Breeders who are mixing East German and American lines /w success? - Page 1

Browsing the board I saw mention that some American line breeders have been adding in some eastern German stock with some success. Can anyone forward the names of some noteworthy breeders who have been creating solid dogs from this combo? It would be appreciated.

East German... that's typically a working bloodline.   Far be it from me to rant about which type of GSD is "correct" or "superior", but I think the last thing we need is to further dilute the working lines by with the show lines, AKC or SV, for the sole purpose of manipulating the show quality of these dogs with little or no regard to the traits that continue to allow these GSD's to carry on their original heritage.

Sugarbear, people on here are always throwing Am line breeders under the bus for the degredation of the breed in this country. In your post you're essentially saying it's reprehesible for a Am lines breeder to introduce working line blood to correct some of the faults that have been proliferated in the Am lines. Damned if you do, damned if you don't?

Still waiting for some suggested kennels if anyone knows of some. Thanks

I know of several showline breeders who has introduced working stock,  not just east german, but leerburg lines etc into the breeding program and the resulting offspring are very nice dogs.  no,  most aren't AKC champions,  but are doing great at herding, agility and other events.  quit a few have went on to do SAR and therapy work.  being that some aren't members of this site,  and therefore ccan not defend their breeding practices etc.  I will not post names publicly,  but can send some links if someone would like to email me privately at laurelty4@aol.com

I am not here to criticize the direction AM breeders have taken their show dogs because I don't really have any problem with show dogs.  The reality however, is that they are breed almost exclusively for appearance with little regard for any other genetic traits.  I don't buy for a moment, that AM breeders are bringing in DDR blood to "correct" faults in their GSD's that relate to anything other than the ring.  It's purely structural, and asthetic, and what benefit  that will be initially wrought in terms of working k9 traits will soon be lost because it is not those traits that will be nurtured in the AM programs.  All you have accomplished at that point is to dilute the DDR,Czech, or W. German working line, to enhance  the appearance of a showline dog.

Why are people always so worried about diluting a line? Stud dogs can very easily breed many females and many types of females. Are we afraid AM breeders will buy up all of the good DDR dogs and use them exclusively? Not likely and a breeding animal doesn't always stay at the same place forever. They get passed around at different points in their life to other breeders and countries for trailing, breeding and retirement. Allot of DDR dogs have very strong structure and I can see why someone would want to bring that into their lines, working or for aesthetic reasons. I'm not terribly threatened by it though. Just wondering where that fear of dilution comes from? It's not like we have a lack of GSD sperm going around. There seems to be a number of people breeding DDR dogs to Czech and WG dogs too. Lets not forget the die hards still trying to breed pure DDR dogs.

If you are refering to AKC am lines it is about time..sales are down for those poor hock dragging freaks. No rescuing the Am line breed but a hybrid would certainly be better than teh trend over the past 20 years.  AKC is introducing work trials. Retrieve?

If Czech and DDR dogs are still being bred exclusively in their land of origin and some Americans import a few specimens to correct their own lines, I fail to see where the Eastern dogs are being "dilted". Where is this mass importation of American stock back to East Germany? Please...

And in regards to improving the American lines just for show, maybe it takes a few breeders with some brass to shake the showlines community up, be a rebel, start breeding for utility as well as beauty. If you are a true hobby breeder who isn't making a living solely off of your dogs, then the economic reprocussions should be minimal. You'll be making a sacrifice for the love of the breed. There are about 4 or 5 distinct types of GSD, why not tap these seperate gene pools to equalize the strange roachy backs, slanty @sses, shy fear biters and over aggressive powder keigs? Seek balance.

I would love to find a breeder who is truely breeding for Beauty, Brains and Utility and not simply using the three as buzz words to sell puppies.

We are in agreement on some things. As a working dog enthusiast, there is nothing more that I would like to see than the AKC show line GSD to evolve into a more balanced example than it has become.  I'm not quite sure at this point what the motivation would be for the current AM breeder. 

Here ya go....I am sure there are more!

http://www.darby-dan.com/index.html

http://silverhillshepherds.com/about.html

http://www.sigfieldgermanshepherds.com/females.htm