Guide

How to start breeding German Shepherds

Start with the female, not with the stud. Ján Sudimák, who has bred German Shepherds for 50 years, advises a first-time breeder to make sure the female is sound and typical, to learn to read her pedigree and to choose the stud for her in particular. Titles and points are not inherited; innate traits are.

By Ján Sudimák International judge for conformation and performance, breed survey commissioner (Körmeister), with German Shepherds since 1963, founder of the Eqidius kennel in Bardejov, Slovakia.
Published 4 November 2026

What the book covers

The German Shepherd – Simply Amazing follows a breeder’s path from the choice of the female and the mating pair to the delivery and the first weeks of the litter, with the mistakes he has seen beginners make over five decades in his own kennel and as a breeding advisor. The steps below lead to a short guide on each stage; the full method is in the book.

Step by step

Guide

Related guides

Is my German Shepherd female good enough to breed?
Look at what she was born with, not at her points. Ján Sudimák breeds from a female who is sound, typical, social and strong in prey drive, and he checks whether her ancestors had the same weaknesses. Show ratings and trial scores are not inherited, and he does not overlook faults that stay in a line for generations.
Your first German Shepherd litter: whelping and rearing puppies
A first litter is won or lost on preparation. Ján Sudimák moves the female to the whelping place well in advance, keeps her calm and prefers to watch the delivery, helping only when it is needed. In his experience most puppy losses come from avoidable circumstances, not from weak puppies.
How do I choose a stud dog for my female?
Ján Sudimák starts with health – of the stud, his siblings and his ancestors. Then he looks for a male from an excellent mother, sound in body and mind and confident in character, and he weighs only what can be inherited, never titles or points.