Getting a high-quality import dog.

Wolfheart · 09-29-2009, 11:16 AM

Hello everyone!

My name is Angel, I'm currently a student in Animal Care as well as a part-time kennel attendant. I have spent the last 5 years researching everything possible about dogs as well as the German Shepherd breed. I want to be a small, home-based breeder of working-line German Shepherds.

I would really like to import a male from outside North America that will have an excellent pedigree with a line strong in Schutzhund. The only problem is that I have NO idea where to start looking.

If somebody has imported a pup or stud from outside of North America, could you please outline the process for me? I'd really appreciate any advice or information on how to go about importing a dog. Any suggestions or recommendations as far as WHERE to get the dog?

Thank you so much in advance.

~ Angel

BlackGSD · 09-29-2009, 12:09 PM

What's wrong with dogs bred in North America?

Amaruq · 09-29-2009, 12:16 PM

There are some excellent breeders here in NA of the type of dog you are looking for. I can think of about 6 or 7 I would recommend off the top of my head.

There is nothing against importing but when you add in the shipping and the fact that most European Breeders do NOT have any warrantees on health, temperament or working ability. You get what they send you. Not all are like this but...... personally I would rather buy a pup in the States (or Canada) from a breeder that are more prone to develop a long term relationship with you. Someone that you can go to when you are ready to breed/whelp/raise your first litter, etc.

My biggest issue right now are there are several breeders I would LOVE to get a pup from but I can't get them all at once.

BlackGSD · 09-29-2009, 12:42 PM

There is also the really REAL risk of getting WAY more (or less) dog than you bargained for if importing an adult.

I know of more than one person that has imported an adult and has gotten a dog that they can NOT handle. And these are experienced handlers.

**Liesje** · 09-29-2009, 12:52 PM

I am unclear on the goal - would you be buying and adult, titled stud to use in your own breeding program? To compete with? To stud out to other breeders?

If you are not already in a good SchH club I would start there. Most good clubs have WL breeders or people who have been competing for decades and know good WL breeders. They can point you in the right direction.

**Chris Wild** · 09-29-2009, 12:56 PM

I don't think importing a stud dog would be the ideal way to get started if your goal is to become a working line hobby breeder.

First, breeding programs are based on females. There are many nice, qualified studs available to choose from to find the right match for a bitch. For this reason many breeders don't even keep their own studs. They reserve their time and space and energy for those important females, and then carefully select from outside studs for each breeding.

Imported, titled adults are very expensive. A proven stud of high quality will be almost impossible to pry out of the hands of a European, and if you do you will be paying an ungodly amount of money for that dog. And then you've still got to get a bitch if you want to be a breeder, not just a stud owner, and no one male, no matter how wonderful, is a perfect mate for every female. So what if you get a bitch that isn't a good cross for that stud you bought?

IMO, the best breeders are those who spend years studying the breed, including working and training and titling dogs, before they breed. In that vein, my recommendation would be to find a good young dog, probably a female, and get involved in training. Then once she is mature, titled, and ready to breed you'll have a much more in depth knowledge and experience of working dogs to help guide your breeding decisions.

Importing a titled, proven broodbitch can be a great way to jump start into breeding, but it doesn't bring with it the wealth of knowledge and experience that can be gained through working a dog to that level of acomplishment yourself.

**JKlatsky** · 09-29-2009, 01:01 PM

Nevermind.

ETA- Exactly what Chris said. Only she said it better...

Barb E · 09-29-2009, 01:13 PM

Nice post Chris - as always.

When are you going to write that book?

BlackGSD · 09-29-2009, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted By: Chris Wild

Importing a titled, proven broodbitch can be a great way to jump start into breeding,...

And it can also be an expensive "lesson". (IN a BAD way.)

I know of more than a couple of folks that have spent a good deal of money on importing a titled broodbitch, only to have nothing but problems and heartbreak along the way.

I know someone that recently imported a bred female. Ended up with a c-section and 1 dead puppy. She then bred her to her male, and again got 1 puppy.(again via c-section) But this one lived.

Wolfheart · 09-29-2009, 03:24 PM

Okay, that makes perfect sense. I was planning on starting with a male and female.

Any recommendations for North American breeders?

09-29-2009, 11:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
Wolfheart New Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 9	Getting a high-quality import dog. Hello everyone! My name is Angel, I'm currently a student in Animal Care as well as a part-time kennel attendant. I have spent the last 5 years researching everything possible about dogs as well as the German Shepherd breed. I want to be a small, home-based breeder of working-line German Shepherds. I would really like to import a male from outside North America that will have an excellent pedigree with a line strong in Schutzhund. The only problem is that I have NO idea where to start looking. If somebody has imported a pup or stud from outside of North America, could you please outline the process for me? I'd really appreciate any advice or information on how to go about importing a dog. Any suggestions or recommendations as far as WHERE to get the dog? Thank you so much in advance. ~ Angel

09-29-2009, 12:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
BlackGSD Crowned Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 7,805	Re: Getting a high-quality import dog. What's wrong with dogs bred in North America? __________________ Tracy Siren vom Banach { Sable female GSD 3-20-08} R.I.P. Wrangler male ACD/Aussie mix. 9-29-99 to8-29-11.

