Puppies are large commitment of time and responsibility! PLEASE take the time to research the breeder as well as the breed before you buy!! Join the English Shepherd Club and learn all you can before you buy a puppy.
ESC only approves those litters specifically listed, as they meet the requirements outlined in the ESC Breeder Requirements & Recommendations.
Order Puppy Handbook
The breeders listing litters here have signed the ESC Breeder Requirements & Recommendations. Make careful inquiries before purchasing a pup from any breeder. The following questions are also available as a PDF for download and printing.
QUESTIONS FOR BUYERS TO ASK BREEDERS:
Are they allowed outside? Are they familiar with different surfaces? How have you introduced them to different experiences?
A good breeder will take the time to get to know you and your situation so they can judge the best fit of personality and energy level for you and your family.
What are their positive and negative traits? (Beware of the perfect dog!)
Breeders should be able to explain their breeding reasons and goals.
It is the recommendation of the ESC that a dog be a minimum of 2 years old before being bred. It takes time and maturity to evaluate of dogs temperament and working abilities. A dog isn’t finished growing until 18-24 months of age. And further, OFA will not certify a dog’s hip screening for hip dysplasia until the dog is 24 months old.
Because the English Shepherd is a working dog they may have more drive and energy than typical pet breeds. Discuss with the breeder what challenges you might see with your puppy.
How many litters has your dog had/sired? (Beware the breeder who breeds multiple yearly litters, repeatedly breeds on every heat or overuses their stud.)
Results? (Look for things like OFA/PennHip scores, MDR1 status, CEA/PRA screening) Breeders should be able to give you a copy of the results of these tests. If the breeder refuses or only offers verbal evidence this is a huge red flag.
What kinds of activities have you done with her? Depending on your own need, pick a pup from parents that demonstrate the skills/traits you want with preference given to actual experience vs. assessments.
A breeder should definitely know the traits in their own dogs and most likely in the grandparents. Make sure claims of line traits are born out and based on personal experience, not conjecture.
Will the breeder take back a dog at any point or help to re-home it if the need arises? Will he remain accessible to help problem solve behaviors or network with others to help find answers he cannot provide? Is this spelled out clearly in a contract?
Beware of breeders who will make placement decisions based on color/sex/markings or who will make placements at a very early age as the character of a pup can take 6 weeks or longer to unfold.
There is a huge variety and opinions on what to feed dogs from inexpensive dog for to premium dog food to raw diets.
Pups should be at least 8 weeks of age before leaving. Up until that point they are learning important canine manners from their mother and litter mates. Pups without this foundation are often lacking in social skills and may demonstrate behavior problems later in life.
Early socialization is extremely important. Pups should be exposed to a wide variety of people and experiences to insure a smooth transition into their new home. Failure to properly socialize puppies may result in future behavioral issues.
Again socialization is extremely important. Pups raised with little to no human interaction maybe extremely shy and fearful of humans.
Involvement in these groups often indicates a concern for the welfare and protection of the breed.
