Hey {{first_name}} , it's Gerald.
Been seeing an increase in titled dog listings with questionable timelines.
If you're considering a European import with multiple certifications, this breakdown could save you significant money and frustration.
What to Expect in This Issue
Why three titles in six months breaks your dog (or proves it's fake)
The one question real breeders answer instantly, and scammers dodge
How European sellers target American buyers specifically
What transparency actually looks like in dog training documentation
Reading time: 6 minutes
The Timeline That Doesn't Exist
Let me walk you through some basic math.
In Europe, dogs cannot compete for IGP until they're 18 months old. That's the minimum age requirement. Google it right now if you don't believe me.
So when someone tells you their dog has BH, ZTP, and IGP1 at 2 years old, they're claiming that dog earned three titles in six months, between 18 and 24 months of age.
While the dog was still growing. While building handler bond. While learning to track hundreds of paces without crushing his spirit.
Here's what's actually involved:
BH (Companion Dog Test): Claustrophobic crowd work, figure 8s, heel work, recall. Takes months of consistent training for a dog to be solid.
ZTP (Breed Suitability Test): Height, gums, teeth, eye color, temperament assessment, protection phase. This is the breed standard test.
IGP1: Full tracking, obedience with dumbbell work, and protection. The tracking alone is the hardest part. My dog Cisco is going for his IGP1A in January, and he'll be three years old. He's only got a BH right now.
You're telling me a European dog got all three in six months while still maturing?
That's not a prodigy. That's a lie.
"When a breeder spends $5K-10K training a dog to titled, they document everything."
The Question That Changes Everything
Here's what I ask every time someone claims their dog is titled:
"Can you send me videos of the training process and trial day?"
Not slow-motion aesthetic shots of the dog walking on a yacht in a turtleneck. Not high-production photos. I want:
BH trial footage with the judge scoring
Protection work progression clips from puppyhood
Tracking sessions (even the messy ones)
Trial day with the judge reading scores on the field
Handler names and facility documentation
Real breeders who invested thousands in training? They have this footage. They're proud to show it. They filmed everything because that's proof of their investment.
Fake breeders who bought certificates? They get defensive. They make excuses:
"Most people don't film training."
"We focus on the work, not the camera."
Seriously. Everyone has a cell phone. Trial day is a documented event on the calendar. If you spent $10K on training, you documented it.
Why They Target Americans
European breeders wouldn't stay in business without us. We buy most of their dogs because we're willing to pay premium prices for "European bloodlines" and "titled dogs."
But here's what nobody tells you: They never sell their BEST dogs to Americans. The truly elite dogs stay in Europe for their own programs.
What they DO sell us:
Dogs with fake titles and PDF certificates you can't verify
Dogs that didn't make the cut for their breeding program
Dogs with "titles" earned at impossibly fast timelines
Dogs at 2 years old (why sell your proven stud at peak age?)
Think about it: If you invested $10K training a dog to get him fully titled by age 2, why would you sell him right when he's proven? That's supposed to be your stud dog, your foundation.
Unless... he's not actually what you claimed.
The Transparency Standard
Look, I show everything. You can see Cisco's training progression for IGP1A. You can see Titus tracking for the third time in his life. You can see Gaston doing his first rag work as a puppy.
I show the process - the wins AND the failures - because that's what real breeders do.
When I work with trainers, I name them: Al Benuelos (1998 national IGP champion), Eric Mack (helper for Cisco's protection work). I show where training happens, when it happens, and how the dog responds.
That's transparency.
A PDF certificate with signatures you can't verify? That's not transparency. That's a sales tactic.
"Trust, but verify. If a breeder won't let you verify with actual training footage, that's your answer right there."
The Hunter Story
Let me tell you about a dog that perfectly illustrates this scam.
Hunter. Sold by a breeder in Turkey. Claimed to have IGP1 at 19 months old. Extensive slow-motion videos of the dog walking around. Yacht photoshoots. High-production aesthetic content everywhere.
Zero training footage. Not one video of obedience work. Not one clip of tracking. Not one frame of actual trial day.
I called it out publicly. Know what happened? The website quietly changed. The claims got softer.
Oh, and that dog with the BH (companion test requiring calm behavior around crowds)? Bit his owner in the face.
That's what happens when certificates don't match reality.
What You Should Demand
Before you wire $15-20K for a "titled" European dog:
Complete training progression videos from puppyhood to titled
Trial day footage with actual judges scoring, not just certificates
Handler names and contact information
Facility documentation showing where training occurred
Timeline verification - dates that match the dog's age realistically
If they can't provide this? Walk away.
If they get defensive when you ask? Run.
LITTER ANNOUNCEMENT!
My stud Cisco has a HOT working litter dropping soon!
LITTER H - CISCO X DRAMA QUEEN
Litter H: Working-line litter scheduled for early 2026.
Full health clearances, excellent structure, proven temperaments.
Both parents titled and in IGP preparation.
Limited placements to vetted homes only.
Serious inquiries: @lottabelleskennel
My Take
I've seen every variation of this scam. The fake titles are just the latest version of selling dreams without receipts.
We gotta do better as a community. Stop letting people get robbed. Stop protecting scammers because "that's not our business."
It IS our business when it hurts the breed and costs good people their savings.
Ask for the videos. Demand the proof. And if they won't show you process, that tells you everything you need to know.
Until next time,
Interested in Mentorship?
Want to build your kennel the right way from day one?
I'm launching a Mentorship Program for breeders—whether you're starting from scratch or scaling an existing operation. Monthly, quarterly, and yearly options available. Affordable. Opening early sign-ups. Can only take on a limited amount.
Interested? Get more info “HERE”.
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