[/caption]So it is time to finally come through on the family decision to get a German Shepherd pup but you have no idea how to find a German Shepherd breeder. Up to this point you probably never even gave looking for a German Shepherd breeder a second thought. It may seem obvious but some German Shepherd breeders do advertise in the phone book. Some breeders get their business completely by referral and that may be the breeder you want over anyone in the phone book anyway.
You will also want to see what the national breeder registries have listed for breeders in your area. It may not mean that breeders are not good German Shepherd breeders simply because they are not listed with a registry. Your search for the perfect German Shepherd breeder in your area should consist of many different sources of information.
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.
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. 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. If your breeder meets these standards, you're in the right place to find your new friend.
