Lol no offense meant! You probably would have known something was up when you talked to her. A person who is on the money with their dogs will sound like it.
So what is your distance range here, are you looking just in Ontario? Whereabouts are you, can I look within driving distance in the states? Taking dogs through the border isn't difficult. Shipping within North America will run you 3-4 bills.
Here is what I'm doing and this will help you: instead of looking for breeders, look for dogs. Look through the Schutzhund trial results from the Ontario Regionals, USA Nationals, Canadian Nationals, then start googling names and see what you come up with. Some people will just be hobbyists, some will actually breed. Either way if they get to that point you know they have at least something going on. Call your local Schutzhund club and talk to them, they'll know of breeders. Many good breeders don't have a website because they are intimate with the biz and other people in the biz will buy their dogs... they don't need to sell to you or me.
Look for people who sell dogs as dual purpose police k9's... these dogs are (usually) the epitomy of a working GSD. And even then... see if you can find the police department's website, they often have a site with a k9 section, and check out their other dogs. Some small, local police departments don't know anything about dogs and and tricked into buying crappers like everyone else, giving crapper breeder a chance to brag about have a dog working in a police department.
YouTube - Police Dog Fail <---- EMBARRASSINGGGG
Someone who breeds specifically for police dogs will only produce a few police dogs per litter (if they're lucky)... the rest are a little soft, not driven enough, etc, but are still good as pets, low level Schutzhund competitiors, even high level Schutzhund dogs. And these are breeders who set their sights HIGH. No breeder constantly produces the exact dog they strive for, there is a spectrum. Someone who just breeds "pets" or "family guardians," what does their spectrum look like? What does their best look like, what does their worst look like?
I'm not saying these criteria make a good breeder but they are some indicators:
Both dogs and bitches have Sch titles and hip ratings. You know how North America has to import dogs? Europe isn't importing our dogs lol. Well to breed under SV (German GSD club) rules both dog and bitch must have Sch titles and hip checks. Coincidence that their dogs are consistantly better? I don't think so... So look for a breeder with high standards.
Look for websites that discuss the pedigrees of their dogs
Adult imported dogs with titles are a good sign.
If a dog has a FAULT like weighing 110lbs the breeder won't be boasting about it-- because whether big dogs look cool or not they are NOT ideal for working and that is a FAULT in the GSD breed. I wouldn't totally write a breeder off for having a single, very qualified oversized dog in their program, but it shouldn't be a trend.
You want an agile dog for agility and maybe Sch, correct? So you're looking for a smallish dog.
This is mine.
I'm not trying to brag- he isn't perfect, he's too tall, for one. But notice that he has a slim build, and that he can jump. Even if a big dog can do it... each time he jumps down there's that much more weight pounding on his joints (hence why I try and prevent him from doing it)
Watch this video, these are malinois and they are the pinnacle of athletic dogs:YouTube - malinois in china
Malinois are often said to hit harder during bitework because they are going so much faster when they jump for the decoy. These are 60lb 23" dogs or thereabouts.
Look at border collies playing frisbee and doing agility. They really get air!
None of these dogs have hulky builds. You want some smallish, quick, light and driven for agility, and that same dog will work for Schutzhund provided it has courage and the right drives.
So what is your distance range here, are you looking just in Ontario? Whereabouts are you, can I look within driving distance in the states? Taking dogs through the border isn't difficult. Shipping within North America will run you 3-4 bills.
Here is what I'm doing and this will help you: instead of looking for breeders, look for dogs. Look through the Schutzhund trial results from the Ontario Regionals, USA Nationals, Canadian Nationals, then start googling names and see what you come up with. Some people will just be hobbyists, some will actually breed. Either way if they get to that point you know they have at least something going on. Call your local Schutzhund club and talk to them, they'll know of breeders. Many good breeders don't have a website because they are intimate with the biz and other people in the biz will buy their dogs... they don't need to sell to you or me.
Look for people who sell dogs as dual purpose police k9's... these dogs are (usually) the epitomy of a working GSD. And even then... see if you can find the police department's website, they often have a site with a k9 section, and check out their other dogs. Some small, local police departments don't know anything about dogs and and tricked into buying crappers like everyone else, giving crapper breeder a chance to brag about have a dog working in a police department.
YouTube - Police Dog Fail <---- EMBARRASSINGGGG
Someone who breeds specifically for police dogs will only produce a few police dogs per litter (if they're lucky)... the rest are a little soft, not driven enough, etc, but are still good as pets, low level Schutzhund competitiors, even high level Schutzhund dogs. And these are breeders who set their sights HIGH. No breeder constantly produces the exact dog they strive for, there is a spectrum. Someone who just breeds "pets" or "family guardians," what does their spectrum look like? What does their best look like, what does their worst look like?
I'm not saying these criteria make a good breeder but they are some indicators:
Both dogs and bitches have Sch titles and hip ratings. You know how North America has to import dogs? Europe isn't importing our dogs lol. Well to breed under SV (German GSD club) rules both dog and bitch must have Sch titles and hip checks. Coincidence that their dogs are consistantly better? I don't think so... So look for a breeder with high standards.
Look for websites that discuss the pedigrees of their dogs
Adult imported dogs with titles are a good sign.
If a dog has a FAULT like weighing 110lbs the breeder won't be boasting about it-- because whether big dogs look cool or not they are NOT ideal for working and that is a FAULT in the GSD breed. I wouldn't totally write a breeder off for having a single, very qualified oversized dog in their program, but it shouldn't be a trend.
You want an agile dog for agility and maybe Sch, correct? So you're looking for a smallish dog.
This is mine.
I'm not trying to brag- he isn't perfect, he's too tall, for one. But notice that he has a slim build, and that he can jump. Even if a big dog can do it... each time he jumps down there's that much more weight pounding on his joints (hence why I try and prevent him from doing it)
Watch this video, these are malinois and they are the pinnacle of athletic dogs:YouTube - malinois in china
Malinois are often said to hit harder during bitework because they are going so much faster when they jump for the decoy. These are 60lb 23" dogs or thereabouts.
Look at border collies playing frisbee and doing agility. They really get air!
None of these dogs have hulky builds. You want some smallish, quick, light and driven for agility, and that same dog will work for Schutzhund provided it has courage and the right drives.