So why in the world would you pay so much money for a puppy in the US when you could import a puppy from Germany (including the shipping costs) for the same money?

Why in the world would I pay the same amount for a puppy from German when they normally offer no warranty?

 

tho i can't answer your question - i think part of the issue is that you're comparing working lines to show lines. where the norm for showlines is 1200-2500+, working lines are generally 800-1200 easily... which isnt so far off from your quote of dogs in germany.

 

Because people want purebred show dogs that are top quality. But then those top quality show dogs will be turned into house pets that go on occassional walks. Sad. I would pay $700 to $1000 for a puppy. No more and no less.

 

Well... there is warranty, not the same as in the US BUT a reputable breeder will usually reimburse you or give you another puppy if your dog has HD and/or ED.

 

IF you don't mind, could you name some of the breeders offering this because when I was in that part of the world (quite a few years ago, mind you) I don't remember anyone offering to do this.

 

There are some really nice puppies being produced here in the states. Just because a puppy is coming from Germany makes it no better.

The prices for puppies are based on supply and demand just like any other product. when people are no longer willing to pay those prices the prices will fall.

Having said that, please remember that it cost much much more money "normally" to title the parents here in the states than it does in Germany and this needs to be taken into account when considering prices.

 

I just bought an FCI Dutch Shepherd puppy from Amsterdam. The breed club sets the price at 500 Euros ($680). There aren't a whole lot of FCI registered Dutch Shepherd breeders in the US (mostly working dog mixes), but one that I found charges $1,500 for puppies. I went to Amsterdam and met the dog and its mother, emailed back and forth with the owner of the father. I'm very happy with the puppy and it's the temperment and conformation I was looking for. I don't see any problem with buying from oversees.

 

I would also think that vetting and health clearance costs play a part in that cost too.

I paid $1000.00 for Stark, I have a lifetime genetic health guarentee, both parents are OVC'd for hips and elbows, CKC and AKC registered, microchipped, first shots, titled parents and much more.

I think it cost more in the USA and Canada to run health clearances, to complete vetting and to work/title your dog (travel exspenses, entery fees, club costs, etc..) which brings the price of a puppy up a great amount.

Also, being able to meet the parents, grandparents, previous puppies, aunts and uncles of the puppy you are purchasing in person is priceless. Would I ship a puppy, probably. But if I can get a puppy from someone like my breeder and spend time with them and their dogs, watch them in everyday situations plus on the field, why wouldn't I for the extra couple hundred dollars? Well worth it in my opinion.

 

I'm a firm believer in the saying "you get what you pay for".

You want a top quality dog with a sound temperment from a great pedigree than you're probably going to have to pay the price for that puppy.

If you want to go the cheap way and save some money by finding puppies for sale on craigslist for $200 than you're probably going to get what you pay for. A dog with health and temperment problems.

Obviously this isn't the case 100% of the time. A $3k dog can have just as many problems/issues as a dog from a BYB or a puppy mill, but i think by paying more and doing your research to find the best possible breeder out there for your needs and what you're looking for, the money can be well worth it.

 

I don't have a problem with buying a dog overseas either, Branca is an import from Germany.

However, I think the comment below is a bit


"""So why in the world would you pay so much money for a puppy in the US when you could import a puppy from Germany (including the shipping costs) for the same money?"""

 

Yeah, the reverse makes just as much sense, lol, "Why in the world would you import a puppy from Germany when you could get one in the US for the same price?"

 

The price is what you can get people in the US to pay for such. It's America after all. I think it is somewhat culturally driven here.

The showlines command higher prices here generally. I know more and more people breeding the lines here because of this.

I know several people who are proud of the thousands they spent for their pet. If you can get someone to pay it, why not?

 

A working line GSD puppy in Germany usually costs between 500 and 1300 Euros. That's less than what you pay in the US.

That really isn't a significant price difference at all. 500-1300 Euro equates to roughly 700-1800 USD.

I'd say the most common price range for working line pups in the US is $1200-$1500. Some as low as $750-$800, a few (*very* few) as high as $2500. But the vast majority fall within the same general price range as in Europe, though a bit toward the higher end of the European range you quoted.

Simple geography and land mass plays a HUGE role. ALL of Europe is roughly the same size as the US. Western Europe, about 1/4 the size. Germany itself, 3.6% the size of the US. Yet there are many, many, many times the number of clubs, trainers, helpers, judges, trials, breeders and dogs in Europe than there are in the US.

All that concentrated in a significantly smaller area impacts supply and demand, which in turn always impacts price. It also significantly impacts the costs that go into breeding. It is much more difficult, time consuming and expensive to train and title a dog in the US than in Europe. It also means many breedings are much more difficult, time consuming and expensive. A breeder living in Germany could go from one side of the country to the other, and even across a couple of countries, in a day's drive. In the US that isn't possible, and if the stud you want to use happens to be on the other side of the country, you have no choice but to fly the bitch back and forth or use AI, and that significantly increases the costs.

