[Mara]

Thanks for the thoughts. Two quick things: first, cost seems to be a wash, since breeders in the USA appear to charge more than breeders in Germany--so much so that I can pay for import fees and still pay about the same. At least, that is true of the breeders who have given me prices (they are pretty reluctant!) Second, while I admire people who adopt Rotts, I would not do that. I need to start with a pup, and make sure it gets proper training.
A few people have pointed out that I can't be sure about health just because a dog comes from Germany. True enough. But is there any way to be more sure about a dog's health than to pick a pup with parents that are certified not to have significant health problems?
I'd certainly prefer to buy local, but so far I've been stumped in my efforts to locate a breeder with sires and dams that have top-notch genetics (except ones that charge 3K per dog).