CONSIDERATIONS WHEN PURCHASING A GERMAN SHEPHERD
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COMPLICATIONS OF SURGICALLY NEUTERING DOGS from the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association In addition to the risk of mortality (death): Complications of ovario hysterectomy (spaying) in female dogs - anesthetic complications - wound dehiscence - infection along the suture line - hemorrhage of incompletely legated or ruptured ovarian or uterine vessels - granulomas of the uterine and/or ovarian stumps - accidental legation of a ureter with the vaginal remnant leading to ureterovaginal fistula and immediate urinary incontinence - delayed hormonal incontinence - chronic vaginitis Complications of bilateral orchidectomy (castration) in male dogs - anesthetic complications - hemorrhage - scrotal bruising and swelling - infection at the incision site - hemiprostatic urethral avulsion ============================================================= It has always been our personal belief if God and/or nature chose to put reproductive organs on animals, then man should not liberally remove them without being aware of the consequences. Several years back, three of our clients, despite our warnings not to do so, decided to neuter their females. All three were informed when they went back for their dogs and AFTER they paid the bill, were brought into their Vets office with the intention of seeing a happy and healthy dog, were told instead that their animals died either under anesthesia or from complications after the fact. One of them chose to sue their Vet despite my advice not to since I told them it would do no good. They did and lost. Why? Simple, neutering is an elective procedure not a required one. Owners are required to sign a release form stating the dangers of all surgeries, no matter how simple, and that they must accept thepossibilities their dog could die thus relieving the Vets of all such responsibilities. Please, we are not against the neutering of feral animals, but we just want our clients at least to be aware of the many dangers they are facing, particularly in females. Is it really worth it to reduce a female from bleeding twice a year (normal heat cycles for a dog) to a lifetime of incontinence (urinating upon themselves and on your furniture)? Unfortunately, most families think not and soon, in too many cases, it is off to the pound and a not very bright future for the dog. Just as you hope and trust us to breed and sell you a healthy dog, it is our hope that our dogs will be going into a lifetime home that will make every effort to keep them that way. We have at times been accused of being elitists and only selling our dogs to people with above average incomes. This is not so, but people should know what they can afford and it has been our experience over the past 40 years, that lower income families cannot afford sometimes to care for their animals because of other family needs. They just aren't willing or able to pay the price for a properly well-bred animal. Still others we have found, feel and oft times say, "It's just a dog" and won't care for it properly. You see, in our minds there is more to owning a dog than just feeding it. A dog is a lifetime responsibility and we only want our dogs in the hands of responsible owners that can and will afford them the best of care, not ignore shots and proper treatment of their dogs. After we sell you a puppy, unlike the Vets you bring our dogs to, we make no more money. However, that doesn't lessen the hope that our dog will continue to be cared for and not face useless surgeries. Please be a responsible owner. Take the time to train your dog. It is your moral and legal obligation to your neighbors and society to do so. You send your children to school to learn how to get along with others, why ignore the importance of doing that with your dog? Most of our dogs leave here at a very young age. You chose them because you met and played with one or more of their parents and them here in my home. They showed good temperament then and there is no reason for that to change after they leave here. You knew that despite the fact the parents were trained and titled and had been told by some competitors, such dogs were dangerous, was an obviously completely false statement. The old adage, "The acorns don't fall far from the tree" is true. Generally if the parents are of sound mind and body so will their offspring be and it is up to their new owner to assume that responsibility. If after several weeks your puppy isn't living up to your expectations, its not cause they are dumb, its most likely enough time wasn't given to see they were trained correctly. Despite the fact that there are those that think My Forum is just the blathering of an opinionated old man, I read something recently in Newsday, a Long Island Newspaper that will give credence to almost everything I have written concerning the danger of not only what Long Island buyers face when buying a dog from a breeder living in another state, but will find in most cases the warnings written in this article are applicable to the 1,000 or so people that take the time to look at my website each month. Yes, a number of breeders (competitors) do read my website. The only danger in my publishing this is that for those out of state breeders already selling cheaper dogs, sometimes with all sorts of guarantees on their dogs, will now know for sure, that they have little to worry about from NY State purchasers since our state will not allow you to sue someone that simply does not have an office in this state! This is a fact, even if you have a written contract and bought the dog out of the back of someone's car visiting here. Worse, I was at a dog show in Connecticut some time back and a breeder from another state sold a dog to a person there that lived in a state other than Connecticut! Imagine the legal hassle the buyer will have trying to enforce their GUARANTIES. This article was automatically sent to me in an email from Newsday at my request. Please keep in mind the logic of my next statement. When you send an email, or call any breeder on the phone the first time (including me) we are strangers. Neither I, nor anyone else out of the goodness of our hearts is going to give you, on face value (based on statements you make) a better deal on a dog, because we automatically like you. Anyone selling dogs for money is trying to make a profit, and that is the way it should be. No one that honestly competes with their dogs on a national or worldwide scale, will be able to stay in business if they can't make enough money back to continue to what they are doing. The so-called HOBBY breeder who claims they only breed to break even, is selling