a competition sport. For German Shepherds, buyers will look for breeders who primarily work and title their dogs in one of the following venues: Schutzhund, obedience, herding, or French Ring Sport.
You are not producing puppies that you will not be able to find quality, life-long homes for.
You are prepared to take back any of the puppies you have sold if the buyer cannot keep it, regardless of the buyer's reason for giving up the pup, and regardless of whether you've sold the dog 10 years ago or 10 days ago.
You will sell all pet quality puppies with a spay/neuter contract, or have some other way to ensure that the puppies will not be bred without your prior consent.
You will screen all potential puppy buyers to make sure that they are ready and prepared for the commitment of bringing a dog into the home. This includes checking references.
You are prepared to meet all financial costs related to titling your breeding stock, the process of breeding, and whelping.
Your primary goal in breeding is to improve and preserve the breed, not to make money, "get rich quick", or simply to make puppies because "they are cute" or you want to show your kids "the wonder of life."

All of this is only a small part of the foundation for breeding quality dogs and breeding them responsibly. However, most breeders do not even meet half of those qualifications. Breeders who make no effort to follow responsible breeding practices are often termed "backyard breeders". While some may be well-intentioned in their breeding efforts, they are doing a great injustice to the dog breeds they are breeding.

Avoid breeders who specifically breed for and advertise the size of their dogs. German Shepherds are not, and never were, meant to be huge dogs. If huge is what you're looking for, there are many breeds that meet that description: Great Danes, Mastiffs, Great Pyrenees, and Saint Bernards, to name a few. Breeding an oversized German Shepherd is not only ignoring the standard set for the breed, but also predisposes these poor dogs to joint and skeletal problems.

Also avoid breeders who do not get their dogs OFA or Penn-Hip rated. Hip and elbow dysplasia run rampant in our breed, and while a breeder may claim to have never had hip problems in their lines, they cannot give any guarantees unless they have the x-rays to prove that the hips and elbows are normal and healthy. The only way to diagnose hip and elbow dysplasia is by X-ray.

Avoid purchasing puppies from pet stores. No responsible breeder would ever sell their puppies to a pet store to sell - only commercial breeding facilities and puppy mills sell their puppies to pet stores. Also beware of ads in the paper. Even though some quality breeders may run ads in the paper if they have puppies that have not sold, most newspaper ads are for backyard breeders' dogs. Always screen the breeder extensively if you are considering purchasing a puppy, regardless of where you got their contact information.

Please keep this information in mind as you are looking to purchase a German Shepherd or if you are considering breeding your dog. There is much more to breeding than putting a male and female together. If you love the breed, then do it right. Think twice. Do all your research. Talk to breeders. Go to dog shows. Research genetics. And learn as much as you possibly can about breeding, so you will be able to produce quality puppies for others to enjoy as much as you do!

Remember: if you're just looking to buy a puppy, be sure to promote the good breeders. AS sorry as you may feel for "that puppy in the window", keep in mind that the more dogs puppy mills and backyard breeders sell, the more they are going to produce!

Additional Links Breeding & Breeders

German Shepherd World recommends the following websites as a great place for further reading if you'd like to learn more about breeding, as well as telling quality breeders from backyard breeders.