One Step Forward and Ten Steps Back - Page 3

Penny,

If I were in your place, I would find a good rescue oufit and give a wonderful dog a second chance.  My very first GSD came from the local pound and I was lucky enough to get a wonderful girl in Karly.  She was the classic GSD as well: Black and tan, level topline, large size and a beautiful head.  She was, however, very old and died withing two years of coming to live with me, but she was in great shape when she passed and was a very happy dog.  And she started a love of GSD's that I will carry until we meet again up yonder! 

But anyway, a good rescue org. is going to temperment test their dogs and do their best to correctly match the dog with the prospective adopter's situation and needs.  And if you get an adult dog, you can be sure of its looks, temperment and have a much better chance at good hips/elbows.  If you have no interest in conformation showing or AKC performance events, then adopting a needy dog is probably the best idea, at least that's what I would do.  If you feel that you need papers for ID, microchipping or just a collar tag is much more definate.  And if you are concerned about a well bred dog being of better temperment or intelligence, again an adult rescue dog will be an open book on that question.

 

Well, whatever route you go, good luck and enjoy your new family member!  And kudos for loving your Utah for so long, your next dog will be a lucky one, too!

Krystin

Well, you know, some people require more out of their dogs than just to sit around and look noble. I like spitzes, don't get me wrong. But there's just no comparison to a good (working okay sorry) Shepherd. Just none. `It's a world of difference if you need a dog beyond being a pet.

 

Hello Sunsilver. Thank you for your response and the link. I was dreading the thought of revisiting my post because as we all know things can become very heated on the database. I was hoping that I would get some good leads on breeders but part of me was half expecting my computer to burst into flames LOL.
 
Getting back to the link you sent me – Over a relatively short period of time the GSD has gone through some incredible negative changes (IMHO) but I ask WHY? Why did breeders feel they needed to change a dog that looked healthy/robust and was structurally sound? I don’t see the point. For example, here is a link to a dog I like and would love to own as a pet.
 
1932 German Sieger
http://gsdca.org/GSDReviewed/hdogs/HussanHausSchutt.html
 
As far as the links I included in my post Sunsilver, I just did a search for the GSD on webshots.com. I know at least one of those dogs is the product of a breeder who breeds the oversize 30-inch/130 lb type of GSD’s. I personally don’t agree with this anymore than I agree with those McMalamutes (you know, supersize me)  that stand 7 foot tall when standing on their hind legs and weigh a mere 200 lbs (sigh).
 
Penny

 

 

think this is something like you are looking for? but he is a working line.

 

Nancy, thank you for your response and advice. I have nothing against the DDR type of GSD’s and I am sure there are some wonderful ones out there including yours but I am not drawn to them and quite frankly I never even knew that the “working lines” existed until 1 year ago. GSD’s of any type are not a breed that one sees people walking around here – I mean, you just don’t see them at all, anywhere, and I find that quite strange. Why would that be? Is there something I should know?
 
Nancy you give the very good advice of going out to see some dogs. I have thought about this. Normally I would go to a dog show to hook up with some breeders, look at a few dogs … BUT I really don’t want to go in the Am showline direction. As far as dog clubs go – I can’t find any non-CKC GSD dog clubs. Schutzhundclubs, I think there is one about 2 hours away, but if I want to ruin my chances of getting a GSD, all I have to do is take my DH to visit one LOL. I know there are some Belgian people out here who are involved in herding but as far as GSD’s go – I don’t know, I am sooo out of the dog loop and kinda feeling lost – hence the internet.
 
I did make some negative comments about breeders, how could I not? Months ago I began delving into the online GSD world and I would come across kennels such as this one – 19 females, 10 males; enough said. I don’t agree with this no matter “how professional” or not they are. These places are just pumping out puppies and I won’t support it. Nancy, I do know there are committed breeders out there who are not in it just for the money and I just need help finding them!!
 
I am here to learn Nancy and I am not taking offense to anybody’s comments thus far (but I have only read the first two posts LOL). In your opinion how do the GSD and Malamute differ? IMHO well bred GSD’s and Malamutes love kids, have good heads on their shoulders and thus are not reactive, are protective, love to be with their people and do not thrive when left out of the loop, are loyal, patient, goofy, are fair and understand fairness, are whipsmart, stubborn, cheeky, dominant, are not animal or human aggressive if properly socialized and start life out with a great breeder and an equally great dam. Please correct if I have misunderstood something. I know Malamutes, in general, do not make great guard dogs and they are much quieter than a GSD. Malamutes are protective and I know this from experience but it’s at their own discretion – the GSD takes this to another level.
 
Penny
 

 

LOL ramgsd!! Boy, you sure hit that nail on the head. I was never able to get past Beginner’s Obed with my two Mals (chuckle) but I know that about the Northern Breeds. Mals are very intelligent and they learn quickly but once something is learned – why keep repeating it. I think Sammy’s do a bit better in the obed ring.
 
You mention that you would like a particular type of car for $1000.00 and we both know that is not very realistic but stranger things have happened LOL. I do not feel that I am being unrealistic about the cost of a GSD “puppy”, puppy is the key word here. I am more than willing to pay the going rate for a “purebred puppy” in today’s market – keyword here is purebred puppy. I don’t feel that a GSD puppy should cost anymore than an Alaskan Malmaute puppy, a Belgian Shepherd puppy, a Samoyed puppy etc.
 
Another thing that bugs me a whole lot is the “rating system”. Now granted, maybe things have changed but back in the day (14 yrs ago was the last time I purchased a dog) all puppies in the litter went for the same price. Now it didn’t matter if the puppy was show or pet quality, male or female, color or condition of coat made no difference – all puppies sold for the same price. Sorry, just another rant.
 
Penny

 

Nancy I do agree with you that the “working line” dogs have the structure I desire overall. I just think that a working line would be a bit too much dog for us and besides that we would like a coated blk/tan or a blk/red. I have read that the “showlines” are best for companion dogs.
 
http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/125115.html
 
I agree with Sunsilver, nice looking dog and not at all extreme in my opinion but why do we so seldom get a frontal view? I want to see the fronts as well as the dogs stacked on something other than grass. I have this thing about feet.
 
Penny