Several hundred thousand dog lovers in 78 countries are members of the German Shepherd Associations of the World Union. There are approximately 250,000 purebred German Shepherds with papers from the German Shepherd Association SV right now in Germany. Every year, around 10,000 puppies are registered in the German stud book.

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"The German Shepherd is medium-sized, slightly elongated, strong and well-muscled, with dry bones and firm overall structure. It has a strong, healthy and complete set of teeth with 42 teeth (carnassial). The pointed prick ears are mobile and can be positioned correspondingly by the dog, which, among other aspects, determines his quality as a guard dog.”

Preconditions for breeding

Breeding is a responsible and beautiful task in which one can collaborate in developing a dog breed in a goal-oriented way. Apart from idealism and the love for the animal, the breeding of German Shepherds primarily requires extensive expertise, clear goals and experience. Lots of space for a kennel site and an understanding neighbourhood are further basic preconditions. Apart from the breeding dogs’ training and their presentation at breeding shows, the small puppies in particular need to be constantly cared for and looked after.

The financial side of breeding also needs to be considered. Among the costs are, for instance, the costs for the facilities, food, the veterinarian and all costs connected with the registration of the dogs for breeding – i.e. training, HD, ED and DNA procedures, trials, breeding shows, examinations for breed licenses, the trip to the stud dog and the stud fee.

Planning leads to the goal: the right partner choice

The prerequisite for successful breeding is the quality of the parents and their ancestors. The choice for a suitable stud dog for the individual bitch depends on the advantages (and also the mistakes) of the breeding partners. Further criteria: degree of kinship, type, line, coat type, quality of already existing offspring and finally also the breeding willingness of the considered dog. It is recommended that you consult with experienced breeders and with the breed wardens of the Association for German Shepherds (SV) e. V.

Securing the quality of the breed

If two dogs are brought together for the purpose of breeding, the bitch generally travels to the stud. The mating fee must be agreed on beforehand in writing with the owner of the dog. Important: The bitch must be at least 20 months old before she can be covered for the first time. The SV has dictated the frequency of mating per stud in its breeding rules. Bitches may be covered up to 90 times, thereof maximum 60 times in Germany. These statutory provisions of the SV ensure the quality of the breed. Without an adequate rest period between mating, the rate of fertilization will worsen.

An important principle for every breeder: it must be ensured that the puppies that are subsequently sold are of better quality than their parents. That is the requirement behind the SV breeding philosophy. In its statutes, the SV ensures that this requirement is not infringed – and provides every help to fulfil it. Too many dog breeds have almost been destroyed in the last hundred years through unrestrained reproduction. The quality principle is therefore paramount for the SV.

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