Tell me about - ?? - Page 4

Thank you for the kind words. I now have a young male sired by dragos von der ostfriesischen thingstätte that I think will complement my Neo daughters. He just loves people and children, but has drive to die for.
I think sometimes those of us with showlines hesitate to comment because of the "bashing" that sometimes takes place. We forget that it is ok to discuss and agree to disagree. That is how we all learn. I admit I am not fond of the American extremes. I prefer a good German showline dog to a working line for the most part, but that is a personal preference. I don't like the extremes in any of the lines. But that doesn't mean I don't understand there are others who will disagree with me. Everyone has their own preference. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. : )

Sitasmom,

Thank you for starting this thread.
I've asked similar questions about some of the working line studs and have pretty much received the same responses you have. 

It's a shame that more people with first hand knowledge aren't willing to share some of what they know, good or bad, on an open forum. It would be really helpful to know even the most basic information, or be pointed to websites, or to breeders who have that knowledge. Some have said that it's partly because no one wants the information to lead to bashing. I understand that to some degree. However, most of us looking for information for constructive purposes don't care about the personal differences one breeder has with another, and can read between the lines of BS to get to the information we need. It could also be that the breeders, in the know, don't have extra time to spend on forum's like this. What ever the reason, the lack of available information is not helping the breed. The new pet, show, working or sport, person can only make decisions based on the information available to them. Why not help them get started in the right direction and degrease the possibility of making some of the same mistakes you've learned from?

Edith....what a beautiful boy you have. Thank you for sharing your experience with him.

Cheri

I have kept to myself for some time now. I used to write in the breedlines column of Dogs In Canada magazine years ago. My intent was to share information I came across on genetic issues and research. I had a lot of people write to me asking for information, and I was able to help a lot of individuals. Silly me, i thought that breeders, etc. would be happy to share such information. Instead I found that a lot of individuals involved in the breed did not want such information made public. I was told that by discussing such issues, that the public would think there was a problem with the breed.  I took a lot of criticism from people that didn't know me. In fact, I received a letter from the president of the German Shepherd Dog club of Canada telling me "that a person such as myself was not deserving of being a member". All I did was pass on info from reliable sources on health issues, etc. To make a long story short, I quit writing, did not renew my membership and have quietly done my own thing. I guess I was ahead of my time. : ) I always have time to answer questions, and if I don't know, I can usually find out.  I agree, we should be sharing more information.
Thanks for the complement on my boy.

Edith, your boy is really lovely!

Thank you for the complement. Here is one of his daughters.

She is 17 months old

I see the problem as being as much that people don't want to hear or receive the negative knowledge about dogs or lines. They often let feelings and emotions color their ability to learn from impartial information. I remember taking a graduate level history course at Ft. Benning in the seventies with a class full of military officers. The subject matter was Ben Franklin. The professor said to the class, now all of you know the standard high school textbook knowledge of Ben....but i am going to give you some graduate level info on Ben and some of his aspirations and plans that he tried to promote. So he gave us some really astounding stuff, and he gave us resource documentation to support what he was saying. Man you should have heard the comments and anger that these officers have for the professor. It didn't matter if it was true, it didn't matter that he could prove, they just weren't interested in hearing these things. Well, I see this with the breed all the time. People will receive info if it allows them to stay in their comfort zone, but outside of that.....shoot the messenger. Fred Lanting is an excellent example of this in terms of the ASL. And it sad! But there are people that are preaching gospel as did Fred, but there are too many people not interested in indepth knowledge.JMO

Very True Gustav.
Another example, I have been promoting a natural diet and minimum vaccinations for years. The research has finally caught up to what I have been saying for years. I actually had a naturopathic vet say to me last year that I should keep educating my clients. She actually apologised to me on behalf of her profession. She acknowledged the abuse put on someone like me that tells it like it is.
A lot of breeders feel that if too much info gets out, that customers will think there is something wrong with the dogs. They don't realize they have a chance to educate. The very first German Shepherd specialty I went to in Ontario had a lady spectator with a red german sheherd. she was asking everyone if anyone knew what she had. No one would tell her. And I didn't know at the time. I look back on this now and shake my head.
So I have kept out of the clubs and have done my own thing.