Long Coat German Shepherd review: breeder 1

Buyer beware! This breeder is operating under a new name. She is formerly known as Royal German Shepherds. Google the name and read the reviews. If you should proceed with purchasing a puppy, make sure you understand the health guarantee, know the return policy, and verify you actually have puppy insurance as promised by the breeder. I learned the hard way when I had to put my puppy to sleep because of congenital birth defects. Please consider a local breeder that is approved by your SPCA or veterinarian.

I approached this breeder after reading her website, learning her dogs are therapy dogs, and my experince with German Shepherds. I'm currently fighting cancer and wanted a companion to help me along the way. The breeder was very pleasant and helpful and was willing to show me the dogs and as a perk, the breeder is registered with the CKC. Everything was ok until my puppy showed symptoms of being sick and then I realized it was all about money.

My puppy arrived on time via air and the poor little thing was soaking wet and smelling of urine. I'm not sure if this is normal for puppy travel but I felt horrible for her. I brought her home, gave her a bath, fed her the raw diet recommended by the breeder and was never so excited to have my very first puppy. The next day, after her nap, I noticed she peed in her sleep. I figured it was just a stressful journey out here and she was so tired so she slept through needing to pee. I watched her closely, but still she continued to pee in her sleep. I took her to my vet and learned she had a urine infection. Ok. Puppies get this. Ran the blood and urine. Yep, urine infection with an antibiotic resistant strain and hook worms. Did the first round of antibiotics and deworming meds and she was perking up, putting on weight, happy little dog. As soon as the antibiotics were done, I noticed blood in her urine. Back to the vet, more urine samples and antibiotics, and an ultrasound appointment booked. Again, she is doing well, putting on weight and happy but as soon as she stops the antibiotics there was blood in her urine. This time, she's crying in her sleep and when she has to pee. It is so hard to watch your puppy suffer. The breeder recommended colloidal silver and probiotics. The probiotics I understood but not the colloidal silver, too much can be harmful and I wasn't willing to take the risk.

After the ultrasound I learned my poor puppy had ectopic ureters, a small bladder, a weak sphincter, and enlarged kidneys. These are congenital birth defects. After careful considerations and conversation with my vet, the humane thing to do would be to put my puppy to sleep. The success rate of the multiple surgeries was estimated to be 50% and there was a high risk that the bacteria causing the infection would not go away. So not only am I fighting cancer, I have to put my puppy to sleep. Possibly one of the hardest decisions I've had to make. My poor little puppy was put to sleep 4 weeks after she arrived and I had to watch her go in my arms.

I went to use the pet insurance provided to find there was none. I hounded the breeder and finally she purchased the insurance but because the insurance was purchased after the symptoms, they are pre-existing conditions and the insurance is not valid. I notified the insurance company and the were willing to honour the insurance for the original date. Unfortunately, I noticed the symptoms in the first 48 hrs after her arrival which voided the insurnace. It is odd to me that I noticed the symptoms but the vet who signed off on the puppy never did.

I notified the breeder and she accused me of making the dog sick, stating that what happens to the dog once it leaves is out of her hands. I'm not sure how I make a dog have ectopic ureters. She would not refund my money, but instead offered another dog but I would have to pay her to fly out. I would have taken a dog provided urine, blood and fecal analysis was provided and she covered the flight as the insurance was not honoured as stated in the paperwork I received. I wasn't going to risk another sick puppy. The breeder denied the additional tests but argues a health guarantee in her contract and emails ... I did not take another puppy because I was not willing to spend more money for another pup who could be potentially sick or go through the heartache again. From what I have learned, please have your veterinarian assess the pup prior to any transfer of money. Run the extra tests, it's worth it.

Double check the vaccine and drug record with the Canada Drug Database https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/index-eng.jsp. If you are told the pup is born in Canada and the vaccinations are not licensed in Canada, don't purchase the pup and notify the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Even though a vet signs off on your dog, there is legislation on vaccination and deworming medicine.

The breeder has not told me who my pups parents are. I even cross referenced the pedigree that was sent. The parents on the record are not registered by the CKC or anywhere in the world. I was naive to think that the sire and dame on her website were my pups parents.

After my experience, I Googled breeder complaints for German Shepherds in Ontario. I discovered the breeder had changed their name from Royal German Shepherds due to deplorable reviews. There might be other names I didn't find.

Please do not follow in my footsteps, or at least take what I've learned to help you in your decision to purchase a puppy. Buy from a breeder recommended by your local SPCA or veterinarian.