Mink and Fero - Page 1

I have been trying to educate myself a little on GSD's before acquiring my first pup. I am interested in the working type GSD with the thought of eventually getting into one of the Protection sports. I was wondering why some breeders specificly state that their lines are 'Mink and Fero free and therefore suited for breeding' while other lines seem to brag that they have 'Mink and/or Fero' in their bloodlines. What's the story?

Its not that Mink and Fero free dogs are suited for breeding. Both of these dogs are pillars of modern working lines and you will find a lot of dogs that have these lines in their background. So some breeders either specifically look for dogs with the lines, either to line breed to them with their existing breeding stock or to introduce them to their lines, or if they want to outcross or stay away from these lines, they will look for dogs that are Mink and Fero free. It comes down to a matter of personal preference and how a new addition to ones kennel with fit into the overall breeding program. Feel free to contact me privately if you have additional questions or are looking for a good pup or dog. If you are considering getting serious about the sport, a pup may not be the best option. Compare it to horseback riding. You would not start a green rider on a green horse either... nor may a pup grow up to be able to do the sport.

Thank you D.H. for your explanation, I agree with you. I have Mink and Fero in my dog's lines, and I doubled up on both Mink and Troll in my G-Litter and got excellent results. You won't get direct descendents of either Mink or Fero anymore so it really important that you know the positives and negatives of the dogs you are breeding to bring in both Mink and Fero. A very few people know the strengths and negative points of either Mink or Fero and most of the stuff that is floating on the internet is a hearsay. Only those people who have done their research on these lines, tend to combine them intelligently. D.H. is right, you need to have a good puppy to succeed in the sport, but along with that you need to have patience, a good support group, and devotion to succeed. Good Luck! Ajay Singh www.ajaysingh.com

I agree with DH about learning the sport with a pup. I just began the sport this past year and have started with a trained (but untitled) dog and have really learned alot just from the dog. Being a SchH novice, alot really goes into learning how to be a good handler. When you start with a dog that knows what he is doing you can concentrate more on being a handler. Good luck, Melanie

a bit off topic but being as this was probably a big named dog back then and Fero's grandpa. What do you guys think about line breeding on Boris Trogenbach if given the chance? I don't know much about this dog, but he must have been a good one. i know there are many others in the pedigree, but what things could one expect from this thanks

why do some folks prefer ford while others drive chevy? DH is correct about it being a matter of personal preference. people are different. dogs are different. training styles are different. go with whatever works best for you. :)

I also tried to dig up some information about any negatives of either Mink or Fero; as I have a retired bitch who is a Fero grandaughter. The only thing that I consistently read was that both Fero and Mink possesed and produced some civil drive tendencies. I don't say these things to begin an argument; but isn't a true working line supposed to have these qualities?

Boris Trogenbach would be at least 5 and 6 or more generations back in any dog of current breeding age today. Line breeding factors beyond the 5th generation have little influence really. Even line breeding within the first 5 generations means that dog X occupies 2, or 3 or 4 spots, what ever the line breeding, out of a possible 62. In 6 generations that is out of 126 dogs. In the case of Boris, the line breeding would be a) far removed and b) out of many...