Workinglines vs Showlines - Page 14

HGH, Sch 3, breed surveyed. SG rated. http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/dog.html?id=442476-elka-vom-quasliner-moor

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/dog.html?id=380575-berta-vom-quasliner-moor

Gotta love these GSD's that can do it all. 

Xeph, back to the service dog thing,

I am familiar with the guide dog community.  I am currently helping raise the puppies and the organization I am currently with, only uses labs and goldens.  I think the reason they do this, is because these breeds are super friendly and open to new handlers.  GSD's are one handler dogs, and guide dogs go through many handlers in their lifetime including the puppy staff, the puppy raisers, the formal training staff, and finally the blind handler.  It is hard for most GSD's to transfer handlers all the time like this.  I'm sure the blind handlers you talked to loved their guides because they got very attatched to them!  They enjoy that strong relationship, but it takes up too much (needed for training) time transferring to different trainers constantly .  Did this make sense?  Glad your Marcato puppies are flourishing, Xeph!

Vonrivera

Karl Fuller (Kirschental Kennel): A German Shepherd Dog that has anatomical errors, overangulation, incorrect reach, or small long paws, is not capable of working all day long in the field. Herding dogs must also be extremely healthy. Having to work from early morning to late at night, summer or winter, they cannot be sensative. Obviously, healthy hips and elbows are a necessity.

My working line (or so called) and show line crosses have always shown better herding instincts.  I had two litters which both showed excellent herding instincts from a female with a showline mother and a working line male.  The herding instinct was hard wired in and they showed it in their play with each other as puppies playing with each other and other animals.

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/dog.html?id=2207228-warbonnet-etta-james

I think the idea that crossing show lines with working lines is blasphemy is a lot of BS.  I have had all excellent dogs from the show line and working line crosses that I have made but for it to work you need strong parents in both the sire and dam.

You can see from those photos that Karl DID go with the trend towards the arched back and increased angulation, but avoided the extremes you see in many of the show line dogs.

That's the problem with these trends: if you want to have any hope of placing in the show ring and selling your puppies, you HAVE to follow them.  :(

Bubba, completely agree with your last comment there!

Very good info Bubba

SS, if you drew your conclusion of roached back on Kirschental kennel from Eiko picture above, please watch the two videos I posted, Eiko is not roached nor is he deep in rear angulation nor cow hocked nor walks on his hocks. Here is one more photo

For max this was the ideal, similar to workinglines, even if also some workinglines today are starting to drift towards showtype. Then if some GSDs are exactly like this or a bit more heavy, square or thin I think is less of a problem as long as the healt and workingability is there and the dog can perform it´s job.

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/dog.html?id=862-utz-vom-haus-schutting

That's the problem with these trends: if you want to have any hope of placing in the show ring and selling your puppies, you HAVE to follow them.  :(

I disagree.  Take a look at my Baby Bitch.  I wouldn't call her extreme at all.  I love her structure, and am *dying* to get her on sheep.  She is already pointed out of the bred by exhibitor class and won a BBE Group 4 this past weekend.  I will admit while the "big name" breeders in AmLines tend to like her more extreme brother more, this bitch puppy is close to my ideal, and I do not doubt her ability to function and perform in any venue I choose.

I got some very moderate puppies out of this breeding and I have *several* people, both performance and show, clamoring to me wanting a puppy from a repeat.