Best Dog Breeder for a German Shepherd Ireland

MontyO

Hi Everybody,

Was hoping you could help me. I am looking to get a German Shepherd puppy and I was hoping somebody could help me or give me some advice on good breeders of this breed anywhere in Ireland, preferably somewhere in Dublin just because it would be easier for me to get there but its not essential.

Also, are they good with children and visitors to the house, other pets(dog)?

Maybe somebody has experience with these dogs already?

Thanks a million

MontyO:)

maalummoja

Probably the best in Ireland is a guy called Mr Darcy in Cabra <snip> and also runs the German Shepard Dog Club of Ireland. My family had two pups from him over the years!!

sive1281

Colm Cussen, Hamilberg K9, in Dunboyne.
<snip>

Excellent breeding, super temperment and construction. Four German Shepherds from his breeding won at the dog show in cloghran this weekend.

**Vai**

MontyO wrote: »

Also, are they good with children and visitors to the house, other pets(dog)?

Maybe somebody has experience with these dogs already?

Thanks a million

MontyO:)

They are brilliant with people and animals as long as they are socialised quite early in life. Its less about the dog and more about how you go about raising the dog.

As an aside, I'm very passionate about the GSD show dogs being changed. At the moment alot of them have problems with their hind legs, commonly called "frog legs". If possible stay away from breeders who sell GSD like this, its an abomination. Working lines dogs are probably your best bet and dont forget there are plenty of young GSDs in pounds around the country.

DBB

I have been very lucky with the GSDs that I've owned that they are of super conformation, lovely straight backs, strong hips and hind legs, and most importantly of all, cast iron temperaments. They are all from the same lines.
The lady who bred them is obviously doing something right, but IMO she has let standards of husbandary slide in the recent past, and although her dogs are super, I wouldn't be mad on the environment they're reared in these days, and for this reason I find it hard to recommend her. Though I suppose I would if I had to.

However, and bearing in mind that I don't know them personally, I do like the ethos and information given in the GSD Club of Ireland site. I particularly like their slant on training and choosing a trainer... a very refreshing attitude in GSD training circles. These are working dogs, bred for purpose, and so have to be physically sound with a steady temperament. So, were I looking for another GSD outside the lines of the dogs I've already owned, I would certainly be going along with this recommendation, with the usual caution when choosing any breeder:

maalummoja wrote: »

Probably the best in Ireland is a guy called Mr Darcy in Cabra <snip> and also runs the German Shepard Dog Club of Ireland. My family had two pups from him over the years!!

However, having looked at this site:

sive1281 wrote: »

Colm Cussen, Hamilberg K9, in Dunboyne.
<snip>

I would not touch any of these frogdogs. I would not, ever, in my worst nightmare, select a show-line GSD for any purpose... unless of course for some bizarre reason I wanted a dog that would suffer from skeletal problems, and had a high chance of having a questionable temperament. I derive this opinion from the many, many show-line GSDs I've met and trained over the years. Off the top of my head, I know of few other dog breed cohorts that has so many serious behavioural problems associated with them.

Excellent breeding, super temperment and construction. Four German Shepherds from his breeding won at the dog show in cloghran this weekend.

This one line, all on its own, would be enough to make me run in the opposite direction, very fast indeed. When it comes to GSDs, show-line dogs are, and will continue to be for some time to come, utter abominations. The people responsible for perpetuating, and awarding prizes to, frogdogs should be utterly ashamed of themselves. Many are too blind to even see the damage they've done and continue to do to this wonderful breed, physically and temperamentally.
Shame on them.

Wibbs

DBB wrote: »

This one line, all on its own, would be enough to make me run in the opposite direction, very fast indeed. When it comes to GSDs, show-line dogs are, and will continue to be for some time to come, utter abominations. The people responsible for perpetuating, and awarding prizes to, frogdogs should be utterly ashamed of themselves. Many are too blind to even see the damage they've done and continue to do to this wonderful breed, physically and temperamentally.
Shame on them.

Quoted for truth. They've essentially ruined the breed IMHO.

I've had a purebred GSD in the past. Lovely dog, but although he wasn't one of these frog legged sloping backed dogs he did have hip trouble. The hips scores his bloodline had looked OK at the time and were within limits, now I know they were very borderline. Poor guy only made it to 7

If I was looking for one today and I would as they're a great dog, I'd be looking at straight backed working dog lines and avoiding any show lines like the very plague. Or I'd be looking at a Belgian shepherd instead as they're more like the GSD's of old minus the rot.

Cherry Blossom

Wibbs wrote: »

Or I'd be looking at a Belgian shepherd instead as they're more like the GSD's of old minus the rot.

plus, non of the restricted breed legislation applies

Kukey

adrenalinjunkie wrote: »

plus, non of the restricted breed legislation applies

Belgian Shepherd's do have to be muzzled,they are not named on the Restricted breeds list but are considered a x of the German Shepherd.