Health testing above and beyone hips and elbows is becoming more and more common in the US, and that also increases costs.

Another factor that goes along with the increasing demands for every health test under the sun that exists in the US is the US mindset that requires some form of warranty or guarantee. Some European breeders *may* do that, but reality is most don't. And they certainly don't do it for Joe Public international customer.

Honestly, when it comes to that I think the Europeans are much more reasonable about the whole thing. You're buying a living creature, do your research, make your choice and hope for the best. If things work out, great, but be prepared that they won't. There is nothing that can be guaranteed when dealing with genetics. But most American buyers demand them anyway, and that drives up the price.

So why in the world would you pay so much money for a puppy in the US when you could import a puppy from Germany (including the shipping costs) for the same money?

Price difference isn't really significant. And shipping dogs between the US and Europe has gotten extremely expensive, unless they are flow accompanied as baggage which requires a human to go with them. When you add in paying for shipping a pup from Europe, it is generally going to cost more. Many times quite a bit more.

There is also a very real fear (and it is not necessarily unfounded) that someone buying a dog from Europe is not going to get quality. That the Europeans are going to send their junk. This happens a lot, so that is a legitimate concern. This risk can be reduced of course if the buyer knows the European, or knows someone who does that can help play middle-man and network with breeders in Europe, or can go to Europe to pick out the pup and bring it back. But that isn't feasible for many people, and can significantly increase the cost.

It is much easier for a buyer to research and gather information on a breeder and his/her dogs, and meet the breeder, breeder's dogs and previous dogs from that kennel, when they're in the same country.

 

500-1300 Euro isn't much more than what you're quoting for US prices. Then you add in shipping....

I've never heard someone before say they get a deal importing a dog from Europe. If it was indeed cheaper, then I'm sure more people would do it.

Plus, you can get "working" line dogs for $500. Doesn't mean they are necessarily going to be the best bet.

 

1.5 hours later and it's 2 pages long, dang

 

My parents paid $25 for Molly.She is from a "oops" litter.We got Tanner for $150, that included his spay/neuter cost, food, water, shelter, vaccines, micro chipping. I really think its ridiculous to pay 1k and up for a dog when you can get the exact same dog or better for around $100.My brother, mother & I were at a puppy store.There was a Border Collie that my brother fell in love with.The puppy was $11,000.They had GSD puppies also pretty much the same price and higher.My mom told my brother "No.We will look at the shelter." Sure enough we did and found Tanner.

Molly & Tanner are the best $175 we spent.=)

I am not against from buying from breeders.As long as they are from a respected, responsible, reliable breeder, then go ahead.

 

There was a Border Collie that my brother fell in love with.The puppy was $11,000.They had GSD puppies also pretty much the same price and higher.

 

I am using pet air in November. It costs roughly 1300 Euros to ship two adult shepperds (kennels are already included) from Frankfurt to the States.

It depends on the size and the weight of how much it costs to ship a dog.

Lets say a puppy costs 800 euros in shipping. 850 euros for the puppy, that is still less than what you pay for some puppys in the states...

 

Lets say a puppy costs 800 euros in shipping. 850 euros for the puppy, that is still less than what you pay for some puppys in the states...

I can find great quality puppies all day long from great breeders here in the states for less than that. I am not talking about the "vanity kennels" but still top quality, reputable breeders.

 

Just paid $ 1200 for mine 2 days ago and i know for sure this is cheaper by about $600 than normal here in Kuwait !

 

Well...basically it is the going rate. I've done a lot of research in my area and BYB are charging an average of $500.

Sooo...if you want to ensure you are going to get a quality dog, from a respectable breeder who does limited breeding, you will pay upwards of $1000.

If you don't, you might as well forget about getting a GSD unless you got connections...which I don't.


I'm amazed that people will pay $3000 for a week's vacation. Does that make it wrong to spend that much?? Not at all. Just means everyone has different values for what to spend their $ on. I'd prefer to have the companionship of a dog for 10 years rather than a week's worth of fun. All that matters is what is important to you.

 

MrsK...the conversion for a 1650 euro for puppy & shipping is approx $2300 US dollars. Basically, it's less expensive to title & breed the dogs in Germany than it is here in the USA. The costs for OFA X Rays, A-Stamp certifications,(For those of us that title dogs)... Conformation Show entry fees, Handler fees, Training expenses, Trial fees, and (breeding costs)Stud fees, shipping, vet costs...ie, Brucellosis testing, Vaginal Cultures, Progesterone Testing, Ultra Sounds...etc...etc..
The list of costs do not even include the "normal" costs of rearing the puppies.....
I think this is one reason the prices seem higher here in the USA, and YES...some breeders ask way too much for their puppies... Our average prices range from $1200 to $2500, depending on how much $$ finances, are already invested in the breeding....as shipping the female to & from Germany, stud fees, boarding...etc.
Sorry the post was so long....
Robin

 

Because I don't want to steal the other topic...