you more than just a dog if you believe them. That said, read on and decide for yourself what the out of state guarantee on your next dog is worth. Oh yes, then consider the cost of having to hire an out of state lawyer to defend you or what it will cost you to fly to say North Carolina, Illinois or even New Hampshire to defend yourself only to find out that your case may be postponed after you get there. Small-claims battle with a Goliath Optometrist's suit highlights the challenges for a consumer taking on an auto maker Richard J. Dalton Jr. Consumer Watch April 1, 2007 An optometrist by day, Sanford Katims went to law school at night to fight DaimlerChrysler over its warranty coverage, launching a battle that highlights the hurdles of hauling a big, out-of-state corporation into small claims court. Lawyers at large companies often get cases dismissed on technicalities, claiming the legal papers weren't served correctly or that the case was filed in the wrong jurisdiction. Some consumers just give up. But not Katims, 50, who has taken DaimlerChrysler to court three times over the incident, compiling a foot-thick portfolio of documents. He said he wants not only to recover the $2,375 he paid to fix his transmission but also to set a precedent allowing consumers to sue carmakers in small claims court in the county in which the consumer lives. New York law requires small claims cases to be heard in the county in which the defendant resides, works or has a place of business. And courts have ruled that car dealerships are independent businesses. So, for example, when Donna Koslosky, 47, of Hicksville, sued DaimlerChrysler in 2005 in small claims court in Nassau, the judge dismissed the case because the carmaker has no office in Nassau county. "I got nowhere," she said. Some states allow plaintiffs to file a case in the jurisdiction in which the plaintiff lives or where the transaction occurred. The State Senate's judiciary committee may consider a bill to allow plaintiffs to sue where the claim arose. Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson (D-Bronx/Westchester) said she hadn't heard of the Katims case but said it highlights the barriers consumers face in small claims court under current rules of jurisdiction: "It's simpler to say where the claim arose is where the court should hear it." Katims, an optometrist in Port Washington, isn't waiting for a change in the law. He's so determined to win that he attended Touro Law School four nights a week and a few hours on Sundays in the fall of 2005, arriving home at 11 p.m. and waking up at 3 a.m. to study for five hours before work. The carmaker's assistant general counsel, Steve Hantler, doesn't see Katims as a crusader for justice. Rather, "it's 'Optometrist Gone Wild,' filing three separate lawsuits," Hantler said in an interview. Katims said, "Were I put in the ring with Mike Tyson, I imagine getting a little wild would be the best option; traditional boxing wouldn't cut it." The problem began in October 2004, when Katims' Jeep got stuck in first gear. He took the car to an Aamco repair shop. He said he didn't take it to the dealership because the owner's manual, warranty paper and Jeep Roadside assistance indicated the car was beyond the warranty period. But he said the dealership later informed him he had an extended warranty, so he tried to recoup the $2,375 he had paid to Aamco. The automaker denied his claim. Katims then sued both DaimlerChrysler and the Huntington Jeep Chrysler dealership in small claims court in November 2004. The judge threw out the case against the dealership, ruling it had nothing to do with the warranty. (The dealership faxed Newsday a copy of the extended warranty with Katims' signature to document that he should have known about it.) DaimlerChrysler didn't show up for the court date, so the judge issued a default judgment, awarding Katims $2,375. The company successfully moved to have the decision vacated, claiming the legal papers were served to the dealership, not DaimlerChrysler, and that the carmaker can't be sued in Suffolk County because it doesn't do business in the county. (DaimlerChrysler's only office in the state is in Rockland County.) Though the carmaker won, it offered Katims $3,000 as a gesture meant to treat its customer right, Hantler said. "We offered to give him more than he's entitled to." Katims denies the company offered the settlement. Both sides agree DaimlerChrysler asked him for a proposed settlement and he demanded $70,000 and a new Jeep with a 7-year, 100,000-mile warranty. "It's clear he doesn't want justice," Hantler said. "He wants a windfall. And our courts should not be abused for that purpose." Katims said he didn't want to start negotiating with a low figure. He has appealed the ruling. The case may be heard as early as May 24. He filed his other lawsuits in higher state courts. One alleges fraudulent misrepresentation and was dismissed in October. The other lawsuit, to recoup money because Chrysler canceled his warranty, is on hold pending the outcome of the first lawsuit. Hantler said another settlement offer is unlikely. "We have incurred $17,000 or $18,000 in legal fees to defend this matter," he said. "That makes me less inclined to do a gesture for goodwill." Jurisdiction: The rules New Yorkers can sue in small claims court only those businesses that have offices in the state. Some other states allow lawsuits to be filed where the trans- action occurred, even if the defendant is based out-of-state. Here are the rules regarding small claims court jurisdiction in the metropolitan area. New York: Plaintiff files where the defendant resides, is employed or has a business office. New Jersey: County in which defendant resides or does business, or if the defendant is not a resident of the state, where the transaction or injury occurred. For security deposit claims, county where the property is located. Connecticut: Individuals can sue where they reside, where the defendant resides or where the transaction or injury took place. Corporations can sue where the defendant resides or does business, or where transaction or injury happened. SOURCE: "EVERYBODY'S GUIDE TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT" BY RALPH WARNER Preparing for your day in court If you begin facing a problem with a company, keep good records of receipts and contracts as well as calls and letters to the company. Try to settle the matter out of court. If you're not successful, here are some tips for filing a case in smallclaims court: New Yorkers can sue in small claims court for up to $5,000, except intown and village courts, where the limit is $3,000. Sit through a court session to familiarize yourself with the process. Under current law, small