question - Page 1

Since i'm new to to the gsd world, i was wondering about the breeders advertising on this board. Most of them say they are offering top quality show puppies or adults for sale and i was wondering how genuine these advertisements were? I know that it is a marketing tactic but how honest are they? if they do have a good adult or puppy why offer it for sale? also as a newbi buyer, how can i know which advertisements to trust

thanks

Mav

Do not pay any attention to what people say.  Especially if they are trying to get some of your money.  Watch what they do.  ie:  do they have good references?  Do they question you like you would question a daycare service where you were considering leaving your child?  Or are they just about handing you a pup for a handful of cash, no or few questions asked of you.  Is the paperwork for said pup all in order, or "it will be taken care of and sent to you".  In the U. S., thepaperwork should be ready to go.  If buying an imported pup, a wait for proper paperwork is not unusual.

It is like buying a house or car.  You have to do your homework.  Find someone who knows GSD' very well and that you trust their judgement.  Then ask them to help you sort out the crap from the not crap.

If you can not do this.  Then you need to check references, etc.

You have to decide what you want the dog for.  Sport.  Family companion.  Showing.

The most important thing to remember is that it is like playing Texas Hold'em poker.  You can have excellent parents and pedigrees (same as being dealt pocket aces in Hold'em) but that does not mean that after the "river" card comes, you won't lose.  Sometimes bad hips show up from great parents with good hips, after your new dog is two years old.  Sometimes a pup from great parents turns out to be timid, hs seizures, etc.

The better the pedigree, the better the odds, but puppies are a gamble, you just try and make the odds more in your favor by doing your homework as best as you can.

Decide first what you want out of the dog.  What do you want it for.

Personally, having purchased three pups, I highly recommend buying a grown dog so that you know what you are getting.  Hips checked already.   Perhaps trained already.  Elbows checked already.  You know what you are getting with an adult dog.

I learned about the GSD and my latest acquisition is a grown dog.  Cuts out all of the hoping and guessing.  Of course though, nothing cuter than a puppy.

Mav,

Your info says you've been around for a while, you should know a little by now.

Buyer beware, I would be very cautious about buying anything online if I were you.  I dont care what it is.

A fool and his money are soon parted.    Take your time and use your head.

Maverick,

Didn't your ole pappy ever tell you not to trust anyone?

Ole Maverick fan.

Thanks guys for the info. yeah i have been around for some time but compared to everyone one on this site i am new and i have lots more to learn. its just that i see all the advertisements and some of the dogs do look nice but i'm always afraid of getting played out, thats why i wanted to find out just how honest these breeders were when they advertise puppies/adults for sale. anyways i wont be getting a dog for some time but i just wanted to cover my bases so that i don't get scammed in the future

thanks again.

mav

Reputation is everything.

SS

Something Mr. Doright left out was the possibility that you can buy a pup from top bloodlines and it will be everything you want in a dog.  I am surprised he bought three pups that did not pan out, I would think that he would be pretty good at choosing a pup, but it doesn't have to be that way.  If Mr. Doright is ever looking for a working line dog, if he wants to buy a pup from me, then I'd do what I won't normally, and that is guarantee temperament as well as health.  Normally I don't guarantee temperament because how it is raised can have a big effect on temperament.  I believe Mr. Doright would take excellent care of a dog.

Veronica

Sent you a pm Maverick.