[Brittanie]

I'm SO NOT ready to get one, but eventually I'd like to get a purebred Great Dane. My family has only ever gotten shelter dogs though, so I have no idea how to go about finding a good breeder at a decent price. But with DH graduating in December, we may soon (maybe within the next year/18 months) be in a position where we can buy a dog. I REALLY miss furries!!

So I have a couple of questions


~How did you decide on the breed you got? Did you do much research?
~How did you decide on the specific breeder you bought from? Did you go visit more than one place before deciding?
~Did you have a set of questions/concerns you asked the breeder before deciding to go with them? What sort of questions did you ask?
~How did you decide on the specific puppy you got?
~How did you know you were paying a good price? I'd like to get a healthy well-bred dog, but I can't imagine spending $1000 or more on a dog.


I don't even know why I'm thinking about this right now, except that I REALLY miss my parent's dogs and really want one.

[Augie]

I'm SO NOT ready to get one, but eventually I'd like to get a purebred Great Dane. My family has only ever gotten shelter dogs though, so I have no idea how to go about finding a good breeder at a decent price. But with DH graduating in December, we may soon (maybe within the next year/18 months) be in a position where we can buy a dog. I REALLY miss furries!!

So I have a couple of questions


~How did you decide on the breed you got? Did you do much research?
~How did you decide on the specific breeder you bought from? Did you go visit more than one place before deciding?
~Did you have a set of questions/concerns you asked the breeder before deciding to go with them? What sort of questions did you ask?
~How did you decide on the specific puppy you got?
~How did you know you were paying a good price? I'd like to get a healthy well-bred dog, but I can't imagine spending $1000 or more on a dog.


I don't even know why I'm thinking about this right now, except that I REALLY miss my parent's dogs and really want one.[/b]

Well, I don't have a pure bred dog but I did work at a kennel for a long time. My advice is to do a LOT of research. Know the temperaments of the breed. Know the common health problems. Know that great danes are prone to bloat which will kill them. Bloat is very easily prevented, however. Look at several breeders. You'll want one that can be registered (better quality dog), you'll want a breeder that will have the puppies vet checked (with first shot) before adoption.

I could go on forever! PM me for more info. I'll share all that I know with you.

[Wee3monkeys]

Like 'zisssssssssssss????








This is our Monster, Fezzik. He's only 6 months old in this picture last December. I just hunted for a good pic of him. I can get a current one if you want.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Great Dane!!! He's such a sweetie! He's also a REALLY big pain in the butt, due to big dog issues, but I've always wanted a Harlequin Great Dane and when I found him I couldn't let him go. I did a ton of research, basically since I was a little girl. I always new I wanted a Dane. I watched Great Dane rescues for years, I watched different breeders web-sites (you can look up different breeders through the AKC), I watched the local papers, and then I happened upon an ad for Great Dane puppies for $100. I freaked!!! I called, and got all the info, and they had just what I wanted. It was kind of a special circumstance, and if you want the whole story, I'd be happy to give it, but it's long so I won't post it now. Yes, I had questions I asked; and I of course can't remember them right off the top of my head. I played with all the puppies there for awhile, there was a female silver mantle and a male black mantle and then the harlequin. The female was sooooo friendly and an absolute pill, she would have been a HUGE handful, and the other male was very sweet and relaxed. The Harlequin was pretty skittish and unsure of me, but I REALLY wanted the Harlequin one, so that's what I took home. You are going to spend an arm and a leg on a good papered Great Dane, just watch the papers, and also the rescues. I soooo would have rescued, but we don't have a fenced yard so I didn't qualify for any in my area. We have a 3 lot yard, but it's not fenced (I understand the rule, but it bummed me out).

Sorry, that got kind of long, and I started off only gonna post a pic of my fur-baby.

[Brittanie]

He is beautiful and I LOVELOVE his name! lol. I've wanted one for a long time, and I've done a bit of research here and there. I think I'd want a black one though...lol.

A boy, named Hamlet.


I think I'd like to rescue, too. I'll have to watch for things, when we get into a place where it's a possibility, which might not be for a LONG time!

[Madison.N.Hailey'sMom]

Both of our doggies are pure breed and we got them from a breeder.

~How did you decide on the breed you got? Did you do much research?
Mike really liked Boxers and I wasnt picky on what we got so we got our first boxer and since he is such a great doggie we went and got another boxer.

~How did you decide on the specific breeder you bought from? Did you go visit more than one place before deciding?
I looked at breeders in MI and a lot of them wanted a lot of money so I found this web site www.puppyfind.com and checked around there and found our breeder and asked a bunch of questions and we loved how well she took care of the puppys and thats the reason we went with her again for fergie.

