Cost of Show puppies: Buy from Germans or US? - Page 2

My experience was bad with purchasing puppies imported from Germany. The price was less but they will ship the worst puppy from the litter to the USA. I purchased two from what most consider top German Kennels and sired by VA males. The first was my mistake for buying a puppy with a 2/3 linebreeding on Ulk Arlett. The hips were the horrible at only 6 months old (although the littermate did place in the top group at the Sieger Show). The second was very poor pigment, light eyes and later developed insufficiency of the pancreas (I was assured by the Kennel prior to shipping this puppy would be show quality and then when I complained the day it arrived .. the answered Just be Happy). The Germans offer no warranty and therefore a lower price. I purchased a more expensive puppy from a well know US breeder that allowed a first pick from the litter and a warranty. This dog did not develop into what I wanted but the breeder did allow my selection and provided a warranty. This breeder did offer another puppy for a lower price since the dog did not turn out to be show quality. I declined. This led to my traveling to Germany and purchasing my own adult female for breeding. The results have been great and I do not sell puppies as show quality since this cannot be assured at that age.

One more thing. The moral to my story is that if you do not like the price or the results ... Try it yourself. It is very expensive but can be very satisfying.

I think $2000 is the higher side price wise.Anything above that better be gold plated.Prices here in the US can vary,I think $1000/$1500 is reasonable,hell pet stores can fetch between $600/$700 and that is useally for shitdogs.

Another example: I was offered a puppy from two litters, both VA-Females mothers and two of the top young males. I was flying to Germany anyway and decided to look at what could be a great opportunity. The breeder did not provide a choice of puppies and the price was $3500 Euros. The one offered was in my opinion the least desirable. I offered to take the second pick puppy leaving the first pick with the breeder. The breeder declined this offer. I am not saying anything negative about the breeder but just stating that purchasing top quality out of Germany is not very easy.

S Rogers: I was one of those dumbies that Charlie keeps referring to. With extreme idealism I purchased a puppy from an imported bitch that was bred to a German VA male. I picked up my first pick male at 8 weeks from the breeder in one of those puppy mill States. Similar to GSDNewbie, alot of idealism had gone into this purchase. I had just lost my beloved 12 year old super wonderful companion and wanted to raise my own puppy from scratch. I wound up on a webpage that sealed our fate. And therefore I can write about it. The puppy was $5,000. Upon seeing the less than ideal kennel arrangement of my pup, I paid my remaining $2,500 on the puppy and ran with that baby as far as I could. I promised him that he would never have to go back to that place and I would take care of him the rest of his life. I just love him. He turned out to be a great dog with temperament to die for. He moves like a dream and is definately an above average dog. You have seen him yourself in Germany. The breeder of this dog however completely failed me. So, scratching my way alone in gaining knowledge about showing and training, I found the only place to go was to Germany with this fellow on my own and hope that someone would like him and help me go through the next few steps. But I also met some tremendous lovers of our breed in Chris vom Silbersee and Dog1 who encouraged me to show this dog here in the USA. But, there has been zero support from the breeder. As this story unfolds, I have found that the $5,000 was an investment, in learning about some true values of the GSD enthusiast. The Germans had nothing to gain in helping me, but they did. Chris and Dog1 had nothing to gain in helping me, but they did. I look back on the past 18 months and consider myself to have been very lucky. If I had been tied to one of the large breeders here in NA, I would have never met all the wonderful people in the Sport of showing dogs. And I have met some exceptional people too. If I had known then what I know now. . . I guess we all have to pay the price in learning. Sunny

Sunshine, If your dog is the male that I saw in Fenke, he is very nice and you are more lucky that most first time buyers. Congratulations and the best of luck with this excellent male. I do not know Dog1 but his comments on this site are always informative and positive in nature. I find that is a good thing for the breed. I seldom make comments but they do appear critical. Every issue has two sides and both must be considered. I purchased my first breeding female from Heinz Mueller of the Furstenberg Kennel located in Germany. He has provided more support and help than anyone has a right to expect. This help has not been for money but because of the love for his dogs. The look on his face when talking about his dogs tells more than words can describe. He does not speak English and I do not speak German but we have become very close friends. He has provided kennel space while visiting Germany, access to top stud dogs, help in showing/training and a depth of show line breeding knowledge that may be second to none (non-political breeding). This contact shows what a good breeder can do for others.

S Rogers, it is a small world isn't it. That was my dog that you saw in Fenke. Thanks for the well wishes. We are going to give Nashville a try and then he goes back to Germany for breed surveying and titling. During the time he is in boarding school in Germany, I will be puppy raising a pup out of Germany from one of those wonderful people that took me by the hand. Isn't that sweet? I mean good things do happen. Sunny

Sunshine, all the people at the club Fenke are very helpful. You have found a great group to help with you male. Take a look at Stephan's puppies from Pitt v. Linnepertal if you get back to Fenke. Pitt is going to be a great stud dog. Good Luck in Nashville!

Thanks S Rogers, well, one will never be able to maintain that this dog has ever gotten a placement because of politics. Regards, Sunshine

Sunshine, The only people I think are dummies are people that make a mistake and does not learn from it.You in my honest opinion based on what I have read of your posts and for that matter gsdnewbie are for certian not in that class.Neither of you are anywhere clos to being dumb and I enjoy the friendship we share here even if we do not always agree with one another