Seeking GSD with special temperament qualities - Page 3

 Wow, his is getting out of hand. If there are moderators reading this I'd be happy to have them delete this thread. 

Cassie's breeder should have done at 8 weeks of age what I have to do now. No litter is ever perfect and most of the time homes can be found for the sound pups according to their potential and the buyers needs.
Any pup not meeting a minimum of the breed standard should be culled. That's my opinion and I am entitled to it. 

My mistake was not testing the pup myself before purchase. We relied on the breeder reputation and the fact that it was -30 outside when we picked her up. Once we had her and realized her problems we spent a year trying to help her out. We knew that if we returned her she would have been taken back and sold to someone else most likely as a breeding bitch. By taking her back I would have had a refund now the dog will not be refunded but I'm saving her from a possible  life of breeding and abuse. This dog is suffering from her condition and should be put out of her misery. This is a very high drive dog and ultra dominant. Her excitability threshold is, on a scale of 1 to 10 at 1-.  She has the worst nerves of any dog I have ever seen and that includes the dogs I walk weekly at a dog shelter. 

Koach

Koach, did you ever have Cassie tested for hypothyroidism? This can occur even at a young age and can cause exactly the problems you describe. If you don't want to pay for this (it needs to be sent to Michigan State and will cost $150-$200), I will be happy to pay for it.

I will also pay to have Cassie shipped to a good home, including the cost of the vet exam and crate. I have shipped dogs before and I know this is not cheap. But I will do it.

You now say that Cassie is "suffering." However, you bring this up only after having your decision to kill her criticized, so the claim is a bit lacking in credibility (especially since you believe that any dog who doesn't meet the standard deserves to die). Even if she is unhappy, others may be able to help her. She deserves a chance with someone else. It won't cost you a dime. All you have to do is get her to the airport. I'll even pay for the gas and your time.

I will also pay to have her spayed before she goes to her new home, since we agree that she should never be bred. Like you, I don't want the slightest chance that she'll end up in some horrible puppy mill. It's also possible that spaying might help a bit with the temperament issues. Some dogs have crazy hormones.

GSDsRock....that is a great offer. Koach...your sounding like dog fighters who kill their dogs if they can't perform well and live up to your standards. Basically the samething Michael Vick did.

Yes, GSDsRock, that is wonderful of you. 

Koach,
The problem is discussing this matter on this forum as most on here don't work their dogs and don't have a clue when it comes to handling working dogs. Most are just happy to have a '' dog with a big head'' and refer to their PETS as their babies.
Many are backyard breeders with little to no experience and as soon as their dogs are old enough they breed them without considering the consequences. No wonder the breed is in the sorry state it is in at the present.

Thank you for the kind words, folks. But I'm just a grouchy old lady. Cassie's impending execution really gets to me. It's so unfair to her. She didn't ask to be born with lousy nerves. And I'll bet she's never had a thorough medical workup that includes a complete thyroid panel.

I've learned a few things over the years, and one thing I've learned is that dogs that do very badly in some situations do very well in others. Since Cassie isn't a biter, there's bound to be a calmer home where she'll be welcome and her quirks will be tolerated.

If humans had to meet some minimum standard of perfection to avoid being executed, none of us would be alive today. Everyone has their faults.

Someone seems to have seen a picture of Cassie--can you post the link or the picture?

I am usually a lurker but I remember the post about cassie and the wolves, here is the original blog that the OP put up a while back, Cassie is a beautiful girl regardless of her nerves. I would hate to think what the OP would do with my basket case of a dog. http://www.geraldguay.ca/casswolves.htm

WOW!

May god help me stay away from puppy buyers like Koach! That is depressing. Poor Cassie! A typical case of a terrible mismatch and now the dog has to pay the ultimate price due to ego issues!

GSDsRock,
you rock! People like you make it all worth while!

Thanks, Silbersee, and thanks, Jaclyn! Cassie is an exquisitely lovely girl. She looks like a silver sable and has a sweet, intelligent face.

Here's a clickable version of the link (I hope):

www.geraldguay.ca/casswolves.htm

The blog is also very interesting. Cassie was able to go along on a canoe trip with no complaints from the owner about her being hard to handle in the canoe. And getting a dog to remain calm and steady enough so the canoe doesn't flip is not an easy thing.
 
Also, when exposed to all kinds of strange and new things in the wild, what was Cassie's response? According to the owner:

"So what's with this dog of ours. At home it barks or growls at the slightest noise and out here nothing turns her on."

When wolves surrounded the tent, what was Cassie's response? According to the owner:

"Through all of this the dog remains cool."

This does not sound like a dog that needs to die. Sounds like a dog that desperately needs a new home.