"I'm Not looking for a showdog" - Page 2

AlabamaK9: Consider that Lexus analogy plaigerized by yours truly from now on. ;)))Good one! SS

Des Rang -- nice outlook -- Oh you know maybe these folks arte rreally quite frounded __ Upset are you ?? well this ius tyhe problem IMO with most of the entire GSD world and i FAULT the SV for starters .You peole are listening with your eyes > The message here is that most people seek out a GSD becuase they feel / think /know what makes a GSD a breed unto itslf and different in knd from the other breeds . Now not all people are experts . BUT they know what they desire ,: a GSD that fits the standard form and function . Intelligent /Loyal/Courageous/Stable Temperament , Amiable but Aloof/Watch and Guard Instincts to protect Family [children] . Need I go On ? Now you so called professionals that sell pupsa for what you do ???? how many of you produce HEALTHY GSDs/ that fir that . Bunch of hypcrites .. you show people /working dog camp enthusiats .. you both fall far short of that simplistic request by the average non-professional person . You have all those fancy accolades but we fall short of just produvin a plain and simple GSD that ifts the breed standard intrinsicly and extrinsicly ! So you get upset when a simple person sidestpes all that BS abd you take offense . please you people. I laugh .. as a professional behaviorist and trainer .. SCh 3 dogs , many of which.. can't even have the ** to save it's life and protect the family . don't you dare critisize Dessert ranger is correct ..do you know how many police officers in my area go to shelters to seek out canines for either scent sewrvice work / police dutie / search and rescue ? And Now we breed the Best GSDs in the world .. and can't fit that bill . And alos .. look at the headway the Malinois have mnade in the past year / here in the USA as well as Belgium , France and oh yes .. even more so ,Germany !!What a joke , you take offense to someone wanting a pet[ really meaning a companion ] not showline !

I disagree with most of you....lol Nothing wrong with people wanting to make a deal or horse trade. I see it you have three options. 1. Just say no. 2. Just say No deal and stick to your price but put on your sales pitch to why they should be willing to pay asking price. 3. Sell the dog for a lesser amount. That's the beauty of the free market. Don't let people offend you just because they have no knowledge of GSD's. It is your job to convience people to buy your dog. ps thanks Alphapup

Melanie, I had someone who wanted TWO, "just as pets", and gave him a large discount so that he could afford the two pups (I thought it was nice that two sisters could stay together on a 100+ acre farm with someone who wanted to train them for herding and have them as pets!). Their registrations were signed, and I got a call when his AKC registration arrived, and was LIMITED AKC registration. Apparently, he felt that he should have FULL AKC registration on BOTH dogs (although he told me they were "pets only" prior to the time he purchased them.), for gee, I wonder what purpose??? I gave him two options, besides me re-selling the dogs for him. 1) Get the dogs hip certified and I would happily lift the limited registration, or 2) Pay a STILL highly discounted price for the full registration (I was trying to keep the peace, and wish I had just not given him an option and taken the dogs back!). He chose to pay the additional $200 per dog (he paid $1200 per dog, for two females out of very nicely titled, excellent conformation, hip certified parents with full AKC registration). He thanked me and told me he would keep me updated on the pups with photos, etc. That was the last I heard from him for 8 months, at which time he emailed me AGAIN, complaining that the dogs were not the correct color, "as advertised" (they were black and red as pups...does anyone here guarantee color????). He also complained again about the $200 additional per dog that he paid to get the full registration. I told him that if he didn't like the offers I made previously, he should not have accepted the terms and paid the difference. He should have just returned the pups or sold them himself. I also told him that I would happily place the dogs for sale on my website for him at no cost. I asked how the dogs' temperament and anatomy, etc. was. He said they were great, except the wrong (not red enough) color. I asked what he fed. Purina puppy chow at over a year old. I have not heard back from him since that time. I feel bad for the dogs, and my seemingly poor decision. So many are out for the "deal of the century". I get people all the time who want me to lower the price on pups, so I did decide to offer pups at a lower price with no guarantee (similar to Germany). I STILL get people trying to "wheel and deal", and I have basically started telling "THEM" that the prices of my pups are posted on my website--if they don't like the prices, then they should look elsewhere for their next dog. I think one of the best things a breeder can do is to post the price of their pups, then NOBODY'S time is wasted! :) As far as something for nothing---been there. Many of your supposed "friends" are the first to take you for all they can manage to squeeze out of you, and then have the gall to try to make you out to be the "bad guy" when you finally stop giving what they think you should be willing to give. JMHO! -Melanie

