>>>Sigh<<< - Page 2

I agree Hodie.  But where is the problem?  the people who breed with no standards or the people that buy with none?  Is it buyer beware in this "business"? 

You and I would never buy a pup out of a breeding like this - but someone will.  

I see post after post about whether titles are important and I see people saying things like "oh, had the dog x-rayed yesterday , vet said everything looks good so he's getting a girlfriend tomorow!" - I see dogs advertised for stud (or better yet already producing) with prelininary OFA results only.  I saw an ad here yesterday listing how many puppies a bitch produces like it's the most improtant part of breeding!  I won't even get into all the other crap I see...

The people breeding like this don't care or just make excuses and there is no way to stop them - so the only alternative is to warn or educate people who are in the market for a dog.  But for some reason, they don't want to know.....

I agree with Tighe and Hodie.  It never ceases to amaze me that people take the decision to get a dog so lightly.  They put about as much work into finding out about the breed and breeder as they do picking out a toy for the kids or a piece of furniture.  Then when they get taken, they cry and whine about how they were taken advantage of.  Personal Responsibility is no longer important, it's all about blaming someone else.

The ad says "registered". 

 tighe,

I agree with you 100%. Part of the problem is however that sites like this do not help educate. Threads get deleted, as did the one on the neglect that was perpetrated by someone who calls himself a dog trainer. Other times, with legitimate issues, people have come here not to bash, but to warn, and the threads get deleted. 

I spend a considerable amount of my time providing free assistance to people seeking GSDs. All too often I spend hours with them trying to teach them about how to select a dog. I ask for nothing in return and I would say that about 90% of the time the individuals go off anyway, half-cocked and buy whatever, including from BYB who advertise dogs such as this poster will inevitably do. 

You are absolutely correct that it is a muitiphased problem, related to unethical and ignorant breeders as well as ignorant and sometimes stupid buyers. I turn people away all the time and refuse them stud service or refuse to sell them a pup or a dog. They just go down the street and breed their dog to the lab mix, or go buy a dog from a guy who advertises a dog like this.

I am not one who thinks that a SchH title is the only thing that can be used to decide whether a dog is breed worthy. But geez, as I said, there are some minimum standards and yes, some people don't even adhere to the most basic. A few weeks ago some guy came in here to tell me he bred his 9 year old male and then, in conversation, asked me where he could get cheaper enzymes because the dog has EPI, but he did not even bother to ask the vet what the hell that was. He bred the dog anyway. Why? Because he wanted a pup and he wanted to sell the others for some extra cash. He was surprised when I told him it was highly likely some of the pups would also end up ill. I gave him a tongue lashing, but so what....it did nothing but waste my breath.

I had someone tell me recently that they did not need to x-ray their dog when they drove in here asking for stud service. They said they could see the dog "was fine". I sent them packing, after I explained why they were incorrect. But it probably only wasted my breath.

I hear ya Hodie!  I also spend time trying to help people find a dog (not just GSDs) because I'm one of those "ask her - she's a dog person!" people!  And after they take none of my advice and buy from a BYB they then want training advice....

I can't even imagine being a breeder!  I think I'd rip my hair out!  I teach pet training and have come across some of the stupidest dog owners on the planet!  One wanted her dog to get hit by a car to teach it not to keep escaping from her yard! 

It seems that the initial price of the puppy is still such a big deal to people.  They feel it's unreasonalbe or 'silly' to pay a decent, responsible breeder $1000 + for a well bred dog, but then there are others who are slapping down $2500.00 for a pet store 'purebred teacup yorkie-poo"! 

>>>sigh<<<

Hodie, it's a thankless task a lot of the time, but God bless you for what you do!  {{{{{HUG}}}}}

(Gives her rescued GSD a hug, but her registered pup has to get in on the deal too, so they both get a hug...)

 tighe,

Some days I cannot answer rescue emails or rescue phone calls or people calling to get "advice". It makes me nuts to hear what people come up with.

A few years ago I was in a upscale pet supply store owned by a friend. They would not sell animals of any kind. A woman came in with a young, but large dog. The dog was relatively well behaved and on leash. Shorty, a woman entered the store with a child of about 3 years of age in tow. As soon as they got into the store the woman let the child go and started looking at things. In an instant, the child saw the dog and went running up to it and grabbed it by the neck. The childs face was at face level of the pup and I quickly grabbed the child and then blocked him from the dog and told the woman to come get her child. She asked me why and I said the child could get bitten by this type of behavior. Her answer to me was " well, I guess he would never do it again". I went ballistic with her and told her how utterly irresponsible an attitude that was to allow her child to be bitten. I am not sure she got it.

I have no use for someone like this.

Oh, but you know good and well that she'd have been the one to sue had the child been bitten.

How's this one....  My friend was at Rita's waiting in line with her 6 month old showline pup who is the absolutely the sweetest.  A kid in front of her was waiving a straw in her face, she playfully tried to grab it and the parents had a freakin fit, said that dog tried to bite their son!!!  They gave my friend a tounge lashing about having a dangerous dog in public and so on.  My friend was almost speechless at their totally uncalled for psycho reaction!