claims lawsuits must be filed in the county (or other political subdivision) where the business has an office. Make sure you file the papers correctly. Corporations based out of state that do business in New York, also called foreign corporations, must have a registered agent with the state to accept the legal papers. You can find out the registered agent via the New York State Departmentof State at dos.state.ny.us. Click on "search for Corporations and BusinessEntities." If you look up DaimlerChrysler's address and see the name CTCorp., don't be confused - it's legitimate. CT Corp. is a company that accepts legal papers on behalf of other companies. Go through the documents to prepare for your court date. If you're suing a large corporation, you'll likely face a lawyer representing the plaintiff. Don't be intimidated. Small claims court is informal and designed so consumers can represent themselves. RICHARD J. DALTON JR. Copyright (c) 2007, Newsday, Inc. -------------------- This article originally appeared at: http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzdalton015152559apr01,0,3250282.column Visit Newsday online at http://www.newsday.com AKC German Shepherd Dog Breed Standard General Appearance The first impression of a good German Shepherd Dog is that of a strong, agile, well muscled animal, alert and full of life. It is well balanced,with harmonious development of the forequarter and hindquarter. The dog is longer than tall, deep-bodied, and presents an outline of smooth curves rather than angles. It looks substantial and not spindly, giving the impression, both at rest and in motion, of muscular fitness and nimbleness without any look of clumsiness or soft living. The ideal dog is stamped with a look of quality and nobility--difficult to define, but unmistakable when present. Secondary sex characteristics are strongly marked, and every animal gives a definite impression of masculinity or femininity, according to its sex. Temperament The breed has a distinct personality marked by direct and fearless, but not hostile, expression, self-confidence and a certain aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships. The dog must be approachable, quietly standing its ground and showing confidence and willingness to meet overtures without itself making them. It is poised, but when the occasion demands, eager and alert; both fit and willing to serve in its capacity as companion, watchdog, blind leader, herding dog, or guardian, whichever the circumstances may demand. The dog must not be timid, shrinking behind its master or handler; it should not be nervous, looking about or upward with anxious expression or showing nervous reactions, such as tucking of tail, to strange sounds or sights. Lack of confidence under any surroundings is not typical of good character. Any of the above deficiencies in character which indicate shyness must be penalized as very serious faults and any dog exhibiting pronounced indications of these must be excused from the ring. It must be possible for the judge to observe the teeth and to determine that both testicles are descended. Any dog that attempts to bite the judge must be disqualified. The ideal dog is a working animal with an incorruptible character combined with body and gait suitable for the arduous work that constitutes its primary purpose. Size, Proportion, Substance The desired height for males at the top of the highest point of the shoulder blade is 24 to 26 inches; and for bitches, 22 to 24 inches. The German Shepherd Dog is longer than tall, with the most desirable proportion as 10 to 8½. The length is measured from the point of the prosternum or breastbone to the rear edge of the pelvis, the ischial tuberosity. The desirable long proportion is not derived from a long back, but from overall length with relation to height, which is achieved by length of forequarter and length of withers and hindquarter, viewed from the side. Head The head is noble, cleanly chiseled, strong without coarseness, but above all not fine, and in proportion to the body. The head of the male is distinctly masculine, and that of the bitch distinctly feminine. The expression keen, intelligent and composed. Eyes of medium size, almond shaped, set a little obliquely and not protruding. The color is as dark as possible. Ears are moderately pointed, in proportion to the skull, open toward the front, and carried erect when at attention, the ideal carriage being one in which the center lines of the ears, viewed from the front, are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground. A dog with cropped or hanging ears must be disqualified. Seen from the front the forehead is only moderately arched, and the skull slopes into the long, wedge-shaped muzzle without abrupt stop. The muzzle is long and strong, and its topline is parallel to the topline of the skull. Nose black. A dog with a nose that is not predominantly black must be disqualified. The lips are firmly fitted. Jaws are strongly developed. Teeth --42 in number--20 upper and 22 lower--are strongly developed and meet in a scissors bite in which part of the inner surface of the upper incisors meet and engage part of the outer surface of the lower incisors. An overshot jaw or a level bite is undesirable. An undershot jaw is a disqualifying fault. Complete dentition is to be preferred. Any missing teeth other than first premolars is a serious fault. Neck, Topline, Body The neck is strong and muscular, clean-cut and relatively long, proportionate in size to the head and without loose folds of skin. When the dog is at attention or excited, the head is raised and the neck carried high; otherwise typical carriage of the head is forward rather than up and but little higher than the top of the shoulders, particularly in motion. Topline-- The withers are higher than and sloping into the level back. The back is straight, very strongly developed without sag or roach, and relatively short. The whole structure of the body gives an impression of depth and solidity without bulkiness. Chest--Commencing at the prosternum, it is well filled and carried well down between the legs. It is deep and capacious, never shallow, with ample room for lungs and heart, carried well forward, with the prosternum showing ahead of the shoulder in profile. Ribs well sprung and long, neither barrel-shaped nor too flat, and carried down to a sternum which reaches to the elbows. Correct ribbing allows the elbows to move back freely when the dog is at a trot. Too round causes interference and throws the elbows out; too flat or short causes pinched elbows. Ribbing is carried well back so that the loin is relatively short. Abdomen firmly held and not paunchy. The bottom line is only moderately tucked up