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Pros and Cons of Importing

hw6

Member
Thinking about getting a pup imported from south africa to the united states.

What are the pros and cons compared to buying from a breeder in the united states?

My first issue was that i would have to wait until my pup is 16weeks and about 50lbs already.
 

DDSK

Well-Known Member
Stating the obvious would be the health concerns of the pup in transit.
Then would be the cost of transportation.
Next I would worry that the pup might not be what he was represented to be, if you got an inferior pup or an unhealthy pup you have little resources to make it right. You would have a tough time shipping the pup back and may be out thousands of dollars with a sickly, dying or dead pup.
You are unable to visit the kennel and see their dogs unless you travel to South Africa beforehand.
I think the advantage is that you may bring a new blood line to the area, maybe a more traditional or pure blood line.
I know that many people have done this successfully, many Europeans do this regularly, but I have heard some horror stories about health, quality etc and there are some scams that take your money and leave you with nothing.
 
I put it this way. What's wrong with getting a dog that is bred in the same country you live in? Why not get a dog that you can physically meet the parents/breeder and determine beforehand you are getting what you paid for? Why put a puppy through all the stress and worry and RISK involved shipping a puppy overseas? Your "locally, ethically", bred BB will be just as exotic as the "WHO freakin knows" bred pup you might get from Africa. Just my $.02.

When we were looking for breeders, we wanted to make sure they were reputable, ethical, and had health testing. We first started looking at only places we were willing to drive to. It was extremely important to US, that we be able to meet and greet both parents. We wanted to see their living conditions (the dogs). Quite honestly, we wanted to see if these people really were who the hell they said they were. It's not about the money. It's about giving your new pup the best chance. About not taking risks with your 12+ year investment. Reducing the chances of your new family member having quality of life issues early on in life. If you had a choice would you pick the path with all sorts of idk and maybe's? Or do you want to put your $ on the surest bet? Ok. Ok. It's always about the $... Getting a dog you are sure about(as possible), could save you $10k or more in the long run.

[video]https://youtu.be/yRv45wUX45A[/video]

BBC News
 

hw6

Member
I was thinking of getting a import because south africa is where these dogs originated. All US breeders had to import their foundation stock.

Plus I cant seem to find a decent breeder within driving distance from me.

Anybody know any breeders near the Southeastern Pennsylvania area?
 

DDSK

Well-Known Member
It is a tough job hunting down good breeders but worth it in the long run, how far are you willing to travel?
What is your time frame?
You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince!
Finding these dogs isn't like going to the pet store and picking it up.
I would say contact a bunch of breeders and get their input and check out their reputations.
Make sure to have your bullshit radar turned on you will need to weed out the puppy mill and back yard breeders.
I would start close to home and then search as far as you are willing to travel. You may have to go as far as Virginia or North Carolina
 

hw6

Member
It is a tough job hunting down good breeders but worth it in the long run, how far are you willing to travel?
What is your time frame?
You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince!
Finding these dogs isn't like going to the pet store and picking it up.
I would say contact a bunch of breeders and get their input and check out their reputations.
Make sure to have your $#@! radar turned on you will need to weed out the puppy mill and back yard breeders.
I would start close to home and then search as far as you are willing to travel. You may have to go as far as Virginia or North Carolina

Im willing to travel up to 3hrs away. I am in no rush! I want to get a pup that embodies the look and temperament of a true south african boerboel
 
That's pretty much what I meant. Are you willing to travel to Africa? Otherwise I personally wouldn't buy a puppy from there. You may even have to increase the distance you are willing to drive.

Also to me waiting until 16 weeks would totally not be an option. I want em at 8 weeks. They are so precious! At that age, 8 weeks is a long time. Hank was gaining almost 3 lbs a week at that age. Also 8 weeks is the perfect time to be working on potty training. 8 more weeks is a long time for accidents inside and learning bad habits. They are really beginning to develop their personalities.

Do you have any experience with large or mastiff type dogs? Do you have enough room for a large dog? Are you looking for strictly a pet or are you going to want to get into a specific area of training? Is it important if they are papered and/or health tested. These sorts of questions are all going to change how you are looking at potential breeders and how much you are looking at paying for one. They may also dictate how far you will have to travel.
 

