How to Choose a Responsible GSP or Vizsla Breeder

Start With Health Testing

Health testing is one of the most important things to look for when choosing a responsible German Shorthaired Pointer or Vizsla breeder.

A routine veterinary examination or DNA panel alone does not mean a dog has completed the health testing recommended for its breed.

Before breeding, dogs should complete appropriate screenings for conditions known to affect their breed. Those results should also be available for prospective puppy families to review.

Health testing cannot guarantee that a puppy will never develop a health condition. It does, however, give breeders valuable information they can use when making breeding decisions and can help reduce the risk of producing certain inherited conditions.

Hip Evaluations

Hip dysplasia is an important consideration in both German Shorthaired Pointers and Vizslas.

PennHIP is one method of evaluating hip joint laxity. It provides a Distraction Index (DI), which measures hip laxity and can be used to assess a dog's risk of developing hip osteoarthritis associated with canine hip dysplasia.

Eye Examinations

Sporting breeds can develop inherited eye conditions. Appropriate eye examinations can help identify conditions that may affect the dog or future offspring.

Cardiac Evaluations

Cardiac screening helps identify congenital or inherited heart abnormalities to consider when making breeding decisions.

Elbow Evaluations

Elbow dysplasia can cause pain, lameness, and joint disease. Elbow evaluations are an important part of breed-appropriate screening for German Shorthaired Pointers.

Thyroid Testing

Autoimmune thyroiditis is one health concern screened for in Vizslas. Appropriate thyroid testing provides breeders with additional information when evaluating potential breeding dogs.

Breed-Specific DNA Testing

DNA testing can identify known genetic variants associated with certain inherited diseases.

For German Shorthaired Pointers, this may include breed-relevant conditions such as Von Willebrand Disease Type II and Cone Degeneration.

Health Testing Should Be Breed Specific

Not every breed requires the same health testing.

That's why simply being told that a puppy's parents are “health tested” isn't enough.

Ask:

What were they tested for?
What were the results?
Can I see those results?
Are those tests appropriate for this breed?

For the breeds we raise:

Vizslas: Hips • Eyes • Thyroid • Cardiac

German Shorthaired Pointers: Hips • Elbows • Eyes • Cardiac • Breed-Appropriate DNA Testing

A responsible breeder should be willing to discuss those results and help you understand the health testing behind the litter.

Look Beyond Health Testing

Health testing matters, but it isn't the only factor in deciding whether a dog is suitable for breeding.

German Shorthaired Pointers and Vizslas were developed as versatile hunting dogs. Their breed standards describe more than appearance. Structure, movement, temperament, natural ability, and working characteristics all contributed to their ability to perform the jobs for which they were developed.

Why Proving Dogs Matters

A pedigree can tell you where a dog came from, but it doesn't tell you everything about the individual dog standing in front of you.

Field evaluations, conformation, performance events, and other activities give breeders opportunities to evaluate their dogs outside their own homes.

For sporting breeds, field work can provide information about qualities such as:

• Bird drive

• Pointing instinct

• Cooperation

• Trainability

• Confidence

• Desire to work

• Overall natural ability

Titles alone do not make a dog breeding quality.

The value is in the information gained while earning them.

Structure Matters, Too

A hunting dog needs more than drive.

They need the structure and movement to support an active, athletic life.

Conformation also lets you evaluate how closely a dog conforms to its breed standard. Correct structure isn't simply about producing a beautiful dog.

For a sporting breed expected to run, hunt, retrieve, swim, and work for extended periods, sound structure matters.

Form and function should work together.

Don't Look at Titles Alone

Not every breeding dog needs to do the same activities or earn the same titles.

German Shorthaired Pointers and Vizslas may demonstrate different qualities through hunting, hunt tests, NAVHDA, conformation, obedience, performance sports, dock diving, Fast CAT, and other venues.

The important question isn't:

“How many titles does this dog have?”

It's:

“What has the breeder learned about this dog, and how is that information being used when making breeding decisions?”

Breeding Should Have a Reason

Being purebred or AKC registered does not automatically make a dog breeding quality.

Ask a breeder why they chose a particular sire and dam.

A thoughtful answer should involve more than color, availability, convenience, or simply liking both dogs.

Breeders should understand the strengths and weaknesses of the dogs they're considering, review health and pedigree information, and consider what a particular pairing may contribute to the next generation.

No pairing is perfect, and no dog is perfect.

Responsible breeding requires understanding what you're working with and making intentional decisions, not simply hoping for good puppies.

Look at How the Puppies Are Raised

The breeder's job doesn't end once puppies are born. A breeder should be able to explain how puppies are raised and why those experiences fit each stage of development. At Nosam, we use Puppy Culture as part of a broader puppy-development program that includes age-appropriate socialization, confidence building, problem solving, handling, new environments, and early training foundations.

