Complaint Review: Von Falconer K9

After reading other reviews I decided to add my own, since this is apparently a pattern of behavior. As far as I'm concerned, Von Falconer K9 is the dog version of the classic horse trainer. Whatever you say you want, the dog they have is it. Buyer beware.

I wanted a Dutch Shepherd to do protection sports with. This would have been my first working dog. When I found out that there was a breeder near me, I was excited. I was familiar with the name from the police K9 crowd and they all recommended him. In retrospect, I think the cops get the good dogs and the rest of us, get what's left over.

When I showed up to look at the dogs, there were only two females, same litter, eight months old. They were already doing serious bite work with a helper (decoy). I didn't know enough at the time to know that dogs shouldn't be working that way until a year old. Working at the level they were, at that age, means there are serious holes in the training. One of the dogs clearly lacked confidence. She was very concerned with my kids (ages 8, 10 and 12) and kept stepping back, showing low level aggression. I passed on that dog. The second dog was more confident but still a little odd.  Eric assured me that this dog would be great for what I wanted. Because I was new to protection dogs, I trusted him (mistake) and bought the very expensive dog. I left the dog for a week because I was in the middle of moving and they said they could tune the dog up. When I went to pick her up, it was not the same dog. They brought out the dog I had passed up. When I said that’s not my dog, they argued briefly, and then brought out my dog. That was odd but I let it slide as a mistake. Now I question it. He also promised support and the dog came with 10 training sessions. On my fifth session, Brian told me I would have to pay for any more training. I tried to tell Brian that Eric said training was included but he told me if it wasn't in the contract, it isn't included. I couldn't argue with that. I was not impressed with the group lessons and was pretty creeped out by the people there, including the kennel guy who always wanted to "hug" me, so I just didn't go back.

The more I learn about DSD's, the more I know, my dog is very poor quality. I might as well have bought a cheap dog from a backyard breeder. My dog turned out to be neurotic, fearful, lacked confidence, none too bright and has no drive whatsoever. She is also nearly impossible to motivate. I took her to two different schutzhund trainers who both said, give it up, she is not going to be a protection dog. At eight months old, there is no way VFK9 should not have know that. As far as I'm concerned, they misrepresented the dog. I would be willing to say maybe I got a dud but two other people I have met who got DSD's from them have the exact same issues.

Other issues that make them unethical:

1. They will sell a dog to anyone. They don't care if the dog is not right for you or you are not right for the do. 
2. As far as I know there are no OFA or PennHIP ratings on any of the breeding dogs.
3. They will breed almost anything. Eric wanted me to breed my female with one of his unrelated males. She is not the kind of dog that should be bred. They are, in my not humble opinion, an overpriced puppy mill.
4. I would question the parentage of any dog I didn't see at the mother's side. I'm still not really sure where my dog came from.
5. None of his Dutch Shepherds are working in protection sports, as far as I know. When they talk about dogs with titles, they are referring to their other breeds.

I will say, I did not contact them and ask for a refund. They would have traded the dog but for what? The other even less suitable DS? A German Shepherd? I kept the dog because despite the fact that she absolutely can’t do what I bought her to do, she has her charms. Four years later, she's become an excellent ranch pet but it was a lot of work to get her there.