KraftwerkK9 Issues - Page 1

Is there an issue with Wayne Curry and KraftwekK9, or is there a few unsatisfied customers for the many, many satisfied ones.  Most blogs only post complaints, very few post positive experiences.  I am considering purchasing a puppy from Wayne, I am very impressed with Ursus and Wilson.  I have flown around the country and visited 12 kennels, and his kennel would be in my top 2-3.  It seems from the posting that I have read here (with the exception of one with the IBD) all have scant information and only one side of the story.  Never is there any information about the puppies parents and never is the dog given back when that is offered.  I have spoken to 4 other very reputable national trainers that give Wayne very high marks on his dogs and training. Being a small business owner myself, I understand some people will never be satisfied no matter what you do, they just want to take advantage of your good will.  Is it that most of these postings are from people that would never be satisfied with any resolution, or is it that Wayne refuses to make any attempt to bring any dispute to a mutually satisfactory resolution?  I am not looking for baseless accusations, innuendo or personal attacks, just the facts.

Are you buying an adult or a puppy?  I have heard horror stories about sick pups and unstable adults.  I have also heard of a few people quite happy with their kraftwerk dogs. 

Kraftwerk's breeding stock all have nice pedigrees and are titled.  His pups are priced probably 60-100% more than pups with comparable pedigrees from titled/koered parents from smaller breeders.  You don't see a very high percentage of dogs with his kennel name being titled in the trial results in WDA, DVG or USA.   The breeding females change regularly, the males a bit less regularly.  Many females are imported with a litter on board.  There is a busy rotating door here.

When you run through the alphabet pretty much every year or two,  as Kraftwerk does, the high volume factory production is offensive to many who love the breed and are concentrating on one litter at a time to give that litter the attention, the analysis of character and the time it should take to raise a litter.  Read von Stephanitz quotes - there is a super site with a whole list of them on line - google it - and then think about the philosophy of the founder of the breed.  Kraftwerk is overall a very sucessful business, run like a business and sells at high volume numbers.  

I have liked alot of the dogs he has had and some of the litters were very tempting.  Would I buy a pup or dog from him? Hell no.  I can get the same quality, or better, via my contacts in Europe or here in the States from a couple of small select breeders who are out there doing the sport and breeding dogs who are getting worked and titled.  Most of the Kraftwerk production just dissappears into the pet market, and I daresay that, knowing that is where the dogs will end up, the levels of drive appropriate for the sport are not going to be present in most of these litters.

   I looked at an adult available through them. I was skeptical and contacted the dog's original breeder/owner in Germany and found out I was correct in my fears on the dog as to why she was sent to the usa and brokered through them and did not buy the dog. If I chunk that much money down I would be extremely upset to have been mislead about a dog's personality and work drive. I found thier prices extroidinarily high 3 times anyone else but was willing to pay if would have received what I was looking for. I only called to check up on them as my phone conversations left me uneasy with the attitude of the person I was speaking to whish at first I was ready to write off as understandable as perhaps he was busy and they must get non serious inquiries he not knowing I was a serious purchaser. There is one I like they have now and I browse their site often but I do not think based on friend's dealings around them and other peapoles assesement with what I experienced I would ever do business with them personally. I have noticed since the questionability of the dogs temperments they have started using child videos to deiplay their dogs sales pitches, but again only a select few dogs are advertised this way. I also know of two buyers that have had to have multiple replacement pups due to health issues.

My opinion, such that it is, is that his business is an easy target for criticism because his prices are so high compared to other breeders in the US.  Fundamentally, there is nothing wrong with asking high prices for puppies or dogs - it is up to the consumer to vote with his/her wallet as to whether or not the dogs are worth the extra $$. 

As to the allegations of sick dogs or dogs with poor temperament, I know nothing about that and have no facts to add.

Yvette

My husband and I own the Kraftwerk dog with IBD.  He has been with us for two years this month.  He is relatively stable currently, but it is a continuous struggle and an expensive one.

We thought we were fairly knowledgeable and had done our homework, but in retrospect we were naive on several counts.  An excellent pedigree, KKl1, and a high price do not equal a healthy dog.  Buying a dog without putting your hands on it and having it shipped across country is foolhardy unless you are dealing with someone with whom you have a long-standing relaltionship.  A slick web site does not guarantee a satisfactory business transaction.

At the end of the day, Kraftwerk is a business.  Wayne Curry could just as easily be selling cars.  He has the sales pitch honed.  During several phone conversations, he repeatedly said our male "would go quickly" because he was typey and a son of Larus von Batu, implying we should decide quickly.  (Red flag #1).  He was initially concerned when we called after the dog arrived obviously very sick, but as we pressed him that quickly became defensiveness and he then refused to talk to us.  He has an enormous ego and does not like to be backed into a corner.

