Cost of puppies reality check

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

$1000.00 for our new Wire, and she gave us a break since it's the second puppy we've gotten from her. Your prices are in line Snake.

[Stangkiller]

Ohyaliz has been very active in the German shepherd rescue.

[Joecooool]

Originally Posted by SnakePlissken

While there is still risk, buying from a reputable breeder comes with a health guaranty and a solid history for the dog.

As I recall, that didn't work out to well with your previous dog.

[mrvette]

OK, time to stir the pot a bit.....

Just this AM, a friend came by to fix his work truck, brakes, seems about 3 weeks ago at night this Rottweiler jumps in front of him, he doing 75 mph, Rotty is splattered all over and under the truck, bent the pumper, ran over it with left front tire, broke a WS wiper blade/mount, he lucky the parts of the dawg didn't come through his WS......


this is the second hit at highway speeds in the last ~2 years, friends hitting loose dawgs at night......

first one was a Pit Bull, ....at 55 mph.....

[theanswriz42]

Originally Posted by Gilligan

OK, time to stir the pot a bit.....

Just this AM, a friend came by to fix his work truck, brakes, seems about 3 weeks ago at night this Rottweiler jumps in front of him, he doing 75 mph, Rotty is splattered all over and under the truck, bent the pumper, ran over it with left front tire, broke a WS wiper blade/mount, he lucky the parts of the dawg didn't come through his WS......


this is the second hit at highway speeds in the last ~2 years, friends hitting loose dawgs at night......

first one was a Pit Bull, ....at 55 mph.....

That's a great story. You should tell it at parties.

[...Whitepower...]

Originally Posted by Joecooool

As I recall, that didn't work out to well with your previous dog.

Vator and i were talking on FB about his new puppy. He's done with "pure breeds" due to the health issues they seem to develop.

[...Whitepower...]

Originally Posted by theanswriz42

That's a great story. You should tell it at parties.

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Keeping in mind that 6 month old Gsds are rowdy, mischievous buggers.

Show me a 6 month old puppy that isn't.

But not $1100 bucks worth.

What is this breeder getting for show quality examples?

We've known our group of breeders for years and we only located them through the German Shepherd Dog Club of America.

You must know this breeder then.

[SnikPlosskin]

Originally Posted by Thomas

Show me a 6 month old puppy that isn't.

Exactly.

What is this breeder getting for show quality examples?

Not sure upwards of $2-3k.

You must know this breeder then.

We know her, but not well. We are reaching out beyond our list.

With regard to finances, things are looking up since I've been working. But dogs fall in the "I don't give a shit" line item.

[SnikPlosskin]

Originally Posted by Joecooool

As I recall, that didn't work out to well with your previous dog.

Stay classy, asshole.

[...Whitepower...]

Originally Posted by SnakePlissken

With regard to finances, things are looking up since I've been working. But dogs fall in the "I don't give a shit" line item.

Don't over do it and have your health suffer as a consequence.

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

But dogs fall in the "I don't give a shit" line item.

Yeah, I know that feeling.

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Originally Posted by Joecooool

As I recall, that didn't work out to well with your previous dog.

That's just a fucked up thing to say to a person.

[LisaJohn]

Sometimes you have to compare the cost of the dog to the unconditional love and mental health benefits the dog provides. Fletcher is priceless to me. I paid $75 for him.

[MrPeabody]

Some rescue dogs aren't exactly cheap, either. I paid $300 for mine. I filled out more paperwork with the rescue organization than I filled out to join my local country club.

It was tax deductible, though.

[SnikPlosskin]

Originally Posted by LisaJohn

Sometimes you have to compare the cost of the dog to the unconditional love and mental health benefits the dog provides. Fletcher is priceless to me. I paid $75 for him.

That is where I am on this. Life sometimes sucks balls and there ain't nothing like a puppy to bring the joy.

I've been thinking through this in terms of what I want. There are two main lines of GSDs - German and American. These categories get broken down into show dogs and working dogs.

The American show dogs suffer the most temperament and health issues because they are bred to run around in a ring. German working lines are bred to work and have less issues from stricter adherence to standards.

It is important to me that the dog looks right. I hate tall, gangly, roach backed dogs. Dogs that are not being bred on purpose (backyard breeders) tend to not look right. And it's hard to tell as a puppy. You need to see the parents.

I want a working line dog that looks like a GSD should. Regal, smart, graceful.

It sounds trivial, but that just my preference. There is a show in two weeks so I'll get to meet a lot more breeders and see more dogs.

I've had really bad luck with dogs lately so I want to get it right. I will be investing many hours into training and don't want it to go to waste.

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by SnakePlissken

Hmmm. I've always gone with referrals from a trusted source. Most of those dogs don't look right (too tall, skinny, small heads) but a couple looked pretty good.

What an awful thing to say about a dog. I'm sure they don't think you're exactly george clooney either but they don't care.

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

And it's hard to tell as a puppy.

I'll challenge this.

How do you think breeders evaluate prospects? They can't wait until they're grown up. Typically at about 5-6 weeks your looking at a mini version of the adult dog. After that, they go through the 'puppy uglies.' They never grow uniformly, they grow in pieces. Their feet go to shit when their teething for instance.

There's people who claim they're making show prospect decisions a day or two after they're whelped.
I'll say this; evaluating puppies is not an exact science. But the more you pay attention, and understand what your looking at the easier it becomes.

At my first Flat Coat Retriever National Specialty in Pennsylvania, I got an education. I was there handling for a client. There were 400 FCR's entered. I was fortunate to sit with a woman who bred the #1 FCR in breed history. I learned more that week about this breed, movement and structure than I had the previous three years at shows. I knew what I was looking at, but I wasn't sure what I was seeing.



Damn dog WON the National out of the Veterans class.

[Brett K]

Originally Posted by Drew M

What an awful thing to say about a dog. I'm sure they don't think you're exactly george clooney either but they don't care.

Really? I think everyone has a favorite kind of dog based on looks, personality, etc. He is just looking for the qualities he is drawn too most by the breed. Nothing wrong with that.

[SnikPlosskin]

Originally Posted by Drew M

What an awful thing to say about a dog. I'm sure they don't think you're exactly george clooney either but they don't care.

I'm 37% better looking than George Clooney.