Why Are Well Bred German Shepherds So Expensive?
Some people looking to buy a German Shepherd wonders why some can be so expensive. A German Shepherd can range from a puppy at $1,500, to an adult that isn’t fully trained at $5,000, and a trained one at $25,000 and up.
Quality German Shepherds are the product of many years of selective breedings by ethical breeders that put standard and quality above all else.
What goes into being a Responsible Breeder?
Being a responsible breeder takes years of research and hard work. The inexperienced individual thinks that a German Shepherd is a German Shepherd…...that isn’t the case.The creator of the breed Max von Stephanitz had a goal in mind for the German Shepherd to be a versatile working breed with specific traits. A responsible breeder knows these traits of the breed standard, what temperament is required of the breed and has a clear understanding of the way genetics plays a part in a quality breeding program. One of the worst ways to start a breeding program is to use your favorite pet “Spike”, (of an unknown origin) breed it to your friend’s favorite pet “Fluffy”, (also of an unknown origin) and produce a litter of “Spike/Fluffy” puppies of mediocre quality that are not representative of the breed standard. Even IF the dogs have “papers” from a recognised organization ( AKC for the USA), and there are a few well bred dogs scattered through the pedigree, it doesn’t mean it is a quality dog worthy of breeding. Uneducated breeders are lucky if any of the puppies produced will even closely resemble the standard and at best will be nothing more than pet quality.
This is what comes of the unfortunate coupling of mediocre dogs as the foundation breeding stock. This is detrimental to the breed. Breeding is only one part of the equation, but it is the foundation that everything else is built upon. Without a good foundation, your chances for success are not very good. Starting off with a very good female is less expensive and it is more cost efficient to go out and pay for a breeding to a proven stud that has a track record of producing very good dogs. Also keep in mind that both the female and the male are of compatible pedigrees with quality dogs that will complement each other and will maximize your chances of producing a good litter. The art and science of breeding takes years to learn and one can never learn enough.
Before you even contemplate starting a breeding program, take the time to figure out what German Shepherd bloodlines you are looking to breed. What would fit your lifestyle? Some have much higher energy levels than others. Some are stronger in their defencive drives and it takes a skilled handler to raise and train them. It is very important to understand the behaviors of these dogs and that they are suited to your skill level. That way you can provide the best environment for them to reach their fullest genetic potential. With that being said, to be a responsible breeder you should do your homework. Taking and passing the AKC’s Breeders Courses of Genetics, Breeding, Nutrition, Whelping, Anatomy and most of all understanding the course on Kennel Blindness is a step in the right direction. Studying pedigrees, learning about the dogs in those pedigrees by people that know them first hand will help figure what bloodlines are best suited for you.
Breeding dogs with similar traits such as structure, temperament and good health, are most likely to produce dogs that are similar in those desired traits. There is nothing more rewarding than producing a litter that is a replication of the parents and grandparents with those traits. The main important thing is to produce litters out of German Shepherds that best resembles the breed standard. Those are the results you should be working to achieve. Having a relatively small kennel is good to be able to devote plenty of quality time to the puppies and the craft of ethical breeding.
The Cost of Breeding
Responsible Breeding of quality German Shepherds isn’t cheap. There is the time put into researching for the best dogs to use in the breeding program and the cost of those dogs to start your breeding program. If you only obtain a female there will be stud fees that can range from $1,000 to $2,000 for a quality dog. In the long run it might be best to obtain a male with a comparable pedigree so you can have the choice to use your stud or an outside one. Cost of feeding a quality food for optimal nutrition can cost $50 - $70 or more a month depending on how many dogs you have. Performing DNA tests, certifying hips and elbows, and testing for genetic diseases pre breeding, is costly but a very important part of being a responsible breeder. A few other costs include: providing veterinary care for the female pre and post pregnancy, proper nutrition during her pregnancy, medical care for her during whelp, emergency care if there are birthing complications, puppy vet visits, vaccinations and worming and so on. When a litter of puppies is on solid food that cost rises. Some breeders end up holding back puppies if they see the desired traits they are looking to secure for future breedings. If a breeder feels that specific puppy isn’t what they want they might end up selling it. The costs adds up through the weeks and months that puppies are held back. Even if all the puppies from a litter are sold at 8 weeks, during those weeks there are costs that occur. The time and cost put into breeding, raising and possibly the start of training are a few of the many reasons why puppies from well bred litters, raised by responsible, ethical breeders, are priced in the thousands. That money goes back into the breeding program to continue producing well bred, healthy dogs that resemble the standard and that are able to perform the work for which it was created.
Written by Lauren Paterson of Haus Ulv Kennels ©
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“The most striking features of the correctly bred German Shepherds are firmness of nerves, attentiveness, unshockability, tractability, watchfulness, reliability and incorruptibility together with courage, fighting tenacity and hardness.”
~Max von Stephanitz Creator of the German Shepherd~