breeder info

Question
Hi Dawn,

I think I'm ready for a dog. Do you know of any Sarnia area, quality breeders, that you would recommend ? Would you recommend Appleridge in Ingersoll ? I liked Annette when I met her. Impressed with her knowledge and insight.I am looking for not too high strung, lower drive for a sheperd.

Thanks for your response. John

Answer
Hi John,  There are several factors to take in when deciding where to buy a shepherd from.  Heritage & genetics are very big factors.  Do you want a German heritage or an American heritage?  As far as drive, the Germans tend to breed for more prey drive for the competive part of Schutzhund, where the Americans tend to breed more for the herding drive for the show ring.  Both tend to be high strung due to their breeding for the different drives.  It is actually fairly hard now a days to find a shepherd who is not high strung for different reasons.  Your best bet is to see the parents, and if possible, puppies they have had before to see what drives they have produced.  That way you can get an idea of what your puppy will be like.  Also, if you can check out the grandparents, that can help too as some characteristics can skip generations.  
Also, health guarantees are a must when it comes to purchasing shepherds.  There are a lot of bad health problems in shepherds, including hip dysplasia, diabetes & Von Willebrands disease.  A good hip guarantee will cover the dog for two years from the date of purchase.  minor dysplasia sometimes can not be picked up until the dog is two years of age, so if the guarantee is only for a year (which a lot of breeders give to cover themselves), then your dog will not be covered when he is two and can officially be checked by OFA.    Hope this helps, and if you have anymore questions, feel free to let me know.  Good Luck.