The history of the German Shepherd dog is relatively brief compared to other breeds. A version of the sheepdog, the first German Shepherd was classified as such by a German cavalry captain named Max von Stephanitz. The dog, Hektor, was renamed Horand von Grafath, and in 1899 was the first German Shepherd registered by the Verein fur deutsche Schaferhunde, or The German Shepherd Dog Club of Germany.
The first German Shepherd was named Hektor. A dog fancier and German cavalry captain named Max von Stephanitz saw Hektor at a dog show and found him to be an excellent example of a German sheepdog. Stephanitz, who would be the first of many German Shepherd breeders, renamed Hektor as Horand von Grafath and founded the German Shepherd Dog Club in 1899 with the intention of maintaining the inherent traits of the first German Shepherd.
Purebred German Shepherds have specific characteristics. Max von Stephanitz inbred the first German Shepherds so that certain traits would be guaranteed in the line. The German Shepherd Dog Club of Germany sets the breed standard. It defines characteristics from body measurements to character to gait. German Shepherd breeders should be familiar with the breed standard as well as what health problems to expect and to have dogs evaluated for. For example, German Shepherds are prone to hip dysplasia and other skeletal disorders.
Unfortunately, there are illicit breeders who run puppy mills or backyard kennels. These breeders’ only goal is making money. They over breed German Shepherds with no thought for the long-term health and well being of the breed. Because of such practices, it is important for buyers to educate themselves about German Shepherds and German Shepherd breeders.
Knowing characteristics of the breed such as height, weight, and markings and the potential health problems specific to the breed can help a buyer rule out bad dogs (or bad breeders). One of the first signs of good breeders is that they maintain their own kennels and will encourage buyers to visit and get to know German Shepherd puppies and see how they are raised.
Sure-fire signs of bad German Shepherd breeders include the fact that they only sell puppies over the Internet, they have no physical kennel of their own or only broker puppies, they ask for a non-refundable down payment before the litter is born, they do not plan to keep one of the litter, They claim to have a kennel but will not allow a buyer to visit and they have many dogs for sale at one time.
Another sign is that the breeder cannot or will not provide health information. Some may have ties with specific veterinarians and may want a buyer to get medical documentation only from certain vets. A buyer should be able to take their puppy for evaluation at the veterinarian’s office of their choice.
A final sign of a bad breeder is not asking the buyers for any information about themselves. Good breeders interview buyers to make sure the household their puppy is going to will be appropriate and have adequate discipline, care and training. Breeders that don’t ask questions don’t care about their German Shepherds.
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