pedigrees - Page 2

This site has been intrumental for me for research purposes.

I went to tons of events, TONS of them. Always bought a catalog and took detailed notes on every dog, positive and negative. Noted things I didn't like about anatomy and things I did, same with personality and performance. If I see a puppy who nearly rips their leash out f their handlers hand when they see a rag, I'm going to take note of that. I'm also going to take note of the ones who don't give a crap, or the ones that seem creeped out by people walking behind them. I'm going to write down when a dog has loose hocks, or when a dog has a nice firm back. I still have a filing drawer full of catalogs, notebooks with pages and pages of notes.

Then I go back and start pulling pedigrees. Sooner or later patterns start to emerge, and I get an idea of what lines I like, and what lines I want to avoid.

I'm also blessed to be a rather busy dog trainer. I get tons of GSDs from every kind of breeder.  The owners are normally kind enough to show me the papers. So I start to see which stud dogs are throwing hip/elbow issues, which ones produce a strong temperament, etc. (Incidentally, I also learn which breeders are crooks and which are not...) I also peek at all our K9 pedigrees, and that has really been intrumental in helping me pinpoint showline dogs with great hips, althletic structure, and strong working ability.

When I started researching bloodlines, I discovered I have a knack for remembering them. A good friend of mine has a rather unsavory nickname for me that describes it, but if you know me, and you know her, you know what that nickname is. *sigh*

What you should remember is it is important to take note of what lines produce the kind of dog you like, but also which lines produce traits you absolutely do not want in your dog, so you also know what to avoid.

Donnerstorm it sounds like you thirst for knowledge like we all do,If you are heavy into Sch and like that type of dog,one way to learn some is to look up in years past say the winners of the BSP of the years gone by and you will see some working lines constantly showing up time after time,some like a dog that is bred heavily on a certain dog or line,other dont seem to care,certain lines tend to carry more often certain traits,some like hardness,strong nerves,trainability,strong drives,balance,calm,clear headed,many are different in what they think the ideal dog is,find the lines that tend to throw the type of dog you seek the most,while this can be a crap shoot,you always want to stack the odds in your favor the best you can,there are many old timers out there with baskets full of knowledge and they are very nice in sharing it with the rest of us

Thanks everyone.. Bundi I don't compete in Sch, I do have some bitches titled but they were that way when I got them.  My experience with working dogs is in SAR, PP, and PSDs.  I wouldn't mind trying schutzund but at the moment the nearest club is 2 hrs away.  I would love to try competing in ring but I would bet that there isn't one of those anywhere near here.  So what is the line everybody is "looking" at , at the moment?  I have decided I REALLY like the Poppitz line.

Reminds me of the old line....How do I get to Carnegie Hall?????? Answer......Practice baby practice!!
Seriously, there are so many ways to learn pedigrees...books, attending trials, show, and seminars, involvement in working your dog in venues such as sport, herding, law Enforcement, Obedience, conformation, and small dog training groups. Find yourself a mentor and pick their brain periodically or when some new information comes into you life. The internet has also become valuable in learning info on dogs. You also have to carefully weigh and compare the information you get from one source from the info on the same subject from another source....as time goes on youwill see patterns of agreement and you will also see divergent points. You have to be careful of bias from either people who are passionate but have limited exposure to what they talk about, and people who have an agenda, maybe to promote what they are involved in to the detriment of something else. These opinions will "color" the read on that line or dog and often distort it. Its a lifelong process....and the longer you have done it the greater your point of reference in learning how to combine and read pedigrees, which comes after learning them. There is so much more, and the really knowledgable people on pedigrees understand, but alas there are not many that post on this board anymore. JMO

I have noticed that Gustav.  I do have a mentor that has been great for me.  I bought a dog 5 yrs ago and she has been part of my family ever since we talk almost daily.  That is the problem with the internet, sooo much information, and of course those that know the least, always know it the loudest.  Sometimes I think especially with dogs and pedigrees it becomes like a popularity contest in high school.  A lot of the people can't tell you specifics on why they like a certain dog or line, when you ask you get the "deer in the headlights" look.  While I'm sure they are great dogs once the band wagon has attached he's the it dog of the moment.  People always take into consideration the work the dog will be doing when discussing a line.  A dog that is a great specimen for sch, will not always have the attributes we want in a dog to work on the street.  Likewise a street dog will not always like the sch sport.  Just because a line isn't as crazy about the bite work does not mean he won't track like a dynamo.  This breed is very versatile, but it seems to me people don't realize I don't have to like or want the same thing in a shepherd drive and temperament wise as they do and that is ok.  As long as the dog still adheres to the breed standard.

Quote"Those that know the least...know the loudest" unquote....ya think??????? Ever see that on this board???????Its all good, keep seeking and you will get there.

Donner I know what you mean my closet club is 2 hours away also,for my taste I like dogs heavy on Tom or out of his his sons and I myself prefer to line breed,I also like lines on Troll,Timmy,Yoschy,Aly, I like  and prefer West german working stock.we all talk about males alot, dont forget great working females also.

Bundishep I have noticed that people tend to do that, they ask about the sire but they don't seem to care who the dam is. The genetic split is 50/50 so why is that? There are a lot of females that are dynamos when they are working.  Why do you like the dogs you listed?

Another question Bundishep, you prefer to linebreed? Can you explain? A lot of times it is confusing about what makes the difference between linebreeding or inbreeding? I would assume it would be how closely related the dogs are.  From the reading I've been doing it does sound like linebreeding is the way to go, the concept itself just isn't really covered well. Do you know of any books out there that do explain the concept well?