Buy Dogs Sight Unseen or Not - Page 1

Ok, SO it's 4Am, and I am in major pain and unable to sleep.....so here is some imput on the issues of getting a dog but no papers, etc....

I have found, over the years, that it is almost as cheap to fly just about anywhere in the Continental US and actually look at the dog, see the papers, etc...and fly the dog home with you in cargo, as it is to ship.

I recently hooked up a friend to get a Dobie.  Her first dog.  I found a breeder re-home in Arkansas.  The woman purchased a round trip ticket to Little Rock for $241.00, spent the night in an $89.00 per night hotel.  The breeder brought her the dog in a public place(better to evaluate the true temperment of the dog, as opposed to its home property where it feels comfortable).  She actually spoke to the vet in person, witnessed the exrays of the hips, saw all the papers, and got them, flew the dog back home with her in cargo with a crate she purchased off Craigslist for $25.00.

Her total to fly down to get the dog, with meals and incidentals was $450.00.  If she had the breeder ship the dog, it would have cost her about $400.00.

Now, you can buy a ticket to Germany for about $1200.00 if you get it in advance, spend about 2 days there, and fly a dog home in cargo for an additional $100.00(take your crate with you), and you can do this for about $1500-$1800, if you plan in advance....

Now, I am sure that there are also people who will go for you(I have gone for people before, looked at the dog, etc....get paid my expenses, and have some fun while I am at it.).  I am reasonably sure that there are others out here who would probably do it as well, if you ask.

So, is it more expensive to go look at the dog in person?  Yes, maybe.

Is it worth the heartache and hassles if you don't and get screwed over?  Absolutely.

Just a few thoughts from a grumpy person at 4 in the AM>

Yes, and shipping a dog back from Europe, by itself will run you at least $1000.00 or more depending on where you are.

Shipping an adult dog in the US, a big dog, it as least $400.00, depending on the distance, and such(Kennel, health certificate, etc....)

Health Cert you have to buy anyway....but, a crate you can take with you as baggage.

I took a dog to Portland here while back....Before I left, I was surfing Craigslist(a great place to get some things some times), and found a 700 airline kennel for $50.00.  It had been used once!

The guy brought it, broken down to my hotel for me.  I stored it in the office, and took it with the next day.  Cost me $25.00 to bring it back.  Well worth the investment.

$100. to bring a dog home from Germany in the cargo hold? With what airline, pray tell? the least I ever paid was $240., TEN YEARS AGO.

SS

DogTrainer, I'm going to Germany next month for that very reason. I checked on a couple of dogs from a reputable breeder and cost to ship was approx. $1200 U.S. For a little more, I can go to the Sieger show, visit some breeders and hopefully find a dog that meets my requirements.

Very good advice about getting the dog away from home to evaluate. I paid to learn that lesson.

I would never pay for a dog with a "papers come later deal". Things can go wrong, even with the most honorable of people. You should get everything you are paying when you hand over the money. After the check clears the bank, you are at the mercy of the seller.

Shelley,

I have not gone lately but the airline cost to bring a dog from Germany varies by airline.  American was $110.00 and Lufthansa was $254 for a 500 size crate, or  $127 for a smaller crate.  American only available in the cooler months but Lufthansa will take them all year.  

Jennifer

As well if you doing it like me in a last minuts and they have space you can get away paying way less. But it is a risk, that you are willing to take.

Thanks for your post!  I wholeheartedly agree.  After having been on the receiving end of a raw deal on a German import myself, I've swore off buying sight unseen.  As expensive as it is to travel, the cost of a disappointment is steep... after my so-called "top sport level" import arrived sick, underweight, and terrified of the world, it cost me about $1,000 for vet bills, shipping, and care before I could return him. 

With the GSD I have now, I was lucky enough to find a quality breeder who moved into my home state and less than an hour away.  I watched the litter grow up week by week and I left with the best pup in the litter for my needs.  At least this way, if the dog turns out to be a disappointment, I know it's not the case of an ignornant buyer getting dumped on. 

Yvette

Sure, there have been a few disappointments over the years, but I bought many of my best dogs sight-unseen: Carol ("T"), Gabi, Conni, Onyx, Bijou... (Onyx & Bijou bought as puppies on the merit of their pedigrees) 

SS