I think Ed has a point on th puppy issue. I never import pups. Normally when someone ask where they can get a good puppy, I tell them to stay w/ an American breeder. I'm not saying you can't get a good one from Europe, but they will screw you if they can. Many of the brokers will sell you anything so long as the money is there. They know you can't follow up, show up on their doorstep, ect. They also know that after you buy this one dog, they are done w/ you. If something goes wrong, try getting in touch w/ them.
When I import a dog, it is 99% for LEO only. I have brought in 2 SAR Mals that went to a FEMA Task Force member, and a full-time fireman for disaster work. In the past 3 years I have only brought in 3 dogs for personal protection. As stated in a earlier posting, I'm VERY strick on who gets theses dogs or training. All 3 went to homes w/ REAL security threats.
While I am sure there are American breeders who can produce good PSDs from pups, it just takes too long in my case. I can not have a department call and tell them, gee wait another 6 months for this pup to grow up a bit..LOL I only buy dogs from the same two people in Europe. I know what I am going to get, and they have not been wrong. It is their intrest to send good dogs so I will come back another time. After several years, it seems much simpler working with only them to ensure consistant quality. Is it ecconnomics?...yep sure is. Average out the cost of raising a puppy to 2 years old. Vets, meds, food, general care, cost of whelping ect. Now pay yourself only 2 dollars an hour for training time. If you do the math, that 2 year old dog just got VERY expensive. Now what happens if the dog is a wash for service work at 18 months? What about keeping 3 or 4 pups so you lessen the odds. Multiply your cost out 4x and you still only MAY have 1 pup that works out. It is just a loosing $ proposition. If people think dog prices have gone up in the past 4 or 5 years, imagine if people stopped importing young adult dogs. There is no way PDs could pay the cost if venders did this. It also is a great deal of time to do this. I have about 15 units that come here weekly or bi-weekly for maintence training. There is no way I'd have time to spend raising, socializing and bringing up pups. Working w/ the dogs that are out there working is more important to me than hoping a puppy will work out.

Kevin-
You indicate that there are great prospects in the US but are raised incorrectly. You also say that they may be to old. I see alot of dogs imported so there is a demand, and I don't know how to determine a pup would make a good canidate unless it were trained out. I agree with the majority of the remainder of your post.
Ed-
The situation you describe with importing a puppy also applies to the majority of imports. You will never get an importer to admit this, but you have seen it. Many importers don't rely know they are getting junk, and others simply don't care. Every importer you talk to, has that one special guy in Europe that he only deals with because of .......that what sets him apart. This is what confronts new/novice people like myself, to include the police k-9 handler that lives down the street.

prizgard1204 writes: Many importers don't rely know they are getting junk, and others simply don't care. Every importer you talk to, has that one special guy in Europe that he only deals with because of .......
*** As this was just a statement I made in my post, I think you're a bit off base. If you check people references, look at thier dogs, and do your homework, it's very easy to see who has good dogs and who do not. If a vender does not give a good warantee, references...THAT YOU ACTUALLY CALL!!! and not take their word for..it becomes much easier to seperate crap from fact. I have people show up and tell me...well this trainer says he trains the CT State Police and sells them dogs...yea..ok, did he give you a number and the Sgt who is in charge to back it up? No..didn't think so..CTSP ONLY train w/ CTSP..if a CTSP hanlder trains w/ ANYONE who is NOT a CTSP K-9 Trainer, they have their dog taken away..not my policy...don't flame me! They also only take DONATION dogs..so how could so-and-so be selling them dogs? I hear it at least once a week. I've had other people on the web advertise training such-and-such departments dogs. Funny, that dept trains here..and the handler has no idea who you are...I know a few folks who have gotten phone calls and letters about such things. It is not easy to seperate yourself from people when others don't check out what some claims. I just saw a post yesterday on a newsgroup where someone claims to train the dogs for the Secret Service...funny, I just was w/ the head trainer a 3 months ago and he does all the training...so who is ths other guy training? If you do your homework, it's not hard to seperate who has good dogs and training, and who has crap and a fancy website...

Josh-
this reply was not a flame or intended for you personally. It is just the rhetoric I here all the time. Some peoples lies sound better then the truth. It does make it very difficult for a novice and this certainly includes me to sift through the garbage.

I agree with alot of what ED said. You can get screwed. That being said, I believe there are some very reputable breeders in Europe that understand the America buyer is big money and don't want to sell crap. Word gets out quick, especially through e-mail. Don't get me wrong, I would prefer to buy locally if possible.

John

You arw wrong - 100% wrong. There are very very very few breeders in Europe who feel that Americansare anything more than money machines. Why would they think any different?

Let me put it to you from my perspective as a breeder. I will not accpet orders for my puppies from anyone outside of the States and Canada. I get asked almost on a weekly basis. If I sell one of my dogs overseas and its a really good dog - it's gone forever - never to be heard of again. At least if its in the states there is a small chance that it will do soemting and be used.

So I hate to rain on your parade but I am right about this one. Every single person should approach buying an imported dog or puppy as BUYER BEWARE - THERE ARE LAND MINES EVERYWHERE.

Josh, I read that same posting. The guy that you are mentioning that is claiming to train the dogs for the Secret Service is the same guy who trained the ASP dog that was killed. Did you read the reply to that about the ASP dog from Jim Hornbeck? This was the dog I was referring to in my article.

I have to say on this I agree with Ed on this one. I have a european friend who has told me more than once that it's common place to sell junk to people in the U.S. As he says, "Many americans contact us & we could make up anything & they will lap it up." It's sad but it's true. I have had people call me to purchase a pup & they never question the titles or what they mean. Or even worse they call me telling me the dog needs to have certain things that are listed right off a German KOR report yet if you press them... they have not a clue as to what that means!

I think too often people look to other countries because of the image & then they get burned. It does sound impressive yet it doesn't really mean anything. Bottom line... all they produce is not gold! There is something to be said for buying American in this case.

Ed-
I once heard from a friend that the Japanese get the best German dogs on lease and not for complete sale. I heard a figure like 25,000.00 for a 4 year lease. The Germans then get the dog back for breeding purposes. Can you back up this statement with any personal knowledge?

I don't know about the lease, but I lost a GREAT KNPV PH1 GSD to the Japanese buyers. The dog was going for his PH1 and had yet to have a deposit on him. My friend in Holland called me about him. By the time I called him back, he told me to forget it. Although he was friends w/ the dog owner and the club, he didn't bother putting a deposit down for me..why??? A Japanese broker showed up with $40,000! I typed the correct # folks... I'm not Japan bashing in the least, but it was one example that happened to me..