Husband and I for sure didn't do nearly the amount of research we probably should have when we got our two. We had been looking at getting mini schnauzers at the time since I had grown up with that breed and he loved my pups as well. When we were trying to find a breeder that would work with Americans in Germany for the schnauzers we got the opportunity to foster our friend's yorkie Honey for 6 months while he deployed and his wife went home to set up their home. (He was getting out of the mil less than 30 days after he got back from deployment) After fostering Honey my husband decided that he didn't want schnauzers any more he only wanted a yorkie so we went on a search for one.
I knew about how to find a breeder and how to purchase a purebred pup in the states but getting a pup in Germany as an American was a whole different beast that we had no clue how to do. A friend of a friend was an American breeder who had worked with German breeders in the area and was able to help us find our first pup. The German breeder would not allow us in her home so Linn (the American Breeder) had picked up the last pup the breeder had (the runt) and also brought the German papers and pics of the parents to us when we saw Teddy. The German breeder would not sell a prized dog to Americans because unfortunately we as Americans have a bad rep for disposing of our pets there but she would be willing to part with the runt. It was love at first site and he immediately was crawling all over us and climbed into my purse as to say ok lets go home now.
Our second is a rescue that has had a bit of health problems. When we were looking for a mate for Teddy, Linn was contacted by a breeder about a pup she was getting rid of because it had too many problems. Since Linn couldn't taker her back to the states with her because she was too young (12 weeks) she asked if we would be willing to take her. She got along with Teddy so Chloe came to be ours. Had I of done my research I'm not sure I would have been so willing to take on a pup with so many problems because it has been a very long bumpy road the last year and a half with her.
I'm very thankful I was ignorant because she and my husband are attached at the hip! It is quite the site to watch my big strong husband in his mil uniform walking her in her dresses and bows.
