Need Opinions and Advice - Page 2

Jonathon: I do agree with a lot of what has been said above but it's getting to be a bit of "over-load" for you already...Too much Too soon...

I like to keep things simple...I have a few very general suggestions to make to you...

First of all DON'T be in any rush to get a puppy...Do a lot of homework first...

Second...Reading and Watching Videos is ok...but it doesn't take the place of "hands-on"...

Third...Find some Working Dog Clubs...Go visit and talk to the people there...You're looking for information...Check out the dogs (see what you like and don't like)...Watch the training although it doesn't make a difference at this time but still good information (good or bad)...

Fourth...Find someone that you can talk to and ask questions of (yes a mentor type person...but more of a friend with knowledge)...

Fifth...Write down on paper what your requirements are for a puppy...What's your priority...Such as Sex...Color...Looks...Working Ability...(Then begin to tweak your list as you gain more knowledge)...

Sixth...Don't be afraid to ask questions...Don't let anyone belittle you for asking too many questions...

~Bob~

I would do everything on Bob (QMan's) list above as well as see if you can locate a trainer near you and go watch him train and checkout his methods and be sure it is someone you want help from or possibly handling and training your puppy.

Best of luck for you and your puppy(s)... Nan

I absolutely love your beginning on the pit bull. I think you made my Christmas, I laughed so hard. I'm new to breeding arena with only 4 litters as they say, "on the ground" but have done lots of research and accepted a good deal of mentoring. Do you want a long coat or prefer the looks of a stock coat? Do you have a preference for male or female and why?
I am told working dogs can keep you pretty exercised -needing a job and work out after 15 minutes of rest. A non- working dog can be a great hiking and other aspect companion because after all, they are the GSD breed.
I prefer small breeders to breeders with kennel after kennel of pups. I know just how much love and attention and care, overseeing the whole litter as they come into their 6th week and guiding the action. Maybe large size breeders have helpers and have just gotten the routine down better than me. For me it is still a lot of work , love and devotion. That, plus the breeding of quality animals from the start.

Do your research for negative reports or reports that indicate the breeder will not back up their contract. A good sign is (in my opinion) when a breeder is planning to keep one of the litter as a future breeder. Indicates that this person likes their own stock.
If you are planning to drive to pick up a pup, you can arrange a local vet appointment following your receipt of the pup to learn it;s health before getting too far down the road. Shipping is always an option. It use to make make me cringe but I feel okay about it now.
Good luck to you. I hope you contact several breeders, find a really reputable one and enjoy your new companion. Merry Christmas
r

78 acres, chicken and goats, no IPO club in the surrounding, you being at home most of the time, knowing how to raise and ecucate/train a dog...

I´d try to get a puppy out of ancestors without a lot of prey / hunting drive.
You need a dog that doesn´t tend to chase animals and that doesn´t run away trying to get the wildlife, a companion, following you the whole day, kind of territorial, but not agressive.

I´d try to find a litter out of medium drive parents, no prey monsters, and no "hunters", just stable dogs, following their owner, not their drives.

By looking at the parents you´ll get an impression how the pup might be later on ( it´s always only a tendency, no rule, nature is tricky ).

Don´t believe in telltales ( behavior, health ), always ask for proof. The best way to buy a puppy is to know sire and dam, to visit the litter, and to listen to heart and mind.

After all you seem to know how to train a dog, and a German Shepherd is a dog...

In regard to working line dogs requiring excessive, non-stop exercise, that's not true in my experience. My dog is WL, we do compete in IPO and SDA, (other sports too), and he lives his life as a pet. In most cases, having common sense and providing mental/physical stimulation should get you through just fine. If you look up clubs under UScA you will see that there are clubs within 2 hours of your location. You might look up clubs under GSDCA as well to see if there are more options.

I totally agree with Bubba's post! Yep, some of the dogs that excel in IPO are not all that easy to live with. One of the first things some people look at when selecting an IPO dog is ball drive. Well, another name for ball drive is 'prey drive'. Do you see a problem here? 

How far are you from Indianapolis?  Good club to visit with a variety of dogs and owner/handlers with varying levels of experience and goals. 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/OG-Indianapolis-Schutzhund-und-Polizei/111207295608578

http://www.ogindy.com/

 

Lisa

 

The idea that "some" IPO dogs are hard to live with is a myth perpetuated by people that cannot handle a dog with drive. Most likely a breeder who needs to sell puppies and is tired of being asked about working titles. It is continued by people that do not have the ability to accomplish those titles with their dogs, and make themselves feel better by telling themselves that the dogs that do achieve those titles are "hard to live with."

The idea that one of the first things that IPO people look for is ball drive is also something that is repeated from the Internet and not actually first hand experience. No one with first hand experience with IPO or selecting dogs for IPO would tell you that, it is definitely repeated information from a secondary source, more than likely another forum post read somewhere along the way.

Hello I have made a misstake in my dogs pedigree how do I change this please as I put down the wrong dam on gg grandmother pedigree I need help to do the change

B.W. no, I made both of those comments based on FIRST HAND experience with more than one dog and its handler. Had a friend who sent a dog back to its breeder last summer. It would have made a great IPO dog, according to our club trainer, but it was female aggressive, and such a nervebag, the handler just couldn't keep any weight on it due to its constant spinning and pacing. Maybe if she'd had time to work it really hard a couple of hours a day, it would have calmed down, but she didn't have that sort of time. It was heavy on the Fero breeding, and as some here have said, that can be a problem.

That was just one instance. I could come up with a few more.

I've also seen potential K9s be evaluated by police. First thing on the list: test their ball drive!  Same thing with IPO dogs, too.

Now, excuse me, I have 20 dogs that need looking after...