in the loin. Loin Viewed from the top, broad and strong. Undue length between the last rib and the thigh, when viewed from the side, is undesirable. Croup long and gradually sloping. Tail bushy, with the last vertebra extended at least to the hock joint. It is set smoothly into the croup and low rather than high. At rest, the tail hangs in a slight curve like a saber. A slight hook- sometimes carried to one side-is faulty only to the extent that it mars general appearance. When the dog is excited or in motion, the curve is accentuated and the tail raised, but it should never be curled forward beyond a vertical line. Tails too short, or with clumpy ends due to ankylosis, are serious faults. A dog with a docked tail must be disqualified. Forequarters The shoulder blades are long and obliquely angled, laid on flat and not placed forward. The upper arm joins the shoulder blade at about a right angle. Both the upper arm and the shoulder blade are well muscled. The forelegs, viewed from all sides, are straight and the bone oval rather than round. The pasterns are strong and springy and angulated at approximately a 25-degree angle from the vertical. Dewclaws on the forelegs may be removed, but are normally left on. The feet are short, compact with toes well arched, pads thick and firm, nails short and dark. Hindquarters The whole assembly of the thigh, viewed from the side, is broad, with both upper and lower thigh well muscled, forming as nearly as possible a right angle. The upper thigh bone parallels the shoulder blade while the lower thigh bone parallels the upper arm. The metatarsus (the unit between the hock joint and the foot) is short, strong and tightly articulated. The dewclaws, if any, should be removed from the hind legs. Feet as in front. Coat The ideal dog has a double coat of medium length. The outer coat should be as dense as possible, hair straight, harsh and lying close to the body. A slightly wavy outer coat, often of wiry texture, is permissible. The head, including the inner ear and foreface, and the legs and paws are covered with short hair, and the neck with longer and thicker hair. The rear of the forelegs and hind legs has somewhat longer hair extending to the pastern and hock, respectively. Faults in coat include soft, silky, too long outer coat, woolly, curly, and open coat. Color The German Shepherd Dog varies in color, and most colors are permissible. Strong rich colors are preferred. Pale, washed-out colors and blues or livers are serious faults. A white dog must be disqualified. Gait A German Shepherd Dog is a trotting dog, and its structure has been developed to meet the requirements of its work. General Impression -- The gait is outreaching, elastic, seemingly without effort, smooth and rhythmic, covering the maximum amount of ground with the minimum number of steps. At a walk it covers a great deal of ground, with long stride of both hind legs and forelegs. At a trot the dog covers still more ground with even longer stride, and moves powerfully but easily, with coordination and balance so that the gait appears to be the steady motion of a well-lubricated machine. The feet travel close to the ground on both forward reach and backward push. In order to achieve ideal movement of this kind, there must be good muscular development and ligamentation. The hindquarters deliver, through the back, a powerful forward thrust which slightly lifts the whole animal and drives the body forward. Reaching far under, and passing the imprint left by the front foot, the hind foot takes hold of the ground; then hock, stifle and upper thigh come into play and sweep back, the stroke of the hind leg finishing with the foot still close to the ground in a smooth follow-through. The overreach of the hindquarter usually necessitates one hind foot passing outside and the other hind foot passing inside the track of the forefeet, and such action is not faulty unless the locomotion is crabwise with the dog's body sideways out of the normal straight line. Transmission The typical smooth, flowing gait is maintained with great strength and firmness of back. The whole effort of the hindquarter is transmitted to the forequarter through the loin, back and withers. At full trot, the back must remain firm and level without sway, roll, whip or roach. Unlevel topline with withers lower than the hip is a fault. To compensate for the forward motion imparted by the hindquarters, the shoulder should open to its full extent. The forelegs should reach out close to the ground in a long stride in harmony with that of the hindquarters. The dog does not track on widely separated parallel lines, but brings the feet inward toward the middle line of the body when trotting, in order to maintain balance. The feet track closely but do not strike or cross over. Viewed from the front, the front legsfunction from the shoulder joint to the pad in a straight line. Viewed from the rear, the hind legs function from the hip joint to the pad in a straight line.Faults of gait, whether from front, rear or side, are to be considered very serious faults. Disqualifications Cropped or hanging ears. Dogs with noses not predominantly black. Undershot jaw. Docked tail. White dogs. Any dog that attempts to bite the judge. Approved February 11, 1978 Reformatted July 11, 1994 Correct Size and Weights of the German Shepherd Dog When questioning me about the size and weights of dogs either by phone or email, please don't ask me how much my dogs weigh. Frankly, I don't know. Any breeder who tries to impress you about his fat, overweight stud dog or brood bitch that doesn't fit within the sizes and weights described below, has an overweight, oversized animal that should NOT be used for breeding! Oversized and overweight dogs in many instances have skeletal problems they will pass on to their offspring. If these breeders attempted to show their dogs in the conditions they proclaim their dogs are, they would be criticized openly in the ring by a German judge and penalized accordingly (AKC judges are asked not to criticize dogs to their owner/handlers inside or outside the ring as it can cause loud arguments or even physical altercations. Instead, they just place the dogs in the back of the line). Our dogs are quite healthy and other than going to the Vet for rabbi shots every 3 years, many of our dogs rarely have only been to a Vets office more than 3 times in their lives. I am 70 years old now and rarely pick up my own dogs to be weighed on our bathroom scale. Next time some breeder tells you his male weighs 130 lbs, politely ask him to prove it by picking him up and weighing him before your eyes. Think about it, how many men do you know can lift that much weight, much less most women I've ever met? Visually