Buying a puppy?

Dogs for Sale

We understand that not everyone is interested in purchasing a German Shepherd Dog. These guidelines can help you find a breeder that is interested in providing you with a healthy, happy puppy of any breed.

1. If you are able, visit to the breeder before you decide to purchase.

2. Ask to see the mother (and father if possible) this will give you an idea about the type of personality and temperament the pup will likely develop. Mothers are most important in temperament formation since they act as a model.

3. If you are purchasing a purebred dog, make sure that you will receive the papers and that the puppy will be either tattooed or microchipped. In order to qualify as a 'purebred dog', it must be registered, or it's officially considered to be a crossbred.

4. Find out if the breeder has a guarantee on health and temperament.

5. Puppies should not leave their mother until they are at least 7 weeks old. Any sooner can result in behavioral problems later on. Puppies become a lot of work for the breeder after 5 weeks and it is tempting to send them off to homes at that time, but it's not good for their psychological development to leave their siblings that early.

6. Puppies should have a vet check, been de-wormed and have one set of shots if they are leaving before 12 weeks of age. Ask to see health certificates and records of visits to the veterinarian.

7. Confirm Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) registration of the parents, the litter and the puppy you are about to purchase. Papers will be available in the breeder's files.

8. Ask if the breeder is a member of the CKC. All established, long term breeders belong to an organization that registers their dogs and offspring. Long term breeders have demonstrated a comittment to their breed.

Whether you are purchasing a puppy or older dog from us or anyone else there are a few things you should know about your rights when it comes to buying a purebred dog

Beware of the offer of purebred dogs being sold with or without papers. Purebred dogs require a certificate of registration to be legally considered as purebred under the Animal Pedigree Act. If you have purchased a purebred dog you are legally entitled to receive a certificate of registration reflecting transfer into your name within six months of the date of sale. Breeders cannot advertise or in anyway lead you to believe a dog is purebred if it is not registered.

If dogs are being offered for sale as purebred and/or registered, a certificate of registration must be provided at no additional cost to the buyer.

The Canadian Kennel Club By-laws, specifically Section 30.2, makes it an offence for an individual to offer dogs for sale in this manner. For your information Section 30.2 reads as follows:

30.2 PENALTY
No person shall:

Advertise or otherwise present a purebred dog for sale on the understanding that the purchaser will pay a higher price for the dog if he wishes a certificate of registration, or a lower price if he does not want a certificate of registration; or - a purebred dog always comes with papers there can be no additional charge to have the papers transferred to the new owners
Sell or attempt to sell, a purebred dog on the understanding that the purchaser waives or is required to waive his right to a certificate of registration; or
Sell a dog as purebred on the understanding that the purchaser will pay the required registration and/or transfer fees; or - all fees related to transferring ownership fall on the breeder and are not the responsibility of the new owners
Sell a dog on the understanding that the purchaser pay a fee or other consideration, over and above the purchase price of the dog, in order to obtain a certificate of registration - the breeder cannot charge more for the dog in order for the papers to be transferred to the new owner.

Important: When you purchase a purebred dog, CKC recommends the sales receipt clearly states the word "purebred" and/or "registered or eligible for registration". Listing the name of the breed on the receipt is not enough. You will need to produce this receipt in the event registration papers are not supplied to you.

The Canadian Kennel Club is the primary registry body for purebred dogs in Canada, like all other livestock registries in this country, is simply an adherent to the federal statute known as the Animal Pedigree Act

Animal Pedigree Act of Canada - click here to view the Act in its entirety

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