East or West German? - Page 1

I noticed in the post re: American or German dogs Pineridge mentioned East german lines..well, in my quest for a puppy I have noticed people saing East is better or West is better, what IS the difference.?

The east germans has mostly the better pigment. They are often dark or black sable. These colors aren¿t often in the west lines. Also they have strong bones and a very strong and typical head, with good nerves. look at boban von den grauen von monstab for example. In my opinion all dogs a good, when they have the right trainer.

You see very few pure DDR line dogs in the top sport. Part DDR line dogs you see more of at higher level competitions. Personally I like the DDR mixes. If the breeding worked well you get the best of both worlds. JMO. DDR line dogs tend to be more late maturing, which many working line cracks have a hard time dealing with if their dog is not ready to work yet at a certain age. They lag about a year behind. DDR line dogs tend to have more civil drive, can have less play drive, they also tend to me more independent. Some people like them because they can make better house dogs since most are not the restless gogogogogo type of dog like what you find in some of the West lines more often. Weak nervy dogs are common too. You have to be very selective as with any dog or line, make sure it suits your needs. I do not agree on pigment. West lines have excellent pigment too. Colour is not equal pigment. DDR lines tend to be darker in the sables in terms of colour. They are known for good substance, broader heads. What is better? Usually depends on the individual dog and what you want to do with it. Seriously, if you are new to the sport, IMO get an older dog that already has some training. When people learn how to ride a horse they are put on a seasoned school horse, never a green one! The older dog will teach you, you will learn the ropes faster and find out what works for you in the process, what your own personal preferences are, what you dislike in a dog. That makes getting a puppy next time around much more rewarding and gives you a much greater chance of succeeding with that puppy. It will also provide you with a much clearer picture of what you want and need in that new pup.

East German dogs kick ass!. Nothing better looking then a nice blocked head DDR male,In my opinion,much closer to what the dog is/was supposed to look like. They also have a tendency to be a much harder dog civily I think then most West dogs. Someone mentioned Boban in an above post,while I myself LOVE that dog,he is in fact a handfull for his owner,and could not be handled by just anybody,the dog has a mind of his own and has no problem challanging his handler,fortunate for both dog and handler,Jacques is a seasoned handler and keeps his dog in check,much more dog then the average person would need.A very serious dog who means business when on the field.Most serious DDR people would disagree with mixing East with West like Daniela had mentioned,I again agree with her,I happen to think with the RIGHT mixture you can have the best of both worlds east and west.If you are looking to do something in regards to sport,get yourself a green dog already started and learn together,starting with a pup is a pain in the ass and there is no guarantee the dog will have what it takes to do what you want of it.I think the only thing for sure you will find out is that East dog owners think thier dogs are better and West dog owners think thier dogs are better....lol.. Pretty much up to the individual and thier likes and dislikes. Good luck!!

I think DH's post is excellent and I agree with everything she said. I also love the "look" of the DDR line dogs, but don't like the slow maturing, and often-seen nerve problems in many DDR dogs I see. My dogs are mainly WGR lines and I feel they are better in agility, athletic ability, speed, higher drive, clearer nerves and better medium size for many forms of working. They can be plenty strong in aggression/gripwork, and also can be excellent dark pigment including black sable. I also prefer a mix of very strong WGR lines with DDR to get very strong and very good-looking. But they have to be the right lines on both sides.

I too agree with D.H. post! along w/ Eichenluft's! Hit the nail right on. I think the most important outlook to the question was suitability, though looks DO count, having a dog that has the tempermant and work ability is most important...look is a gift.=) My 1st GSD dog was an older dog (2 yrs) and I could not have gotten a better one. Now, inpart it was because his training was superb and his previous owner was an awesome one, but the fact that I was learning from him was the key to our success. As Eichenluft mentioned the mix in lines may be your best bet. I've seen her dogs and their lines...they do excell is ALL worlds of work. I've seen other breeders have similar lines, with their dogs excelling as well. Becareful with what you choose, esp. if going w/ an older dog. The proper breeder will and should not sell you a dog that will not suit your needs.