German Shepherd Breeders
The German Shepherd dog has a relatively short history though it is a well-loved and well-worked dog today. The breed began in Germany in 1899 and was registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1911. By World War I, over 48,000 German Shepherds were enlisted in the German army. Though the breed is part of the herding group, the German Shepherd dog has many other talents and can be trained in a variety of fields.
German Shepherds are native to Germany. The first of the breed was a sheep-herding dog. This dog, given the name Horand von Grafath, became the first German Shepherd registered in the German Shepherd Dog Club of Germany in 1899. The breed was registered with the AKC in 1911. German Shepherd breeders are common in North America due to the high demand not only for purebred German Shepherds, but for Shepherds with specific training. A German Shepherd breeder may specialize in training this breed for the visually impaired, for the police, and for use in tracking and protection. The Germans have a special training program for Shepherds to become “Schutzhunds,” or protection dogs.
There are a few precautions any potential German Shepherd buyer should take before making a purchase of a purebred German Shepherd dog. First, know what you are looking for. Second, know what purpose you plan to utilize the German Shepherd for. Third, know what it takes to care for a German Shepherd. Fourth, know where to find a reputable breeder.
A good German Shepherd breeder will be able to provide you with documentation of the dog’s pedigree and medical history. Because German Shepherds are prone to many skeletal disorders, especially of the hip, the breeder should also include a warranty or statement that the dog has been evaluated for these issues. Getting documentation is also a good way to make sure your Shepherd is purebred as well determining what accomplishments the dog has in his ancestry. Most German Shepherds are trained and certified in many areas and a pedigree will list these achievements.
Make sure you know how to properly care for your German Shepherd and ask advice from the breeder on diet, exercise, and general training. A reputable breeder should have his or her own kennel and your German Shepherd should have received daily socialization, exercise and grooming as well as good nutrition and exposure to other animals. Lastly, make sure you have a purpose for buying a German Shepherd. This intelligent, hard-working breed is happiest when its owner gives it daily tasks to complete.
Now that you know what to look for in a German Shepherd and a German Shepherd breeder, you are ready to find the perfect German Shepherd. There is an alternative to buying a purebred puppy from a breeder. Reputable breeders are usually affiliated with or run rescue centers. A German Shepherd rescue center houses Shepherds that have been abused, abandoned or neglected.
Unfortunately, many German Shepherds, among other dog breeds, are raised in what are termed puppy mills, where breeders continuously make the dogs produce litters with no regard for the adult’s health and happiness. Breeders who run illegal puppy mills are even worse than those trying to sell fake purebred dogs.
Rescue centers re-socialize the dogs and foster or adopt them out to loving homes. Consider a rescued German Shepherd as an alternative when buying your dog.