Many people seeking a new Shiloh Shepherd puppy might immediately look for the breeder closest to them, but there are other considerations that can be even more important. Here’s a quick guide for you to utilize in choosing your breeder!
SEE WHAT’S OUT THERE
First of all, visit the web sites and social media profiles of prospective breeders. Look at their dogs and the way they present themselves. What’s important to them? Why did they start breeding? Read about the dogs and look at lots of photos. Make a list of the breeders you feel the most drawn to—even if they’re not the closest breeders to you.
It’s important to know that most breeders are willing to ship puppies to their new homes. Though there are limits on whether pups can fly—in the heat of the summer, for example—in general ISSA breeders are well-accustomed to the procedures for getting a puppy across the country and into your hands in a healthy and safe manner, and have done it many times.
Once you have a short list of breeders you are interested in, start contacting them. Some breeders will have a contact form or puppy application on their web site for you to fill out; others will just provide a contact email.
If it’s an email, give the breeder your name and location. Describe your situation. Are you an older adult who lives alone? A young couple looking for their first puppy? A busy household with kids going in and out all the time? Do you live in an apartment or a house? Do you have a fenced yard?
What is your experience with dogs? Will this be your first dog, and if so, did you have experience with dogs growing up? If this isn’t your first, what breeds do you have experience with? Is there a trait that you absolutely don’t want in a puppy? For example, if your last dog was terrified of thunderstorms, you might not want any noise sensitivity. If you have a cat, you might not want a pup with high prey drive.
Let the breeder know what sort of puppy you are looking for—girl or boy, plush or smooth, and any coat color preference. Describe the temperament and personality of the pup you desire, and describe any activities you might want to do with the dog. For example, do you want an active dog, one that can go running with you and that will keep up with your kids? Or a quiet companion to take long walks with? Or a nose-oriented, independent pup to try out Search and Rescue or scent work?
The last thing that can be useful for a breeder is for you to describe a day in the life of your family. This can give the breeder a good idea of how busy your household is, who will be responsible for your puppy, and how much time you’ll have to work with your new family member.
After you contact your breeder, do give them a few days—up to a week—to get back to you. Many of our breeders have full-time jobs and families, and they may not check their breeder emails every day. If after a week you still haven’t heard, you could try again, or you could move on to the next breeder on your list.
ONCE YOU HAVE CONTACT WITH A BREEDER
Once a breeder has responded to you, it’s a good idea to chat with them a bit over email or phone. You’ll want to know how long their waiting list for a puppy is, and which litters might have available slots, to see if it fits with your own timeline. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about health concerns, how they raise their puppies, or contractual obligations!
You also want to get a good sense of this person and whether you can work with them. Remember, your breeder will be there to answer questions and to support you if you run into problems. They’ll be contacting you about completing health testing, and you’ll likely be sending them photos and updates as your pup grows.
It’s best if you can find a breeder you feel you can be honest with, and who will be honest with you. You want a breeder who will respond promptly when you have a question, and who is knowledgeable about not only their own dogs, but about the breed. A good breeder is a resource that you will be able to draw upon every time you come up with a question or concern about your puppy.
IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO BREED
If you yourself are looking to acquire a breeding dog, then finding a breeder who will support you and who you are comfortable with is even more important. If you are taking on a breeding female, then you will essentially be going into business with your breeder when it comes time for your girl to be bred, and you’ll want someone you feel you can depend on.
THE PUPPY PROCESS
Once you decide upon your breeder—or, once you and your new breeder decide upon each other!—your breeder should lay out more of the process of how you will get your puppy. They may have you fill out a form, if you haven’t already, laying out your preferences in getting a pup. They’ll explain to you about the Litter Evaluation Report, or LER, a temperament and structure exam that we give to eight-week-old pups to determine which family fits each pup best. You’ll decide whether you’re going to drive to get your pup, or if they will fly the pup to you.
Some things will still be up in the air, because breeding is never predictable! However, once pups have been born, your breeder should be in contact with updates and pictures. During this time, your arrangements for getting a pup should solidify. Will you be able to pick up the pup right when they’re ready, or will the breeder need to keep them a few days? Let your breeder know.
You’ll also want to let your breeder know if you’re flexible in your preferences. For example, if you wanted a sable girl, but the litter is almost all boys, are you willing to take a boy if one fits your family better? If you wanted a smooth-coat sable, but the only sables are plush, are you willing to take a plush? Or are you open to a different color in order to have a smooth? These are things you’ll want to think about, and communicate to your breeder.
YOUR FURRY FAMILY MEMBER
Obviously, there can be quite a journey involved in finding your new family member! We hope that this has given you a little bit of a feel for what you should be looking for from your breeder and what they will be looking at from you. Good luck in your search, and be sure to share pictures on our Shiloh Shepherd Community Facebook group (accessible to all Shiloh owners, ISSA or not) once you have your puppy!