Thank you all for the advice and tips. I know that I said pick of the litter, however, the breeder never came out and said I would have “pick of the litter” I was just the 1st person (and only one to this point) who has had interest in the males. So with my limited experience I associated it with having the pick of the litter. But I also don’t get the impression that I would be “given” or steered in the direction of one dog over another. However reading some of your post has opened my eyes little and now I know what to ask about  I just assumed being the 1st person to get a puppy out of the litter, I would have “pick of the litter” . Well we can see my greenness coming through.

Maisha, to answer your question, of my 3 GSD I have own over my life the 1st we had to leave in Germany when we moved. He was a great dog, however I was 11 so what the hell did I know
The 2 after that 1 had heart trouble and one had bad hips. I attributed it to poor breeding and maybe poor vet care on my part. I should have taken them more maybe? Not that it would have done any good, but it might have. unfortunately I will never know. So I’ve tried looking into bloodlines this time around and it seem the better the blood lines the higher price of the dog. I know that you can have a $10,000 dog and it still have heart problems, but I would like to limit the possibilities to the best of my ability. I don’t want to lose another dog. It wasn’t easy on myself or my family.

Alex, thank you for the website. I’ve been looking over it this morning, however I feel im to “green” to interpret it..lol I will however read over it some more. Since I don’t know the test to perform but it gives me a good direction to start researching.

As far as picking the puppy up at 7 weeks, we are not dead set on it. We just thought it would be a good time with everyone being able to be home.

I cant wait to get the videos to watch over them, but the “no petting policy” that ive been reading about on the website, just wondering, does this mean to train the dog properly, im not to let my 3 year old daughter play with him? I sure hope not.

Thanks again
Michael

Thank you Norman,your post makes alot of sence for a novice like myself.

The term BYB - back yard breeders?

Since I wanted a good family pet I found a littler from a female with this decription

Nice large female
Excellent temperment
Completed training and temperament test towards her
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) Certification and career
Caninie Good Citizen (CGC) trained and certified
Loves people of all ages
Good with children and elderly
AKC Registered
OFA/OFE
From Champion Bloodlines
Great Grandfather is 1996 US Sieger Champion VA1
Playful!
Loves the water!
Strong drive—ball and prey
She'd rather play ball than eat!

Male -

Sieger V Rated
SchH3
KKL1a hips A normal

While most of this doesnt mean a whole lot to me,is there anything I should be warry about? Ask about maybe? It seemed like a good mix for what im looking for, but I could be wrong, its been known to happen from time to time

thanks all.. you all have been great.

best regards
Michael

IS A DOGTRA 280NCP ENOUGH? I HAVE A 45LB LABRADOODLE SOON TO BE AROUND 75LBS.MILD MANNERED AND NON AGGRESSIVE.HE WANTS TO PLEASE BUT IS EASILY DISTRACTED,THANKS

Loves people of all ages.—If possible ask to see her and the male. Put your hands on both and make your own mind as to there mental soundness.

She'd rather play ball than eat!-- If correct this is a very good quality but again, if possible, ask to see the male in a effort to see what he is about. The German show ratings are a lot more valid than the AKC show ratings because in order to enter there show a dog must first pass a work and temperament test, that is not true for an AKC champion. That said even German show dogs are much weaker than there working counterparts but light years ahead of the AKC dogs because to be an AKC champion all the dog has to do is trot around a small ring and be able to stand "with the support of there handler". Because AKC GSD champions walk on there hocks most, would fall over without that help. Ask what was the OFA grade on the female and then ask the breeder to explain to you the meaning of the different grades. I note that the breeder says that the bitch has completed AAT and CGC training, ask if she has gotten her certificate and if not, why. Norman Epstein

Norman makes some good points. I would also say German show titles hold more water than "AKC Champ", to me . Since a 6 month old pup can litterally be an AKC Champ already. How can that be a valid title for a dog? If and when it won that title as a pup, it wouldn't have the conformation, mental maturity or necessary health certifications an adult would have. My 2 cents.

I have seen the female (she wouldn’t take her eyes off me while we were looking at the pups) and she was very sound. She let my little one pet her (3 year old) as well as myself. I was told she will complete her certification once the pups are gone. Since the the dog will work side by side with a therapist doing physical therapy with the elderly (nursing homes) which was a nice point for the mrs.It seems to be a family own operation and another family member has the male in another part of the state so I was not able to see him. However I was told he would be made available if I wanted to drive and see him (4 hrs from me). But the waiting sure does suck 

Thanks
Michael

p.s I just ordered some of the video’s, that should open up a whole new round of questions .. hehe

Michael:
"strong prey drive, would rather play ball than eat", and then there's the SCH titles...

You may want to be prepared to lead a very active life with this dog.

I just wanted to thank everyone for the help on this matter. And you were right, when I went back to look at the pups again, I was "steered" between 2 pups basically. Was told either of them would fit well into our home. Silly me, thinking I was going to get any of the 8

I have also reviewed the 3 videos (basic obed,8weeks-8months, and pack structure) and watching 8weeks and pack structure a few times im abit confused (this is not a hard thing to do). I will be picking the puppy up in the next couple days and from what I understand (my interpretation anyway) you put the pup in the crate from day 1 to establish pack structure? Not playing and interacting with him much? I thought there would be some kind of "feeling out" process, but there isn’t? Its a "its my world and your just living in it" deal? I saw in the video with the clicker training when it looks like he (ed) has the puppy tied to his feet and he is working with him. So you do that 1st? or the “aloof” crate training? The videos have been a huge help getting things ready, I guess im just little unsure of afew things.

Guess im just worried about messing up day 1
(btw,I have a 4 year old in the house .. keep them apart for now?)

thanks again ,you all have been a wonderful help.

Michael
p.s maybe I should have started another post about this .

Michael

Hey Michael,

I was confused about the two videos, also. In the puppy video Ed seems to play with the puppy more and interacting with it and in the pack structure video he doesn't. Well I asked the same question in the puppy training forum and I got some good answers. I don't know how to do the links to thread but maybe you can look it up. I'll give it a try and post it http://www.leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=180260
Hope that works.

Im no expert but from what I understand:
I think that with small pups constant supervision is the rule of thumb with the crate being used for quite time, eating, sleeping, and when you need a break and tethering being done when the pup is out and about with you in the house/yard.

If you are raising a pup to be a family pet, primarily as a companion who happens to have a job then I would go with lots and lots of interaction and bonding and keeping them tethered to you to minimize housetraining accidents and destructiveness problems.
I know with some working dogs especially protection trained dogs there is less interaction with the family and less playtime is given