I want to get a German Shepherd pup

firedancer

Hi all you German Shepherd lovers , I am looking to buy a pup , German Shepherd, Alsation, either, however, I would prefer one that isn't absolutely purebred because of genetic problems. Also I don't trust the breeders out there at the moment. Anybody understand what I mean and/or able to help me find one? Thanks!

paultf

Try Irish Kennel Club www.ikc.ie for clubs - contacts would know of good breeders:-

All Ireland German Shepherd Dog Assoc.

Ms. Rachel Tolan

The Stonehouse, Cappa, Bansha, Co. Tipperary

(086-2311994)

email: [EMAIL="%20%3Cscript%20language='JavaScript'%20type='text/javascript'%3E%20%3C!--%20var%20prefix%20=%20'ma'%20+%20'il'%20+%20'to';%20var%20path%20=%20'hr'%20+%20'ef'%20+%20'=';%20var%20addy92154%20=%20'AIGSDA'%20+%20'@';;%20addy92154%20=%20addy92154%20+%20'gmail'%20+%20'.'%20+%20'com';%20document.write(%20'%3Ca%20'%20+%20path%20+%20'\''%20+%20prefix%20+%20':'%20+%20addy92154%20+%20'\'%3E'%20);%20document.write(%20addy92154%20);%20document.write(%20'%3C\/a%3E'%20);%20//--%3E\n%20%3C/script%3E%3Cscript%20language='JavaScript'%20type='text/javascript'%3E%20%3C!--%20document.write(%20'%3Cspan%20style=\'display:%20none;\'%3E'%20);%20//--%3E%20%3C/script%3EThis%20e-mail%20address%20is%20being%20protected%20from%20spam%20bots,%20you%20need%20JavaScript%20enabled%20to%20view%20it%20%3Cscript%20language='JavaScript'%20type='text/javascript'%3E%20%3C!--%20document.write(%20'%3C/'%20);%20document.write(%20'span%3E'%20);%20//--%3E%20%3C/script%3E"][/EMAIL]AIGSDA@gmail.com

Website: www.allirelandgsd.com


German Shepherd Dog Club of Ireland

Ms. Mary D’Arcy
106 Quarry Road,Cabra, Dublin 7.
(01-8681494) Email: [EMAIL="%20%3Cscript%20language='JavaScript'%20type='text/javascript'%3E%20%3C!--%20var%20prefix%20=%20'ma'%20+%20'il'%20+%20'to';%20var%20path%20=%20'hr'%20+%20'ef'%20+%20'=';%20var%20addy96650%20=%20'raycidgsd'%20+%20'@';;%20addy96650%20=%20addy96650%20+%20'dublin'%20+%20'.'%20+%20'ie';%20document.write(%20'%3Ca%20'%20+%20path%20+%20'\''%20+%20prefix%20+%20':'%20+%20addy96650%20+%20'\'%3E'%20);%20document.write(%20addy96650%20);%20document.write(%20'%3C\/a%3E'%20);%20//--%3E\n%20%3C/script%3E%3Cscript%20language='JavaScript'%20type='text/javascript'%3E%20%3C!--%20document.write(%20'%3Cspan%20style=\'display:%20none;\'%3E'%20);%20//--%3E%20%3C/script%3EThis%20e-mail%20address%20is%20being%20protected%20from%20spam%20bots,%20you%20need%20JavaScript%20enabled%20to%20view%20it%20%3Cscript%20language='JavaScript'%20type='text/javascript'%3E%20%3C!--%20document.write(%20'%3C/'%20);%20document.write(%20'span%3E'%20);%20//--%3E%20%3C/script%3E"][/EMAIL]raycidgsd@dublin.ie

Ulster German Shepherd Dog Club

Mrs. Karen Milliken
51 Killinchy Road, Comber, Co. Down.
(048-91873501) www.ulstergsdclub.com

ppink

firedancer wrote: »

Hi all you German Shepherd lovers , I am looking to buy a pup , German Shepherd, Alsation, either, however, I would prefer one that isn't absolutely purebred because of genetic problems. Also I don't trust the breeders out there at the moment. Anybody understand what I mean and/or able to help me find one? Thanks!

did you try rescues? we got our guy from one. List of sheps here:

http://www.irishanimals.ie/gsdall_homes.html

fenris

I would be more inclined to get a German Shepherd pup from a German Shepherd Association breeder rather than an IKC breeder.

http://www.gsaireland.com/

The GSA is about functional dogs rather than pretty dogs who end up as cripples due to being over breed for sloping top lines.
The GSA breeders tend to breed from German working lines rather than pure show dogs. Temperament is a big concern in dogs breed purely for looks as is the case with IKC, this is a major part of the reason that the GSA is affiliated to the German working dog authority (WUSV) rather than the IKC.

