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ForumsGerman Shepherd Dog > Can you guys help me out? (17 replies)
Can you guys help me out? by Konotashi on 12 April 2010 - 04:13 |
| First off, if this is in the wrong place, I apologize. I'm just looking for breeders, because in around a year, hopefully I can add a GSD to our family. Rather than trying to find breeders on Google and such, I thought I'd come here. :) I want a dog that will be a family pet/member, and I plan/hope to be able to participate in agility. I'd like an American/German line cross (working or show) or German line (again, WL or SL). Not looking to pay more than $2,000 for a puppy. I'm in Arizona, but will be willing to drive to pick up the puppy or pay to have the pup shipped - so location isn't a priority, as long as it's in the continental US. Not picky with the colors, but I would prefer a black/red dog. I can give any other info that would help me find breeders that may have my dream dog! :) |
by Ibrahim on 12 April 2010 - 18:20 |
| I know Prager is in Arizona http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/breeders/6442.html he breeds some of the best Czech working line German Shepherds. Try to PM Silbersee, she breeds good dogs too and Eichenluft. Actually here you find some of the best GSD breeders but I am not sure of the names, hopefully they pm you soon. Ibrahim |
by Ibrahim on 12 April 2010 - 18:42 |
| I checked some more for you Silbersee http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/breeders/5322.html Eichenluft http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/breeders/141.html Nonacona60 http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/breeders/6009.html Two moons, you can pm him Sitasmom http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/breeders/5913.html Jenni78 http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/breeders/6047.html Vianden http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/breeders/2822.html |
by animules on 12 April 2010 - 18:45 |
| Another to consider is von Grunheide |
animules by Ibrahim on 12 April 2010 - 18:51 |
| One more Sue B http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/breeders/3230.html But I am not sure SueB is in the States or Britain. Ibrahim |
by weissblau on 12 April 2010 - 20:21 |
| This web www.breeders.net gives you info on breeders in your area depending which distance you request, you would be able to visit within reasonable driving distance |
weissblau by Liesjers on 12 April 2010 - 20:47 |
| I went on that breeders site and found a bunch of breeders that looked like BYB operations and did not find any of the known reputable breeders in my area. Anyway, if you like German show lines and black/red dogs I can personally recommend Alta-Tollhaus. Julie is in Michigan but ships. Many of her dogs are in California, Florida, all over. I think one of my dog's littermates is in AZ or NM. I have two dogs from her and do agility with both, among many other things (conformation [WDA and UKC], Schutzhund, dock diving, rally obedience, herding, Dog Sport, and now lure coursing and weight pull soon). www.24kgsd.com Also Carlos and Robin Huerta in Illinois. They are extremely knowledgable. I see their dogs a lot, very nice dogs and people. |
Liesjers by k9helper on 13 April 2010 - 20:40 |
| Hi. Please see www.kraftwerkk9.com/ Wayne Curry is an awesome breeder with fantastic dogs. Two of his dogs went to the 2009 BSP. The first ever American bred dogs to participate. |
by kitkat3478 on 13 April 2010 - 20:56 |
| if you are in Arizona, and Prager is in Arizona, I suggest you go there first. Don't know him, but like what i have seen with him. I believe you will get what you bargain for. just my opinion.... |
kitkat3478 by TIG on 14 April 2010 - 01:50 |
| Have to be honest - I just don't get this fascination/drive/impusle/determination to buy a dog off the internet ESPECIALLY when you are a newbie and don't know the players. Since you have a year , may I suggest that you use that to educate yourself and that you start in your own backyard so you can get to see various dogs and types/lines of dogs and learn what will fit with you and your wishes. Since you want to do agility that's a place to start. Attend as many agility trials as you can (AKC, UKC, ASCA, NADAC etc). Look for GSDs who are successfully competing. Talk to their owners/handlers, find out the traits they selected for, find out who they bought the dog from, find out how to find who has the top GSds in the sport are etc. Track down the breeders and talk to them ( leaving checkbook at home - always. Puppies are easy to sucker for and some "breeders' are better salesmen than breeders). A good breeder will have as many questions for you as you have for them. Also go to breed or conformation shows and herding trials and schutzhund trials in your area. Get to know who the folks in the gsd community are and what they produce. You very well may find what you are looking for in your own backyard and gnerally that is safer than buying blind off the web. Visit dog clubs - GSD (AKC); Schutzhund, agility, obedience and herding clubs. Don't forget that often state and county fairs have dog shows or trials. If you find a breeder you like and whose dogs you like - be willing to wait for that right puppy. Smaller breeders ( often very dedicated stewards of the breed) do not always have pups available but the wait can be worth it to get what you want. Re price - it's always a good idea to know what your upper limit is but my suggestion is to keep it to yourself. A good obedience/ companion pup can often be bought for anywhere from $750 up especially if the breeder is most concerned with finding a great home. Also sometimes co-ownerships are available which can lower the cost of the dog. High cost does not equal a good dog. When you do use the website for research (www.akc.org; www.offa.org ) do not rely on bald statements that the dog is xyz - trust but verify. Also when looking at kennel websites do not rely on general statements that their dogs have been police dogs, herding dogs, agility dogs, breed champions. Far too many "producers" make these blanket statements. Look for individual dogs produced listed with their name and titles ( wh/ can be checked thru the web and akc etc). Try putting the kennel name and agility or put in the individual dog's name into google and see what comes up. Understand what the various agility titles are so you know if they are boasting about a simple novice title or a highly trained highly competitive dog that as won at local, regional and national levels. I will try to find you an example and post a link if can. Finally ask, ask, ask. Knowledge is your best protection and help in finding what you want. Good luck. |
