You are very welcome Heather. White shepherds were always my moms favourite too. I'd definitely prefer one with dark nose and paw pads. Structurally, Skippy is a nice looking dog. How much is she asking for a pup?

Heather,

I would seriously consider continuing your search. There are too many red flags here.

1. No Hip, Elbow X-Rays or any other health clearances. Their dogs are big, too big IMO & with that can come a multitde of orthopaedic issues. GSDs have enough health issues, as a breed, that breeders should be doing some of the basics, at a minimum.
2. No stated breeding goals. There breeding dogs based on their opinion as to what a good pet is, size & dogs with poor pigment and disqualifying faults according the standard.
3. None of these dogs fit into the GSD Standard, AKC or FCI. In size alone, they are on average much too large.
4. Eight litters and counting for 2008. This is a lot of breeding, especially when you have no guiding principle's that even resemble the AKC or FCI GSD Standard.

Just my opinion.

And I'll second that!

Waaay to many red flags!

You can keep looking and maybe stumble on a reputable breeder that just got a young dog back or is looking for a good pet home for a puppy.



Edited by Brandon LaMere (11/13/2008 10:54 AM)
Edit reason: spelling

That "cream sable" female almost looks like she has malinois in her ... but that is probably just the color. I know the breeder she got some of her dogs from (von gaard) and know that she mixes lines ... german and american show, working (kinda), and just plain pets.

Did you notice that they also have Pyrs and that they have, at least once, mixed GSD and Pyrs together and called it a hybrid instead of a mutt? Cute pup, but I wonder if they did that intentionally?

Personally, I would look elsewhere ... even for a pet. If you like the look of her dogs look up von gaard kennel as she has much the same but seems to be a more responsible breeder (albeit of pet only dogs).

I second the opinion that you should check out some working kennels. There are always lower drive pups born that are great pets. German show lines also make great pets. You aren't as likely to find white in either, though.

Good luck in your puppy search :-) I hope you find exactly what you are looking for and get a wonderful, healthy puppy.

A lot of things would keep me searching especially for a pet that I wanted to share my life and my home with.

The acid test for me would be to ask the breeder WHY she or he chose to breed those particular dogs for a litter. If there is a good detailed enthusiasic answer that goes on and on, you are most likely dealing with a breeder that does have a plan. (Even a plan I don't agree with is better then no plan at all) They should be able to tell you what strengths they were hoping to get from each parent and what weaknesses they wanted to eliminate. They should be able to give you examples of close relatives that lend some authority to their theory.

Just my dimes worth.

Personally I would never buy from anyone who breeds a white GSD. Just like I wouldnt buy a white boxer or doberman. To start with, they just have too many health issues.

There are no health issues associated with the white coat. It is simply a masking gene.

While I have seen definate temperament issues in some of the whites, it is more from poor breeding selection. Unforturnately the whites are something that are bred mostly by byb's.

 Quote: Betty Waldron

There are no health issues associated with the white coat. It is simply a masking gene.

While I have seen definate temperament issues in some of the whites, it is more from poor breeding selection. Unforturnately the whites are something that are bred mostly by byb's.

So then the problems are because someone is breeding for color, ignoring other (bad) factors?

Betty is correct. Yes, many of the whites have temperamental or health issues, but it's more a result of sloppy breeding than a color-related issue. You can have a BYB breeding solid blacks and have all the same problems. It lies in the selection of individual dogs, not their color genes specifically.

Having said that, I have yet to run across a white GSD breeder who owned one single dog I would've bred, however, again, they'd been breeding generations of dogs for the wrong reason...being white.

Since I am one of the few, or maybe, the only one here that owns a white I will chime in a little. My dog, Wilhelm, is one that I rescued from a pound in Indiana 2-1/2 yrs ago. He is four now. He was tied to a tree and left to die by his owners on their property. There was a divorce and the husband left, but, not with his dog. Wife didn't want him (both, lol). He was out in the cold all winter long. He dug a hole in the ground to keep from freezing. Luckily a woman kept coming by and bringing food and water. She talked the woman in to giving him up. It is very obvious he was beaten. The first time I pulled a tug out he readied himself to get hit. Notice I say readied himself. He did not run away. I have gotten him to the point where he will wrestle with me and bite a tug. He will never be a Sch dog, but, is great with obedience and if I knew what I was doing my guess is that he would make a great agility dog. His temperament is rock solid. Upon the death of my old Bi-Color male last year he became the alpha dog of my six, which include three working line dogs, a show line and and AmStaff. Phenomenal with kids, cats, and dogs who do not try to challenge his authority on my property. He has been protective of his pack and me. He recently ran four coyotes off my property who wanted to eat my puppy. One of the best things about him is that he isn't an overgrown show line looking oaf. He weighs in at a muscular 76lbs. My guess is that whoever bred him was such a crappy show line breeder that they produced more of a working line look or that he may have some in his blood. I don't know, but, he is very athletic and a pure pleasure to own. Would I breed him (he is neutered, can't anyway)? --No. I have no idea where he came from (other than Greif) and I have no desire to be a breeder. Too many idiots already doing that.
Jenni is correct about the masking gene (genetically proven) and the health issues. FYI, he is the healthiest dog that I own.