Breed for personality and drives or for looks? - Page 2

I have a hypothetical question.

What if I want a GSD that just has the looks of a GSD but not the drives and personality of a GSD?

ie:  What if I want a large dog, that is black and tan and looks like a typical GSD?  What if I don't want more than a two percent chance of my "pet" ever biting an intruder?  What if I want a GSD that is never going to be asked to do anything but be a pet?

Possible answers:

A.  Get a Bloodhound instead.

B.  Doesn't exist.

C.  You're just being silly now.

D.  Easy find.  Just look around.  There are thousands of them.

E.  Might be able to help you, but you will have to take white instead.

F.  I have just what you are looking for.  $700.00 with limited registration or $900.00 with full registration.  Crate and shipping extra.

Okay.  Just answer with a "letter", and not with four "letter" words, please.

All in fun.  Sort of.

Easy, but not one of your letters - American Show Shepherd.

Egad!  Pity that we have to answer such a question in the first place.  As if there were any doubt. 

Here is what Linda Shaw says about it on her site, The Illustrated GSD:

"One last comment. The GSD is a working breed, perhaps the very best. While there is nothing wrong with a dog serving as a family pet, this is not its primary function. Breeding GSDs to accommodate the minimal demands of suburban life is like manufacturing a BMW with the engine of a sewing machine. It will certainly look good and give its owner's ego a boost, but the essence is gone. If a pet owner is not willing to provide the training and exercise this breed requires, there are many other breeds, including several listed here, which would be more appropriate. If you cannot cope with a working breed, please do not buy a German Shepherd Dog. Breeders who are unwilling to promote their dogs' working capacities should also find another breed to produce. Breeding away the working ability of a GSD is like wiping the smile off the Mona Lisa - the beauty is still there, but the greatness is gone."

I'm sorry, but looks only go so far.

If you don't have drive, you don't have a gsd. 

Who cares what the dog looks like if it doesn't do what it was meant to do.

Nothing more disappointing than a drop dead gorgeous gsd that is scared of it's own shadow!

Without comparing the pedigree, preferably knowing both dogs personally, I have no comment... which I hope speaks VOLUMES.

SS

Personally I'll take the "working" looks over the "show" looks any day.

"Easy, but not one of your letters - American Show Shepherd."

You might be a bit surprised.

I prefer temperment and working ability of structure...but I have also noticed that I prefer the structure of the dogs bred for temperment and working ability over those bred to be pretty.

Win win situation for me :p

~Cate