Gräfental ??? - Page 2

Hi Flipfinish, The Bi-Color Male is still available, just let me know, and I'll contact my contact, to contact Chip, if you'd like to TALK with him...no need to rush into a decision, but I think it'd greatly be worth your time talking with him, he's a very good breeder, and that BI-COLOR is GORGEOUS! BIG AS CAN BE! Gonna be a VERY big boy, probably 90-100lbs! Well, from Ginta's litter, the one I'm buying from, there are two large black sable females left, and Naya, the one who produced the Bi-Color male has MANY puppies to pick from! Who was Bax bred to? Which Female? No matter what breeder you pick, Chip of Cimmerian or Connie of Spartanville, chances are good you won't be sorry! Hoffi: Puck is from Spartanville, as far as I know Connie of Spartanville did not produce him, but Flipfinish is thinking of buying from Connie of Spartanville with Puck vom Grafental, don't worry, we proudly know who the owner of Grafental Kennel is, we are simply talking about some of his pups he's produced, and two excellent males happen to be sold to Connie of Spartanville Shepherds. Talk to you all soon, and GSDLVR and FlipFinish, good luck on your important quest, if you'd like me to get a hold of Chip, if you just wanna talk with him, PLEASE let me know...His phone is VERY seldom answered, so I have other ways to reach him, okay? PLEASE let me know how it goes, who you settle on, Thanks! Krista blueskyekennels@msn.com

I told a broker in Germany I wanted to import a Grafental dog as a top schutzhund prospect. She replied that (s)he did not believe they had the necessary drives to be top level sport dogs. This person is very well respected and I was impressed with their candor. And because of that candor, I will probably do business with this person on my next dog. D'Mann

I was told the same thing. Nice to have someone who is honest enough to say it like it is, not just try to sell a puppy at any cost.

Doggman, I know who you refer to and she has those lines believe me. She is very respected and more so for her honesty.

I know. That is why I will buy from her when I am ready for my next dog. She has a wonderful reputation. D'mann

I just trialed under a Judge from East Germany, who is very knowledgeable about DDR lines. One of my fellow club members was looking for a male to breed to and he was a Grafental dog. The Judge said that Grafental is a showline Kennel. I know this is probably not going to be a popular comment but he (Judge) knows DDR lines better than I do. Many of the DDR dogs with V rated Conformation that look like working lines to the rest of us are infact show dogs. The East Germans bred show dogs that were Sable, all Black, Black Sable etc... This could be why those lines are a little lacking and weak in some peoples minds. Just food for thought. Shawn

Over the last few days we have beaten the show versus working lines topic to death. I want to say 2 things: 1. I bet the east german show line dogs (if in fact that is true) work better than other show lines we have. 2. I have talke to the lady who has Puck Grafental and she says he is work worthy. I believe her and have heard similar from people who have seen him in person. I remember her telling me Puck is a very balanced dog with great focus and a "thinking persons" dog. Very smart, which is probably better for people like me with a family and small kids. A like the over the top workers, but not in a home environment and my days of kenneling my competition dogs are over, I just cant bring myself to confine an animal that way. So, show or not, they can do the work. But I don't think they are show. SpartShep can you help clear this up??

I agree with flipfinish that we are carrying on excessively. First, anyone who needs more drive than you'll find in Puck doesn't need to ask about drives here! (Like the guy who has to ask the price of a yacht...) You'd just know. If you have to ask, his drive is more than enough! Two, this whole issue of "drives" is overdone in my opinion. I competed with a Bodo v Grafental son, and he was a great dog, but not perfect (none are), so my training skill was tested and improved by learning to read my dog. What is the point of this sport if everyone looks (impossibly) for the perfect dog? It's not even an interesting idea. It would be more interesting to talk about finding the right "fit" between your skill set and the dog's issues. The right dog for you may have less drive than Puck. (I was a world class track athlete a zillion years ago, and everyone in those days wore the same track shoes. Now we know better, and what's best for one athlete is quite different than what is best for another.) Three, the whole showline thing is especially funny with respect to DDR dogs like Bodo going back to the 1970s. If West Germany working dogs are a 10 and American show dogs are a 0 on a working scale, DDR show and working lines are so close together they get the same score (whether you think that's 9 or 11 is up to you, but you are not going to score one of them 11 and the other 7!

I have a Puck litter on the ground right now....  Dam is F Genga Von Haus Cimmerian.  I cannot possibly say enough good things about this dog.  I fell in love when I took my female down to breed.  He is so sweet.  He can sure pack a nice punch though!!  I have two 16 week old dark sable males left.  Several in the litter went for K-9 use.. One is being trained for Cadaver work and I held a male back to train in Arson Detection.  The best we have produced by far!!

 

HI THERE KRISTA!!  How are things going for you??

 

Shannan