speaking, if you can't see an indention behind the last rib of a dog, it's too fat! We breed to the standard and show our dogs in National and International competition. Therefore our dogs must be in correct weight for their size to compete, or they wouldn't win. Many prospective purchasers, for some reason have a problem with not bothering to read written standards concerning the breed of dog they are about to buy. If the breed of dog your about to purchase has no written AKC standard, then it is considered to be a mongrel or mixed breed, not a purebred dog. Below is information that concerns both German Shepherd dogs and bitches. Keep in mind; these are weights of animals, not couch potatoes. A pregnant bitch might weigh slightly more due to her condition. Size: Dog: 60 to 65 cm. (23. -25.5 in). Bitch: 55 to 60 cm. (21.7-23.6 in). Weight: Dog: 30 to 40 kg. (66 to 88 lbs). Bitch: 22 to 32 kg (48.6 to 70.6 lbs) Buyers who have never owned or purchased a German dog from imported parents before, should be aware that the American standard available from the AKC is slightly different (posted elsewhere on this website). They give no weights. The size for a German Shepherds measured at the withers is 24“ - 26" for dogs and 22“ - 24" for females. Of even greater importance to avoid unnecessary arguments at a future date, the Germans have always been a technical people and have a set way of doing things. American bred Shepherds are measured at the top of dog's shoulder blades; the Germans place the wicket just behind the dog's shoulder blades, which could easily result in a difference in the resulting size. A German import therefore will appear to be huskier in appearance when compared to an American (line bred on 5 or more generations of American dogs) Shepherd purportedly of the same size. German Show Titles and Their Meanings THE MEANING OF GERMAN TITLES AWARDED TO DOGS AT WDA AND USA EVENTS" PLEASE NOTE THAT A NUMBER IS USUALLY PRESENT AFTER THE LETTERS, LIKE VP1 INDICATING A FIRST PLACE OR VP10, TO INDICATE A TENTH PLACE. Baby puppy class (3-6 months) -- ratings awarded are: Very Promising (VP), Promising (P), Less Promising (LP) Junior puppy class (6-9 months) -- ratings awarded are: Very Promising (VP), Promising (P), Less Promising (LP) Senior puppy class (9-12 months) -- ratings awarded are: Very Promising (VP), Promising (P), Less Promising (LP) Adult dog Classes (over 24 months without working title) -- ratings awarded are: Very Good (SG), Good (G), Sufficient (A), and Insufficient (M) Youth Classes (12-18 months) -- ratings awarded are: Very Good (SG), Good (G), Sufficient (A), and Insufficient (M) Young Dog Classes (18-24 months) -- ratings awarded are: Very Good (SG), Good (G), Sufficient (A), and Insufficient (M) Working Dog Classes (over 24 months with working title) ratings awarded are: Excellent (V), Very Good (SG), Good (G), Sufficient (A), and Insufficient (M) CAVEAT EMPTOR - “LET THE BUYER BEWARE" I hate writing this kind of article, but today's American puppy buyer has got to be aware that all dog breeders are not created equal. Like con men that prey upon old ladies and the trusting, too many "dog breeders" can unfortunately be just as bad. Too many unfortunate puppy buyers, it has become so bad that after spending thousands of dollars trying to save their sick puppy, they are forced to put it down. Why? Because they failed to heed the warnings of the good breeders and not purchase their dogs from so called "hobby and back yard breeders" who claim the reason they sell their dogs so cheaply is that they cant afford to show their dogs and because their female is out of perhaps a well known sire and therefore just as good as the breeder who has world and nationally ranked animals. Nothing could be further from the truth! My wife and I have been breeding and competing nationally and internationally with our dogs for almost 39 years now. Now, we are hardly what anyone could call rich. I was forced to quit working in 1994 after 3 knee operations and then went on complete SS disability in 1995 because I also have Cancer and ended up having both my knees replaced. Any knowledgeable adult living in the USA today knows that anyone trying to live on social security in this country is living below what is referred to as the national poverty level, a most minimal level of existence. Point? If we can continue to buy and breed the best quality dogs, then so can everyone else. There is no reason for someone to make excuses and compromise on quality. Breeders should be proud to show off the dogs they purchase or breed at shows if their health allows. For example, despite my failing health in November of 2005 (just before I was forced to go back on my second round of Chemotherapy within 5 years) I showed three puppies I bought in the 4-6 month old class. I'm proud to say they placed first second and third in a class of 6 dogs. Perhaps, with good breeders, whether they buy or breed their dogs, its an obsession to prove the quality of their choices, not just a hobby where we can pass off our mistakes on an unsuspecting public that knows nothing about the health and temperament background of their dogs. How can the public really be so gullible to believe that anyone that pays as little as $1,000 for a dog has done any research into the parents background? If the American buyer would only take the time to investigate the longevity of a breeders success over 20 or more years with dogs before they buy from someone that has cheaper dogs for sale. Like it or not, a lower price has always been a harbinger of poorer quality and usually, no matter what product you buy, that means problems. The single most important reason a breeder shows at a Sieger show in this or any country is to get a placing within the country as to his dog's breed value. A VA rating is the highest rating a dog can receive. Judges normally award 5 to 10 dogs this ranking. It is a way of suggesting that these dogs be bred to first before selecting something of a lesser quality even dogs that only receive a V rating at this show. There is always a number placed after a dogs ranking to indicate its value. The VA 1 dog or bitch is given the title of Sieger or Siegerin and is supposedly the best. A dog with a VA 4 ranking is considered to be twice as good as perhaps the dog that goes VA 8! The prices of their offspring should also reflect this in their sale price. Likewise, the V 1 dog at this same show, though physically only one physical position behind the VA 8 dog, is considered to be of a lesser value. Shortly I'm going to take the time to put up some pictures on our web site of our trophy wall. It reflects ribbons and trophies of dogs we have owned or bred since 1973! Perhaps, I should