Puppy vs titled dog - Page 1

What do you guys think about this. At the moment I'm looking for a future litter for later this year to get a female puppy. Though I have also considered a titled female instead.  What would you guys consider the pros and cons of getting each one? I do have Anubis who I will continualy be training through this, and hope to title him eventually also. I do also know that puppies can be a crap shoot and that with an adult titled female you already know what they're like, and what they are capable of.

 You will learn a ton by purchasing a titled dog!  I would do a titled female any day over a puppy!

Vickie

 You will learn a ton by purchasing a titled dog!  I would do a titled female any day over a puppy!

Vickie

Everybody likes diferent things.  I am a huge puppy person. I like to raise them, train them and I know what they are. (good or bad)
I had only one zvv2 female back in EU and trully.. that dog had so many issues because of the training that we sold her a year later . SHe was the sweatest dog ever, just not raised according to my believes and needs.

IMO if you are going to get a older titled dog you really need to know the seller is reputable and if at all possible go see her before purchasing. If you don't ask all the right questions people aren't usually going to tell you something you may not want to hear, but "might" be truthful if asked. Also remember pics can lie. That said a puppy is a crap shoot for sure. So much can go wrong with socializing and training etc. If you can afford a titled female and are able to spend some time with the dog to make sure you click, I think its the way to go...

Yeah puppies are a crap shoot but at least you have control over the dog's upbringing and environment.  Personally I like starting with a puppy.  It's fun and personally gratifying to shape their behaviors and watch them grow.

In theory buying a titled female should be a shoe-in to get a good dog to work with.  Unfortunately, some dogs' titles aren't worth the paper they are printed on.  If you find a prospective female, find an experienced, "unbiased third party" to evaluate the dog so you can get an honest opinion.  Then, you can hit the ground running...

Clearly, the purchase price of a good titled female will be much higher than a puppy. 

Trailrider with that said,  lets make a list of good solid, reputable kennels that would be good to get one from.  For me I would not mind a nice DDR female. I'd prefer either Czech.......DDR or a combination.   Good point in the pictures comment as a pic I took of Anubis trying to make him stack....if thats the pic someone saw they would have thought he was a dog lacking confidence and that was fearful....though he is very confident for his age. Taking the time to see the female in person does sound like a good idea, thankfully my job will allow for me plenty of time to do so.  I'm wanting to find a female from Sep or later. Preferably closer to Winter. So anyway, lets get a list started of reputable people, and hopefully I can get in contact with them. Preferably people in the US, though people in Germany or the Czech Republic may not be a bad choice either, but I don't know who all is reputable over there.  

Puppy pros: control over early development, better selection, lower entry price
Puppy cons: unkown H&E status, teeth not in, no way to determine 100% adult character and drives, you have to have the knowledege/resources to develop the pup. 

Adult pros: H&E status known, character and drives are there, teeth are in, size is there (if that matters). In other words, you can asses exactly what you are getting, the expense of traing/titling is included in the price, 

Adult cons: the dog is what it is, many things you can't go back and do over.

For me, it is not even close, I will take the adult every time if I have a choice of equal quality. I have been at dogs a lot of years and have had many 12 week "stars" who are no where close at 12 months. Puppies can wash out in too many ways to even start to list.

JMHO,
Rik

¶I agree with SchBabe. I much prefer having a dog that I have molded from a puppy. I have seen too many "bought dogs" that had issues. Let's face it: if the dog didn't have issues (including reproduction issues) the Germans/Belgians/Dutch would not be selling it. Period. Perhaps the deficit is something that does not matter to you, or that you feel can be remedied in time. Odds are, though, that the seller may not be forthright about those perceived deficiencies. ¶One of the things I admire about the French Ring folks, at least in the PNW area, is that ALL the dogs are HOT. They simply have little or no respect for anyone trouncing out on the trial-field with a "bought dog." The Canadian schutzhunders similarly tend to have HOT dogs (often HOTB or Canadian-bred). ¶If you want to jump-start competition and that is the primary attraction of the sport, then, of course a titled dog is the way to go. It is certainly more efficient, time-wise. :-)

GSDguy sorry but I don't know anyone to recommend as I am not into Czech lines. I had a very nice DDR bitch that passed in January but her breeder is not currently breeding anymore.
There is a kennel in Montana, Sapphire Shepherds, breeding Czech dogs and owns Mambo but you are probably aware of them. I believe they do some importing also. Don't have any idea about them other than what I have read on their website.