I have extended my search to further a field and been talking with a breeder in Poland.

Apart from the passport and quarantine requirements, what would the procedure be to import a pup or would it be better to go in person and bring back? Would it be better to drive or fly? Not sure at all about the procedure involved - anyone able to help? Anyone here who has experience of Poland?

Advice would be gratefully received..

I'm sorry you feel you need to do this - have your spoken with other top GSD breeders in this country who may be well able to advise you re bloodlines.   Obviously the puppy would need everything required for his Pet Passport or he'll be taken into quarantine at the UK border.  For starters.   I believe in always meeting the breeder, regardless of where unless you have a knowledgeable contact overseas to do this for you, see mum with the litter, and the quality of the adults - where/how they are being housed etc.  So that would suggest going out there - whether by land, or air.

Have you really exhausted all avenues re a good GSD puppy born and bred in the UK?

The issues I am finding Mamabas is the hereditary health implications. Sadly, the type I prefer seems to be leading the 'rare colour' brigade and there are a) known epileptic lines thanks to a certain numbers of breeders continuing to breed - even after issues have been found and highlighted (one simply changed their affix!) and b) selfishly breeding for colour regardless of health results - in many cases, results not even submitted to the KC but bred regardless because the dog is or carries a 'rare' colour.

I do not particularly like the current show lines and top breeders do not consider long coats desirable. Hubby has brought in lines in the recent past but these dogs are highly driven and not for me so no point in following those lines either. I simply cannot bring myself to get excited by the slope/roach/banana backs and I am really put off by the american lines now being introduced to the english lines which result in heavy chested BUT short legged dogs. My boy's lines have completely changed in body type over the last 8 years!

Another issue I have found with the few lines that come from imported dogs, is the complete refusal for discussion when I mention ring craft and the possibility of showing.

The type I have seen are from DDR lines, which I have researched and am happy with the drives. The breeder does not breed for high drive and the pups make well adjusted adults. I have been lurking on their website (in polish) and also follow posts on facebook. They have 3 litters planned over the next 18 months and have encouraged me to visit prior to making any decisions to meet them and their 'pack'.

I would prefer to go and visit and then again if all goes well and we do decide to go ahead. Just not sure on how to go about bringing the pup back after mandatory 22 days post rabies vaccine.

The only stipulations they have stated are that we collect a pup in person if initial meetings and personalities are a good match (people not pups) and if all health testing is good and breed restrictions are lifted, that we find a stud with DDR lines.

I have friends in Germany who have real stock working GSDs(not VPG/sport). We've had many discussions about the Eastern European GSDs, they are unnamious in their beliefs that these dogs are NOT 100% GSDs, because of their physical structure & attitude. Who knows what went on behind the Iron Curtain as regards to breeding, health testing etc one reason the SV have been so strict with parental DNA testing & not just the Griffiths/Martin brothers scandal

I think we might be looking for the same type!
Have you looked at any breeders in Germany?

The fact they want you to visit and meet you shows they have nothing to hide.

Their breeding frequency seems rather high for optimum socialisation though.

A puppy that can't be brought over until 16 weeks will need a lot of input from the breeder.

You need to consider whether they perhaps live rural with plenty of space to have kennel/working dogs (same applies to a here but we can get our pus at 8 weeks) and whether after 4 months coming to UK to live in a more restricted domestic environment will mean he lacks habituation with the many stressful human environmental triggers.

do they speak good English, as I am a fluent Polish speaker if your relying on Google translate, which can throw some really weird translations with anything technical.

Oh my Dad drove an Elkhound pup to Poland in December 1997.  To fly into UK it would have to be Cargo, and fi you have to sue Heathrow the costs double with the extortionate processing and Quarantine facility fees.

Again if there are flights from Poland to Brussels, then flying with pup as checked luggage, and driving home from there would not be so onerous.

I think we are WolfieStruppi. I have looked and thought the german type (long haired at least) to be on the thin side and to have slightly curved backs...Have you seen any you like? We can PM what we have seen if you like?

When I looked in to flying out for a visit we can fly from Birmingham or Manchester but not sure if a pup can be brought across to these two airports.

So far, for the initial visit, a week's stay at a 3 star hotel and the flight for 2 people is coming in at just under 450 pounds. The cost of a pup would be 900 euros but this does not include the extra passport/travel requirements. I haven't yet looked at the cost of airline to bring a pup over.

If you are interested Brainless, I could PM you the link to their website? My Polish is completely non existent and one site doesn't have a translate option - I am just looking at the writing and making out what it might be saying. The other has a translate option.....

When my niece returned to the UK from living in Denmark her dog was flown into Manchester airport. It cost about the same amount as the fares for the rest of the family (2 parents, 3 children)!

Bringing direct into the UK flying is much more expensive than flying to say Brussels, Amsterdam or Paris and driving the back across

That is what I tried to say, it really is very expensive to fly them direct into UK, no problem flying out with airlines that have the accompanied checked baggage option.

Flying to Brussels and then driving back actually is cheaper mostly.

I have a Polish friend if you should need anything translating, she is very into her dogs although not GSD's but very nice girl and helpful, PM me if you need this sort of help.

Iv had several dogs from Eastern Europe, you don't need to quaratine but must have a pet passport and rabies/ microchip. It's cheaper to have the puppy driven to the UK even my Russian dog came by car

I have recently imported a dog from Poland, I used a courier who is very well known amongst breeders in the UK, she makes the journey on a regular basis, deals with the paperwork and delivers your dog to your home address.

She keeps in contact with you throughout the journey even sending pics of the dogs having exercise whilst waiting to board for the tunnel, my dog arrived in perfectly clean and happy condition, I would highly recommend her and would definitely use her again should I choose to bring another dog from abroad.

I can't remember the exact cost but it was by far the cheapest way to bring her over and as the lady travels with her husband the dogs are with someone at all times.
If you would like her details, I can send you a pm x