Isnt this a little much for line breeding? - Page 2

Thanks for your input. My pup is a grand-daughter of their ROM bitch, Shiloh's Song. That's why I was interested in anything I could find out about them. Her sire's side is German showlines (Ursus).

I remember years back when I took an American line pup to obedience class and the instructor asked for her pedigree and when I asked why she said she was looking for any ancestors from the Hoheneichen line because it had been her experience that whenever she had a temperament problem with a GSD it was almost always from that line. Interesting.

Interesting that the their male dog suffered from a spleen torsion yet they still stand him out to stud. I'd be suspicious of this condition, what if it could be genetic?

Well, yes--I believe that Eiko Hazelda also had his spleen removed--presumably due to torsion. Yes, a number of Hoheneichen dogs and their families suffered early deaths. Poor dogs--if I saw that my canine family were dropping like flies, I'd have a temperament problem, too--wondering if I might be next.

Here is a German hockwalker: http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/484230.html

I am always baffled that anyone would post such a photo. It's as if the owner doesn't understand the dog is not a good moving GSD. Duh.............

If you want to see a German hock walker in action, go here, and click on the video for Quinn: http://www/estahaus/com/videos.htm (If you want to see the American version, just google Westminister. They have the videos up for the BOB competition for last year.) BTW, I think we're overloading the Estahaus site today. I've only been able to access it once in 4 tries. I want to see the Dingo video: he's supposed to be a wonderful mover, but I can't access it. Oh well, try again later...

Oh yeah Louise and he made V1. My trust in the judges abilities just went through the roof! Obvioulsy not just the owner Blitzen, he made V1 for craps sake! This is the stuff that just sickens me about showing. My stupid little working line couldn't hold a candle to the cripple, in the ring. Why would I waste my time and money?

Imp-Cen is indeed a PA kennel. The family has been involved since I think late '60s (worst time to start). They were never big until I think very, very recently. They were featured in the 1985 book "Book of the German Shepherd Dog", as if they were a "big kennel", but I think the author just liked them. I live in MD (then, too) and they were never prominent - not even evident - in shows or hot lines. "I suspect that competed and won at mostly all-breed shows. In my experience, most serious GSD breeders do not breed/show multiple breeds." Showing in all-breed has nothing to do with being involved in multiple breeds (any more than showing in specialties means you have no other breeds). In fact, generally "all-breed GS" are better than "specialty GS". The latter are extremely extreme. Whereas you can usually find a redeeming conformation quality about all-breeds.

Anyone familiar with the German lines they began with? I know that's going back a long way, but there's a lot of knowledge on this board, and some of you have been around that long. BTW, I don't think they do other breeds now. If you look at the pics of the Sheltie and the Afghan, you can see it's a very young girl handling them. I believe that's the original owner's daughter, who now runs the kennel. It started in 1964, and they were just about to title their first dog when they ran into financial hardship, and had to stop showing. I'd guess that possibly the owner's marriage broke up, or something like that. The original owner kept breeding, only often enough to keep her line of dogs alive. Now, finally, they are making a name for themselves. I wish them well!