Where the hell can I get an old fashioned German Shepherd?

[Loulouuz]

Hi everyone,

I've begun my search for a GSD and cannot for the life of me find breeders in the UK with old fashioned straight backed pups.

I found a zombie thread on here but unfortunately it didn't help a great deal. Does anyone know of any reputable breeders anywhere in the UK with all health checks/scoring etc?

They're such beautiful dogs but I'm so wary of breeders, hip problems and the like it's proving difficult! We're in no hurry whatsoever until we find a good breeder so happy with wait lists etc.

Any help, advice, fb groups would be a god send!

Thanks all

I would go with a cross it's very rare because of Kennel club type to get straight back. Try dogs blog.com there are some lovely GSD type with straight backs.NOT back legs dragging on ground. Pauline

Get a Swiss shepherd instead.
It's a straight-backed GSD that is white.
Cheers,

I know someone who got their GSD from here m.facebook.com/pages/category/Community/South-Somerset-German-Shepherds-Hungarian-Vizslas-461398867331835/

Just to add, they breed police dogs rather than show stock so if you're happy to consider a retired police dog, maybe they have the puppy for you. I don't know anything about breed standards but the people I know who bought their GSD from them travelled from the NW to get him and he's a fantastic dog.

Hi, i have a 15 month old straight back, semi long haired beautiful GSD boy. He was bread for looks and temperament. He is great with kids and is so laid back its unreal. When we walk through the local parks he is swamped by all the kids wanting a cuddle because he looks like a big bear and he loves it. He takes it all in his stride. I got him from a breeder in Stanley, County Durham. He is a Mountsett Challenger breed.

When it comes to the GSD you have options.

There is a whole movement of breeders who are breeding old fashioned looking, straight backed GSDs, like these ones:
www.slgs.me/slgsd-girls
These dogs may not meet KC showing standards but decent breeders will have done all health screening required of the breed and have selected the parents carefully so you could get a lovely puppy.

Or you may want to go for a breeder who has a more traditional look but breeds straight backed dogs. Here it depends how you interpret straight backed. The old fashioned look will be dogs with a level back so withers to hips at pretty much the same level. The modern look straight backed will be hips at a lower level than withers but no ‘banana’ shape to the back.

Just a little word of warning, in my experience with the breed it is difficult to predict exactly what kind of back a puppy will grow into. Obviously the parents will give you an idea but often what looks like a straight backed puppy turns into a slopping and even banana shaped back adult. The old fashioned lines, have a more consistent ‘table top’ look to their backs.

Another vote for Nyrvana GSD.

Hi, the web site is below.
Mr & Mrs Whitlam. www.champdogs.co.uk/breeder/113936
I found all the relevent health checks done. Hip scores were all low. Blood tests were all fine.
I hope this helps...

Try Bluecap Kennels Northwich cheshire. Our 19 month old German shepherd was sired by one of their Studs, Merlin, and hes turning into a lovely GS. Hip & elbow scores excellant which was important to us having previously had a GS rescue dog who unknown to anyone turned out to have elbow dysplacea and had to have painkillers for much of his life.

I know you want a puppy so this is pretty pointless but look at Beth! Such a beautiful girl, if I didn't have another dog...

www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming/dogs/dog/filters/le~~~~~n~/1182077/beth

The description of Beth is pretty grim imo.

Dogs Trust say she is wary of men, needs a quiet adult only home, multiple visits etc.

Code I suspect for a very nervous, quite possibly aggressive dog (poor nerves/fear aggression is a very well known problem in GSDs) that requires very careful handling and isn’t safe around children.

I’m not sure that is quite what the OP was looking for.

I know you're looking for pure GSD, but have you considered a GSDX? Our boy is a rescue dog, who we think is GSD X Retriever. He's beautiful and so friendly! He's a big boy at 44kg, but he still thinks he's a puppy. We've had him 4 years now and our lives are so much the better for it.

Sorry I wasn't clear, I want recommending Beth to the op, I just spotted her after reading the op and thought she was a beautiful example of a straight backed gsd (issues aside). She'd suit me (if I didnt already have a dog) but obviously not for many.

I have a beautiful straight back German shepherd the old fashioned brown and black colour one. He is from Poland. We found him online when he was 9 month old. The previous owner didn't want him any more, because he was to big, ( he is 48kg now)so we got him for free. He is healthy and beautiful and a very strong, massive dog. So I think you can find beautiful healthy dog who needs new home or new owner or who needs help. Do not buy a dog rescue one instead.

I assume you mean a German Shepherd Dog, not a actual German Shepherd :D

Thanks again for the links I've added them to my bookmarks to look into. I'm so glad I started this thread!

crime She's lovely, poor girl I hope someone suitable takes her in, she sounds like she needs a lot of work. That's awful that the previous owner didn't look into it before getting him EHe but I'm glad he's got a lovely home now.

