As a German Shepherd Breeder I have gone through many products and information over the years. 

Here is a compilation of what I recommend.

For free dog training podcast and great toys go to http://leerburg.com/.  I have used leerburg training dvds and products and they are wonderful.

I have been feeding my dogs raw foods and Taste of the Wild Prairie. Taste of the Wild is a grain free dog food which is very good for those sensitive to corn and fillers. http://www.tasteofthewild.com

Do a google search for a Dealer of this food near you   www.google.com   I easily find this food at my Local Feed store (that sells hay and horse supplies)

My online website of choice for collars, pig ears, chew hooves and dog medicines is www.jeffers.com.

Many customers ask me what flea product works best in Florida. During the past few years it seems the fleas here in Florida have become immune to certain flea control. I spoke with my veterinarian about this concern and he recommended a product called ACTIVYL. This is a topical and it really does work. No fleas on my dogs. They also make one that helps with fleas and ticks. Check out www.amazon.com for best prices. 

If one of my Import German Shepherd dogs does not already have an "a" stamp then they are seen by a qualified veterinarian who does x-rays and results come from www.offa.org which is the orthopedic foundation for animals. 

Imports are all flown in from Frankfurt on www.lufthansa.com. The dogs always arrive in good condition and well cared for. 

All my dogs have certified purebred pedigrees which can be found on the German Pedigree database website at: www.pedigreedatabase.com

All my dogs are also registered with AKC. For information on AKC go to www.akc.org.

When you are ready to contact a breeder, you should be prepared to ask a lot of questions about the puppy or dog you hope to acquire. Here are some questions to ask:

1. What possible health problems might this dog develop?

1. How big will the dog get?

1. How old will he be before he acts like an adult dog?

1. How protective will the dog be?

1. How often will the dog need to be groomed?

1. How does he get along with other animals?

1. How long can he be left alone at home?

1. How much exercise does the dog need?

1. What are the best training methods for this dog?

Your contact should be willing to answer all of your questions fully. He or she should also ask questions about you, your lifestyle, and your family. If a contact doesn't respond to your inquiries, or doesn't show any interest in the life the dog will lead after it leaves his or her premises, you may want to look elsewhere. A responsible breeder or dedicated Rescue Group member is committed to making a good match between prospective owners and the dogs in their care; that's the kind of person you want on your side as you make the journey into dog ownership.

Our Answers

1 We do all we can to provide a dog/puppy that is Free of Degenerate/Contagious/Hereditary faults

by: Starting with Import lines-Free of any health issues

Proper nutrition of the mom during pregnancy

Quality Puppy food during the raising of the puppies

Rugs so the puppys legs can grip to build muscle and prevent stress on the developing hips

Prevention of any worms-fleas-diseases

2 We breed to the Standard-Your puppys size will be aproximately

Females 65-75 lbs 22-24 inches at the shoulder

Males 85-95 lbs 26 inches at the shoulder

3 Your puppy will be very active for years :) , this is the breed standard, teething will be over in a few months, growth for 1 yr, then filling out for another year, color will change over the life of the dog, toys, toys and more toys, training is the key for a well behaved Dog or Puppy.

4 German Shepherds are Naturally protective- it is because they are a Loyal dog and they Love their family.

My advice is raise him/her as you wish for her to be- Socialize her alot if you want her to be very friendly/ dont let strangers meet her if you want her to be an alert Guard Dog- Study socializing books/videos in this area- there are many classes available to socialize OR for protection guidance.

Your breeder should help you in this area

5 German Shepherds rarely need any type of grooming- If you use a quality food-NO soy/corn/or fillers - just brush out the coat once in a while (incuding the 2 times a year they shed the undercoat). I do not bathe my dogs- they keep themselves clean - the only time your dog will smell is if they are left damp- getting them dry after a swim is the key.

6 Your puppy should be getting socialized with people and animals while it is being raised- a good breeder will do this- then you take over with who you want to expose him to- We socialize our puppies with People, children, other animals before leaving our home. Your puppy will adjust just fine with any animals that are already in your home- just watch that they dont bully your new puppy.

7 A young puppy should not be left alone too long- but over time - as the puppy develops, can hold his potty & is learning how to behave in the home or is used to his crate- he can be left for longer periods. Eventually - if properly trained - your older puppy can be left for most of the day while you work or the kids are in school.

8 German Shepherds are active dogs-puppies play and nap alot - after 10 months of age the dog can go jogging with you- they love to swim- we use toys like frisbee/flying squirrels/balls/kongs etc to keep our dogs happy.

After an hour of play - he might just be ready for some couch time with you.

9 German Shepherds are very smart- they learn very quickly 'to obey or 'not'- according to your training them- determine what basic commands you wish to teach your dog/puppy- your breeder should help you in this area.

Always ask your Breeder first- they should be the most Knowledged in the Breed and the personality of the Puppy you are getting from them