Liz_M

Well-Known Member
It doesn't have to be a binary decision (import v not import.) Why not look for breeders who import the dogs and breed them here?


My last working line Rottweiler was out of an imported bitch from Chekoslovakia, and was impregnated with frozen sperm from a German sire. The breeder had a partnership with a German kennel. So he was born in Ohio but really could have been born anywhere, quality is quality. I'm not sure that buying a dog from the country of origin necessarily guarantees you a "better" dog.
 

NYDDB

Well-Known Member
It doesn't have to be a binary decision (import v not import.) Why not look for breeders who import the dogs and breed them here?


My last working line Rottweiler was out of an imported bitch from Chekoslovakia, and was impregnated with frozen sperm from a German sire. The breeder had a partnership with a German kennel. So he was born in Ohio but really could have been born anywhere, quality is quality. I'm not sure that buying a dog from the country of origin necessarily guarantees you a "better" dog.

That's a good point. Although I got Mateo from Michigan, his breeder refreshes her program constantly (based on what she is looking for to improve her Dogues), so, she imports.

My Dogue's sire was an import from England, and his dam was from a well-known line in Hungary. She just recently imported a pup from France, to hopefully use in her breeding program.

It may be more romantic to import a pup "straight from the source," (I've often thought about it, in the future), but it really isn't necessary to go through the trouble if a good breeder is doing it for you.
 

fixitlouie

Well-Known Member
I've been a dogo guy for a few years, know a lot of breeders. Mine is going on 5 yes old. I hunt mine. Family's pet and protection. I'm looking to import from............wait for it...................

Russia!!!



Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337Z using Tapatalk
 

hw6

Member
Thanks for all the feedback guys. I found some breeders in the US that seem to be breeding the boerboel true to standard. I will further research by talking to them. What questions should I be asking?

The breeders are:
Buckeye
Allen's Virginia
Whispering Creek
Slate River
Balkan
Proffer's
Copperhead
Great Lakes
STL
Centurion
 

DMikeM

Well-Known Member
I asked ABC and SABBS for a current list of breeders in the USA and they only gave me a couple breeder names. I checked them out and found some produced dogs out of standard so I just stopped asking.

I imported my brindle from South Africa and am very happy I did. Sure I was a nervous wreck for a couple days but I saw photos and video of him and was satisfied that the breeder would live up to her end of the deal. We even split the payment until after shipment. I have seen very few Boerboels being bred here in the states that even look like the old blood. But I know that Diane Seaman here in Tennessee has a fresh litter of Authentic Mizpah pups and Johan Swart in SA has a fresh litter of Authentic Mizpah pups. These pups will sell fast as they are the real deal. Not black dogs and not bullmastiff/boerboel crosses.

hw6 you need to get on Facebook and contact Diane Seaman, Carin York-Hart and Johan Swart and see if they can sell you a pup or point you in the right direction.
 

hw6

Member
I asked ABC and SABBS for a current list of breeders in the USA and they only gave me a couple breeder names. I checked them out and found some produced dogs out of standard so I just stopped asking.

I imported my brindle from South Africa and am very happy I did. Sure I was a nervous wreck for a couple days but I saw photos and video of him and was satisfied that the breeder would live up to her end of the deal. We even split the payment until after shipment. I have seen very few Boerboels being bred here in the states that even look like the old blood. But I know that Diane Seaman here in Tennessee has a fresh litter of Authentic Mizpah pups and Johan Swart in SA has a fresh litter of Authentic Mizpah pups. These pups will sell fast as they are the real deal. Not black dogs and not bullmastiff/boerboel crosses.

hw6 you need to get on Facebook and contact Diane Seaman, Carin York-Hart and Johan Swart and see if they can sell you a pup or point you in the right direction.

At what age were you able to have your pup shipped?
 

Rugers-Kris

Well-Known Member
I think there are pros and cons either way. In the end it's s personal decision and there is nothing wrong with importing from another country. You have to be careful but to get the pup you want it may very well be worth it.

There are horror stories concerning importing but there are horror stories from US breeders. If you want a specific type, contact the out of country breeders and if they have what you want...why not import?


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Esand

Well-Known Member
Leia's littermates were all exported. Her breeder exports almost all of his pups and is imports almost all of new dams and sires.

I think with top quality pups and rarer breeds this is very common.