I'm not in a position to rescue a dog at the moment, it's on the cards for the future but I can't trust the little ones to come round with a rescue especially if they were to have behavioural issues (the kids or the dog 😂) And dp has never had a dog so we're definitely getting our first together as a pup so he can experience the baby days too

Marlish German Shepherds. Breeder Marianne Davis. Wonderful temperaments.

Hope you find one op, they're such lovely dogs. My greyhound is obsessed with gsds, theyre his favourite dog breed and he copies them like they're the bigger cooler kids at school. He's currently obsessed with a ball (that he never touched before) after seeing a gsd carrying two in her mouth

Working lines are generally healthier as they aren't bread for solely on their appearance (show lines are bread to conform with certain aesthetics with little to no regard for health)

Either get a rescue or look for someone breeding Czech or DDR line Shepherds, they look very different from the "old" style but they are still GSDs. A decent breeder (and make sure you only purchase a dog from one) will only sell you the right dog.

Hip dysplasia is mostly environmental, feed a high quality diet (Millies Wolfheart is amazing, you'll save money on vet care in the long run) and don't over exercise as a pup (too much stress on joints causes dysplasia). Find a decent trainer and remember to socialise properly from a young age, you'll only get out what you put in.

Just a thought...if your DH is a first time owner and your DCs are young why a GSD? I love the breed and have always had a GSD along with other breeds in my home. They are extremely intelligent and willing to please, but the puppy stage, until 2yo really, is always a challenge. They grow very fast, my 2yo already weighed 13kilos at 9 weeks, so all the crazy puppy behavior is that bit more problematic, e.g. they will easily knock over young children, they will chew through toys, their teeth and claws are very painful.

If you choose a smaller breed the usual puppy problems are less exaggerated by the size and strength of the GSD. I am not saying GSDs are monsters who will eat your children, my DD was able to share in the training of our GSD when she was 6yo. She managed to handle him for almost entire puppy classes, and yet I had to keep them separate a lot of the time when the puppy was just too exuberant. My DS was quite annoyed by the puppy chewing his toys, pushing him out of the way, licking his face, etc.

A smaller breed will be a less challenging adjustment for your DH and DCs (I assume you are an experienced GSD owner, I am not being patronizing! Just that having a dog with DCs around raises new challenges that maybe experienced GSD owners had not fully appreciated before).

booboo No of course, its a reasonable question! Sorry they're not my dc, but we have a lot of family in and out, I was just referencing for a rescue. Any visits would be supervised regardless but I couldn't trust a rescue as opposed to a pup iyswim?

We decided to go for a GSD as the timing is great, I have no other pets preoccuping me and my work is changing allowing me to work from home or take pup with me, so I have the time and quiet at the moment to devote to a more demanding pup. The kids in and out is also great as we can socialise him with children with supervision in bursts, but I'm still a couple of years away from having my own so no constant worry with LOs.

And also to be honest I've never had a small(er) dog, idk what it is but I love a big handful of dog! 😂

Aww bless him crime that's lovely! Every dogs so different in personality aren't they, their own weird little quirks.

monopoly Thank you, I'm getting closer to finding a breeder I'm happy with, incl. all health scoring etc etc. Fab thanks I'll note down your food suggestion and look into it when the time comes!

Joint issues are one of my biggest concerns, hence why I'm starting with the best chance by getting a dog from healthy lines, don't worry I'm more overly cautious if anything. Good food, a joint supplement and the right amount of exercise are a given. To be completely honest I'd probably carry them up and down the stairs for the most part once they've mastered them, every little helps 😂

Hip dysplasia is mostly environmental

Hip dysplasia certainly has environmental aspects (and it's heartening to see someone actually saying that, normally it's all about the 'bad breeders' LOL) but I think mostly is a stretch. You can certainly wreck genetically good hips through poor diet and inappropriate exercise, but genetically bad hips are bad to start and can only get worse. Never buy a GSD without the appropriate tests and good results.

Minefield of a breed to buy, OP - I think one of the few breeds where I'd say you need a good breeder who is aiming at the pet market rather than the show ring, as both German and English types have conformational faults and often worse too (with English often having epileptic lines and back weakenesses through backs that may be straight but are also far too long).

I would also advise against anything too Germanic or working bred in pedigree unless you have significant experience in training, as they are a far more 'full on' dog to live with.

(With proviso that buying from pet breeders is also a minefield - I would look for a breeder that has several generations around to see general health and temperament, as well as the regular health tests.)

Are you aware that there are more than just joint problems bred into GSD’s? There is a heart problem called GSDiva that can kill supposedly healthy dogs by the time they’re two, and they are developing temperamental changes because they now have pointier heads and less room for brains? I have always had GSD’s and they are now smaller, have joint issues, “roach” backs (awful!!!) dodgy hips, and now this!!! I ended up getting a Shiloh Shepherd, and I’m happy with my choice, but she’s still a bit jumpier than I’d prefer. Definitely meet the breeders and the parent dogs!!! Anyone can fall in love with a puppy!!! Have you considered a White Shepherd? They don’t seem to have the same physical problems and they are gorgeous dogs!