German lines at AKC? - Page 2

Working lines are certainly NOT the only healthy GSD's with solid temperaments nor do their lines alone guarantee you  a "better" dog in any way. I show in OB and rally with Am showlines and German showline crosses as do plenty of people I know. I was just at the GSDCA National specialty and saw many of those same combinations plus % ASL's, % GWL's % GSL's qualify and go high in their class. All lines were also represented in the Parade of Greats and other honor ceremonies. If you want a dog to show successfully in AKC conformation shows too, then  you will need to do as Dog1 said, get an ASL and a good handler.

Dog1, I don't see anywhere that the op wants to show in conformation. Was this posted somewhere else? For the performance events you certainly do not need an American dog or handler, and a good workingline dog is the best bet.

Trying to find a decent American dog is like finding a needle in a haystack. It can be done, certainly, but it's darn hard.

IMO, the main thing is to find a good breeder, one with lots of experience at matching the owner with the right pup, and not one that just wants to get rid of their unsold puppies!

A good breeder can pick a pup that will be easy to live with and still have enough drive to do what's required of it.

Unfortunately, since I live in Canada, I haven't a clue as to what good breeders there are in your area!

I just know California seems to produce more well-bred GSD rescues than just about any other state in the U.S.! 

Maybe Shelly would be a good person to ask for advice?  I have sent her a PM, as she's the only member I know on the board who lives in Ca. She's in S. California, but most of us are willing to travel a fair distance to find a good pup! (I drove all the way from Toronto, Ont. to Cincinnati, Ohio to pick up one of my dogs!)

Greyhoundgirl, the OP says they live in a locality with small Open Breed
Club and AKC shows;   and that there are NO SCHUTZHUND CLUBS
​around, so they ' will not be showing there '.

Kinda does suggest they'll be mostly showing under AKC Rules,  rather than
going the IPO-more-than-conformation route.  Dog1 was just addressing that
option;  telling the OP they'll need a Handler, if they go that way, isn't ruling
out competing in Rally, Utility etc.  They may have energy to do more than
one thing. Also, they might actively prefer their dog to have 'good looks'.
Better to have a full range of information, surely ?
 

You do NOT need a handler to show a dog in AKC PERFORMANCE events! 

Conformation, of course, is a different story, but that's not what the OP is planning on doing.

I´m with Jenni - visit as many clubs and breeders as possible - at a club it´s easy to meet potential sires and dams of a future litter.
Don´t care about lines, do care about the dogs, their temperament, and their outlook.
"Your" puppy will not know, if it´s an ASL, GWL, GSL, or whatever...

I sent you a PM.  Nan

That's absolutely not true Greyhoundgirl. It is not any harder to find a decent ASL for OB, rally, herding than it is a decent GWL or GSL. The OP isn't interested in protection, another can of worms entirely.  Were you at the GSDCA national specialty or any other GSD specialty where OB and rally was offered? The dogs will look different, but as far as OB and rally goes, there isn't going to be any difference in how they learn, perform, or score.  The ASL's scored and performed right up there with the working lines. Go to the GSDCA website and look at the results from the OB, rally and herding.  ASL's, AKC champions, German workingline, German showlines, combo of all including Sch 3's and KKL1 dogs, PAM Award winners.

"I want the athletic, protective, quiet minded dog that I can show in obedience, rally, utility, tracking, herding (no professional bite work).  I live in SO OR and it is small AKC and Open Breed shows put on by local clubs.  I want a low - medium drive dog."

This is the link to all the GSDCA national OB, rally and herding results. Notice that there are all bloodlines represented and no one line did any better than the other.

http://gsdca.org/events/conformation/current-results

FWIW,   There are AKC Judges that are starting to recognize the Working line dogs. Recently a few working line dogs have been doing well in the ring. 

I have a young girl who is preparing for the AKC ring now and we are hopeful she will stand out amongst her saddle back competition... Who knows.  It is surely worth a shot.

Like many here have said, getting out and meeting breeders and owners and seeing the dogs in person is the best way to choose a breeder.

Here is a pic of my girl.. (its kinda dark but you get the idea)