09-29-2009, 12:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
Amaruq Moderator who has gone to the dogs Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Where I don't wanna be-NW PA Posts: 14,645	Re: Getting a high-quality import dog. There are some excellent breeders here in NA of the type of dog you are looking for. I can think of about 6 or 7 I would recommend off the top of my head. There is nothing against importing but when you add in the shipping and the fact that most European Breeders do NOT have any warrantees on health, temperament or working ability. You get what they send you. Not all are like this but...... personally I would rather buy a pup in the States (or Canada) from a breeder that are more prone to develop a long term relationship with you. Someone that you can go to when you are ready to breed/whelp/raise your first litter, etc. My biggest issue right now are there are several breeders I would LOVE to get a pup from but I can't get them all at once. __________________ Ruq Paq Lakota, Chimo, Tika, Rayne, Kanuck, Jethro and Keyzah My Angels forever in my heart and watching over us: Phoenix 9/07 Kaylee Cheyenne 5/09

09-29-2009, 12:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
BlackGSD Crowned Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 7,805	Re: Getting a high-quality import dog. There is also the really REAL risk of getting WAY more (or less) dog than you bargained for if importing an adult. I know of more than one person that has imported an adult and has gotten a dog that they can NOT handle. And these are experienced handlers. __________________ Tracy Siren vom Banach { Sable female GSD 3-20-08} R.I.P. Wrangler male ACD/Aussie mix. 9-29-99 to8-29-11.

09-29-2009, 12:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
Liesje Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 16,263	Re: Getting a high-quality import dog. I am unclear on the goal - would you be buying and adult, titled stud to use in your own breeding program? To compete with? To stud out to other breeders? If you are not already in a good SchH club I would start there. Most good clubs have WL breeders or people who have been competing for decades and know good WL breeders. They can point you in the right direction. __________________ Liesje & the K9s Nikon (GSD) U-CH SG Alta-Tollhaus Bono SchH1 KKL T1 FO PA TF-III FDCh-S CL1-R UJJ U-CA HIT TT CGC Coke (All-American) VPC's Coca-Cola CGC, couch warmer extraordinaire Indy (All-American) Blue Horizon's Indigo Girl, flyball star in training Rainbow Bridge Kenya (GSD) U-CH Alta-Tollhaus-Krieger Lamb Chop CL1-R CL1-F RA HIT TDI TT CGC vom Blauen Horizont / Blue Horizon GSDs

09-29-2009, 12:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
Chris Wild Administrator & Alpha Bitch of the Wild Bunch Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 13,033	Re: Getting a high-quality import dog. I don't think importing a stud dog would be the ideal way to get started if your goal is to become a working line hobby breeder. First, breeding programs are based on females. There are many nice, qualified studs available to choose from to find the right match for a bitch. For this reason many breeders don't even keep their own studs. They reserve their time and space and energy for those important females, and then carefully select from outside studs for each breeding. Imported, titled adults are very expensive. A proven stud of high quality will be almost impossible to pry out of the hands of a European, and if you do you will be paying an ungodly amount of money for that dog. And then you've still got to get a bitch if you want to be a breeder, not just a stud owner, and no one male, no matter how wonderful, is a perfect mate for every female. So what if you get a bitch that isn't a good cross for that stud you bought? IMO, the best breeders are those who spend years studying the breed, including working and training and titling dogs, before they breed. In that vein, my recommendation would be to find a good young dog, probably a female, and get involved in training. Then once she is mature, titled, and ready to breed you'll have a much more in depth knowledge and experience of working dogs to help guide your breeding decisions. Importing a titled, proven broodbitch can be a great way to jump start into breeding, but it doesn't bring with it the wealth of knowledge and experience that can be gained through working a dog to that level of acomplishment yourself. __________________ *Wildhaus Kennels*

09-29-2009, 01:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
JKlatsky Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Riverview, FL Posts: 2,988	Re: Getting a high-quality import dog. Nevermind. ETA- Exactly what Chris said. Only she said it better... __________________ Bianka vom Eisernen Loewen IPO3, CGC, TC 1-3-08 Cade vom Eisernen Loewen IPO1, CGC 3-25-09 D'Artagnan (Tag) vom Eisernen Loewen BH 2-2-10 G Aiko von Burkndeiros SchH 3, IPO3, FH, TC, KKL2 9-17-02 (Retired) Tampa Bay Working Dog Club

09-29-2009, 01:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
Barb E Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 14,528	Re: Getting a high-quality import dog. Nice post Chris - as always. When are you going to write that book? __________________ Dante - March 2004 Kaos von Wolfstraum Oct 2011 "Today is tomorrow's time machine" ~ Dr G ~

09-29-2009, 03:24 PM	#10 (permalink)
Wolfheart New Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 9	Re: Getting a high-quality import dog. Okay, that makes perfect sense. I was planning on starting with a male and female. Any recommendations for North American breeders?

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