German Shepherd breeders.

A serious GSD breeder hands you the parents' OFA or SV (German hip association) scores without being asked. They know whether they breed working line, West German show line, or American show line, and they will explain the differences in temperament and energy without selling you on one over the other. They breed for a sound, level topline rather than the extreme roached back and over-angulated rear that has drawn welfare criticism in some show lines, because a dog has to walk on those hips for a decade. They ask about your home: fenced yard, kids, dog experience, hours alone per day. A breeder who places a working-line Alsatian in a first-time-dog home with no comment is the wrong breeder. Ask to see the dam interact with strangers. The temperament you see in the parents is what your puppy grows into.

Typical price range.

A German Shepherd puppy from a responsible breeder usually costs between fifteen hundred and four thousand dollars in the United States. Working-line and imported European lines run higher, three to six thousand dollars, because the breeder is paying for stud rights from titled working dogs. Anything under eight hundred dollars almost always means the litter skipped hip and elbow clearances. Ask what is included: shots, microchip, dewormer schedule, AKC paperwork, and the take-back clause that should travel with the dog for life.

Health checks worth asking about.

The standard clearances on a breeding GSD are OFA or SV hips and elbows, a DM (degenerative myelopathy) DNA test, and a thyroid panel. Hip dysplasia is the breed's signature problem, which is why the hip score on both parents is the number to scrutinize first. Many working-line breeders also test for EPI (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency) and hemophilia A through Embark. Beyond the DNA work, the breed is deep-chested and prone to bloat and gastric torsion (GDV), a true emergency, so ask the breeder how they feed and whether GDV has appeared in their lines. Perianal fistula and pancreatic problems also run higher in GSDs than in most breeds. A breeder who can name these and show paperwork on each dog in the pedigree is the breeder you want. Verbal confirmation never substitutes for an OFA number you can look up.