be proudest of only the dogs that have placed Select or VA. Yet when people come to our home I always manage to point out our first BEST OF BREED ribbon we won in Columbia, SC in 1973. Why, because it indicates the consistency and longevity of our success. Thirty-three years of breeding BEST OF BREED shepherds are no accident. For example, in 2003, our first VA rated dog, Zamp von Steilen Ufer went V48 at the German Sieger show in Germany. Now the entry in his class and age group alone was over 390 dogs! While we are proud of our dogs placings in this countries WDA and USA Sieger shows, oft times the total entry of all the dogs in the entire show is less than this one class in Germany! My point? It is so important that dogs be shown in Europe, particularly Germany, before one considers it to be worthy enough to be bred and shown in this country. This is not so say that a dog bred here could not be shown and place high in Germany, but in all truth, the best any American has ever been able to do with a dog shown in Germany is VA8 and that has been done only one time! For this reason, we are most proud of both our VA dogs. Zamp was also V rated again in 2004. However this time we were one of three American owners that were so fortunate to accomplish this! Bax, last years VA4 dog, was also shown in the Austrian and German Sieger shows and received high V ratings in both. To my knowledge he was the only dog shown in this country last year with such a coveted ranking. We breed enough dogs each year to satisfy those people that want well bred dogs that have a minimum of health problems in their dogs backgrounds. Every American that calls me on my phone for a dog states, "I want a healthy dog." I tell them all the same thing," while we can guarantee our dogs unconditionally against all life threatening health defects for a short period of time, I can no more guarantee your dog wont get sick because I don't know how you will be caring for and feeding your dog while he lives in your home". A car dealer may guarantee his steel car that has been engineered within 10,000's of an inch for 3 or more years, but he wont guarantee you a thing if you run your car into a stone wall at 60 mph through carelessness or neglect on your part. If you as a parent, can't guarantee that your child wont catch a disease or even a cold within the first 30 days they go back to school each Fall, then why ask and expect a breeder to be responsible for something you allow your puppy to do that caused your dog to develop diarrhea or worms? No matter how expensive a puppy you buy, you can't stop it from eating leaves, grass sticks or dirt in your yard. Many of which can make him sick at his stomach and some, which can later to cause him to develop parasites. Lets face it, even the best-bred dogs can and will develop diseases. No one that I know of can prevent that from happening. Another thing I do hope you readers and potential purchasers of dogs will be cautious of. If a breeder has never owned or bred a VA dog, then why would any of you believe them when they tell you that a certain puppy is "pick of the litter", my question is a simple one. If they never owned or bred a winning show dog, they how in hell would you expect them to know one if they saw it? One person had the mitigated gall to tell me they read enough books on the subject and therefore they should know as well as anyone how to do it. I started laughing hilariously. The person, quite irritated, as would be expected, asked why I was laughing with such ridicule in my tone of voice. I said, " Well, if your right and all it takes is reading a book, I just read one on how to extract a tooth painlessly with just a pair of electricians pliers! Would you let me experiment on one of your teeth to prove it? Then I said, "If you believe I can do that, I also have bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you cheap" Simply and logically stated, if breeding were so easy to do, then why doesn't everyone own a top VA dog or Champion? Why is it so important for someone to purchase a dog from a breeder that shows dogs they own? Because in the German ring the temperaments are put to some very extreme tests to prove that the dogs are not only trainable, but have sound temperament as well! This same kind of temperament testing is never done or allowed in the American AKC show ring. Oh, some other suggestions. The Internet is full of breeders making suggestions as to what you can or should do at another breeders kennel. Different states have different laws concerning the responsibility of dog owners. Even worse, insurance companies covering homeowner's policies are very stringent. Even an accidental dog bite through the carelessness act of a visitor in your home could cause and owner to lose the insurance on their house. Worse, despite the fact that most buyers want a dog that will protect their home, will insist, despite the fact that they are strangers to my dogs, to give them bear hugs around the neck etc. I wouldn't suggest anyone do this with a bitch whose puppies you are about to buy. They are very protective around strangers in the home wanting to touch their puppies. THIS IS NORMAL AND NATURAL. Mothers, think about it for just a moment, remember when you first brought your baby home from the hospital and put it in its crib. Would you have allowed me, a stranger, to pick up your baby and throw it up in the air and catch it? I think not! Hahahahaha. However, since we own two different VA males that we have over a combined $50,000 investment in, we welcome you when you come here to play with both these dogs. Admittedly, if a person only owns the female and not the male it will be difficult for you to ascertain for yourself how good the father's temperament is. After all, if the parents are not important to you then buy a dog from a pet store or a kennel that doesn't breed their own dogs. Never assume that a breeder of cheap dogs didn't buy their dog from a pet store and then breed it 1½ to 2 years later. As I said at the beginning of this essay, never assume all breeders are created equal. If a breeder can't prove that at least one of the parents has proven quality, then stay away and save your money. If your buying a dog with German breeding, then check to see if the breeder has up to date copies of the URMA books on their coffee table. These books contain pictures and critiques of all the German dogs shown at the Sieger shows since 1994. This makes it easy for you to check out the dogs your about to buy ancestral pedigree. One last thing click on the below link and wait a few moments to see what is going on in this and other parts of the country for those purchasing dogs from unscrupulous breeders. Its called "Puppy Smuggling