Advice for Buyers
Questions to consider asking prospective breeders.
How much do you sell your pups for?
This is one of the first questions most buyers want to know but ask yourself this "am I getting the quality pup that I am paying for"?
I recommend sticking to the middle road price that is consistent with most other breeders’ prices $1000.00 for a pet and $1500.00 for a show dog is a good general price rule to abide buy. Over pricing generally means that money is a motive and too cheap means that costs or quality have been cut in the up bringing of the pups food or the vet bills. The cheaper is not always the better ensure the breeder is registered with the canine association of thier own state.
How long have you been involved in German Pinschers or your other breed of dogs?
Does the breeder have a genuine and long term interest in the breed or are they just a flash in the pan breeder hoping to make a quick dollar. These breeders tend to be around to 5-6 year mark at most. Pump out a few litters in concession and then just disappear-commonly called fly by nights.
A quick guide in showing terms (for use as a guide only)- A Novice breeder is anything under 6 yrs and normaly under another breeders guidance and earning respect from thier peers and older breeders. A breeder is considered long term of over 6 years breeding with generally 2 years of showing/obedience behind that prior to breeding, reaching 10 year mark is considered experienced long term breeders and 20 years is usually a life commitment!
How many German Pinschers litters have you bred this year and how long have you been breeding and showing dogs including another breed?Here you can gauge the breeders experience although quantity does not always equate to quality but generally experience is an advantage. Just be aware of those having more than three per year, every year, especially of every breed they own.
How many German Pinschers/other breeds have you yourself trained handled and shown/worked?
Here you can gauge the breeders experience with regards to working with the breed and breed specific temperament and traits.What are the strengths and weaknesses of your dogs?
No dog or bloodline is perfect and an honest breeder will talk openly about their dog’s strengths and weaknesses.Are their any health problems in these lines?
Ask to see the health test results for the parents of your puppy - read the next section about health testing to ensure you have an understanding.Are the sire and dam of the puppy hip and elbow scored?
Both the sire and the dam of your puppy should have hips and elbows x-rayed and scored and the results be satisfactory - read the next section on this page about health testing.
Are the sire and dam of the puppy eye tested?
Both the sire and dam of your puppy should hold a clear eye certificate. Read the next section on this page about health testing to ensure you have an understanding.Are the puppies health guaranteed?
An ethical breeder will guarantee the puppies sold against any hereditary health problems.
The Dog world and Hearsay, Lies, Gossip and Rumor...
Be aware that the world of Dog Breeding is very competitive and some breeders are very skilled "Sales People" with the "gift of the gab" who are prepared to say ANYTHING to discredit another breeder to ensure a puppy sale or their own stud dog is used instead of another’s. I have experience of breeders who will say they are working in with another reputable breeder for credit or so they can assume to take enquiries off another breeder from puppy purchasers. Unfortunately we live a very competitive world now and some have changed from good sports and people with integrity to those that are not and have none. One rotten apple can spoil the barrel so be aware and speak to the breeders themselves first.
I advise people to see the dogs for themselves and make their own judgments. Do not make decisions based on gossip and the opinions of others whose motivation may be malicious or purely monetary. Use your intuition.
Health
Here at Masterkarn we take the health of the breed very seriously.
The German Pinscher is generally very healthy however to keep it that way responsible breeders should be testing a minimum of hips/elbows and eyes before breeding.
Not only should breeders be testing their breeding stock they should also heed the results - unfortunately some breeders choose to breed on with unacceptable health test results with a barrage of excuses on hand to justify their actions.
Ask to see the hip & elbow scores and current eye certificates of the sire and dam of the litter before making a commitment to purchase your puppy. If you have trouble understanding the results feel free to contact me for clarification - I am happy to assist.
Although rare the health problems within the breed to be aware of include: Hip Displaysia - Parents can be tested by x-ray. Each hip is scored out of a possible score of 52. The worst score for each hip being 52, the best being 0. The scores are expressed as follows: 1:3 this means the left hip has a score of 1 and the right a score of 3 making a total of 4. The generally accepted range for a German Pinscher is as low as possible to be used for breeding and is a total score of 10 or under.
