By: Ken Marlborough
Good German shepherd breeders will ask questions. They want to know why you want a German shepherd dog and they'll ask for a veterinary reference to investigate how well you can take care of your other pets. But you need to be curious, too.
Check out your breeder by visiting his home--where most good breeders keep dogs and treat them as members of the family. The dog's environment should be clean and well maintained. Dogs should be happy to meet people, and not shy away from visitors. He should also breed only one or two types of dogs, and be well aware of 'breed standards'. Breed standards are a very complex set of physical and mental characteristics that the kennel clubs believe comprise the ideal specimen of a particular species. Standards vary wildly and usually depend on who you ask. What matters when you talk to the breeder is that he or she has his or her own set of opinions regarding what makes a good German shepherd and what does not.
Most important, a good breeder encourages you to make multiple visits to let the puppy get to know you better, prior to you taking it home.
A good breeder will also require proof from your landlord or condominium board stating that you're allowed to have companion animals in your home. And he'll want to know which family member will be responsible for care. Finally, he will ask you to sign a contract stating that in the event you cannot keep or care for your dog, you will return it to the breeder. If your breeder meets these standards, you're in the right place to find your new friend.