Alaska Veronica:) I respectfully disagree with you about the "pound" puppies and dogs. I have obtained most of my dogs over the past 50 years or so, from shelters, and have rarely gotten a "rotten apple". What is the difference in an import GSD that cost $2000.00 and an import GSD at the shelter that originally cost $2000.00 but is now $45.00. The difference is $1,955.00. Sort of silly I know, but my point is any dog could end up in a shelter. A former police dog, a lost or runaway dog, an inherited dog or puppy, etc. As I stated, I have rarely got a bad dog from the pound but I guess it has something to do with the ability to "assess" the dogs in the pounds. Maybe I have been lucky or maybe I am just good at assessing them. Could be either way. I have two Rotts now that I obtained from the pound (they charged me 100 each even though I volunteer to walk dogs there, which I thought was a slap in my face as dogs usually sell for 45 dollars there, but I digress), and I have three import GSD's out of three different VA sires and V dames, and I have to admit, the Rotts are better all around dogs than the GSD's. Sure, there are many head cases in the shelters, but if you don't pick your dog on it's looks (this goes for husbands and wifes also:), and use your common sense and experience, you can get a fine dog from just about any shelter. The shelter is like jail and in our jails, there are all kinds of people to be found. Most bad, but some just unfortunate and in a different setting could really be something special. It's all about assessing the candidates. Especially if someone is just looking for a pet. I don't want the breeders on here to blast me, but IMO, anyone who pays a thousand bucks for a pet is wasting money. Some have money to waste and I am happy for them. It's your money, do what you want with it, but there are many, many good pet candidates in the shelters. If you think that you get some kind of guarantee from spending bigger bucks for a pet from, lets say, Germany, think again. A dog from the shelter that cost 45 dollars, can be taken back to the shelter and exchanged for another dog, almost without exception, if it does not meet your expectations. There are many "papered" GSD's that also have mental, emotional and medical problems that are not immediately evident (this also applies to many owners:). I refer to the previous discussions about dogs such as UFO and Boban, while not putting those two dogs down (because I am not personally famaliar with them), those discussions make my point about there being problem dogs "out there" that came from high class breedings. To ALPHAPUP: Sometimes I read your posts and I don't have a clue what you are saying. English must be your second language. I only speak english, so if english is your second language, I commend you for having one up on me. What I do get from most of your postings is that you think just about everybody who is currently breeding (and/or a GSD Judge) are doing everything wrong. Is this assumption on my part correct? While I am at it, how did it occur that you commended DessertRanger on his "outlook" when you posted before he did? Did I miss something? I also believe DesserRanger has a good point. Just say no or yes when an offer is made. The Lexus example seems to be liked by most here but if you were buying a house, would you just give them what they asked or would you "make an offer".

Do right and fear no one... Alphapup apparently has no trouble with his memory as he was referring to an older post on the same subject. You are exactly correct in that we all seem to think in certain situations it is ok to ask for a better deal than others. I laughted the other day because my wife wanted a small desk that was at Hobby Lobby and it had a few dings on it. They were asking about $349.00 and she offered $150.00 and they accepted it. Sometimes it is good to ask a slightly higher price and then give a discount, women love this when they are shopping..lol

I hate Hobby Lobby. Everytime my wife and I go there, it cost me money and a back seat full of "stuff" that we don't have any place to put in our house:) She loves that damn place:) I have never thought to make them an offer on something. I will have to try that. But I have to admit, they have some real nice things there at real good prices, compared to other places that sell similar stuff.

I would have to agree with VFH. Just because someone is looking for a QUALITY pet at a discounted price, doesn't mean they can't give it a good home. This is not "always the rule", but I've had it happen a time or two, with wonderful results. There has been that rare occassion where I've sold a dog to a "family" home at a discounted price, but only after doing a thorough background check on the people, under limited registration, and had wonderful success in placing the dog with good people who are going to take care of the dog. Bottom line, the breeder has the choice to say, "yes or no" to the sale.

I make offers all the time at horse auctions. I bought one of my best Race Horses from the meatman for 250.00 cash for Ped. and Jockey Papers. Horse needed lots of food and a trainer.. that's about it.

DRFNO, I often wonder where people are coming from and what their experience and background is as I read their posts. If you read log enough you can understand their view point. Get off the crack!! Next you're going to tell us how the last WUSV Champion was found by Fritz in a Shelter. Now I also understand why you're to cheap to buy a crate.