Here are some hip score examples to help you understand:
3:5 total score of 8 OK
0:0 perfect hips OK
15:12 total score of 27 Not ok for breeding
23:41 total score of 64 Not ok for breeding
Elbow problems - such as ununited anconeal process (UAP), fragmented medial coronoid process (FCP), osteochondrosis of the medial condyle of the humerus (OCD).
Parents can be tested by x-ray. Each elbow is scored out of a possible score of 3. The worst score being 3, the best being 0. The scores are expressed as follows: 0:1 this means the left elbow has a score of 0 and the right a score of 1. The generally accepted range for a German Pinscher to be used for breeding are scores of 0's and 1's only.
1:0 OK
0:0 OK (perfect elbows)
2:2 2's and 3's not ok for breeding
3:2 2's and 3's not ok for breedingEye problems - such as Cataracts, PPM's - Persistent Pupillary Membranes stands left on the iris of the eye after development in a young pup. Cataracts and retinol folds are the most common in the German Pinscher. Parents can be tested by an ophthalmic specialist vet to minimize risks to offspring. The ophthalmic specialist will issue each dog an eye certificate with the results of the eye testing. Dogs with cataracts or any other hereditary condition affecting the dogs vision should not be used for breeding.Teeth - Incorrect bite & missing teeth. Both parents preferably to have full dentition and scissor bite. The breed standard does not consider missing teeth but it is generally considered a fault to have such a fault.
As a pet or working dog missing teeth do not normally cause any problems and Dogs with missing teeth live happy and normal lives. Some breeders do not consider missing teeth to be a serious fault and breed freely from dogs with this condition. Generally dogs with full correct dentition are included in my breeding program.
Testicles
Monorchid - absence of one testicle in the male dog.
Cryptorchid - one testicle fails to descend. Neutering is recommended as the retained testicle may have problems later on. Dog used for breeding should have 2 testicles fully descended into the scrotum.Sport Dog vs. Street Dog
I think most of us can agree that not all sport dogs could work successfully as Service or Security dogs just as not all Service or Security dogs could cut the mustard on the sports field. The 2 scenarios are quite different. However I believe a genetically sound working dog can do either the only difference lies in the training of the dog.
With the current working scene fad in General Temperament
Although it is acceptable for a German Pinscher to be somewhat reserved with strangers this should not be used as an excuse for poor temperament. Poor nerves fear biting; shrinking away from strangers or fear of loud noises should not be considered part of being reserved. Find out its background to see if there are any reasons to explain wariness, such as secluded environment as a young pup only, but these dogs will adjust with socialising as early as possible, but there is no excuses for aggression that surfaces in the show/working ring these dogs are trained to behave therefore the temperament is at fault here or a handler owner that should not own the breed in the first place and the temperament is clearly visible. Be wary of purchasing a puppy from a breeder whose dogs display this type of temperament. German Pinschers will guard their own homes but should be able to be sociable with the owner present.
Opinions and Credentials
In my opinion this is great advice by a working/show dog breeder .
I have over 23 years of experience in several strong breeds of dogs and could not give better advice for looking for a potential puppy. I have modified this article to suit the German Pinscher breed specifically.
My opinion comes from experience in training Dobermanns both working/obedience and breeding and showing. German Pinschers obedience, breeding and showing. Labradors, Keeshonds & Malamutes and one lone but loved working German Shepherd. I have helped train terriers of varied breeds, Rottie, Dogue De Bordeaux, other Shepherds and in the past a qualified trainer at the Dobermann club of SA and the Gepps Cross all breeds club at in SA also. I was Vice President of the Dobermann Club of SA , a committee member and founded the German Pinscher club in Qld as secretary, committee member, editor and designer of the Pinscher Post. John was a founding committee member of the GP club. I have a cert IV in Workplace Assessor and Trainer as my credentials coupled with the above years of experience.
