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 am aware unfortunately yes, just to make sure everyone knows, I'm looking for a health checked dog with healthy lines - bred for health and temperament, not pedegree, for showing or for apperance.

Roach backs are awful but I also don't want a long straight back, a slight slope is natural. I'd never buy a pup without seeing a couple of generations, hence looking for a good breeder with all the right info to hand

Loulouuz sorry, I misunderstood! I hope you have find a lovely puppy!

GSD breeders have done a lot to reduce the incidence of hip dysplasia in the breed through hip scoring and careful breeding. DM is a lot less controlled simply because so many dogs are carriers.

Yet another vote for Nyrvana German Shepherds
On facebook

I have been looking at dogs/puppies as we are looking for a new doggy. I have seen some GSD down south/south west with straight backs. My neighbour keeps GSD’s but I’m not sure where she gets hers from, she gets them as pups so their must be a local breeder.

Why on earth are you looking for a breeder and buying a puppy. If you are in no hurry go to rescues who often have gorgeous dogs looking for loving homes. They are not in it for the money. I've had several rescues, all with great temperaments and good hips. Lovely straight backs too. The worst dog I had I bought as a puppy. Loved him to bits but not a great temperament and although both his parents had good hip scores he still had problems. A decent rescue will only give you a dog that will suit you. With a puppy you can never be sure what you are getting. A slightly older dog will have been assesed and both in looks and character you will know what you are getting. You won't have to go through the teething stage either, a definite bonus trust me

It often is very difficult to get a rescue dog for a start.
There are quite a few threads here where someone has tried to get a rescue and ended up purchasing a puppy because they make it so difficult.

Most rescues are kennels, not foster and that brings its own problems as dogs in kennels are under stress and not always showing their 'true' temperament as a result.

With GSDs, nervous/fearful aggressive temperaments are a massive problem in the breed and its list of potential, expensive, inherited diseases is eye watering!

I don't think we should be judging anyone who opts to purchase a well bred, properly socialised, healthy puppy.

The reason why we have rescues full of dogs is not due to good breeders (who will take their dogs back instead of letting them go to rescue), it is due to a general throwaway attitude in this country, rescues being too strict and poor breeding practices leading to dogs with awful temperaments that would feel they can't cope with imo.

jake See a previous reply. As said, I'm not in a position to get a rescue, however it's on the cards for the future. And frankly without being rude, I'll get a puppy if I want to get a puppy, I won't be made to feel bad about it. Especially given the amount of research I'm doing into all aspects.

I've had a few rescues over the years, and they were by far the most unpredictable and time consuming (and costly!).

I used to know a chap who kept very well put together German shepherds, they were never health scored and were kept for security work, but he always seemed to be able to get puppies.

Try searching security dog forums (there must be some) and perhaps forget about the screening and scoring if you can find something that looks well bred rather than a kennel club abomination.

Great advice Asdf12345 , all anyone ever needs is a good looking GSD with hemophilia.

A good looking dog, not health checked, bred for security work. Ideal family pet or a disaster waiting to happen?

Agood looking dog, not health checked, bred for security work. Ideal family pet or a disaster waiting to happen?

Depends.

I was hesitant to actively recommend a working line to OP despite being a massive supporter of breeding dogs capable to work because if you are used to the watered down temperament of the average show/pet line GSD you might find the average working GSD a bit of a shock despite them having the 'correct' temperament for the breed.

So many kennel club breeders pride themselves on how cuddly and friendly their dogs are, but the GSD is supposed to be non aggressive but aloof. It is supposed to be dominant, strong nerved etc.

Non health tested has the potential to be disastrous given all the problems the breed is predisposed to but then that said, dogs bred to work do tend to be healthier than the show equivalent, there is no guarantee it wouldn't be healthy.

Working lines and ‘a dog bred for security’ are two different things when it comes to the GSD. Because the dogs can be fashion accessories for burly men who have wet dreams about being in the special forces, the latter can be an utter disaster. I don’t know anyone who breeds working lines who doesn’t health screen (DM is causing a problem, breeders are screening but it is everywhere and it is not clear how to breed to avoid it).

Sorry only just coming back OP. Their dog was rescued so unfortunately no idea of who bred the dog. He'd even had his chip taken out!

We have a 3yr old had from a breeder in the Midlands . Breeder is Strettonhill German Shepherd and Golden Retriever s - would absolutely recommend. Parents and pup was been hip scored, haemophillia tested and straight back. Our dog has a fab temperament and is our family pet. I'm totally broody for another one of we had a big enough house. They have a fb page and I longingly look at their pups.