[armauro]

We just got our 1st GSD/dog at 58 years old retired after much consternation/indecision - there was a big forum on puppy buyer remorse- well we hit the lottery with our Kirchenwald 13 month old dog-we have had him 6 weeks- he is simply the most handsome and best house dog anyone could want / expect. He is simply the best! This dog has changed my life- for the better- I am more patient etc.

Now our GSD Schutzhund trainer has a 2 year old female he inherited from a breeder who sent her to him for training but she wont bite so no Sch. and the breeder wont pay the BH training so he has the dog for sale - she is well BH trained but not so house trained having been lost in the system between the breeder and trainer- she needs to be spayed if we keep her- we are test driving her at our home in Ct. with our male and they get along just fine.
Are we crazy for even thinking of dealing with another dog- also he wants big $- 4500- for this dog because of her training and he says her pedigree is better than my male. I think an older female is not worth that kind of $ but cant piss off my trainer- my breeder has 6 1 year or older females for sale! No demand for females compared tomales I guess.

Any thoughts or helpful advice?

 

[LadyHawk]

If you can't afford the $4500. I'd say back away - Enjoy your baby and when you ARE ready for a second JUMP wholeheartedly into it.

I would get a fourth - if not for the veterinary costs- and DH wanting NO MORE than three,,,,,,, of well ..... we all have a limitation or two.

 

[armauro]

It is not a ? of affordability but practicality of owning 2 dogs and what is FAIR $ for a 2 year old GSD.

 

[pupresq]

As far as having two dogs, or dealing with two dogs, I think it all sounds fine. IMO two is the ideal number. They play together and can be dogs together but it's not overwhelming. When I've had two dogs, I don't find two any harder than one, and in some ways they're easier but you know best what your lifestyle is like and what you're comfortable with. Granted, I have 4 plus fosters at the moment, so I may not be the best yardstick by which to judge the "right" number of dogs!

As far as the price, I can't see spending/charging that kind of $ for a dog that you aren't looking to do something really specific with - Really great bloodlines or not. That seems much more relevant for a dog that has the drive and the bloodlines being purchased as a breeding or competition prospect. It sounds like he's trying to make up for his losses but kind of at her expense. There are plenty of physically and mentally sound dogs out there who would make terrific pets and don't cost that much. Not every dog from great breedings is a breeding (or competition) prospect themselves - and with her not biting, that sounds like the case here. $4500 seems awfully steep for a dog being purchased as a pet, even with some basic training.

 

[dOg]

Not quite house trained?
Won't bite?
I don't care what the pedigree says, that's sounds like a rescue.
I'd take a pass, and consider finding another trainer.

 

[mkennels]

I can't see that kind of money for a female that is going to be spayed and you are not going to do really anything but have another wonderful pet, it would be different if you was going to breed and show her but you are not, if the price is too high just tell him nicely that you can't afford that right now.

 

[pupresq]

And just to clarify my post - I wouldn't have to think twice about spending $4500 on a dog if they needed it for a medical procedure or something like that. It's not that I think spayed dogs or pets are worth any less, but I can't see paying that as a purchase price.

 

[Guest]

Originally Posted By: dOg
Not quite house trained?
Won't bite?

I don't care what the pedigree says, that's sounds like a rescue.

I'd take a pass, and consider finding another trainer.

Good advice IMO.

As for getting a second dog, yes it is indeed actually easier than one dog. I'll always have two.

 

[armauro]

the dog was sent to the trainer to get Sch. titled, therefore her pups would be worth much more- I gather tittled dogs bring more $- when she displayed no bite drive- there goes the title and the $- therefore breeder had no need for the dog and the trainer wasnt paid for his work getting her to BH- she hasnt done a trial as yet.

 

[BlackGSD]

Either the trainer needs to give the dog back to the breeder and make THEM pay the bill, OR he needs to "eat it" and sell the dog for a realistic price. The trainer trying to get you to pay a training bill that YOU didn't ask for isn't right in my book.

To me asking anyone to pay $4500 for a PET is silly. And the fact that she isn't even house broke means she still NEEDS WORK to even make a good pet.

As fas as her pedigree being better than your dogs, SO WHAT! There are plenty of dogs in shelters or resuce that have great pedigrees too. And they aren't asking $4500 for THEM. Having a great pedigree means NOTHING if all you want is a house pet.

