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	Prospective Puppy Owners People looking to get a puppy from us or any other breeder should consider many things. Fundamentally getting the right breed of dog for themselves and there lifestyle. Can I afford to have a dog, taking into account not only the initial cost of purchasing the dog, but also the ongoing expenses such as food, veterinary fees and canine insurance? Can I make a lifelong commitment to a dog? Is my home big enough to house a dog? Do I really want to exercise a dog every day? Will there be someone at home for a dog? - dogs get lonely just like humans. This doesn't mean buy two puppies at the same time should you do this the two puppies will tend to bond with each other and not you. Will I find time to train, groom and generally care for a dog? Will I be able to answer YES to these questions every day of the year? German Shepherds Large breed of dog - Consider the fact that these are large dogs, causing undue stress on joints due to jumping, stairs ect may cause issues with arthritis, hip-dysphasia. Therefore if you live in a flat or house with stairs where the dog will have access to, a large breed may not be advantageous for either the dog or yourself. Energetic - This does not mean to say they won't relax and lie down however how energetic they are depend on there diet and how long they are exercised on a daily basis. Grooming - Whether you choose to get long haired or short haired German Shepherd is a large part of how much grooming there coat will need. However claws should also be clipped on a regular basis this may not need to be as often with dogs that are regularly ran on concrete or tarmac roads due to them getting naturally ground down. Diet will also play a large part in the condition of the dogs coat, skin, teeth and claws and have always found that if this can be achieved with natural resources this will generally be easier and the least expensive. I.e. raw bones regularly to keep there teeth clean, this also helps puppies ears to stand up. Socialising - This is something that should be considered with every breed of dog and is paramount. It is the one thing I would like to stress with extra emphasis than most things. With German Shepherd and any other large breed this cannot be emphasised to much, although it is just as unacceptable for smaller breeds to miss behave and act like hooligans there will always be more people that will brand a large dog Vicious than a small dog. Although this is unfair on the dog it is understandable due to the fact that larger dogs can (if not socialised and trained) more of a problem than smaller dogs. This is all avoidable if from the outset it is understood that you MUST socialise the dog in as many different situations as possible. When Choosing A Breeder First off someone you feel comfortable with is important. Ask questions, not just for the answers but for there reaction and how willing they are to give information. Those that have to talk up there dogs. Ask yourself why?? If there dog are nice you'll be able to see for yourself. If they have a website a lot of your info will be there about the dogs, remember it! See if it is what is actually there, good tempermant etc etc. Breeders that claim to be best breeders around, ask what that is based on?? Any official documentation to back up they're claims. Or just there oppinion. They'll ask you questions. Remember there trying to sell puppies. What to expect from a breeder The breeder should give you the opportunity to see the puppy with its mother and the rest of litter. This is very important because it will not only give you an opportunity to see the temperament of the mother, but may also give you an idea of the future characteristics and size of the puppy. There should be no reason not to be able to see any other dogs they may have. You should be able to choose your puppy out of the ones still available, with advice on the way each puppy tends to behave, i.e. dominant needing more work. It is the responsibility of the breeder to register the litter, and each puppy in the litter will initially be registered in the name of the breeder. The breeder will name all the puppies and may include their Kennel Name as part of the puppy’s Kennel Club registered name. If the dog is advertised as Kennel Club Registered, you should ensure that you obtain the Kennel Club Registration Certificate for the dog before you take the dog away (this is not the same thing as a pedigree, which shows ancestry). If you are buying a puppy the certificate will be blue and will have a Transfer of Registered Ownership Form printed on the reverse to enable you to transfer the ownership of your puppy into your own name. Please be aware that you will require the signature of the breeder to complete this. If the registration certificate is not available at the time of purchase, ensure that you receive an undertaking in writing from the breeder that this will be sent to you when available.. You should ask the breeder for information on the following A Contract - It is recommended that the breeder provide you with this. Amongst other things this should detail both the breeder and your responsibilities to the puppy. The contract should also list any official Kennel Club endorsements (restrictions) that the breeder has placed on the puppy’s records, and in particular on what basis the breeder may be prepared to remove the endorsement (if any). Before or at the time of sale, you should give a signed acknowledgement of any endorsement placed. Written advice on training, feeding, exercise, worming and immunisation. A pedigree certificate detailing your dog’s ancestry – this could either be hand-written or a printed pedigree certificate made out by the breeder or an official one supplied to the breeder by the Kennel Club. Copies of any additional health certificates for the sire and dam.