I've been wondering a lot lately. How comes that people in the US are willed to pay a ridiculous amount of money for GSD puppies.....

Because you hear many Trainers telling that American Dogs (Not Lines) have been compromised in many ways due the over breeding, Aside the problems of HD and ED, their temperament has been compromised. I am not sure but I think Leerburg in one of his videos states that police institutions don’t use American dogs, only German because they don’t trust in American dogs, I am talking from the top of my head right now.
Aside of this there is the “Fancy” attitude about having a “REAL” German shepherd imported from Germany, I Meet a lady with a black German shepherd for which she claim Paid over 5,000 USD plus importation and she was giving away because she couldn’t control the dog, Funny thing she was amazed by my well behaved baby total American lines.

 

Oppss, this is not related to the topic, supposed to be to a private message.

 

Your kind of making up your own math I think? You can get a VERY GOOD working line GSD for $1200. You by your own admission are saying that a working line GSD in Germany runs from 500-1300 Euros. And you're saying you can ship a dog for 600 Euros.

Good working line German Shepherd in US: $1200-1500

Importing a GSD from Germany at "basement bargain" prices: 500 Euro for dog = 600 Euro for shipping = $1513.77 at today's exchange rate.

How is that cheaper? And that is "calculating" at the lowest price that you just gave.

And using the upper end of your range, just the price of the dog is more expensive than a really good working line GSD. 600 Euro shipping + 1300 Euro = $2889.92. Much more than any working line GSD puppy I've ever seen (although I'm sure they exist).

Don't confuse what a WORKING LINE GSD goes for and what a SHOW LINE goes for...here or in Germany. It's exponentially more expensive in either place.

 

I said let's say the puppy costs 850 USD and the flight 800 Euros.

That would make a total of 1650 Euros which would be 2271.4758 USD which is cheaper than 2500 USD's that somebody on here wanted to pay for a puppy.

Oh and as a matter of a fact. My puppy costs 850 EUR(from a breeder that has been at the World Championships five times and ranked 5th in 2005 so he could charge much more than that but he refuses to) and I can ship two grown Shepherds that are over 50 lbs for not even 1500 EUR from Frankfurt to the US (INCLUDING THE KENNELS). So it probably doesn't even cost 800EUR for a single puppy.

 

We have 2 working line breeders in our area, that are well known......and "their" puppy prices are $1500 to $2500......pretty close to some of the show line breeders...
Our (mine) puppy prices are $1200-$2500....again...pretty similar.

 

In the end the GSD,you companion for life, your best friend.All the memories you have are one price that will never go up or down. And thats priceless.

 

That I agree with. :wub:

 

No it is not a big difference. But it is crazy that a puppy from Germany AND the Shipping Costs & including the ridiculous exchange rat is still less than a puppy from the States.

That's my point. Think about the exchange rate, shipping costs and everything and THATS still cheaper. Maybe only a couple of hundreds of bucks but those are a couple of hundreds bucks in your pockets, PLUS you don't get only the AKC papers, you have the red papers in your hands.

I know, I know there are great breeders in the US. There are good dogs in the US and trust me, just because there are so many clubs over here doesn't necessarily mean that they are good clubs, so a lot of people end up driving long distances to get the training they want.
Vet costs are not cheap either, plus we pay TAXES for dogs and in some federal states you don't get the breeders tax anymore so you pay for every single dog you have. While the first one is the cheapest you may pay over a 100 EUR for the second, over 150 EUR for the third and some people pay up to a 1000 EUR tax (sometimes even more, depending on how many dogs they have and where in Germany you live. Some regions are cheaper. It really depends on the state and region you live in. Some still have the breeders tax and others charge for every single dog) a year for their dogs.
If you want to have the best food possible you have to pay a huge amount of money too.
That new (to us new) US Grain Regal food for example costs over 80 Eur for a 15kg bag.
Wellnes 50EUR for 15 kg.
So yeah... it's not like dogs are cheap in Germany, yet most working dog breeders don't charge more than a 1000 EUR over here because they believe it shouldn't be more than that. Usually those breeders are called hobby breeders and they don't want to make money off of breeding because they are idealistic and do it because they love the breed and want to make it better.

However, I don't know about the Showlines. And I know that they are probably breeders out there that know that especially people from the foreign countries pay a lot of money for a good dog and that's why they have so much business with outside Germany going on.

I was also surprised that there is a huge different between males and females puppies. I have never seen that before.
The breeders I am in contact with charge the same price for every puppy, doesn't matter if male or female.

So yeah, this is just new for me and I am trying to understand the differences and learn as much as possibe so don't take this as an offense I am fairly new to the Schutzhund and Shepherd Szene in the US.

 

I was also surprised that there is a huge different between males and females puppies. I have never seen that before.
The breeders I am in contact with charge the same price for every puppy, doesn't matter if male or female.

I've never seen it before, I don't think it's very common here.