Help with GSD PPD Prices? - Page 3

$10,000 and over is too much for a PPD. Heck police pay less for trained drug and patrol dogs in many cases

Can you find me a couple of suitable trained dogs for drug and patrol work for under 10K?  Heck, we pay $7,000 for green dogs and that is too cheap.  I am trying to get our PD and city to raise our RFP's to $9,000 for green dogs.  

Ask Slamdunc how much time he spends working his dog and he actually relys on the dog with his life.

A lot of time, everyday and weekly unit training.

Our donated GREEN dog (dual purpose) was a $7500 donation, and he proved his worth the day he certified and hit the street. Deuce had 3 busts that day, 2 marijuana and a kilo of cocaine. The fully trained dual purpose patrol dog (explosives) that we donated was $15000. Most of the single purpose detection dogs, green, have been between $2500 and $3500.

Some of the private contractor military type dual purpose dogs I have handled (imported) have run anywhere from $5000-$7000. Some of them I have
really liked, some of them not so much. 2 of my favorites were KNPV titled Malinois (and I'm not a huge fan of Malis, but these 2 really stood out) There
was Danny... evil look in his eyes but sweet as can be, until you told him not to be. He had to be one of the nastiest dogs I have ever had the pleasure
of handling. If you told that dog to bite someone, he was going to bite, no questions or second thoughts. The other was a rather large Mali that had
reportedly tried to eat a few of his handlers. He was my best bud LOL, also KNPV titled, not as intense as Danny, but my favorite by far.

$35000 for a PPD is ludicris. I would not expect to pay more for a PPD then I would a fully operational K9.

I would go and see some dogs working, ask about where they came from. Don't be in a hurry, and if at all possible, put your hands on the
dog before you part ways with your $$. Take someone who knows what they are looking at, ask for video beforehand so as not to make
a wasted trip. There are those out there who will take advantage of an inexperienced buyer.

Melissa

Thank you Slamdunc and Melissa I appreciate the insight.

I've narrowed down the budget, now all I have to do is figure out who I'm going to buy from, however after talking with one of the members here I have a pretty good idea who I'm going with.

Thanks again for all the help.

Michael

Michael,
Be very careful and really do your research.  Good luck in your search and did I mention to be very careful, especially if you are buying the dog sight unseen.   

Yes it was clear that you had not had a PPdog before;  what is still not clear is
whether you have had ANY dog before, or at least a big one of a working breed.
I'm not really counting shih tzus or whatever.  While you are accusing me of being
'sly'  you are not satisfying a number of us as to your true concern for THE DOG
in all this - as Sam1427 said, they are not robots.  

No one with any knowledge of dogs or common sense ever suggests Shepherds
as THE dog for a first-timer;  much less one from that sector of the breed which is
very 'lively' and 'driven' and been trained in protection work.  This can be a disaster
waiting to happen.  The best that might occur is as people have suggested, you find
you dont have the energy or the knowledge to keep up the ongoing training, the
dog relapses into a 'pet' that then lets the mugger hit you and does nothing.  Every
thing you have written indicates that you underestimate this forever work.

Something else about 'high drive' GSDs - if they are not given enough to occupy them
and work off their energy, they become a pain to live with because they say 'up yours'
and develop bad habits.  Something the seller possibly won't mention.  I've been around
GSDs for over 40 years and I admit I can still learn about them;  how come you are so
sure you can get it cracked in a month ?  I have also tried to protect you:  by querying
what you are being told and by the prices asked, I have tried to alert you to something
others have also been telling you, (even if you don't appear to want to hear it)  but
perhaps I was too subtle so I'll say this "THERE ARE SHARKS OUT THERE" (thanx
Rik !) who will happily take you for your 35K and give you what turns out to be nothing
in return for it.
Good luck.
Linda. Swift.
 

Michael - nobody - including Hundmutter - tried to blame you.

All of them tried to tell you:

• It´s difficult to find a good PPD.
• There are a lot of people out there who want to make a lot of money.
• You need to learn how to handle and train the dog, otherwise the money is wasted.
• Handling a PPD needs a lot of responsibility. 

Someone here has shown him the "path" to his dreams privatly because they must have known not to toss the name out publically. He will find out that no one here was trying to be mean to him when he has learned his lesson, because he is not going to listen to us. I just hope whatever dog he ends up with does not suffer for it or someone gets bit that should not have been. Don't the possiblilities of who has whispered to him claiming he should buy from so and so without him knowing so and so is the seller and he is about to get a ride swim around in one's brain? Not saying all the ones that whispered to him would be terrible but you know some real bad ones have to have done so as well. Perhaps the only advice we can give now is how to spot the crook sellers? Or let him learn a lesson hard way? 

Michael - you asked for a comparison to be made between types of car !
Think that was more on price than performance ...
but here's one to illustrate going from handling NO dog (or some quiet
little family pet)  to not just a Shepherd, but a 'souped up' Shepherd :

BEAT-UP FLATBED TRUCK 
to 
ZONDA.

Michael:  just be aware that any dog for any job is an ongoing process.  This means that you will have to do your homework once you get this dog and keep him sharp and always ready and wanting to work for you.  A dog's job is never done.  His training will continue for the rest of his life and part of that training is training and teaching you.  Best of luck  Nan

PS:  For your protection be sure all health clearances and certifications are in place BEFORE you purchase this dog.  HD/ED/DM/Eyes, heart and thyroid if  you can them.  Very important, and if nothing else a process of elimination.  BOL  N

Sure Slamdunc, look around. I know people who do excellent training and sell trained dogs for around the $7-9,000 you want to pay for green dogs. Just sold several young dogs to someone who trains them and sells them to major departments for less than your $7,000.