Cherry Blossom

Kukey wrote: »

Belgian Shepherd's do have to be muzzled,they are not named on the Restricted breeds list but are considered a x of the German Shepherd.

No they don't have to be muzzled, they are not a cross, they are a recognised pedigree breed in their own right, if anyone tells you otherwise you should tell them politely where to go.

DBB

Kukey wrote: »

Belgian Shepherd's do have to be muzzled,they are not named on the Restricted breeds list but are considered a x of the German Shepherd.

No, they do not, and no, they are not.
The Belgian Shepherd is a breed. Once a dog is a breed, it is not considered to be a crossbreed.

Rommie

Kukey wrote: »

Belgian Shepherd's do have to be muzzled,they are not named on the Restricted breeds list but are considered a x of the German Shepherd.

Had someone say this to me before, so i went back through both of the breeds histories and the belgian shepherds are actually older breeds than the german shepherd. So therefore, not a cross! Same as an english mastiff is not a cross of a bullmastiff

Kukey

DBB wrote: »

No, they do not, and no, they are not.
The Belgian Shepherd is a breed. Once a dog is a breed, it is not considered to be a crossbreed.

It was the Dog Warden who told me they have to be muzzled.I argued that they are a different breed & he said that
as they were used in the breeding of GSD's Years ago,they are crossbreeds of the GSD.

Cherry Blossom

Kukey wrote: »

It was the Dog Warden who told me they have to be muzzled.I argued that they are a different breed & he said that
as they were used in the breeding of GSD's Years ago,they are crossbreeds of the GSD.

Sorry Kukey, but this is a whole different topic than this thread, but feel free to start another thread for the purpose.

Rommie

Kukey wrote: »

It was the Dog Warden who told me they have to be muzzled.I argued that they are a different breed & he said that
as they were used in the breeding of GSD's Years ago,they are crossbreeds of the GSD.

The belgian shepherds were most likely used in the breeding of GSDs in the beginning but they cant be crossed anymore and called purebreds as they are seperate breeds. The lakenois and the GSD for example look nothing alike. All breeds had to come from somewhere, the black russian terrier is said to come from a mix of about twenty breeds, including rottweilers, but that doesn't mean they have to be muzzled. And in my experience most dog wardens dont know anything about dogs anyway, so I wouldn't be bothered


So I'm not completely off topic. OP, i would agree with the others. Go for a working strain GSD, or perhaps a malinois or groenendael. I absolutely hate the frogdogs, they look so unnatural and there's no way breeding for that look cant be ruining their health

DBB

Kukey wrote: »

It was the Dog Warden who told me they have to be muzzled.I argued that they are a different breed & he said that
as they were used in the breeding of GSD's Years ago,they are crossbreeds of the GSD.

By the same illogic, Boxers must also be muzzled and leashed in public because they have Bull Mastiff in their origins, reputedly.
Czech Wolfdogs and Nothern Inuits and Sarloos Wolfdogs, all with GSD in their ancestry, would also be eligible under the Restricted Breeds legislation.
Indeed, some might consider the Bandog to have been a progenitor of many breeds, including the Saint Bernard, Tibetan Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff etc.
But none of these breeds are required to be muzzled, because none are crossbreeds. Once they "breed true", they are not considered crossbreeds, or strains, any more. They are breeds, through and through.
I also had this conversation with a dog warden, as I own a black GSD that completely threw him (well, wardens haven't exactly covered themselves with glory lately when it comes to breed recognition/knowledge). He too thought that the Groenendael fell under the Restricted Breeds legislation for the same reasons your warden did, but has since conceded he is mistaken.
I know that if any warden brought me to court for not having a Belgian Shepherd on lead and muzzled in public, I would await the day with great anticipation, because he wouldn't have a leg to stand on with this illogic.
Also, if they were used in the creation of GSDs, then they are not crossbreeds of the GSD... the GSD is a crossbreed of them!

ETA: Oops! Sorry AJ, I went away from my computer whilst posting, didn't realise you'd asked for this thread to be opened under it's own steam!

sebschenker

<snip>

Mod note: please note that linking to sites with stud dogs or pups for sale is against the forum charter.
Thanks,
DBB

nicola lawlor

MontyO wrote: »

Hi Everybody,

Was hoping you could help me. I am looking to get a German Shepherd puppy and I was hoping somebody could help me or give me some advice on good breeders of this breed anywhere in Ireland, preferably somewhere in Dublin just because it would be easier for me to get there but its not essential.

Also, are they good with children and visitors to the house, other pets(dog)?

Maybe somebody has experience with these dogs already?

Thanks a million

MontyO:)

I have have 4 german shepards all were great with kids. I belueve its how u bring dogs up. Go on to the irish kennel club and they will help

DBB

I think this thread has pretty much run its course, given that the OP was 4 months ago.
MontyO, should you want this thread re-opened due to needing more info, PM me please.
For now, thread is closed.
Thanks,
DBB