 

[SunCzarina]

What Tracy and dOg said. So she's got a fab pedigree. You can't breed her, you can't work her so she'll be a lovely pet with a nice family tree. Not worth the $$$$ in my opinion.

That said, having 2 dogs is easier than 1. Having 2 young high drive dogs is going to be pandemonium on a rainy day. I had a male female pair that were 3 years apart and they still drove me nuts some days.

If you are looking for a friend for your male, there's lots of nice dogs in rescue that aren't going to cost 4500.

 

[javaluuver]

I can vouch for having 2 GSDs at one time - Zeke & Obi are so bonded and do so much together, and woe is one of them if one has to go to work with me w/o the other one... they both get freaky until they're united again LoL ... I had my first GSD by herself for 12.5yrs but in hindsight I wish I had 2 ... oh well .. lesson learned ... if your lifestyle can handle it, it's great to have 2 - you just get twice the amount of hair too LoL ... invest in a FURminator LoL and a good vacuum.

As for the cost - I agree with the others. She's going to be a pet/companion ... $4500 is an awful lot for that - and rescues are great

... and she's not even housebroken at 2yo? ouch!

 

[katieliz]

the thought 'and i have a bridge in brooklyn to sell you too' comes to mind. that's terrible. jmho.

 

[katieliz]

didn't mean owning two gsd's was terrible. for sure two is not much more trouble than one. and so much fun for each other.

 

[ken k]

2 seems to be the magic # like its been said earlier $4500 for a pet and buddy, no way, you can find excellent GSD`s in rescues

 

[armauro]

I am have misrepresented the housebroken part- she is crate trained and wont pandp in the house but her in home behavior needs refining- ie no getting on furniture, begging at the table ....
She is a wonderful GSD but the personality of a lab- always wanting affection- actually she seems starved for attention....
She is already bonding with my wife... will be hard to give up... but even as a family pet she doesnt play like my male which is okay by us but for a family with kids?
I am doing this trainer a favor if I took her bc she would be in a nice home with people who have the time for her.

 

[arycrest]

I added my second GSD in 1982 and have had a mulitple GSD household since then - I've had up to 7 at one time, currently have 5 (two elderly), and my goal is to have no more than 3 in the futrue. Despite the fact that all the Hooligans are bonded to me, enjoy my company, etc., they still enjoy having other dogs to play with, run around with, etc. I think adding the second dog is a great idea.

IMHO $4,500 for a housepet is an outrageous price to pay. If the trainer allowed the breeder to get that far behind in paying the bill that's too bad. But, the trainer shouldn't rip someone off, selling a pet quality dog for $4,500, as a way to make up for his sloppy business practices.

 

[pupresq]

By the time my GSD fosters get placed they are usually housebroken, crate trained, and have good house manners. They are also spayed/neutered, fully vaccinated (rabies, DHLP-PV, and bordatella), dewormed, HW tested, on HW/flea and tick preventative, and microchipped (with registration paid). We charge an adoption fee between $150 and $250. This guy wants you to pay his training bill and that's just not right.

Quote:actually she seems starved for attention....

She very well may be.

Quote: I took her bc she would be in a nice home with people who have the time for her.

This is what makes me sad here. It seems like the trainer is putting $ before the welfare of the dog. The poor thing deserves a home not to be slave to her superior bloodlines.

 

[big_dog7777]

Originally Posted By: ArycrestIMHO $4,500 for a housepet is an outrageous price to pay. If the trainer allowed the breeder to get that far behind in paying the bill that's too bad. But, the trainer shouldn't rip someone off, selling a pet quality dog for $4,500, as a way to make up for his sloppy business practices.

I agree completely. $4500 for a sport wash out??? That's literally outrageous. If she was a high end sport prospect with an amazing pedigree with siblings working at high levels in sport or PSD work that still would be rather expensive. A BH is not that hard to attain.

 

[BlackGSD]

Originally Posted By: armauroI am doing this trainer a favor if I took her bc she would be in a nice home with people who have the time for her.

No, you are doing the trainer a "favor" by paying $4500 for a HOUSE PET.

It sounds like you ahve already made up your mind. That is YOUR right as it is YOUR money. But I wonder if maybe the trainer KNEW you would get attached to her and figured it would be an easy way to get $4500. Because most folks wouldn't pay that for a pet. Especially when there are GSDs dying in shelters everyday that could be had for $100 or so and would be just as good (or better) as a pet.