Low drive Shepherd - Page 3

calm as in : aloof, civil, cool-headed, levelheaded, relaxed, self-possessed, unexcitable, untroubled ?

Well I didn't want to start something on here I only asked for some bloodlines that tend to have a lower drive... thats all i asked. I don't want a German Shepherd statue and I'm not asking for something with no character... I love Shepherds because of the way they are yes a dog that is smart and will watchout and not something that will just sit there and do nothing. I just find alot of the working lines can't stay still for a second and some of the showlines but not as bad as the workingline dogs. I think a good working dog can still be calm in the house but have tons of drive when its out working.
I've deleted some of the other post because I'm not here to make trouble just looking for some help.

Just get a showline and be done with it.

Denise

A good breeder will be able to tell you which pups in the litter have to be busy every minute they're awake, and which ones are more laid back. I don't believe there is any one line that produces calmer dogs. If there WERE, I doubt very much breeders would advertise it

BW, your request for a GSD you can live with is quite reasonable. I've seen too many GSDs bred with no regard for their ability to function as house dogs. Since many of them will spend their entire lives in kennels, the breeder doesn't care. The result (showline or working) is often a spaz in the house that is very, very hard to live with. I sent you a PM with a couple of possibilities.

It isn't so much the line that matters as the individual dog. Low-drive GSDs can pop up just about anywhere. Look for the dogs that are contemptuously referred to as culls or deadheads. In the right home, they are typically bright, happy, affectionate dogs that make wonderful companions.

And, yes, I know there are lots of high-drive dogs that are very calm in the home. I have one. There are also lots of well-bred spazzes, and I have had (and loved) them too.

Maybe you want low energy, not low drive? A dog needs drive, to make him want to get up off his duff and do the job.  I have 2 dogs from the same parents, different breeding. 1 is low energy/laid back, the other is high energy/can't sit still but he is still under a year, so that may slow down in time. As far as I have heard, my low energy dog is the weirdo of both litters. He is the biggest dog, very dominant, very smart (show him something a couple times and he will do it from then on out). He still has the drive to do the work (very well) because he is clear in the head, he can focus on what you want him focusing on, not the most movement or action (not out of his mind in prey). He hates to run when I just "run" my dogs for excersise but he will run till he drops, for his ball or on a send. He love, love, loves to work even OB now, just pick up his collar or leash and he will go nuts. On the other hand he can sit in his kennel all day and not dig, chew, bark or pace. The only thing he gets uppity about, is going too long not seeing me. If he was in the house, he would probably never bark.

I wish I could have more dogs like him because the others seem kinda scatterbrained and hyper in comparison. I'm not sure I just got a lucky fluke or that he is so dominant and secure in himself that he isn't sharp/nervy/suspicious at all and those seem to be the dogs that can't stop smelling, pacing, watching for whatever is coming to get them. They seem to have ADD, they are going in so many different directions at once, it is hard to teach them OB because ya can't get focus.

I say ask breeders about dogs with low energy and high thresholds, not low drive.

Great post 4pack.  I wanted to say that, you worded it very well.  I think I have two dogs the very same, no relation, except for some Fero, but I much prefer the clear headed easy to train type than the off the wall high energy spin head.

4pack, That is exactly what I'm looking for in a shepherd. Some that is clear headed and its calm in the house but still has drive. I worded it wrong and didn't realize... Its a low energy but still with drive.
Also I find many breeders want to see you their dogs so they will just say whatever you want to hear witch makes me very leery of buying without knowing the breeder. This is why I posted this so I can have some guidance to what I want.

invincible,
shame I didn't get to see your original post and the others you deleted.
caved into the pressure huh?

I know what you want and I don't think you'll have any problem finding it locally in your area.


Moons.