Here is a link to an article on buying your first GSD puppy
http://www.gsaireland.com/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=11&cntnt01origid=68&cntnt01returnid=68

I am speaking from experience on this, I bought from and IKC breeder thinking that I was doing the right thing and ended up having to put down my dog as he was having so much trouble from genetic issues way before his time. We even went the route of full hip replacement so it was not a lightly taken decision. As we went through several years of managing these conditions we met lots of other GSD owners trying to do the best for their "show perfect" dogs.

I know about the GSA as we did obedience and tracking with the GSA for several years and the difference in the dogs to be seen at GSA events compared to IKC events is incredible. The GSA dogs were so much healthier and functional, the difference in owner attitude was also significant in that the dogs were seen more as companions than pure money making breeding stock.

When I get my next GSD it will be from a GSA breeder, as I have no desire to repeat the bitter experience of IKC GSD ownership and the premature loss of my poor dog.

firedancer

fenris wrote: »

I would be more inclined to get a German Shepherd pup from a German Shepherd Association breeder rather than an IKC breeder.

http://www.gsaireland.com/

The GSA is about functional dogs rather than pretty dogs who end up as cripples due to being over breed for sloping top lines.
The GSA breeders tend to breed from German working lines rather than pure show dogs. Temperament is a big concern in dogs breed purely for looks as is the case with IKC, this is a major part of the reason that the GSA is affiliated to the German working dog authority (WUSV) rather than the IKC.

Here is a link to an article on buying your first GSD puppy
http://www.gsaireland.com/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=11&cntnt01origid=68&cntnt01returnid=68

I am speaking from experience on this, I bought from and IKC breeder thinking that I was doing the right thing and ended up having to put down my dog as he was having so much trouble from genetic issues way before his time. We even went the route of full hip replacement so it was not a lightly taken decision. As we went through several years of managing these conditions we met lots of other GSD owners trying to do the best for their "show perfect" dogs.

I know about the GSA as we did obedience and tracking with the GSA for several years and the difference in the dogs to be seen at GSA events compared to IKC events is incredible. The GSA dogs were so much healthier and functional, the difference in owner attitude was also significant in that the dogs were seen more as companions than pure money making breeding stock.

When I get my next GSD it will be from a GSA breeder, as I have no desire to repeat the bitter experience of IKC GSD ownership and the premature loss of my poor dog.

Thanks for this, it's exactly what I mean about genetic issues, but especially in relation to IKC, they're not concerned at all about the dog's general well being only concerned with money making through breeding etc.

So sorry to hear about your experience, I will definitely continue avoiding IKC breeders and thanks for link to GSA.:)

mistress_gi

I think there are always GS in the pound, why not give these guys are try:
<MODSNIP>
We got our dog from them and they are brilliant
Oh, they are a rescue organisation!
Why buy when you can rescue?

recedite

ppink wrote: »

did you try rescues? we got our guy from one. List of sheps here:

http://www.irishanimals.ie/gsdall_homes.html

Roxy the collie X on that link looks like a friendly trainable dog. You are right to avoid the shrunken-hipped psychopath type they have been breeding for shows.
BTW a lot of the dogs used by military etc. are actually Dutch, Belgian Shepherd or Malinois, slightly lighter build and more like the original working dogs. GSA link dogs look good too.

Do not take a nervous or aggressive adult GSD from a rescue centre. Taking on and trying to retrain an adult dog with bad habits is tough enough even with a small dog.

Cherry Blossom

Personally, this would be my first port of call.

paultf wrote: »

Mrs. Karen Milliken
51 Killinchy Road, Comber, Co. Down.
(048-91873501) www.ulstergsdclub.com

Delancey

I know a dog handler in the Northern Ireland Prison Service - he was saying they are finding it increasingly difficult to source quality GSD's - between lousy hips and temperament issues ( not aggression but rather lack of it or to be more precise , lack of ' raw courage ' ) he thinks the GSD's days as the preferred security / Police dog are numbered. Many Police forces are increasingly turning to Belgian Shepherds.

As a small aside , the Alsatian / GSD divide arose in World War 1 when in Britain ( and Ireland ) all things German were considered ' bad ' - this saw the Royal Family change their name from the Germanic sounding Battenberg to the more English-sounding Windsor.
It was against this anti-German backdrop that the German Shepherd was renamed after a native of the disputed Alsace region of France - Alsatian.

Thankfully the Alsatian tag seems to finally be dying out.