Kulladogs Kway and advice - Page 5

Temperament issues is usually what ends a dog  in rescue and there might be one or two from working lines there but I guarantee for every working line dog there will be twenty five show. Read all you can on both types visit if you can at all possible any one you buy from listen to your common sense. A baby and a puppy may not be correct at this time indeed but if you pick a quality working line dog you will be fine. This is a showline majority board and not a good source for advice at times. A dog with childen must have GOOD NERVES first and for most which is lacking in show dog due to the in-breeding and extensive line breeding. There always is the dog from any line that is not good or bad this is the percentage when I think of children pulling the tails getting in the food bowl I would trust a working dog in that sitting way before show.

www.dogstuff.info/elements_of_temperament_whatistemperament.html  

www.dogstuff.info/elements_of_temperament_what_is_temperament.html

www.dogstuff.info/many_different_gsd_in_america.html

"when I think of children pulling the tails getting in the food bowl I would trust a working dog in that sitting way before show." (ALABAMA K9)

Well, when I think of children pulling tails and getting in the food bowl I think the parents are not doing their jobs, and I don't care if the dog tolerates it. Just because a dog has a good temperament does NOT mean children can run rampant and be obnoxious little brats. I pity the dog in this type home - there will be neglect and lack of attention elsewhere too. Dogs should be tolerant but kids need to be supervised, period.

You CANNOT make blanket statements about working, show, breeds, etc where kids are concerned. You need a dog with a good temperament and that can be found in many lines and many breeds. You need a parent who will take charge of the home life and make sure the dog is trained and knows it's place, and that the kids know how to behave around dogs - and the parent makes sure that they do. If any of that is missing, you have a recipe for problems. It's not show vs. work - or German Shepherds vs. poodles. Doen't anyone else see that it's about the temperament of the particular dog in the home and the managment of the family by the adult???? Are you all so shortsighted that everything turns into show vs work?? Good grief, how about some practical advice for someone (with a youngster on the way) who is thinking of buying a pup. How about some advice of how to find a good breeder? What to look for in a litter? What questions to ask? But no....advise is "go with showlines" or "go with working lines" - but an unsupervised dog (especially one with poor temperament) from either lines is going to be a problem. And no one wants to say it, but there are poor temperaments in BOTH camps, and there are good temperaments in BOTH camps. 

Sometimes I think people just trash what they aren't selling.  

Can someone get a pup while expecting a baby and have everything work out well? Yep.....but that's up to the individual and the breeder - and hopefully they have a good screening process. But it IS possible for this to work.

"Bottom line is 90% of the working lines do NOT belong in a pet home period."

I strongly disagree with this.  All of my dogs are 100% house dogs.  Infact I do not even own a kennel.  Even if we didnt train, they would still be house dogs.  In fact, almost all of our members at our SchH club keep their dogs in the house.  All of the puppies I have placed are house dogs as I do not like to sell to someone who will keep the dog in the kennel.  Many were first time GSD people, first time working dog people, some had kids, some wanted to try performance/SchH, some just wanted a pet. 

I do make it very clear that these are working dogs and they are active and need exercise, training, socialization and a "job" to do.  SOME dogs may be too much for certain people.  Some people want a perfect couch potatoe dog that is born knowing perfect obedience.  Those people need to get a different breed (or a stuffed dog!).  A good sound working line dog should have no problems living in a pet home if he gets enough exercise and a "job" to do even if it is just play around the house. 

All of the working line breeders I know place puppies in pet homes without problems.  With that being said, as a breeder I am always here for support or if there are any problems.  I also take dogs back if they do not work out, require they contact me if they cannot keep the dog, etc...

Valerie

Good Post Valarie I have never had problems with working line dogs and kids and yes they are more active but the soundness of their temperament around children is priceless. Nerve issues in the shepherds behind hips are the number one problem with the breed today any time some one breeds for a look this is what comes in to play with any breed.

I always made it a policy to not sell a puppy to a novice buyer with children under 3 or with one on the way.

My dogs live in the house too.  And are herding dogs, bred to patrol their sheep all day long!  They are all quite content to just hang in the house.  They both know when it's time work and it's time to relax.  I was home for a month with them after having surgery, I thought that maybe then they would be going out of their minds not being able to work.  I've never seen more content dogs to just hang with me while I was recovering.  Granted there are times when I can tell when they are not getting enough work or exercise, but for the most part are very nice house dogs.  They don't get to work everyday, sometimes only once a week do we get out. 

I do have to agree with not having a puppy and a new baby at the same time.  Any puppy is work, especially for a newcomer.  And nevermind having a new infant to feed every two hours and change diapers, etc. etc.  Puppies are the easy part for me!

I think that you all may have scared Becca away.  As I'm not seeing another post, unless I'm missing it!

I think most dog people can handle a new puppy and baby at the same time while it could be overwhelming for a new parent and a novice dog owner. Then there is the consideration that a toddler may get knocked over and injured by a growing puppy or the puppy harmed by the child. Some kids go through a sadistic stage with animals and sadly some parents think the dog should take whatever the kid has to offer. I've seen puppies injured by kids sticking pencils and other foreign objects in their eyes and ears, etc. 

Frankly, I find GSD's to be very specialized breed demanding a lot of time and energy to train properly. Trying to care for kids and puppies usually means something will have to go (most opt to keep the kid ). I'd just as soon not place a dog in that situation. I'd rather that the dogs I bred went to  homes where they were the center of attention with owners who are willing to dedicate the time needed to bring out the best in the dog. There have been times when I refused to sell a dog to a family with kids of any age due to the children's acting like a pack of wolves and out of control when they came to see the puppies.

I should clarify that I just found out I'm pregnant and my husband plans on doing the mojority of puppy training!  I just wanted to make sure that my dog will not be of such high energy he rips up the couches while we're gone and will be good with children!  Thanks for all of the advice, though I must say now I'm a little confused!  I think in the end a dog will behave how you raise it, so as long as it's not this uncontrollable ball of non-stop energy, I think we'll be fine.......I hope?!