great breeder recs please

[mafiamom]

hey all! i feel like my head is spinning! i , well my hubby and i, are attempting to find a great breeder so we can get a ds to be part of our family. But i feel like every time i turn around, theres a new one weve found online or decided against one.... I would really like a good breeder who knows their stuff because i do have young kids, we had a bernest mountain dog so they know all about big dogs lol

theres not a ton of breeders but there are enough to make me question myself in the search for agreat one! =) any feedback or rec or ANYTHING really would be so much help!!!

thanks so much!!

[Christie M]

Where are you located and what are your plans for the pup? Pet dog? Or are you looking to formally train and /or compete in any particular venue?

[mafiamom]

family pet/protection. =) we are in Mass 3 boys ages 5 4 and almost 3. we have a bichon. we had a bernese mountain dog but she just passed in august. we arent going to formally train the dog, but most certainly on doing lots of obedience etc. but no competitions for us =)

[tedge007]

My advise is to research and find a breeder that specifically breeds the family pet dutch shepherd. No working lines. These dogs will be much easier for you to train and handle and should offer you the protectiveness you are probably looking for. Dont tell a breeder you are looking for a true personal protection dog unless you are prepared to invest alot of time and money in formal training as these type of dogs require both an experienced handler and alot of formal training. I found out the hard way that dutch shepherds are totally different from most other dogs. I have owned both German Shepherds and Working line Dobermans and had a huge wake up call when I got my dutch. I purchased a real hardcore working line dog though. I do know of some pet line dutch's though and they are alot calmer and easier to handle. Best of luck in your search.

[Schlussdibusti]

Just a thought....

Did you consider a Chesapeake Bay Retriever? They are great family dogs but more protective than a Labrador or Golden, and they are not so overbred, i.e. healthier. Me and a former boy friend * had one, very smart, very high energy, but not the intensity of a Dutch Shepherd.

*boy friend insisted keeping the dog when we split.

[mafiamom]

thanks eva and tom!

both dh and i have owned german shepherds in the past. i grew up with them and he had an amazing one when we met. mine were like lightswitches, you could turn them on or off with one word, his was not too shabby either i def. know that we dont want a hardcore one though. =)

[Schlussdibusti]

both dh and i have owned german shepherds in the past.

Me too. I felt confident about handling and training a DS. I lost between 10 and 20 pounds since I have Marco. Can't eat enough to keep the weight on burning so many cals. It's constant engagement (physically and mentaly) or asleep. Nothing in between. Schedule about 4 hours each day. Otherwise there will be all kinds of trouble. Plenty of "reading material" here on the board what that might look like.

..........i def. know that we dont want a hardcore one though. =)

They are all "hardcore" compared to a GS. :dswink"

[mafiamom]

yay for the weightloss!! =) thats always a plus lol

i definitely have the time to do it, i stay at home with my almost 3 yr old while my other 2 are in school. im confident i can do it =)

do you think that we should wait until spring time to get one though? because of all the snow we get here in the winter??? i know that every year we will get the snow but with a dog a little bigger it would be easier to go out and play in it instead of having a puppy that goes to step in it and gets burried like my bichon? lol or do you think it wont matter???

[Schlussdibusti]

I'm in SE Florida , don't know about the puppy in the snow routine. But you have a good point there, a spring puppy would have more opportunities to exercise outside.

In my opinion that's the key: wear them out physically + keep them mentally challenged = a tired dog is a well behaved dog.

Results in that.JPG

[mafiamom]

lol kind of just like my boys... keep them busy and get their energy out and they are good =) keep them cooped up and all hell breaks loose lol

*love the pic btw!!! =)