Well that was exactly what I would have written if I'd have had your ability to write James!

Once upon a time, I wanted an all black german shepherd. I knew I shouldn't go to a pet store, but I didn't realize that there was such a thing as a back yard breeder. In my ignorance, I got my pup from a breeder who advertised in the newspaper. We had a verbal agreement about the papers and health guarantee.

The pup died at 15 weeks old. It was sick from almost the moment I got him. I spent so much money. The vet told me that he had seen puppies with similar problems that were a result of severe inbreeding to get a certain trait--in my breeder's case, all blacks. It was awful and heartbreaking.

The breeder, when I contacted her was at first making promises (save the vet receipts, I'll replace the pup, etc.) and then when the dog died, and I told her what the vet said about inbreeding, she told me, "Well, you wanted an all black pup. The gene is recessive. Inbreeding is the price you pay." That is BY A LONG SHOT not the only price I paid. It was awful. And THEN she wouldn't give me ANY refund or anything, I tried to take her to court. She disappeared.

I am by no means blameless. I didn't know what to look for in a breeder, or anything I was supposed to get. I didn't do research because I thought that was what the breeder was supposed to do. I thought that since I didn't go to a pet shop, I was okay. The breeder seemed so nice, and her dogs seemed so nice. I honestly had no idea.

BELIEVE me, I have done my research now. Too little too late for that poor pup.

I now have a 4 month old bi-color pup from a breeder than i checked and double, triple, quadruple checked and he's been the most wonderful addition, and so healthy. It took me years to take the chance of getting another dog.

I say all of this to mention why i was being such an investigator to this woman. I was initially concerned that it might be the breeder who screwed me over the first time. I doubt that my breeder moved to Australia, but who knows?

If, in fact this Shan is someone with her head in the wrong place but her heart in the right one, then I apologize for my intensity.

But Shan, you should know that breeding is not something to be taken lightly. Bad breeding has repercussions beyond people bashing you on a website. I really hope you put some more research into what you're doing.

Just wanted to add that the first thing that really impressed me about this site is that a universal trait is that people really want german shepherds to be the best that they can be. They will not hold hands with people who won't do what's best for thier dogs. I love this site and have great respect for the majority of the posters on here. I have learned SO much and thank you for that.

When someone is posting threats on their own site, well....time to let Ed know about it. That type of behavior doesn't need to be linked to this site, period.

Will Rambeau
Moderator

This thread is closed.

Shan - if you want to learn about dog training here you need to think before you write. Maybe researching the archives may help you.

Whatever you do - stay polite and do not become argumentative. There are plenty of board where you can do that.