TIG by Konotashi on 14 April 2010 - 02:53 |
| Where can I find out about upcoming shows/trials? We went to a dog show this past Sunday. I spent about 2 hours watching the GSDs. It was conformation, and I think they were all American bloodlines, aside from one dog that was Am/German line cross. I have to say, though - it was disappointing seeing how many of their back ends appeared very weak, and the awkward angles many of the dogs' legs were when they were standing or in the stack. |
by TIG on 14 April 2010 - 03:00 |
Here are some links to the website and blog of a friend of mine Julia Priest. Her web site also does bring up another point. If you looked merely at her agility brag page which shows some of the more recent accomplishments of dogs of her breeding you might think she has only produced two agility dogs which is not the case as others are spotlighted elsewhere in the website such as Nando on the P.A.M. page, so it's worthwhile wandering around a website, doing web searches AND of course talking to the breeder and agility competitors. |
by NoCurs on 14 April 2010 - 03:02 |
| I have nothing against Wayne Curry one way or the other, but I do know that his pups START at $2500, so that breeder would be out for the OP. Good breeders are RARELY found on "breeder" type websites. Or in "PuppyMillUSA" (Sorry, I ment DogsUSA) type magazines. Most of the better breeders in any breed don't spend a ton of time tooting their own horn, but you WILL hear about them from people who have bought or seen their dogs and recommend them, as the folks above did. Good luck. |
NoCurs by poseidon on 14 April 2010 - 03:38 |
| Very good advice from TIG. Konotashi, if you are planning to get a puppy in a years' time. Take the advice given and remember to keep an open mind as you learn form all the avenues mentioned. The knowledge you gain in this period will definately help you decide your pup and whether you prefer agility or schutzhund (as you've enquired in another thread). Good luck. |
poseidon by DenWolf on 14 April 2010 - 03:53 |
www.akc.org/events/search/index.cfm Above is a link to the AKC website. It lists trials, shows, and other events. There is a big event in Tucson this coming weekend. I agree with TIG's excellent suggestions. You should be able to find what you are looking for within a relatively short driving range of your home. A really good breeder has an almost innate talent for placing the correct puppy with the right family. They should be able to honestly tell you if they do or do not have the right pup for your needs. They also should be helpful and knowledgeable enough to explain to you the differences in other litters/dogs not of their own breeding, if asked. I would imagine you looked around quite a bit before purchasing or renting a home.. be just as diligent when looking for this very big committment to your life. Good luck! |
DenWolf by TIG on 14 April 2010 - 05:01 |
| Kono, Start with your local yellow pages. Look under clubs, social clubs, dog clubs. If you find nothing there look under kennels and dog trainers and call or visit them and explain the mission you are on. They will help you find local resources. The AKC also lists local clubs either by state or by event. Look up the ones for AZ. Breed clubs devoted to GSDs are known as specialty clubs. I presume UKC has a similiar site. ASCA stands for Australain Shepherd Club of America. They hold agility, obedience and herding trials open to all breeds. Most of these websites also list seminars and clinics in the different venues( breed, obedience, agility, herding, tracking etc) - a great learning tool. AHBA is the American Herding Breeds association and list herding and stock dog events. Most AKC clubs use professional superintendents for their shows such as Roy Jones. Put dog show superintendent into google. Find the ones servicing your area and ask to be put on the mailing list and you will be sent premium lists of upcoing shows. Also query match shows - usually there is an online or a newspaper type bulletin availabe for local regions which lists upcoming match shows ( informal practice shows) www.GSCDA.org is the German Shepherd Dog club of America - you can find local specialty clubs thru them. USCA is United Schutzhund Clubs of America see http://www.germanshepherddog.com/ It lists local clubs, regional websites, events and seminars. For the Southwestern region which includes AZ see www.southwestschutzhund.com/ and http://www.southwestschutzhund.com/sw_clubs.htm Search google for GSDCA-WDA; DVG and AWDF to find other performance based clubs and events. Two large independent agility organizations are http://usdaa.com/events.cfm and http://www.nadac.com/calendar_of_events.htm Google "dog agility trials" or dog agility seminars for additional links. Hope this helps. As you go forward if you are not an experienced web researcher - call your local library and make an apptmt with the reference librarian. Great help and it's free. Good luck and have fun. Beth PS another way of finding dog/training clubs in your area is to go to the secretary of state's website for your state. Usually there will be a way to search their corporate databases by key word or name of club/business. Try single word searches such as shepherd or dog or agility or training. |
by AandA on 14 April 2010 - 09:51 |
| Great advice from TIG, try to spend time getting to know the GSD community. Remember there are many really good small breeders who are quite particular where their dogs go and therefore don't necessarily advertise on the web. Whenever this question arises I always ask, have you ever thought of taking on an older dog rather than a pup? Yes you miss out on those early days but does have an advantage in that you can see the finished package so to speak. And it's quite possible to get a cracking example that hasn't quite come up to the more exacting requirements of such a small quality breeder. Best of luck, AandA |
AandA by SheepKeep on 18 January 2011 - 18:26 |
| It's close to a year since your Apr 2010 Post- are you still looking for GSD? Any interest in herding? |
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