Cruel Profits" and I found it on AOL. Its a CNN film. Remember, Caveat Emptor, let the buyer beware and when you don't, please don't cry on my shoulder about what another breeder did to you. You have been warned. If you pro rate the price of your dog over a period of 10 years, you find your new friend is one of the least expensive investments you can make. If you bothered to purchase it from a provably good breeder CLICK HERE FOR PUPPY SMIGGLING VIDEO THE VARIOUS TYPES OF GERMAN SHEPHERDS FOR SALE I was looking through those dog sale ads in the newspapers again today and there were 8 ads for German shepherd pups. I received 3 calls myself in spite of the apparent competition .. Now, we both know that quality isnt just a word, it has a meaning, but then so does cheap. Somehow none of us ever believe that the two words really go together when buying a home, a car, or even dinner at a restaurant for an evening. However, it seems that as soon as you tell some people that your dogs cost more than a thousand dollars, they think your trying to sell them a show dog. Its amazing how quickly they tell you, "Oh, I just want a pet". Why do people seem to assume that if they buy something called a pet it must be cheap? Seems to me that everyone also always asks me how long my dogs live and want them to have good health. Breeding good health into a dog doest start with a cheap or unknowm quantity. What many people dont bother to do is a little research. Every dog registered with the AKC has a breed standard. They are not hard to read. In fact they are pretty specific about size, color, appearance, gait, ears, heads and in some cases even weights of the dog. In countries like Germany, there are even strict standards for how and what to breed. The Germans dont want anyone to breed a litter closer than 3-2. That is to say they dont want the same name of any dog in the pedigree that appears on the fathers side back to the great grandfather, to have his name appear in the mothers pedigree closer than as a grandfather. Thats called outcrossing. Now, unfortunately this isn't always followed ... in Germany or anywhere else for that matter. In the USA, breeders of AKC dogs have bred mothers to sons, fathers to daughters and even brothers to sisters. This is called inbreeding in the effort by a very knowledgeable breeder who is trying to breed a given look or 'stamp of appearance' to their dogs. I used the word "knowlegeable" and that rarely applies to someone breeding dogs less than 15 or more years. Now AKC breeders are not the only people to try this. The Germans broke their own rules back in '84 - '87 when two back to back German Siegers, Uran v Wildsteiger Land and Quando v Arminius shared the same mother, Palme v Wildsteiger Land. Well, breeders and novices alike, being what they are soon decided they would breed to the latest Sieger to get the best dogs and also to be able to sell them faster. Then to make things a bit more intense in the breeding world, a Uran son, Eiko v Kirschental, became Sieger in 1988 and in 1989 a Quando son, Iso v Bergmannshof became Sieger. The concentration of genes thru these dogs over the next 10 years did create a number of breed problems. Common sense will tell you why. Half brothers were being bred to half sisters (Uran sons to Quando daughters) and the opposite (Quando sons to Uran daughters! I could go on with some of the permutations here but I wont. For a long time, I thought the "working dog" people were immune to this sort of thing since they generally as a group tend to bad mouth show line German dogs and all American & Canadian AKC & CKC dogs in general. Then one day at a training class for bite work I kept hearing about a dog named Mink or Minx something or other. Having been in the breed for over 36 years now, I've learned to listen to these warning signs. Finally I asked to see some pedigrees on these working dog. Damn, I looked at 3 different pedigrees and in four generations (32 dogs), here was that dog Mink's name, 7 or 8 times. In one pedigree it appeared 10 times. Now this dog was a wonderful working dog that had many high scores in his Sch titles and people actually believed that they could practically clone the dog by breeding him back into his daughters! Perhaps its time I explain to some of you about titles. There are too many for me to cover in the space of this text, but the Schutzhund title encompasses 3 different working venues. Just remember the initials T.O.P. Tracking, Obedience and Protection work. There are 3 degrees of this title. Kind of like a Bachelors, Masters and Doctorates degree in human terms. In some countries, Germany in particular, a dog or bitch MUST have at least a Sch 1 title to even be bred. This is not true in all countries. Now my next series of statements are going to contain a lot of facts that some of my competitors will get angry with, but the facts that I state are the reality of dog world. Show line dogs are the most desired dogs and therefore the most expensive. Any time a dog receives a VA rating in Germany, he's almost assured at least 90 breedings a year. At a stud fee of $1,000 - 1,500 Euros each, that a nice piece of change to put in your pocket each year. When these top dog are sold to foreign countries, their prices are between $150,000-250,000 Euros each. Working dog pups and dogs, cant even come close to selling for those prices. In fact Ive never even heard of one selling for more than $2-3,000. I'm sure there must be some exceptions, but I personally have never heard of any. Czech dogs, became very popular after the Berlin Wall fell.. These dogs were owned and bred by the police only and they had a great propensity for athletics and bite work, but generally had poor conformation. In a word, they were much cheaper to buy from a nation torn by civil war. Now the same problems exists in countries like Serbia, Romania and other eastern European countries. The honesty of their dogs pedigrees were often suspect due to the loss of records from years of civil war. Please, this is not to say that all the breeders didn't keep good records, but we are all aware of what happens in these countries in times of war. This is why the DNA of these dogs is so important to have for 3 or more generations. Now something of very real importance everyone should consider when buying a dog. I made reference to Sch titles and the term show line and working dogs. Any self respecting breeder will try to put at least a Sch2 on their males and a Sch1 on their females as a minimal standard if they wish to show their dogs in competition. Its is also desirable for the breeder to see these titled dogs also get at least a V (excellent) rating at a show. However what few of you know and will most likely