Visual Difference between WL and SL? - Page 2

So, for someone who's never looked at pedigrees/lines/etc. and has absolutely no experience in 'reading' them....how would they know which a dog is just by looking at a pedigree?  Just because I'm curious, I've looked at a couple and they don't specify "working", "show", "American", etc.  If someone wanted to know what a breeder produces and it isn't spelled out - how would a novice know?  Some sites clearly state they breed XYZ, but some others don't.  Thanks. 

I look for titles like IPO, BH, SCH to identify WL.  I have not yet figured out how to ID herding or SL.

For example (using 1st picture above):

Dog Hajen O'Snuske  shows IPO2, UHP above her name.  The IPO2 tells me she has been taught tracking and protection/bite work (those are part of the Shutzhund requirements).   Through out the dog's pedigree, I see a lot of IPO and SCH titles.  This tells me a working line.

I hope this helps.  Please keep in mind, I am new to this part also; double check my answers.  If I am wrong, please let me know so I can update my knowledge.

Something that I have also learned, if you are new to this breed and are interested in the WL.  Generally, the WL require an experienced owner with lots of energy.  These are not your sit at home 24/7 dogs; even the "pet" ones.

If this is what I get for my next GSD, I will look just as hard for a mentor to teach me to give the dog the best I can and to not sell the dog short.   I treat my dogs as living things that require respect and my time; similar to kids.  My ranching family does not always agree.... 

While there are exceptions, they are few and far between and color and pattern is the most obvious indication.  In reasonably well bred dogs, most red/tan dogs with black saddles are SL and most bi-colors, sables and black dogs are WL.

"Something that I have also learned, if you are new to this breed and are interested in the WL.  Generally, the WL require an experienced owner with lots of energy."

Plenty of SL dogs are very energetic as well; no good GSD should have the temperament of a Golden Retriever.  Having said that, every potential owner should be realistic about what he/she is bring into his/her home and most novices should be prepared for something many times more dramatic than they've imagined, especially with a driven WL pup.

Something that I have also learned, if you are new to this breed and are interested in the WL.  Generally, the WL require an experienced owner with lots of energy.  These are not your sit at home 24/7 dogs; even the "pet" ones.
I guess this is a matter of opinion, but to me a GERMAN SHEPHERD is not a sit at home 24/7 dog, regardless of line.

I will say that I often observe more hyper/anxious "energy" from show lines than working lines.  Again with the generalizations.  Energy is not the same thing as drive.  A dog with good drives does not have to be a hyper dog that can't settle and be a good house pet too.  IMO a dog like that is bad temperament whether it's working line or show line or a pet or a working dog.  To me a dog that is hyper and won't settle is a temperament issue and not a desireable thing.

I am sorry.  Hyper is not what I was thinking of.   I am thinking more along the lines of giving them something to do, exercise, lots of interaction.   I should have used the word "high drive" for a WL.

From what I have seen, a GSD that is just dumped in a kennel or left inside all the time with limited interaction and exercise has a tendency to bark a lot, be destructive, and be over weight. 

When I think of a hyper dog, I picture a Jack Russell.

VKGSD,

I agree with your take on the subject, I agree also with most of what other posters said. I just want to hear your input on the type itself. What I mean is when you look at a GSD physically you can see a distinguished type in the Sl that is different from Wl, again different from Am Sl etc. Example Am Sl has straight back, more rear abgulations, straighter front upper arm, smaller head and you can name physical traights for WG Sl, WG Wl and so on.
So you do not misunderstand me I agree to the pedigree being the prime difference between all GSD types, but talking physical type there are some clear differences to an experienced eye. What do you say?

Ibrahim in general terms yes I agree but the problem I see is that accepting these general differences makes it seem like I'm in agreement with them and I'm not.  I do not like excessively high withers, curved back, and steep croup of many WGSL, nor do I like a ram-rod straight topline of many ASL.  Most people do not care for these extremes so why use them to identify dogs from these lines that aren't put together this way?  My KKL1 WGSL male has many times been mistaken for a working line dog because of his conformation.  I don't really take that as a compliment or a put-down, just saying that is what happens when we try to describe dogs in generalizations that no one likes anyway.  I still maintain that if the OP wants to become adept at identifying what lines a dog is from s/he should learn based on the pedigree and not just a single photo or a quick glance at the dog.   It's easier to use the pedigree anyway, then you don't need pictures just to making generalizations about a dog.  For example if someone tells me their dog is linebred on Ursus I don't need a picture to guess what that dog might look like or act like.  There is the phenotype and the genotype so why ignore the genotype and only look at the phenotype?  To the OP Fawndallas, really it does not take long to start being able to recognize which dogs are from what lines or type.  If you are around a lot of GSDs, looking at pedigrees on here, going to events...maybe after 6 months or so you'll already be getting pretty good at it.

WL have a very slender look  and smaller head for work, ( but  some are bigger) while SL  are built for show so they are   built with bigger heads , thick  bone and are very pretty looking black/reds. i see alot of SL with alot of energy, some have alot of drive and some dont, WL do seem to have  the darker pigment, they are also really strong in wanting to work, i can always tell the difference cause they are very different in looks. temp, drive etc..  you can find good in all the lines, you have to do some reseach to find what you are looking for i would start with what the parents are that is a start to go in the right direction. but  most of the people that posted here  have told you   of what to expect in the different lines and what to do.