Would you buy a dog for $2000.00?

What do you mean "no health guarantee" ?! Most at least guarantee hips and elbows.

$2000 is about right for a show PROSPECT in certain circumstances.

Keep in mind that is a PROSPECT - and may not grow up to be of show quality.

If there is no health guarantee on the hips and elbows (dysplasia) that would make me nervous - very nervous.

Just because they show a lot and win a lot does not mean they are to be relied upon.

For example, in my curent breed, there is one kennel that advertises itself as the No. 1 Show Winning Kennel - and has always pushed its dogs to the top of the breed show rankings. Of course they show 4 days a week every week of the year. They will take 2-4 of their own dogs to a show where no one else will be going so they can make up their own class and beat their own dogs and get points in the standings. They produce 8-10 litters a year (in a breed where no one else does more than 1-2) in the hopes of getting one dog that can win. They tell 75% or more of their puppy people that the puppy is show quality and badger them into showing and showing and showing (and always have an excuse why the dog didn't win) so they can say that a lot of their dogs are out there in the ring.

This isn't sour grapes from me because the bloodline that the kennel I described just flat hates the most are the ones that produced my young dog. Those folks detest his family - grandmother 2nd ever in breed to win group at Wesminster, multiple BIS and BISS; mom's full sister beat grandma at Westminster the next year (her own mom) to be the 3rd in the breed to win Group and went on to be #10 in the US that year in the entire Group (which happens to include boxers) with even more BIS and BISS; mommy got her championship in the minimum no. of shows and went BIS at one; dad 2 years in a row took breed at Westminster, multiple BIS and Canadian CH and No 1 sire; grandfather No 1 in the breed during his entire show career and No 1 sire until his death..... Nope the No. 1 show kennel doesn't like them at all - has never beaten them yet. The difference is that my guy's family only does very limited showing - just the big ones and only 3-7 shows a year.

I would suggest that you talk to other breeders.

Look up the show standings for boxers for the last 3 years - the breed club will have them.

See which kennels have been winning.

A breeder who does it for love of the breed and only does one litter a year and who personally has campaigned their own dogs to Westminster or the top of the breed standings is a very very good choice.

By the way, if a puppy really is a show prospect that can command a $2000 price tag, the breeder (t least a reputable and reliable and honest breeder) will insist that you and they co-own the dog. If the pup is that good, a breeder is not going to let them out of their hands without having some say over their show and breeding career. Typically the contract requires that you make best efforts to finish her to her Championship and the breeder has the right to 1 or 2 litters from her in co-ownership with you.

If you haven't done so, go to the breed club website and tack down other people in the breeed:

http://americanboxerclub.org/

Good luck and see you at the shows

Be sure to talk to several different people. Dog show people have their cliques and their politics.

I would and have paid more than 2k for a dog, the price isn't the issue here. As you said you are looking for a "Foundation *****". I can tell you for a fact that you had better plan on buying about 100 puppys, or it ain't ever gonna happen.

The norm for aquiring a Foundation ***** is to first become good friends with well established and respected breeders by being there at the shows (even if the dog you have can't carry a tune in a bucket). Then in time more than likely one of those "friends" will GIVE you an already titled ***** that is good enough to use as a foundation.

Believe me,, not every Champion is good enough.

BTW I was host club show chair for the Boxer National Specialty a few years back

Nothing quite like a smart boxer

http://www.hunt101.com/img/343051.jpg

It depends on the pup and the breeder. Are you sure this is a good breeder? Just because they show and are known does not necessarily make them the best choice, do your homework! Why won't they give any health guarantee?

A really good foundation ***** is VERY hard to come by, breeders tend to not want the really good ones to go to a novice. But, that said, a non-keeper from some kennels could be nicer than other peoples best show potential, it depends on the breeder.