never be told is that the working dogs are supposed to be shown in the same rings and classes with these show dogs and hopefully will have enough good conformation to receive a minimal G rating so that they to can be bred. Now, a G rating is like getting D on a report card in high school. In all fairness, Sch titles have scores too. The working dog people covet scores of 95 or better while the show line people are generally happy with scores in the 80's. The minimum passing score for a dogs combined score is 220 and they must score at least an 80 in the bite work or fail. So lets consider a show line dog with a score of 220 getting a passing D too. Now there is a show title of Universal Sieger which combines the best of both worlds and of course that is an ideal to achieve for any breeder or owner. Some warnings. Working dogs are usually more hyper and demanding of their owners than show line dogs. They are bred intentionally to be that way. Little care is given in most cases to breed a good looking dog or a correctly sized one. Because these dogs are worked and trained so hard, their breeders and those that buy them generally have males and females of lighter bone and size. It is believed that their joints will hold up better from all the jumping and running they are forced to endure for their owners. Show line dogs on the other hand are larger heavier boned dogs. These dogs are more likely to be even oversized. once these dogs have achieved their working titles, it is only required once a year, at a National show, for them to display their ability to do bite work. If they fail, they cant be shown. The only other time they might be required to bite more than once a year is on the anniversary year of their Korung and then they must still prove that they know some basic obedience as well as prove their biting ability as well.. My reasons for writing this are not to slight any members of the dog world. Hell, we all deserve our place under the sun. My biggest concern is that in an effort to buy the least expensive dog you can is that you may end up with the wrong dog for your family and then find yourself taking it to the pound. where it will be destroyed ... just because you didn't ask enough questions about a dogs temperament first. All puppies are cute, but they do grow up and if you the owner isnt in to correcting your dog with the necessary effort required you could create a monster and a nightmare for your neighbors and your self. The breeders of these dogs generally specify in their ads warnings like serious buyers only. When you talk with them on the phone, they rarely talk of the beauty aspects of their dogs confirmation, just things like prey drive and sharp and bite work. These people in another industry would definitely be Value Added Resellers. The value of a well trained protection dog will be in the thousands of dollars because of the work put into the dog by his trainer. Many of these dogs are Sable in color and not the oft times desired black and tan or Rin Tin Tin looking dog. In reality, this is not something most mothers want in the house with their children. Contrarily the value of a show line dog is in his breeding .... particularly through the titles placed in front of his parents name and not so much on those in the back. These dogs are larger, have redder pigmentation and are shown as early as 3 months of age to see how they will strut their stuff in a show ring. No offense, but its oft times been written and said, "Beauty is its own excuse". Now I've spent a great deal of time on foreign imports and very little on American bred shepherds. Why? Well, there are no rules for how these dogs are to be bred or even shown, With the high costs of insurance rearing its ugly head, few Americans want to have their home insurance prices raised or canceled.. I bred American shepherds for 32 years. I stopped breeding them when I realized there were few places I could go on the east coast to breed where a dog wouldn't be a first cousin to the one I was breeding. There were other reasons, most importantly that too much emphasis was placed on how well a dog moved from the side rather than how he was put together overall.. Many things were lacking in these dogs that I wanted to see again. That Gorgeous Black and red color. Just go to my website and look at my dog Zamp after you see his beautiful pigment, look at his headpiece. I didn't breed Zamp. I can take no credit for his beauty and correctness, I am merely his caretaker and in awe at times of his beauty. I shouldn't ignore my other males, none of them are pale by any means except when the photographer allowed to much light on the picture. People are amazed at Apoll when they see him for the first time because his pictures were taken in brilliant sunlight. I didn't breed him either. When I first bought these dogs I had no intention of adopting the German method of doing things. I just wanted to breed them to my American bitches and breed better color and temperament back into my dogs. Yes, alas, I said temperament. There is that word again. I hate a spook. Such a harsh term for a dog that is afraid of people and even other dogs. Dont get me wrong, it can happen with German dogs too. The only explanation for it is a throw back to some wilder instinct in the animals. It can be avoided and bred away from though and that is why I now train my dogs, even those that are older into doing bite work. Think of a dog that does minimal bite training as a young man going through Army boot camp. When he comes out the other side, he will be better for it ... and his owner, like a father with his child, will feel prouder of his son or daughter. So, please, never let any of you ever use the word pet with me as if it means something cheap, shoddy and bred incorrectly. Most breeders know what their dogs are worth and if they want to sell them cheap and you want to buy cheap, go ahead, in life, you generally get what you pay for.. Just remember, there are breeders in this world that have set standards for the rest of us to follow .. Dont think us fools because we want to breed and create a better looking or better trainable animal.. Perhaps once in your lives, give yourself something of quality, a dog, bred for good health, that will hopefully share your life with you and your family for the next 10 or 12 years. Pro rate his cost, he'll give you more loyal service and a lot more value than a car will that most of us trade in after 4 years. I have, as have many of the people I compete with do. We share a common bond, a well bred dog, a beautiful dog, a healthy dog.. Managed by the Wynsum Internet Design Not responsible for spelling errors Code Copyright 2002 - 2007 by Phoenixgsd and Wynsum, all rights reserved.