Best German Shepherd Breeders

Finding the best German Shepherd breeders is a different task to How to Choose a Dog.

With so many GSD Breeders that you can find here in our Dog Breeder Directory, which one do you choose?

Which are the best German Shepherd breeders?

How to find a reputable dog breeder

First, this depends on what you are looking for: Do you wish to have a

• family companion?
• or protection dog for family or house or company premises?
• or working dog for specific assignments?
• or rescue dog?
• or guide dog?
• or show dog?
• or what's your purpose to get a dog?

Your answer to this first question will impact on how to find a reputable dog breeder or even the best German Shepherd breeder for your purpose.

Purebred Breeder, Backyard Breeder, Puppy Mill Breeder, Pet Store Dog, or Dog Rescue Centre?

Unless you want to gift a GSD to someone you don't like or you aim to make a quick profit as a dog broker, by all means you should get your next GSD from a dog rescue centre, or from a reviewed "backyard breeder" or reviewed "purebred breeder".

AVOID the others: puppy mill and pet store.

Why? See Where to get a Dog.

How to find a good dog breeder

Now let's assume you have decided to go for purebred breeders and you make that considerable investment because you think: "Our German Shepherd will be our family member and protector for many many years, and that's worth it!".

Then you may wonder how to find a good dog breeder?

Which purebred breeders in the Dog Breeder Directories from MYGERMANSHEPHERD.ORG are the best German Shepherd breeders?

This question however is not as easy to answer because now we are looking at a rather homogenous group.

Personally, I would not limit my choices to the best German Shepherd breeders in say a 200 miles radius. But that's me, because for me, getting a family dog is one of the most important decisions in life: less prominent than finding the right spouse, but more prominent than finding the right job or the right house.

You surely may have different preferences there.

Nonetheless, whatever radius you choose to find the best German Shepherd breeders to get your dog from, look at all breeders in the Dog Breeder Directories here, click through to their website if they have one, and LOOK at the photos of their(?) dogs. Before you even make the trip!

Also read what they write about their breeder philosophy. Yes, every breeder has their philosophy why they decide to breed German Shepherd Dogs.

Then as a next step consider to gather some information from others about that breeder, for example from the local kennel club, the local dog rescue center, the local German Shepherd club etc.

It is sometimes also beneficial to consult the local veterinarian for information before you even visit your chosen dog breeder.

Then the final step: Put in the effort and the joy and visit as many of the best German Shepherd breeders on your shortlist as you can afford, before you make your choice: Because you will be pleasantly surprised what you can hear, see and learn!

While not all breeders are approachable and easy-going, enough are. And remember that for purebred breeders the breeding and meeting potential clients may be as much a passion as a business.

You normally won't find this level of passion with backyard breeders, and certainly not with puppy mills or pet store dogs.

Finding a Dog

Next, what do you ask and what do you look out for when you finally visit the German Shepherd breeders?

Read our Questions to ask a breeder.

If a breeder does not allow you to visit their premises or they make questionable excuses as to the convenience, of course you should avoid that particular breeder.

Then after some weeks - or subject to your schedule some months - make up your own mind based on what you have heard from the breeders and the other mentioned sources of information, and what you have observed with your own eyes when visiting the breeders on your shortlist.

However, before you actually get a German Shepherd Dog, make sure that you first read How to Choose a Dog.