German Shepherd Pedigree importance - Page 1

I read an interesting question in these forums where someone asked which is better a " certificate labeled with intial's for your dog" vs. a particular "hands on experienced" dog.

Personally, I had been a lab owner and enjoyed training my dogs for field trials and just plain good hunting. I won 1st place at the Game Fair here in Minnesota. My dog had beaten hundred's of other peoples hunting dogs that hed been shipped out and trained by others. My dogs nose and drive to please me were pretty awesome and very pleasing. After my latest Lab passed away I decided to get a German Shepherd. I lucked out and purchased him from a gentleman who's grandfather had willed him a power company in Minnesota. He said he had spent huge $ getting a female and a male with top pedigree's and mated them. That is how my new GSP showed up. I worked with my pal regarding protection, guarding my business and tracking. With no intentional disrespect to my champ lab, this shepherd had a nose and drive to track that was truly unbelieveable and his desire to be trained and his attraction from me to teach him things, I had never seen before. As I mentioned, his pedigree cant get any better, so that made sence.  I have heard some hesitancyextists out there when a dog is missing those intials Sch3, FH2 etc. In brings memories back to me from the "big rollers " in their suburbans, decked out in their hunting attire at the Game Fair  and here comes an 18 year old guy and his dog putting on a show that they probably have still never seen since that day. My buddy and I walked away and he laughed and just said wow Billy, unreal.

My point and opinion is, those with fathers/mothers and fanmily tree's that have master degree's and accomplished great things usually or near always dont have "bag of hammer's" dumb children/offspring. I agree that certifications, titles mean a LOT, and do show respect to that dog after they pass, but a great pedigree pretty much tells you the "sky is the limit" it's in your dogs blood, now and get out "GET IT".

To an extent I regret not having some of the "titles and initials" members of my pals family tree had, but I know he was the real deal, and I have a lottery ticket I just haven't turned in yet...LOL.

Our dogs are like childern, we need to spend a lot of time with them, bring them up right, keep them in line and reward them when they do good, always letting them know they please us.

See you at the trials:)

You have probably answered your own question to a degree. The titles and accomplishments help guide you towards a prospect, but there's no substitute for what the dog is itself.