Before buying a GSD (German Shepherd Dog) from any breeder, you must ask a series of questions to ensure you get the right puppy for your home. Unfortunately, first-time dog owners get carried away by the excitement and don’t get to ask the right question.
So, to be sure you don’t make the same mistake, below are Six questions you must ask your German Shepherd breeder before purchasing a puppy.
1. Ask to see the GSD Pup’s parents.
When meeting with a breeder for the first time you must ask to meet the parents. A live meeting with the parents of the GSD Puppies is preferred, but even a video of them mating is okay. At least one of the litter parents must be present there for your close examination.
- This helps you know if the pup(s) you want to get are pure,in-bred, and not bought in.
- Meeting the puppy’s parents also helps you compare the features of the adult GSDs with pups- giving you a general idea of how your potential puppy will look as an adult.
- It also helps you observe both parents’ temperament and confidence level, which is good information if you plan to purchase their puppies.
- Meeting the litter’s parents is also a good opportunity to learn more about the breeder’s experience with breeding the German Shepherd and the process he has gone through to correct and improve the standard of his breed’s bloodline in his new puppies.
The truth is that meeting the parents could either make or break the entire transaction and should be among the first inquiries you make.
2. Discuss His Puppy Pricing.
Having a general knowledge of how much German Shepherds are sold is very important if you are to create a realistic budget. It also helps you know when a GSD breeder is trying to rip you off by upselling.
Their prices can range anywhere from 2,000 to as high as 4,500 USD. The pricing often depends on whether they are registered or not. Also, German Shepherds trained with basic obedience and protection skills can cost as much as 12,000 USD.
The price of a German Shepherd can also cost more or less, depending on the type of German Shepherd and how much authority and influence the breeder has. Buying a GSD from a highly reputable breeder is going to cost more than from a less reputable one.
It is important to know when a breeder is trying to up or down-sell his puppies and is going against the guidelines for breeders.
3. Ask For More Breed Information
Once you have successfully bargained the price, ask for more information about the GSD Puppy you are planning to get. This is the part most new owners find most challenging. And it could be if you fail to research and know what kind of German Shepherd suits your lifestyle.
You know you’ve got a good breeder when he clearly and confidently answers all your questions. Also, expect him to ask you some questions of his own to ensure his puppies are going to fit right in at your home.
A breeder unable to answer all your questions or is focused more on selling a puppy to you is not a good breeder. So be on the lookout and avoid such unethical breeders. Some fundamental questions to ask at this point include…
- Ages of the puppies
- If they have been vaccinated.
- When they will be ready to move to their forever homes. (P.S. Puppies should only be released from 8-12 weeks after breeding as they would have fully been weaned and fully developed for a diet change.)
- You should also ask if his puppies have been registered.
- And finally, you could make further inquiries into what bloodline your German Shepherd puppy is from. A good breeder should provide you insight into the corrective breeding leading to the birth of his new litter.
It is important to note that you might have even more specific questions you would like to ask at this point to know if his puppies are the right fit for you. Feel free to ask as many questions as you need to ensure you are comfortable going forward with the purchase.
4. Ask to See and Interact with the GSD Puppies
Now, you should have no doubts about the breeder and his credibility. The only thing that can make and break your purchase are his puppies. Please if you have a specific color of GSD that is not the regular black and tan, I recommend asking for it straight up and if the breeder does not have it, move on.
Now if your main focus is finding a balanced German Shepherd that will be a pet and still protect your home. Meeting with the puppies will help you identify which ones match your desired behavioral traits. If you are not sure what those traits are please do some research. A good place to start will be our article on the ultimate guide to buying a German Shepherd
An ideal German Shepherd puppy for any home should be
- Confident
- Social
- Calm
- Curious
- Attentive
- Food driven
- Dependent.
Get a German Shepherd with these qualities and with a good upbringing, training, and conditioning you will be just fine.
5. Ask Health related questions.
You are not ready to take your puppy home just yet. Below are some fundamental health questions to ask before moving forward.
- Are the puppy vaccines up to date?
- Are there any health guarantees or contracts he offers? (This is a contract that ensures the breeder has your back if your puppy develops a serious health issue, or for some reason, you can no longer care for the pup) this ensures your puppy’s safety at every point in its life.
- Is there any vet he could recommend? This ideally should be one he uses.
- What diet are the puppies currently on? Etcetera.
Only proceed when your breeder confirms that all these things have been sorted and that his puppies are in good health. You could request the puppy’s medical cards that confirm the vaccines they have taken. And if his vet could be present to confirm the health status of the puppies – even better.
6. Ask When You Can Take Your Puppy Home
A responsible breeder will never let a puppy go to their forever home until they are about 8 weeks old. Some breeders may want to wait as long as 12 weeks to ensure their puppies are fully independent of their mother.
If the puppies are not up to eight weeks when you meet with them it is important to know when they will be ready to be picked up. At this point, you could also find out if the breeder will be willing to deliver the puppies to you or whether you would still need to come pick them up yourself.
Final Thoughts
The ultimate success in purchasing your dream GSD (German Shepherd Dog) solely depends on finding a reputable breeder, researching, and asking the right questions when you finally meet your breeder. For more information on this, check out our Ultimate Guide to Buying a German Shepherd.
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