Thought this might be a good discussion since I've come up against this wall so much lately.....it gets a little frustrating. The mods say this site is for everyone - but sometimes there is a great wall separation by what is best and what is affordable by the new pet owners..... the advise given can be unattainable by the person asking for help.
The have's
1. Buy from the best breeders, recommended lines, imported or transported from across state, lengthy waiting for litters, network of who's who in the GSD world, knowledgeable with GSD's, bloodlines & breeders.
2. Able to afford the best food/diet. Professional trainers are used. Grooming toward target Show/Sport/Ring planned and finances are available.
3. Best vet care, exercise and training regimen established and prepared.
4. Titling and certification planned and knowledge of requirements are known.
Then you have the pet world; sometimes the have not's....
1. Average/low income - want a great pup but the prices are sky high. People that pay that much are only doing it for status or serious competitive show/work to get titles. We don't want/need that! We just want a pet.
2. Has seen GSD's on TV - the best of the best - but knows it's a different world for him and looks to what's available locally at a price that he can afford.
3. Has little to no knowledge about health, bloodlines or best food, but he knows in his life he has experienced some great GSD's locally raised as have his friends in his community and they did great with "regular food" and litters from local folks. At local reasonable prices.
4. Vet bills? No way a dog vet bill would be $2-$3 thousand dollars for tests??? Maybe even then no diagnosis?? Pet Insurance? No one I ever knew had that! We'll use the old remedies that have worked for generations on dogs, cats, farm animals.
Want a GSD - look for "responsible breeders" with "health checks". "Beware of BYB's!!!" "If you pay less than $1,500 for your GSD - it's from a BYB!" If you can't afford the vet bills - GSD's are expensive dogs to upkeep - Don't get one!" "If you don't title your dog and know about bloodlines - don't breed it".
And they compare their reality with yours - and there are no matches. They know their friends and family decades back had a pet GSD from a local litter that was awesome, ate "regular store food" and the pup was not expensive to buy from a local family.
Just pointing out the disparity - the help asked, the advise offered and the judgment given when excited JQP comes here to announce proudly he has a new GSD puppy and has a couple of questions......
The have's
1. Buy from the best breeders, recommended lines, imported or transported from across state, lengthy waiting for litters, network of who's who in the GSD world, knowledgeable with GSD's, bloodlines & breeders.
2. Able to afford the best food/diet. Professional trainers are used. Grooming toward target Show/Sport/Ring planned and finances are available.
3. Best vet care, exercise and training regimen established and prepared.
4. Titling and certification planned and knowledge of requirements are known.
Then you have the pet world; sometimes the have not's....
1. Average/low income - want a great pup but the prices are sky high. People that pay that much are only doing it for status or serious competitive show/work to get titles. We don't want/need that! We just want a pet.
2. Has seen GSD's on TV - the best of the best - but knows it's a different world for him and looks to what's available locally at a price that he can afford.
3. Has little to no knowledge about health, bloodlines or best food, but he knows in his life he has experienced some great GSD's locally raised as have his friends in his community and they did great with "regular food" and litters from local folks. At local reasonable prices.
4. Vet bills? No way a dog vet bill would be $2-$3 thousand dollars for tests??? Maybe even then no diagnosis?? Pet Insurance? No one I ever knew had that! We'll use the old remedies that have worked for generations on dogs, cats, farm animals.
Want a GSD - look for "responsible breeders" with "health checks". "Beware of BYB's!!!" "If you pay less than $1,500 for your GSD - it's from a BYB!" If you can't afford the vet bills - GSD's are expensive dogs to upkeep - Don't get one!" "If you don't title your dog and know about bloodlines - don't breed it".
And they compare their reality with yours - and there are no matches. They know their friends and family decades back had a pet GSD from a local litter that was awesome, ate "regular store food" and the pup was not expensive to buy from a local family.
Just pointing out the disparity - the help asked, the advise offered and the judgment given when excited JQP comes here to announce proudly he has a new GSD puppy and has a couple of questions......