I wouldn't recommend breeding if you are not experienced in the manner. For a show/ breeding pup, I would recommend you find a different breeder...they don't sound too legit. Any breeder, that cares for the breed quality, and has pride in their breeding stock would include a health guarantee, and even to accept the dog back if you decide to get rid of it later on in life. Go to local dog shows to find a quality breeder...the price may be more, but you are paying for quality genetic selection, quality bone structure, a sanitary living space where pup was raised, socialisation, early behavioral training, prenatal vet care, puppy check ups, high quality home made puppy diets and lots of love and care. Get the best you can...look on the Internet for breeders who show their dogs, and have many best in breeds, national champs, on both sides(mother and father...hopefully even parents are of champ bloodlines). This would be your best bet, and the show class/ breeding quality pups will be more costly, but worth every penny if that is what you are looking for. I would say 2000 is a little on the low side, many times breeders hold back pups from previous litters to review if they want to add them to their breeding stock, and sometimes decide not to keep them. These would be the best for you since they were the best in their litter (the top pick of that breeder!who has a lot of experience with that breed!) and you would see their disposition, and bone-structure developed...since you can't really tell if they are true champs till they are a little older. They will have already been show trained, and be ready for someone like your self to take them to the next level.

I am not a breeder but I am a lover of the breed. I would think that purchase price would all depend on the down line and what you are looking for. If you can access my 360 please feel free to take a look at the loves of my life. I had to respond after looking at your lovely dog. The price really isn't bad since a regular boxer (good Pet quality) is approx. $1,100.00, which would not allow for breeding. Health guarantees do not cover much, basically they only cover you for about one week in the event their was a heart defect or ill pup.

do strenuous research first. if it is a reputable breeder demand a pedigree and health certificate. look at the parents and do all the research you can on the breed. a good reputable breeder may charge more because they do testing and shots and things to guarentee the puppies they produce. most breeders i know of would be glad to guarentee a puppy with pedigrees and proof of testing on the pups and the parents. reputable breeders breed pups to better the breed not make a quick buck. be knowledgeable before buying.

With out an AKC certification as to parentage, certification as to the health and genetics of eyes, joints, etc. I wouldn't touch this dog. Boxers are prone to hip dysplasia. Paying $2000 for a quality dog is ok, a little pricey, but only with full certification and the parents had better been champions in their own right. I paid $1300 for an American Bred Lab but the dog is fully guaranteed and all papers are in order. If the dog is to be bred, no self respecting breeder would want poor genetics passed on.

Not from that kennel I wouldn't. You can expect to pay higher prices for show and breeding quality dogs, but if the breeder were truly a reputable one, they would offer health certificates. For the prices they are asking, they should have no trouble affording them either.

I'd go in search of a reputable breeder. You want one that breeds for the love of the breed and not for the cash income involved. A good breeder will have health certificates and will also be willing to take the puppy back at any stage of it's life if it doesn't work out for you. They care about their litters and don't want to see them end up in rescues or shelters.

Your best best to finding a breeder of the breed your interested in is to find a local club of that breed. The club will have resources and reputable breeders to refer you to.

If this is your first show dog purchase, you'd probably be better thinking of it as your "learning" dog, rather than your foundation, unless you are VERY lucky. You might be better off to purchase a male to start with, because it's easier to find a quality male for tale than a good female. Don't plan on breeding him, unless he turns out to be exceptional, just show him and use the showing as your opportunity to learn and to get to know the breeders and for them to get to know you. Breeders are more likely to sell a quality female to someone they know and trust than to a total stranger, but we usually have more good males than available show homes so lots of quality males end up in pet homes.

If it was a breeder I knew and trusted, from a bloodline I knew and wanted, from a breeding I really liked, then yes I would pay $2000.

Nope, not without a health guarantee. If that breeder were as good as they're supposedly known to be, then they wouldn't be afraid to guarantee their dogs.

I've got to agree with the others. For that kind of money I'd want a health guarantee and a guarantee that the pup was show quality.