In subsequently investigating him, trying to work through the BBB and other avenues, we learned that he had been suspended from his own schutzhund organization for "unsportsmanlike" behavior for a period of six months.  They had tried to do it for a year, but settled on six months.  The transcript is available online.  The specifics were not listed.  (Red flag #2).

We are older (unfortunately) and wiser.  We would now wait until we could deal with someone within driving distance who could import a dog we could examine before purchase.  We are commited to caring for our big boy, who is everything we desired (but with a really bad gut).  He was a 2 year old BMW with a bad transmission to Curry, and I wouldn't buy a used car from him again.

DoubleX

Your situation is the one that concerns me the most, especially since the animal was in his hands for a month, and somehow got through a a German vet and a US vet before you and this was not detected, I understand the meotional side of the issue, however, I would never buy an animal site unseen under any circumstances, I flew to his kennel last weekend, it seemed to be very well run, and yes i would agree with previous it is a puppy mill, however, unlike other BYBs, he has a professional fulltime staff, not just his wife and a kid trying to throw out as many animals as possible, I have spoken to all his sales in my state, they were all very satisfied.  I feel your situation is real, however, I was wondering if all the other issues seemed to be other breeders, which with have other motivations to complain.  I would have to excluse the cat issue as lack of common sense on the owner's part reguardless of what she was told.  Even though I believe poential buyers should be vetted by breeders just as I would vette a breeder.  An it is obvious Wayne does not do that.

Drew

I have read most of what Max has written, and believe most of what he has put forth, however, from past breedings and current ones when you look at the predigrees, it does not look like wayne is attempting to degrade the breed, all animals are heavily titles and surveyed, and I realize that does not guarantee the perfect animal, however, there are a great many breeders out thre that do not take the time to even begin to be so carefull with what they breed, so far i have visited 12 kennels from PA to WA and found many are not what they advertise once you actually see what is onsite.

The pricing may be cheaper and the quality the same in Germany to have one imported, however, the pricing is close enough that to put my hands on the puppy, see and examine both parents, tour the facility, look the breeder in the eye is well worth 500.00 dont you think???  Jim Hill was the other kennel I was heavily considering in PA

Bought 2 pups,told Waynes kennel manager at the time ( his staff changes constantly) that we may be using te dog for breeding. The pup had an umbilical hernia when it arrived. After trying to deal with the KM we ended up talking to Wayne and he paid to have it repaired. The sencond pup , a solid black female,ended up with severe HD at 7 monthes old had her destroyed. Wanted another solid black to replace her but kept being told when we saw litters with solid blacks on the website for sale,that those pups were all spoken for. Got nervous so settled for a sable. She had hips that were so loose that her leg kicked out to the side when she ran.Let the KM know and  had my Vet call his but was told they were only interested in"trashed hips" So we spay her and placed her.  I would rather buy pups by small more intimate kennls that are every bit as good. When you buy a pup or a dog you always take your chances no matter what the pedigrees say! 

I have a Kraftwerk female!  She was gifted to me and I have been extremely pleased with her.  She is a Olix Karthago granddaughter on the top and a Wumm vd Kaisersaul granddaughter on the bottom!  So her pedigree is a very nice one!  Would I pay the amount of money he asks for a puppy, yes, if I had it!  The female I have was $3,000 as an 8 week old puppy!  I would probably opt for and shop hard for an adult with a SchH1 or something.  I do like this female thogh and she is pretty awesome!  Her drives are great, her structure is super and her temperament is outstanding!  Very healthy too!

Also, Clew's K-9's (Lorna Clews) is a very good friend of mine and she has 2 Kraftwerk dogs.  Her male is doing extremely well in the beginnig phases of Schutzhund!

Vickie

www.PowerHausKennels.com

I have a Kraftwerk female!  She was gifted to me and I have been extremely pleased with her.  She is a Olix Karthago granddaughter on the top and a Wumm vd Kaisersaul granddaughter on the bottom!  So her pedigree is a very nice one!  Would I pay the amount of money he asks for a puppy, yes, if I had it!  The female I have was $3,000 as an 8 week old puppy!  I would probably opt for and shop hard for an adult with a SchH1 or something.  I do like this female thogh and she is pretty awesome!  Her drives are great, her structure is super and her temperament is outstanding!  Very healthy too!

Also, Clew's K-9's (Lorna Clews) is a very good friend of mine and she has 2 Kraftwerk dogs.  Her male is doing extremely well in the beginnig phases of Schutzhund!

Vickie

www.PowerHausKennels.com