Help Filling Holes In My Dog's Pedigree - Page 2

I think you should just have her spayed and find you a nice puppy. Not only that there is no pedigree to speak of but also no health testing to look at. I didn't even bother looking at the male's pedigree you put up cause I wouldn't care if it was the world Ch of all Chs--the female is not breedworthy and has nothing to bring to the table. There are plenty of well bred dogs in rescue without adding nothings to the population. I'm sorry to be so blunt but this is how I see it. I know a lot of breeders charge a lot but if you consider the time and money put into breeding a good litter......it's not cheap. A puppy buyer appreciates that and knowing they are getting a healthy puppy that has been started off on the right foot.
You say you have plenty of space--you'll need it if you continue on this destructive path because you may end up with 10 no pedigree pups............also inbreeding is a tool like everything else. Some people aren't experienced enough to do it. Just like some shouldn't be trusted with a hammer; the same for breeding and inbreeding.
Now you go for what you know. You may not be thinking about money but you're not thinking about the breed either. JMO

The sire's pedigree isn't bad, but there are no titles on any of the dogs for the first 3 generations. Are you planning to do schutzhund? And if so, what guarantee does this pedigree give you that the progeny of these two dogs will be capable of working?

(The minute I saw your boy's reverse mask, I said to myself, "I'll bet you Lord v Gleisdreick is somewhere in his pedigree!" And I was right....  Lord was one of the great ones, and lived a good long life, too.)

"I've noticed that many GSDs take after their mother's lines rather than their father's."

Can't say I agree with this statement. 

Mating for your two dogs :  http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/breeding.result?father=625199&mother=1845819

Yah..... Just don't do it. too many blansks there. typical BYB breeding counting on the little decent dogs to make up for a lot of unknown.

"Sam's already showing gray on his muzzle so he's won't be around for as long as I'd wish"
"Sam's rather funny about strange dogs and people"

Sigh....It is abuse. Why on earth would you want to produce more of him???? Too many people have to go through the heartach of medical problems and temperment flaws of a poorly breed GSD.

You bought both of your dogs from backyard breeders who did not even care about the dogs enough to do basic health testing let alone temperment testing. It sounds like Sam has a questonalble temperment for a GSD and his health is not what you had hoped for. either. The chances of one or both of your dogs to have hip or elbow displasia is also much greater. 

Your reason for wanting to become a breeder is  I'm just trying to build a better dog.?? Then please, for the sake of my breed, dont breed the two you have now. Love and cherish them for who and what they are. But please dont become yet another backyard breeder.

JoAnn Letcher

Good advice, all, but it is most likely falling on deaf ears. It's hard to convince pet people that their beloved dogs aren't worthy of being bred. They think breeders view them as competition who will provide the pet world with good dogs at more reasonable prices. 

"Her bloodlines may be shifty and I might end up with Panda pups, but I'm rather hopeful that her mother's side will win out her father's."

dogladyj, none of my dogs are abused. Both of Sam's parents were trained by their owners to protect and are very good protection dogs. I met the dogs myself and they are very well trained. Sam is thus a very good home protection dog. So it is natural for him to be wary of strange dogs and people.
Also none of my dogs have any health problems, as I have said they have a regular vet who does regular checkups on them. Sam is very sound and has no hip problems either. Sasha is still growing but she is also in excellent health and has no problems.
A neighbor of mine bought a female red and black GSD pup and has had nothing but heath problems. And she got her from one of the pricey breeders who breeds show dogs. Not only did she pay alot for the dog but she is now also paying for huge vet bills. And she bought the dog for agility and obedience work. So she now has a very expensive pet instead. I have heard of many health issues with GSDs from so called experienced breeders as well. So it's not only backyard breeders who you have to beware of. Many people have lovely huge kennels and very nice looking dogs, so you buy a very pricey dog from them thinking it's high quality and healthy...  Then the dog is taken to your vet and they tell you it's got bad knees, hips, ect. My poor neighbor had that happen and sadly went and got another dog to replace the first one. I hope it works out, but she keeps going for ones from show lines and they are quite inbred with hip, knee and other problems. If show line dogs were crossed with working line dogs more, a lot of the health issues would be bred out. That is what I'm hoping for in my future pups, good and healthy just like their parents.

Danica, I sent you a couple of PMs to help with completing the pedigree. Just click on your user name in the top right corner to read them.