My first German Shepherd was a rescue from Camp Wolfgang, an adorable puppy that just turned 1.5 years old. I know i'm finally ready for my next GSD because having one just isn't enough.

I've done some research on show quality vs. working line dogs and I know I want one from a reliable working line breeder. I won't be competing in any of the main GSD events but I would be participating in agility and obedience and my dad is interested in raising/training a service dog and would also like one from a working line.

While doing a bit of research this breeder contacted me:

http://www.freewebs.com/kleinenhain/

I figured some of the more experienced people here would be able to spot a bad breeder from a reliable one.

Thank you in advance!

A breeder contacted YOU? How?

I was asking around on germanshepherds.com on what to look for on a breeders website and what questions to ask and he sent me an e-mail.

I would be a little leery of a breeder that contacted you . Normally good quality breeders do not go searching for buyers. This is my opinion.

Might just be my pet peeve - but when I see a breeder using a free website I have to wonder why they can't fork out the $20 to buy their own domain name!

(and then when I see working line dogs advertised using a CGN title I cringe!)

..but maybe that's just me...

Lee

UNLESS it is a breeder that you know of and respect. I was contacted by a breeder and I totally jumped on the chance (well, I thought about it a while) as I KNOW I will have a GREAT dog.

But, I do not pass it around on boards where I know NO ONE that I am looking, otherwise I am sure some BYB would contact me.

Just be careful and weigh your options. Do not settle on the first breeder or puppy you find. Be diligent and firm with what you want and do not take anything less.

Check, check and re-check history on the breeder if you have to.

Good Luck, your pup is somewhere waiting for you.

He was more or less just answering the questions I had and that website was at the bottom of his signiture on the web forum. He didn't push sales or anything on me. He was just really helpful and when I went to his website I really liked the look of his dogs so I started talking to him a bit more about that.

I figured i'd get some more opinions though. The German Shepherd I have now had so many problems as a puppy. She's happy and healthy now but It was a pretty rough start. She had parvo and mange and was terrified of people. She's much better now still a bit shy around strangers but loves other dogs.

Personally, I would not buy a working line puppy that was not bred by SV standards. This means BOTH parents have SchH or HGH titles, Hip/Elbow certs and are Koered.

Liking the look of a dog is fine - but as Max said "Handsome is as Handsome does" :-)

 Quote: lee hanrahan

Personally, I would not buy a working line puppy that was not bred by SV standards. This means BOTH parents have SchH or HGH titles, Hip/Elbow certs and are Koered.

Liking the look of a dog is fine - but as Max said "Handsome is as Handsome does" :-)

So other titles mean nothing to you (and no I am not referring to a CGN or CGC)?

I don't think there's anything wrong with the dogs on that breeder's site. Personally, I wouldn't buy any of them but that's because I'm a malinut person and anything with less than KNPV or ring titles on top and bottom doesn't excite me.

BUT...

The original poster said she's looking for a pet. While it's debatable that anyone not breeding to a true working standard (agility and CKC/AKC obedience titles don't count) shouldn't be breeding at all, personally, there's nothing on that web site that screams RUN! and I think a lot of us are being unnecessarily hard on the guy. What if he was a poster here? Would the views be different? Probably we'd all be congratulating him on his dogs' accomplishments.

To be honest, when I look at that web site I see a guy who likes old-style shepherd looks, and has FOUNDATION STOCK that might resemble working as opposed to AKC showing. But he himself is unmotivated to really WORK the dogs. I think the dogs look fine, are not spectacular but certainly not horrible, and I believe the original poster could get a very nice pet dog from this breeder.

She's better off going for a breeder she can form a great relationship with, pick a nice little puppy from, and enjoy a nice long lived pet. If she was looking for a true working dog I'd tell her to go to a true working breeder. JMO.