- NO pups under the age of 8 weeks. The ideal is 12 weeks with the adults & littermates for learning.
- Pups or adults, with blue eyes, or lacking pigment, including lack of black pigment around the eyes & noses. This can indicate mixing outside LGD breeds behind it. Or lack of pigment can be a health issue, which can include; skin, vision & hearing problems.
- Merles - no LGD breed has the Merle coloring. This indicates another breed is mixed in. Likely, a herding breed, total opposites.
- Ears that are semi prick or prick. Ears coming above the skull like they want to stand up, or are, standing up. Not a LGD breed.
- Straight, Lab like tails. LGD tails are typically long. Many have the curled wheel at the end, or curved like a saber.
- Black & White, or Black Great Pyrenees (even the French breed standard, states it indicates mixed breeding behind it) it does not just, show up.
- Black & Tan or Black Anatolians. This color is not in the US in registered dogs, and again, indicates probably mixed breeding. It does not just, show up.
- Any Black coloring in a mix of Pyrs & ASDs...the BWD (big white dog) breeds, are exactly that. WHITE. The Pyr may retain a little bit of color, as specifically outlined in their breed standard. But Akbash, Maremma, Polish Tatra, Komondor & most Pyrs, are all white.
- Avoid the oversized, massive dogs. Many are fighting bred, not shepherd's dogs, and too big to be able to do the work needed for a working LGD.
- Petite or fine boned pups or dogs, snipy muzzles. They are large to giant breeds. Many of the LGDs average 20 lbs at 8 wks.