~Did you have a set of questions/concerns you asked the breeder before deciding to go with them? What sort of questions did you ask?
I asked her about her history with breeding dogs, and just general questions about the puppies. She has Storms litter already when I emailed her.

~How did you decide on the specific puppy you got?
The breeder had two puppys left, a male and female, Mike wanted a male so I asked for pictures of the male and we fell in love with him. This time I wanted a girl and we got first pick of the litter because we kept in touch with her even before this litter was born.

~How did you know you were paying a good price? I'd like to get a healthy well-bred dog, but I can't imagine spending $1000 or more on a dog.
Some of the people I contacted wanted anywhere from $1000 to $1200 for a puppy and that was just to much for us. I found Kim the breeder we got Storm and Fergie from and Storm was $600 and Fergie was $700 because it was a new year. I would say price is up to you and you'll know when it sounds to high. Some people ask for an off the wall price and you can tell right away.

I recommend www.puppyfind.com You can look for breeders in your area that have the puppy your looking for. And so far most of what I've seen are good priced. I loved that site and you can even see pictures of the puppy and some of the info like AKC, ect. Hope I was able to help. If you have any more questions dont be afraid to ask.

[MountainMomma]

I did multiple visits to the breeder. I knew what breed I wanted because my ex had one and I wanted the same kind. Even though he knew the breeder I still made multiple visits over a long period, some I'd call ahead, and other times I'd drop by unexpected. As far a picking a pup....he picked me. I sat down in the living room at this guys house and he carried in a crate with the litter in it and sat them down. The others kinda hung back, and my big boy (he was actually the runt of the litter) ran right to me.

I had a written agreement that I could take the dog to the vet and if there was anything wrong I could return him and get my money back or a different dog within the first five days.

[Brittanie]

Angela, thanks for that link! That site is really good. DH is really thinking I'm silly for looking up breeders now, but I'm missing a doggy SO BAD right now. So I'm dreaming. lol. And maybe I can watch listed puppies to see if I like certain breeders better than others...

[~*Nessy*~]

Puppyfind was a nightmare for me. I got ripped off big time there. It took me 8 months of harassing the breeder that scammed me (and is still allowed to sell her puppies there). Puppyfind has a feedback program. You will notice that people have stars. Puppy find also allows breeders to delete any negitive feedback that they do not want anyone else to see. Just because someone has 5 stars, doesnt mean it is like ebays feedback.

I recommend a breed club for a breeder referal to a breeder with a good reputation. I also recommend seeing certification that the parents were tested and cleared for genetic conditions that effect the breed if you are buying from a breeder. Dont take someone's word for it. People lie...and I found that out the hard way too.

I second the breed club as well. We got our pup from a breeder as well. A shetland sheepdog named Tanner. He is 10 years old now and he chose us when we first met the breeder. We went every week to see him until he was old enough to bring him home.

We asked to see all the paperwork and health records and we were also allowed to take him to the vet for a check over before finalizing everything.

Also, if buying from a breeder, look at the mom to check for the breed standard in looks and size. If the dad is not on site, ask for the information. Look at the temperment on the mom and dad too.

When you fill out the paperwork, you can choose a very special name for your pup, you've probably seen them if you watch the dog shows. There is a fee for registering your pup and there was a spot on ours where we had to tick if we were going to have Tanner as a show dog or family pup.

Tanner is such a gorgeous boy, he looks just like lassie. It's been nice chatting about him, he's been living with my mom for the past 5 years. She lives alone and he's a great companion for her and a good watch dog.

I don't think it's silly to start looking now, the more informed you are, the less time and aggrevation, and money you spend when it is time and your hubby will be very grateful.

[Madison.N.Hailey'sMom]

I just wanted to add that when we got both Storm and Fergie that I got a pedigree for both of them and the AKC papers on them both and a health backround on the parents. I also had 3 business days to take them to the vet and if there was anything wrong with the puppy that I could return them for the money back or a new puppy. I like my breeder because if for some reason (will never happen but) we get rid of Storm or Fergie the breeder wants first dibs on buying them back. She likes to know that they are going to good homes and I keep her updates on a reg. basic. I'm sure no matter where you look there will be some people that are not right but that will be everywhere. I found that breeder clubs around me wanted a lot of money for the puppies.


ETA: We were not required to get Storm fixed but when we were going through the process of getting Fergie that was when we had to get him fixed because the breeder and us did not want brother and sister mating. We totaly understood that. Storm looks just like his dad and Fergie looks just like her mom.