German Shepherd Breeders On Long Island
There are more German Shepherd breeders on Long Island than you can count on your hands and feet. You might be one of the lucky few and have a friend or relative who owns a German Shepherd.
More than likely, your friend has taken on the responsibility of caring for the dog, but if you don’t then you will need to do it yourself. It is not impossible though, so here are a few things that you should look for when adopting a German Shepherd puppy:
A good breeder who has German Shepherds for sale is someone you want to be familiar with. You want to trust them, not only because they are the person you are buying the animal from, but also because they are the best person to ask questions about the animal and to make sure you understand all of the pertinent information (such as shots and vaccinations) upfront.
If the person you buy from is not available, try contacting different animal rescue groups in the area. Chances are one or two will have German Shepherds for sale. If you do not have a connection then this is an excellent way to go.
Another great source of German Shepherd puppies is your local SPCA or pet Rescue.
On the East Coast, there are many at-home adopt-a-shelter facilities. These organizations tend to get the best puppies (and dogs) and have a lot of knowledge about what to expect in a new puppy or dog. On the West Coast, more shelters are adopting out German Shepherds because the demand is higher.
On the North Shore, you can usually find a good German Shepherd rescue group in the classifieds, though you may need to contact the local Animal Welfare League in your area for information. The League of American Cities and the National Pet Appeal are also resources for finding animal rescue groups in your area.
There are many reasons why adopting from an animal shelter is better than buying a puppy at a pet store. For one thing, the staff at the shelter will not give you any of the common badger’s smells. In most cases, they are very clean and professional. When a shelter gets sick animals, they will not allow other pets into the shelter to care for them until they are healed. This means that if you do buy a puppy there, you will be caring for it for quite some time, so it is better to buy from an animal rescue.
If you do find German Shepherd breeders on Long Island who will let you take the dog into your home, be wary of any that require you to make upfront payments or that require you to provide a substantial down payment.
It is not uncommon for breeders to ask for large amounts of money upfront when you are looking to adopt a German Shepherd puppy. Although this is often due to the high demand for dogs, it can be a red flag for many other reasons.
Be sure you know what you are getting before you agree to purchase a puppy from this source. Other sources on the Internet will let you contact the shelters or rescue organizations directly.
If you do find German Shepherd breeders on Long Island that will let you adopt a puppy from their kennels, be wary of any who will try to force you to purchase a puppy. If you have never had a dog, it may be difficult for you to know whether or not it will be a good match for you. It is recommended that you go into the adoption process with your eyes wide open.
You will want to know the history of the dog, how it has been raised, and the quality of the breeder’s breeding.
You should also check with the local government to see if there are any zoning restrictions against owning a dog in the city or town you live in. Some cities will not allow new breeders to operate dog pounds, which is where the German Shepherd puppy comes from.
If you can, try to see if you can call a few different shelters or rescue groups before making your decision. You may find that a shelter will offer dogs at a discount if you are a responsible owner for a period of about six months to a year. You can also call the American Kennel Club to inquire as to whether or not German Shepherds are legal in your state, and if so if there are any laws against selling a dog to someone you don’t know.
It is important to understand that buying a German Shepherd puppy from a private breeder can be very expensive. Most breeders charge anywhere from one hundred dollars to three thousand dollars for a single puppy.
This is only for the breeder’s “good” puppy, not for the dog’s unique personality and traits. If you can find a high-quality German Shepherd for a much cheaper price, that is even better. Just be sure that you are getting a healthy puppy that has been socialized and has been housebroken regularly.
