Before you decide to bring a new German Shepherd puppy into your home there are a few things you need to consider. Not only do you need to consider where you’re going to get your pup from you also need to make sure you (and your family) are prepared for all that is required.

Even before you look into selecting the right German Shepherd Breeder to purchase your new pet from you should make sure that his/or her needs can be met:

It’s probably a good idea to make sure you have an understanding of the German Shepherd history and breed; things like temperament, common medical problems, size and weight etc so you will know what you’re in for as your puppy grows you’ll also want to consider a few other things:

Do you have a backyard big enough to house your dog as it grows or are you prepared to make sure it gets all the exercise it needs, either via room to run outdoors or you taking it somewhere?

Is your house and garden puppy proof? – remember that they will chew things (some of which may be quite harmful so make sure all poisonous things are hidden away) they will probably dig (so if you have a prized rose garden etc you will want to fence it off) they will have accidents until they are potty trained (are you prepared to clean up/cover floors with paper etc)

Having a puppy (and older dog) will cost money – you will need to cover vet bills (vaccinations etc) along with things like worming – you will need a collar and lead etc and of course daily feeding (sometimes 2 to 3 times a day depending on the age of your puppy)

Do you want a male or female? There are pros and cons for each (size, breeding, de-sexing etc)

Once you’ve decided that yes you can afford a new German Shepherd both money and environment wise then you need to look into choosing the right breeder for your new dog.

There’s a few ways you can go about this:

Many people go by word of mouth or personal history: if you have had other Shepherds in the past or you know of people who have had them and you have had experience with certain breeders; that is: you’ve seen (or owned) dogs from a breeder and you know of their background, temperament and whether dogs from that breeder are prone to any conditions etc then you may want to start there.

If you’re new to owning a German Shepherd then one of the first things you may want to do is to contact your local German Shepherd Club, Dog or Kennel Club etc this will vary in name from state to state and country to country but there will be a group or kennel association etc of some kind within your area. Generally any registered breeder will be part of one of these and as such will have to meet certain guidelines and breed standards before they can register and sell dogs etc.

Once you have selected a breeder(s) make sure you can visit with them and see the parents of the puppy you want to purchase (while you may not always get to see both the mother and father of the pup(s) you should be able to see at least one of them) and take note of how they act toward you (temperament etc).  Also take note of their surrounds, whether they’re well cared for and clean etc. You may also be able to chat with the vet to get some more advice both before you choose your breeder or if your chosen breeder uses that vet they may have more knowledge that they’re willing to pass on.

Again this may vary from state to state or country to country, but take note of any papers and tattoos etc – registered breeders will offer papers to show the pedigree of your dog along with a tattoo which shows what kennel etc the dog came from.

Once you’ve finished discussing and researching etc then the fun, yet hard part really starts – standing within a litter of fluffy, playful puppies and choosing the right one for you. Of course sometimes the choice is taken out of your hands as within seconds a pup has actually chosen you to be their new family