Buyers Beware - Page 1

What in the world is happening ...every few days somone is coming up saying that they ve been screwed over by the person who imported a GSd for them from Germany...either they r defective or absence of papers.... I was seriously interested in importing a show quality male now im really apprehensive.. could someone plz shed some light on this.

Fida, I couldn't agree more with you. The same thoughts were running thru my mind . Even I'm looking around for a good puppy for some time now, but I'm just not able to muster enough courage to do it after reading all these experiences of people. What should one do in these state of circumstances???!!!

There are breeders in Germany that have very good reputations but they will not send a pup unless they know where it is going to and what is going to be done to it. It is a Catch 22. Plus you have the language issue. Lot's of good puppies are exported each year to happy new owners. But, unfortunately one never hears from them.

Hi Sunshine: Do you blame those breeders! I am an Indian and a working line dog breeder. I won't send my best working pup to India because there is no future. For a dog to excel, you need the proper environment around him, i.e., the owner should know how to raise the puppy, there is a good training club with a good helper, and then plenty of trials where the dog can compete. So it really is a catch 22. I would love to see working dogs in India and schutzhund introduced in India. But the desire to start schuzhund in India has to come from local people. They also have to believe that a good working dog is as hard to produce as a good show dog and need to learn to appreciate it. Ajay Singh

Ajay, no I don't blame them and I don't think my post was written in such a tone. If I would ever breed a litter I think I would screen my customers very hard and want to see where they are being raised and by whom. The best would go to those that will develop the animal. But, I am not a breeder and see how difficult it is in making sure the puppies wind up in an environment that will guarantee them a long and good life with one family!

I think we are missing the point here. There is one thing that the breeder OR A KENNEL REFUSES to sell a puppy/DOG to a particular home/person/country but selling puppies /dogs which are defective and without papers on promise of a particular quality of dog, is outright criminal/deceitful/unscruplous and wrong Vikram

I don't disagree with anything above - EXCEPT that you can get as good a German bloodine in the US as you can from Germany !! Pfooey !! It is criminal if people are being cheated -- you do need some "connections" if you are to have a comfort level. Yet, there should be breeders around (and there are) that have already made those connections with knowledgeable/trustworthy German breeders who can "hook you up" - It's like Macy's referring you to Gimbel's" They should be willing to help people get what they want - even if it's not from them !! I see on the internet that you can get "imported" puppies from a U.S. breeder so I assume they are brokering these dogs for their european friends - thinking they can get more for them here and share profits - or whatever -- but what idiot is going to pay $2,100 U.S. for a COATED puppy (some out of KKL2 parents). I paid far less than that, (including shipping) for top quality from a "famous" breeder with a solid "world-wide" reputation - and I was extremely grateful that a person with 50 years experience was picking out the puppy for me -- I didn't need to see the kennels to know I was getting what I wanted, and I seriously doubt I could get the same quality in this country. (nothing lower than V's and 3 VA's (In the first 3 generations -- and SchH/IPO and HGH throughout -- So what ? - It's not easy, I agree, but you can ask for references and check them out. If they are reluctant to give them -- look elsewhere. HGH

Fida, Unfortunately this is the truth...You must do your homework on the integrity/honesty on the person that is representing the dog. I've been breeding for over 13 years and had no problems with importing a dog from Europe. I have good friends in Netherlands, Germany and Belguim...but unfortunately this one time I dealt with someone new...bad choice...At this moment I've reponded to and ad in this forum and I'm not getting a fuzzy feeling...I sent the funds for the dog and shipment over a month ago...no dog yet.. I will be giving this person one more week then I will expose him. So I would agree with Saoa..on this one unless you know the person or the person has a good reputation...just a word to the wise...hope all works out...

Well, I agree the breed is finally improving here in the US, But to say we are on the level with the Germans is stretching it a bit, I would say. For instance the 2001-2002 World Sieger, Yasko Von Farbenspielis now in the US and will be at stud, this a GREAT thing....but he has been used in Germany(extensivly) for years and even has Grand progeny in play in Germany. A lot of the great dogs are delayed in getting in the US blood strain supply. So much for that, I don't want to be disagreeable at all, but the Germans gave us that nobel breed, and it's not really accurate to say they can not supply anything better. If you want an import or good German Bloodline puppy, it is not that hard. The first thing I would suggest is that you get references from the individual that you want to use. Then be honest with that person. If you don't know what you are looking for and what you are doing, it is better to admit that, than to feign knowledge, and play the "I am a great consumer", game. Above all both parties must do the right thing. There are a lot of folks with great contacts in Germany. They don't have to be the "powerhouses", or big name breeders, that besmirch the breeders/importers on a smaller scale. One thing I find interesting is that Americans subscribe to the idea, "if i have to pay more for it, it has to be better". But then, they pick and choose, what "person" they will pay these big bucks too, not realizing/thinking that it is not the "person's" DNA but the dog's DNA that makes the puppies. Albeit, Get a reference list from the breeder/importer you want to deal with. The owners on that reference list is the key to the type of individual you will be dealing with and the type of dog you will get.

Unfortunately, it is buyer beware regardless of who you get your dog from. When I bought my 3 year old male, I researched the breeder, checked references, saw the mom and some siblings, visited the kennel several times and was very confident that I was buying from a reputable breeder. It was not until I started training weekly on a regular basis with this breeder that I realized all the ugly things going on at their kennel, the shortcuts, the lies and unfortunately it is not just money, these unscrupulous breeders cause a lot of emotional pain to families. They were US breeders of German line dogs and I was very willing to pay well and I did, not just in hard earned cash but emotionally as well. They said all the right things and their web site gives a great impression - but the LIE AND LIE! By this time though I had learned a lot and seen things from the inside. I went to people who had imported dogs that they were very happy with and when one name repeatedly came up as someone very ethical and helpful, I had a friend who had a relationship with him contact him on my behalf and he worked very hard to find me the dog that would be a good fit for me. I have had him for 5 months now and he is everything and more that was promised. Was he cheap? No, but all in all much cheaper than the cost of the dog that I got from an Illinois breeder.