GSD nerve vs other breeds - Page 2

A well bred German Shepherd Dog has a STRONGER temperament than most other breeds.  That is why they are so good at doing so many different things.  I don't agree with the premise that they are more nervy.  Now a poorly bred dog is a poorly bred dog no matter what the breed.

So are well bred German Shepherds the norm these days?, the exception? , still good at so many different things? Not arguing with you, just trying to figure out if what you wrote is what is seen routinely.

The divergence between working line GSDs and pet line GSDs has become so wide that I would argue that they have become almost two separate breeds.  When I compare the temperament of my working line dog who I believe is an average bred working line dog to the pet quality GSDs that I have owned I see no comparison between the dogs. 

The pet trade dwarfs the demand for working dogs.  I propose that 90% or more of the GSDs we see in society are bred for the pet trade and should not really be compared to dogs bred with working ability in mind.

Nature versus Nuture?
It is nature and nuture. good breeding combined with early socialization.
Pet vs working? We should not be breeding for pet dogs but good working dogs also make excellent pets.

@ Rob Kringel.....you are an astute person, who sees things as they are.

After seeing the video posted here of a WL puppy's initial  training for protection work and then reading  this thread, I have a question - does the difference  we see in the temperaments of WL vs SL dogs result 100% from the geneome or the way puppies are handled (environment, imprinting) or both? Most SL breeders  I know would probably not consider an "alligator-like" puppy a hugh assest while WL breeders desire and encourage it.

Majority of GSD's I've seen have wonderful temperaments & solid nerves. I've owned, worked, & showed other breeds of dogs & none can compared to a well bred trained & socialized GSD.

I don't see where most mutts have better temperaments or nerves. Majority of small dogs do not display the kind of temperament / nerves / training I would ever want to own.

90% of GSD's I come in contact with are well bred & trained WL's. But do get a to see a decent amount of WG SL's as well with good temperaments & nerves just some may lack drive compared to the WL's.
American SL's tend to have a higher amount of temperament / nerve issues that I've seen, but not all.  I have a large amount of quality breeders in my area though of American, WGSL's & WL's.

Genetics of temperament only play about 30% in a adult dog the other 70% is made up of the dogs environment / imprinting. Example; I own a female with strong protective / civil side, when she had a litter of puppies this side of course will increase with a maternal instincts. The litter would have learned her behavior reaction to the visitors coming to our home & most likely mimic it into adulthood. I prefer to enhance the genetic balance of drives & temperament in the litter instead, so beginning at 4 weeks old & being weaned from their mother, I replace their mom with a another adult GSD acting as a puppy sister /role model. I make sure to do this prior to any visitors coming to the home, so the puppies learn from their role module proper behavior & socialization reactions. I always return their mom back to them shortly afterward. But the litter will now learn a less decrease protective reaction to friendly visitors, become better socialized with people because they are allowed to interact with them without the protective dam present, & additional socialization with other dogs.
This litter all grew up with the balanced temperament I was seeking, 2 even becoming service dogs with children. The dam's previous litter with another owner had opposite results when the puppies were left to only learn from their mother. Those puppies defensive / protective side was enhanced in adulthood like their acts when whelping a litter despite their various training / socialization in the new homes.
Both scenarios I'm refer to correct stable temperaments, just wants to achieve more of a certain working goals / type of homes from each litter. The dam's 1st litter would be ideal for police / PPD / sport, 2nd litter was great for all avenues of work from SAR, service, too sport & agility too active pet homes.

I've done this technique with many litters for additional socialization & better rounded reactions to all sorts of stimuli. Another example is animal abuse case seized a breeders dogs. One of the females was pregnant but due to health reasons could not care for the puppies. Both sire & dam displayed poor temperament & nerves. I raised the orphan puppies & rotated different adult dog puppy sitters with them. Plus lots Of human socialization & handling. None of the puppies displayed the unbalance temperaments / nerves as their parents.

You can't compare dogs that were raised in a stimuli free sterile environment like basements to dogs that were raised inside the house / kennel with lots of natural stimuli. Throw in good genetics you have the makings of a great temperament & nerve dog. As long as the new puppy owners continue to do their work in training & socialization. Many of the poor temperament / nerve dogs are most likely due to lack of socialization & handling while a young puppy, lack of exposure to different stimuli, learned reactions by improper trained / socialized dam than actual genetics of the entire breed.

Also people don't take into account dogs especial protective breeds like GSD's go through 2 fear periods during their development at 8-12 weeks old & then during adolecents any where from 8 months - 15 months old.
Giving the impression during that time of poor nerves. But given time they bounce right back.