That is not my recollection - Kraftwerk did NOT go get the dog immediately but waited - the airline was going to put her in some kind of doggie hotel.
I’m aware of all the alleged ethics of “reputable” breeders. My stance is the reality of what they’ve done to the breed. It is NOT BYBs that police/MIL go to when looking for working dogs, but these very breeders. They are obviously having more problems with GS lately or they would not be delving so much into Belgians. Despite “reputable breeders”.
Just as some time ago Seeing Eye organizations practically gave up on GS. There is a reason for that - and it isn’t the fault of BYBs.
Also, 20+ years ago I could buy a dog from a well-known breeder 1st-come, 1st serve; now everyone wants a “deposit” for a dog that doesn’t exist and might not for 3 years, and apparently not bother looking at other dogs in that entire time or lose your $$$$. Additionally, *I* will judge if I like the dog, thank you very much, and *I* will decide if I want to breed the dog or not, rather than immediately getting her cut. You can give your opinion but ultimately it’s my $$$, my choice. Including “I don’t like your puppies; give me back my deposit”.
That whole MO is total BS. It hasn’t helped the breeds.
I don't we are in disagreement about Shepherds being ruined. They most certainly have been ruined.
I think you are misinterpreting what I'm calling an ethical breeder (I did not say reputable). Reputation and ethics are two different things. There's no such thing as alleged ethics — they either have ethics or they don't. I wouldn't buy from a breeder who doesn't breed ethically, and I discourage everyone from doing so.
I absolutely agree with you that Shepherds in this country have been ruined. The vast majority of breeders of Shepherds are not breeding to Standard, and the breed has suffered tremendously from it. I am talking about every kind of breeder here, when it comes to Shepherds (though there are individual exceptions, of course). Whether they be backyard breeders or high-profile show dog or working dog breeders — have collectively ruined the breed. Show Judges should not be awarding ribbons to Shepherds that do not fit the Standard, period. I'm specifically talking about the horrible toplines and hips, and I might also add temperament in that statement. Breeders and Judges have completely gotten away from the GSD Standard, which says the following regarding the topline/back of the GSD:
“Topline— The withers are higher than and sloping into the level back. The back is straight, very strongly developed without sag or roach, and relatively short.”
And this:
“At full trot, the back must remain firm and level without sway, roll, whip or roach.”
LEVEL back. When was the last time you saw a level back in a Shepherd? I had a breeder who bred excellent Shepherds, and she even won in the show ring. Her dogs regularly lived to 12-14 years with no hip problems. She bred to the Standard, and she did all the appropriate health and genetic testing. But the vast majority of Shepherd breeders do not, and they have ruined the breed.
I don't care how reputable a breeder is, or how famous a breeder is, or if a breeder is a backyard breeder — if they are breeding horrible specimens with terrible health problems and hips and rear ends that are so weak the dogs won't make it to 7 years of age, then they are not ethical breeders.
But unbeknown to Mr. Curry, Mr. Dubin rebooked Emmi’s transportation and somehow persuaded Continental officials to ship Emmi the roughly 3,000 miles.
A spokeswoman for Continental said: “We followed all standard procedures, and the animal arrived at its destination safely. We were in accordance with the U.S. Animal Welfare Act, which gives us a four-hour period to wait for a recipient to arrive at the airport before sending an animal to a shelter.”
Eventually, Mr. Curry was told by Continental that Emmi had spent Monday night at the Airpet Hotel in Seattle. He sent a staff member to pick her up, and paid a $115 boarding fee before returning her to his kennel.