Help with puppy selection - Page 6

Deb Hope you don't think I am insulting you in any way because I am not meaning too. I am just saying that on any subject including dogs you have to understand that everything you read may or may not be 100% correct. Look at the way the media can slant things. My point is that anything from the AKC concerning any type of working / herding dogs I would be cautious believing, It is good to read anything but just consider the source, it could be a good or bad source.

No insult taken! Just that their (AKC) breed descriptions are considered the authority in the American dog world, at least? Is that not correct? Is not their pedigree registry unique, in that other registries will accept their standards, but not the reverse. That would mean they are top dog! ~Deb

I prefer Gsd over any other breed but remember the old saying, "GSD's are not the best at anything but are second best at everything." As for the AKC book no I would not assume anything in it is correct concerning a GSD. Would have to read and verify elsewhere. How many Top quality AKC American Bred GSD's have you ever seen? Go to a AKC show and it won't be many.

Hi all, Here's an update. I met with the man interested in the puppy. Turns out, his flock is about 10 sheep and he has trouble with the coyotes coming in after the lambs. He said the coyotes will run off if a dog even barks at them. The sheep are fenced in and close to his house. He installed big lights which has helped. I mentioned the possibility of a great pyrennese or a combination of GSD and great pyr. He does not want 2 dogs and wants the dog to also to watch out for his property and family. He will let me borrow a lamb to test my litter when the time comes that they are old enough to test. It sounds like the dog's primary job would be stay with the flock during the times when the lambs come and then more of a family dog/ protector at other times. If one of the pups seems to have the affinity for the sheep, I think this would work out in this case. What do you all think, given this new info?

I don't know, gsdlvr2. He seems a little *iffy* to me. Since he asked you to pick out the pup, he apparently is new to the whole 'guarding flock' scenario. I don't even think he knows yet what his expectations from the dog will be---that's a lot of pressure on a pup. Does he intend to make the dog a member of his family--letting him out to chase away a suspicious noise; or, is the dog to be on call 24/7 patrolling the sheep enclosure with a routine check on the human homestead also? One of the shows on PBS recently--national geographic--was a story about rehoming possible work candidates from shelters. One was a Border Collie. A woman, with the credentials of a 'shepherdess' took her on and started evaluating her capabilities. The collie was viewed negatively when she violently shook a prey item. The show was very interesting and showed me you really have to know what you're doing--lives are at stake--not schutzhund sleeves. In the end the dog did succeed--but only after a great deal of work with an extremely experienced shepherdess. In the long run, you're the one who has to feel comfortable with your decision. Is this man someone you feel will love and treat the pup well, or are you not getting any clearcut clues as to what the future holds for the pup? Personally, I'd probably pass. Many years ago when I lost my Golden, I thought about getting a Kuvasz with my GSDs. At the Westminster Dog Show, I checked out the breed in the back booths. My thinking at the time was a bigger version of the Golden. This couldn't have been further from the truth. I went up and TRIED to interract with at least 5 of the dogs. Forget it. They were all very unfriendly---not aloof like our GSDs--quietly cold and unfriendly, with aggressive tendencies toward strangers. That breed (from my subjective observation) would make great guard dogs. Too bad about Winnie. She probably could have offered some good advice. I'm sure whatever you decide will be carefully thought out. Best of luck, L.

interesting points LMH. I should add that the reason I would be selecting the pup is because I know the puppies the best, I interact with them to a great degree while they are growing so I am the most capable person to do the picking. I will know which one's have drives over the top,which if any are shy,whose's the most dominate, that sort of thing. Also I can not and will not take the whole litter to his lamb. I will borrow the lamb or he can bring the lamb over for testing.Either way.Ultimately both of us have to decide if I have the right pup . I have to feel comfortable selling to him. I did get a hold of Winnie and she is also helping a great deal. I will be careful, that's why I asking for input. If there are other question's I should ask him ,what are they? I can stop by his business for a chat but it would be inconsiderate to take up too much of a man's time at his place of business. The pups are too young to make any more in depth appointment with him just yet. This is still preliminary research.

GSDlvr2....may want to consider the pup that is outgoing and inquisitive but tends to watch/observe prior to committing to action...ie watches where the ball is going and runs to intersect it as opposed to simply chasing behind it. Alphapup: What is up with your nonstop push against the word "drive"...THE ESSENCE of the dog is made up of a combination of drives each of varying degrees of strength. Quit the Dr. Phil meets Oprah to discuss Kung Fu and Zen. You are merely trying to create another word to replace one that already exists....drives.

If the fellow is looking for a dog to protect his flock against predators, then he needs to be looking at something in the way of the guardian breeds, not the herding/tending breeds. Something like a Great Pyranees, a Maremma, an Anatolian Shepherd or an Akbash dog, or a Kuvasz... Although Ulf Kinzel *tends* and moves his flock with GSDs, they're protected from predators by a guardian breed (I think he's got a Pyr...)

My dad's brothers and sisters were mostly involved in farming when I was growing up. They all had farm dogs to protect their place. The dogs stayed outside most of the time, but always had access to a kennel or a shed in case of bad weather. These were not guardian dogs, just your ordinary farm dog, but they did a good job of protecting their homes. Most were collies or collie mixes. A guardian is needed if you've got a large flock at a distance from the farmhouse. Totally different situation than what we have here. I think a GSD might work out just fine under the circumstances gsdlvr lists above (small flock, close to the house, so the dog can still interact with humans.)

Hexe, that has been my point all along.