The family wants a German Shepherd pup and now they are looking to you to go get one from someone that the whole family can trust and look to for advice on raising the new family member. The problem is that you have no idea how to find a good German Shepherd breeder. Well that is no problem, which is why you looked up this reference article. You can find a reputable breeder in a combination of ways. I emphasize the combination because you will need a lot of advice to find the right breeder for you.

You can start your search, simply enough, in your local phone book. Sometimes breeders advertise in the phone book and sometimes they don’t. You should use more resources than just the phone book but it can be a starting point. Just remember that some of the best breeders only do business through referral so that may be why you do not see a lot of breeders in the phone book. A breeder that is choosy about their customers may be better anyway.

You will never get better pet advice than the advice you get from your vet. If you already have pets and go to regular vet then be sure to ask them to recommend a good German Shepherd breeder that you can talk to. If this will be your first pet then the best time to find a vet is while you are looking for a breeder. This way your vet can refer you to the breeders that they do business with, trust and refer you to. It is a large network of referrals and the only way into that network is to keep customers happy so you should be able to get a great recommendation from your vet.

Many of the more reputable breeders will list themselves with a national breeder registry like the American Kennel Club or some other reputable organization. If you find a breeder on a registry you can then check out the registry’s breeding standards and know how that particular breeder prefers to breed dogs and decide if that is right for you or not.

It may not mean that breeders are not good German Shepherd breeders simply because they are not listed with a registry. After you search the registries you may want to also do a general search of the Internet. The Internet brings us all together and puts a world’s worth of information at your fingertips.

You can use that information to find the German Shepherd breeder that will work best with you and you may even luck out and find one with a website that you can look over to find information about their breeding schedules and usually a lot of cute pictures.

Using just one source to find your German Shepherd breeder is not a great way to go about finding the right one. You need to use a combination of resources to help you find the breeders that you will want to talk to.

Always exhaust all your options in an important search such as this because making a hasty decision and choosing the wrong breeder could haunt you for a long time.

Every living animal has the potential to experience some sort of health issue in life and your German Shepherd is no different. That is why you need to discuss the symptoms of some of the more common German Shepherd health problems with your vet and your breeder so that you can tell when your animal is in physical difficulty or just exhibiting normal behavior. It is very important to be able to see the early warning signs of some of the degenerative conditions so that you can get your dog the help it needs as soon as possible.

One of the common health issues of larger dogs like German Shepherds is a dysplasia of the hip or the elbow joint that can result in severe pain and difficulty walking for your pet. If you notice that your German Shepherd is starting to have difficulty moving around then it may be time to get them to the vet for a check up.

Another common German Shepherd health problem is epilepsy. Basically the brain goes into a spasm for several reasons and your dog will go into convulsions and seizures. This can usually start around the age of one year and can be taken care of in conjunction with your vet through diet and medication. It is terrifying to see your pet go through a seizure so make sure you contact the vet immediately if this happens and for your sake and the animal’s sake do not panic because even in a state of seizure a dog needs you to be there for it.

German Shepherds can sometimes develop eye problems as well, ranging from cataracts to eyelid issues. The eyelids may develop incorrectly or eyelashes may start forming too close to the eye causing irritation. Any of these eye conditions can be corrected with surgery so if your pet is developing eye problems make sure you take them to the vet.

One of the common German Shepherd health problems that affect their blood is a condition called Von Willebrand’s Disease or VWD for short. Dogs with VWD are unable to have their blood clot properly so when they get injured they will bleed much more than they should.

It is similar to the human condition of hemophilia. In some cases you may notice bleeding from the gums or nose bleeds for no apparent reason. If you notice these symptoms get your dog to the vet right away.

As a responsible pet owner it is up to you to make sure that you keep track of your pet’s health and that you stay in contact with your vet and your breeder so that you will be able to tell when symptoms may arise.

You can help your dog stay healthy and know when it is time to get your dog to the vet for a check up or emergency care.