The Complete German Shepherd - Page 3

I for one wish that MORE people were doing this. I think it is possible to change minds, over time... but you have to prove it works first. The dog world seems to go by what it sees happen and repeating what works. They are always aprehensive about trying something new. I saw a thread on another forum about breeding dogs that are not registered with the AKC. Some people were against it. But I for one am FOR it! That is how our very breed was created just 100 years ago. Unregistered dogs bred together to create something better. Then once its established they register them as a new breed.

But people just cannot think outside the box. I for one look forward to seeing more people doing this and wish people would be more open and proud of this. 

 If we can start doing more and more crosses and getting some lines going that are working, Then as a whole if we get enough people doing it we can make a movement in the right direction for this breed.

good for you Sheesh!

I have been breeding with this philosophy for 7 years now and firmly believe in what I do. Do I get a lot of negativity? Absolutely! From the German Shepherd world here on PD. My dogs are AKC but pedigree is the last thing I look for. It is nice if my dog has a good pedigree but that is not nearly as important as the whole dog. I get reemed for breeding non titled dogs but for some reason my pups are flying out of here from people who have seen older dogs I have produced and want one too. I like straighter backs with aloof/protective temperaments. They need working ability but no crazy drives. I like obedient dogs that can be in any situation.
I have repeat buyers who bought from me in the begining coming back to buy another puppy.
I have owned titled dogs that were not close to what I would be proud to breed and place in to the average home. Some were showlines that had weak nerves and some were working lines that were such a handful that one dog was a CONSTANT job.  I know there are some good dogs in each arena but I do not claim to breed a specific line. My dogs are a mix of some American, some German working, some German show and currently I have 1 czeck bitch I really like.
I no longer buy a dog I cannot drive and see with my own eyes. It has to be the whole package in person. Then the pedigree would just be the icing.

I believe this is the way things are turning; slowly. A complete German Shepherd.
Stephanie

Awesome awesome awesome! Great posts Schaeferhund and Stephanie. I look forward to hearing more from both of you in this arena, and I look forward to sharing my experiences as well. :-) this is the trend to follow for sure. NigerDeltaMann had a very good post as well. This makes me smile guys, thanks! Theresa

Stephanie, I would rather go down the route you've taken than any other. Don't listen to those with negative thoughts, I salute you.

Sheesh - how wonderful that you are honest about your bitch and her good and bad points.  That is how all breeders should look at it!  There is no perfect dog out there, we need to accept that and look at their faults and try to improve in the next generation.  The male you choose - I dont know him but had the pleasure of meeting his father at the worlds back in 2008.  Wow what a good looking dog and what a presence on that dog!  I was really impressed with him (just met him in the parking lot), his looks, his temperament, his confidence, etc...

A female from my breeding was bred to Alex also, three of the pups went to friends of mine.  All three are very nice, only one is being worked seriously but he is doing very well! 

While I fully support mixing German working x show lines, as I have stated in the past that is how I started - with a bitch who was 1/2 working 1/2 show lines.  She became my foundation bitch and I couldnt be happier with what she was or what she produced.  However, IMO that is totally different than people throwing a mish mash of BYB type pedigrees together.  While pedigrees are not everything and you should never breed based on pedigree alone, they are important!  To say that they do not matter is nonsense IMO.  Obviously you must also look at the dog before you, their temperament, their nerves, their structure, their working ability and so on... but then again, how can you properly test/evaluate that if the dog isnt worked/titled?  my opinion anyways. 

Either way, good luck Sheesh!  I look forward to hearing more about your female and your future breeding! 

Valerie

Valerie, Thank you for your comments and thoughts. I should be clear, the male is indeed worked and working towards titles. I personally worked him for nearly a year and put his BH on him in Oct. 2011. I also still help his owner when he needs it, tho thankfully he is on the road to recovery. I do not own him tho. His owner is a wonderful man in our club who has been having some major health problems over the past yr. The dog is phenomenal in the work. I would never just throw two dogs together to breed, and I believe that titles are important, when they are real, but not the end all be all, and this is one of the occasions I believe warrants an exception. As I said , this dog is phenomenal, and brings just exactly 100% what I am looking for. :-) How lucky that you met Alex! I have heard just super things about him. Maybe you could share some of your dogs with me/us?? ;-) Theresa

Theresa, FWIW, I was not referring to you when I said throwing two dogs together.  While I do agree with titling dogs before breeding, I can respect someone who makes a choice to breed an untitled dog from a good pedigree who is working and has worked.  IMO that is different than someone who is breeding dogs with 3,4 or 5 generations of "nothingness" in the pedigree. 

As for my dogs... here is my foundation female that I mentioned (1/2 working 1/2 show lines).  http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/dog.html?id=120782
I bought her as an 7-8 week old puppy and raised/trained/titled her....

I kept her daughter (who is now 9 years old).  Again raised/trained/titled her (although my sister did trial her for her SchH3 because I was 9 months pregnant at that time lol).
http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/dog.html?id=124865

Then I kept a Brat daughter that I am currently working.  She has her SchH1 and is SG Kkl1.  I hope to do her SchH2/3 next year after puppies.  She is "behind" due to me having a baby myself and raising a toddler lol
http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/dog.html?id=492183
I hope to keep a pup from her soon and move forward another generation :) 

I am a firm believer in the total GSD, than have pretty dogs that prettily trot around the ring, but are absolutely worthless nervebags when the tread hits the road. 

Here is the picture of a 100% working line Czech female, with the ubiquitous B&T markings on her (she is my girl's grand-mother):

http://www.driftwoodkennels.net/yska.html

She was supposed to be a pure live-wire.

Another pure working line B&T male (Czech line).....grandson of the female above:

http://www.alpinek9.com/ZenzJirkovadvora.html

Here is another one (son of the above female):

http://www.alpinek9.com/PardzJirkovadvora.html

Of course if you go far enough back on my 6-month old Czech girl's pedigree (whose grandmother is the one referenced above), in the 6th generation, you will see even dogs like Uran vom Wildsteiger Land, who in turn was probably the dividing line after whom the showline dogs split up and moved to the weak/pretty-dog/trot-prettily-around-the-ring mode and working lines were the ones left with true working ability but don't meet the "pretty dog" definition.

Please remember that absolutely top-of-the-line working line dogs like Norbo Ben Ju etc., who were absolutely uncompromisingly hard, fearless and tireless out on the field, while working, would totally settle down once back at home.......gentle enough to be left with an infant !  

Wow I am so impressed, and I LOVE that you kept one of your own breeding and trained and titled, and while raising babies! It is difficult to raise and train a purchased pup, but you did it while pregnant and raising babies. I am humbled.. I could never do it. My son is 9yrs old now, so it is easier. Kudos to you Valerie, I am inspired. :-) Theresa