Thinking about switching breeds...... - Page 4

Ulli

You are wasting your time with Einsatzkommando.  He is an American that likes to stir the pot and I have a very good idea who he is.  He just joined up and his first few posts were to promote an American P.P. dog salesman.

Yes.

Hey Don,

hope everything is fine on your side of the pond. Thanks for the info, he wont understand then what I wrote .....

You mean these dogs that go for 40 - 50 grant ? Nice income if you sell a couple a year.

Regards Ulli

Our hybrids will go for 40-50 grand?  Sweet!

You have to remember to put things in perspective... for a commerical breeder or professional dog trainer, the slightest criticism is automatically an attack on their livelihood, not to mention their ego.  I'm still laughing about the showline breeder who assumed that I was criticizing their prized stud dog in a post even though I mentioned no names, dates, or places. 

As I've been reading Max's "GSD in Word and Picture" and thought about such events, it's clear to me why the Captain believed that the best shepherd dog breeders were what we would now call the small "hobby" breeders, with only a couple litters a year, and another source of family income.  This allows for greater objectivity. 

If someone wants to talk trash about my own GSD, fine... go for it.  I'm not out to make a buck off his 'nads anyway.  Anyone want to take pot shots at our Malinois?  Feel free... she's not a breeding machine.  Or even better... want to call me an idiot handler and a crappy dog trainer?  Okie dokie... our family won't skip any meals. 

The bottom line is that ANY breed will have such bickering and fighting amoungst the enthusiasts.  The only difference is whether or not the squabbling takes place in a public forum or only in private.  So, switch to poodles if you like... where the people argue and fight over which dog has the poofiest hairdo.

For me, I think I'd rather argue about temperament and working ability, instead of which dog has the most perfect show clip. 

Yvette

One of the worst fights I ever saw at my local kennel club was between 2 jealous toy poodle breeders. It went from verbal to physical in 30 seconds (or less).

There are buttheads in all breeds, not just this one. I'm a relative newcomer to the breed, not to dogs, and have had no problems whatsoever finding breeders I like and choose to consider friends.  If I wanted to buy another GSD, I could very easliy find one a suitable one here in the US or in Germany. It's just like the real world, hang out with those who share your own sense of ethics and shun those who don't.  You really are judged by the company you keep. Do as Ulli does, when it gets too brutal, stop reading those threads and move on to something else.

If you just sit back and read the posts, ads, and sales contracts you will soon find out who are in it for the money (a litter every month or a breeder who has only been in the breed for 5 years or less but is already on his or her "Z" litter) and who do it purely for the love of the breed. T'aint rocket science, people, just good old fahioned common sense.

MI GSD -   Swift Run's Dobes is actually the club I went to that I was talking about!  Their Dobes are soooo impressive!!  I actually know of someone who bought a pup from them and had it Nationally Certified through NASAR for SAR Man Trailing at 9 months of age.....the youngest ever to be certified by NASAR in Man-Trailing.  That dog is SHARP.  And watching the bitework in their dogs made me REALLY consider getting another Dobe (just a better bred one!) but my hands are full with my young GSD boys. 

The sad thing is....you really probably could do those crosses and make money!!  Chi-Wee-Wee's are going for $800 at the local pet strore!!!  (Dauchshund x Chihuahua cross), Rat-Pins (Rat Terrier and Min Pins).  I think Puggles might be the most popular...they go for around $700 (beagle x pug)....these are cute puppies but UGLY adults.  And you can mix a poodle with anything and sell it.  And the crazy thing is there is some kind of registery that you can register these dogs through I've heard....but can't think of the name.  ........and in the mean time there's thousands of mix breed dogs rotting away in the pound. 

Another selling point for all the designer breeds is that none are on the breed ban or bite statistics lists, none are banned from campgrounds,  and so far no insurance companies have added them to their bad dog lists. Makes me want to call Blitz a Greater Alsatian Herder next time we take him camping .

"Greater Alsatian Herder"....I love it, too funny!

You can tell your Insurance company    t hat is what your german shepherd is so you wont gt your home insurance rated 3xs  what should be...

A GREATER ALSATIAN HERDER....i LIKE THAT.....STATE FARM OUGHT TO ACCEPT THAT....