​

Ask:

• Where are the puppies raised?

• How are they socialized?

• What veterinary care do they receive?

• Are they handled individually?

• What kinds of environments and experiences are introduced?

• Does the breeder begin any foundational training?

• How are individual temperaments evaluated?

• How does the breeder prepare families for go-home?

No breeder can create a finished dog in eight weeks.

What they can provide is a thoughtful beginning.

Want to see what we do during those first eight weeks?

→ What Goes Into a Well-Bred Puppy

​

Want to see what intentional puppy development looks like in practice? At Nosam, Puppy Culture is one part of our broader puppy-raising program. We use developmentally appropriate exercises to build confidence, problem-solving skills, resilience, and positive responses to new experiences. Learn more about how we use Puppy Culture with our litters.

Look for Support After Go-Home

A breeder's involvement shouldn't necessarily disappear the day you pick up your puppy.

Ask what happens afterward.

Can you contact the breeder with training or development questions?

Do they want updates as their puppies mature?

What happens if your circumstances change and you can no longer keep the dog?

A responsible breeder learns from the dogs they produce throughout their lives. Information about health, temperament, structure, working ability, and longevity can all influence future breeding decisions.

At Nosam, we want our families to know they can reach out throughout their dog's life.

And if circumstances ever change and a family can no longer keep their Nosam dog, we want to be contacted.

Our responsibility to the dogs we produce doesn't end at eight weeks.

You Don't Have to Be an Expert

This is especially important if you're considering your first German Shorthaired Pointer or Vizsla.

You don't need years of pointing-dog experience, a wall full of titles, or plans to compete every weekend to provide a great home for one of these breeds.

Some owners hunt.

Some discover AKC Hunt Tests, NAVHDA, conformation, dock diving, Fast CAT, obedience, agility, or another dog sport.

Others simply enjoy an active family life filled with training, hiking, swimming, traveling, exercise, and adventures with their dogs.

What matters is understanding the breed you're bringing home and being prepared to provide the training, exercise, involvement, and companionship it needs.

Not every well-bred sporting dog needs to become a competition dog.

Sometimes bringing home the puppy is where an entirely new interest begins.

Expect the Breeder to Ask You Questions, Too

Choosing a breeder should be a two-way conversation.

You're deciding whether you trust someone to make the breeding decisions and provide the early care behind your future dog.

The breeder is also trying to determine whether their breed, litter, and individual puppies fit what you're looking for.

That's why responsible breeders often ask about things like:

• Your lifestyle

• Previous dog experience

• Other pets

• Children in the home

• Training plans

• Exercise and activity

• What you're looking for in a dog

• Whether you're interested in hunting or dog sports

• Your expectations for the breed

These questions shouldn't be about finding the “perfect” puppy buyer.

They're about determining whether expectations on both sides align and helping create successful long-term placements.

Questions to Ask a GSP or Vizsla Breeder

Don't be afraid to ask questions of your own.

Consider asking:

• What health testing has been completed on both parents?

• Can I see the results?

• Why did you choose this particular sire and dam?

• What are each parent's strengths and weaknesses?

• How have you evaluated the parents' temperament?

• Have they hunted or participated in field evaluations?

• How has their structure been evaluated?

• How are the puppies raised and socialized?

• What veterinary care do puppies receive?

• How are puppies evaluated or matched with their families?

• What do you expect from your puppy owners?

• What support is available after the puppy goes home?

• What happens if I can no longer keep my dog?

You should feel comfortable asking questions.

A good breeder-buyer relationship works best when both sides can communicate openly before and after a puppy comes home.

Look Beyond the Available Puppy

When you're excited about bringing home a puppy, it's easy to focus on what's immediately in front of you:

Are puppies available?
Are there males or females?
What colors are available?
When can I bring one home?

Those are understandable questions.

But look deeper.

Look at the parents.

Look at their health testing.

Look at their temperaments.

Look at what they've demonstrated.

Ask why the breeding was planned.

Look at how the puppies are raised.

When possible, look at the breeder's previous dogs.

Consider whether you would still feel comfortable contacting them several years from now.

A puppy is only eight weeks old for a very short time.

You're choosing the dog you'll live with for years.

Finding the Right Breeder

No single breeder is right for every family.

Different breeders may emphasize different traits, bloodlines, activities, working styles, or goals within the same breed.

Take the time to find a program whose priorities align with what you're looking for.

For us, that means German Shorthaired Pointers and Vizslas bred with health, temperament, structure, natural hunting ability, trainability, and versatility in mind.

If those priorities sound like what you're looking for, we'd love for you to learn more about our program.

→ Explore Our Litters

→ See Our Puppy Process

→ What Goes Into a Well-Bred Puppy

→ Apply for a Nosam Puppy

​