My Puppy's Sire - Page 1

This is my puppy's sire: http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/476201.html

I'd like to get your opinion/comments on his conformation and pedigree, please.

Also, on his dam's pedigree, what does V (LGZS) mean?

Hello sunsilver-some shared experience for you to ponder. Be cognizant of the pedigree / more so the gsd fore-parents themselves . but moreover after that /.. dismiss the pedigree ! Actually .. throw it away , figuratively. 1. it tells nothing about the behavioral traits in genetics , which to many, including myself, are EQUALLY if not more important than a fancy looking GSD[ not to dismiss structure .. should fit the standard a given]. 2. you are interested in a mating's offspring .. BOTTOM LINE .. show me the puppy !! What is the pup structure as related to standard, as well as it's spiritually , psychologically , temperament - so forth . what behavioral traits does it seem to posses? [ and there are a thousand behavioral traits in people and canines] . What do you want the GSD for ? herding , search rescue, police work , personal protection , agility or simple /only companion [ which is just as gratifying as the rest ].If you cannot ascertain the structure of a dog .. then learn first -  then get a GSD , if you want show.    because if you cannot .. you may get flim flammed .. and if you cannot evaluate structure IMO .. you are not worthy , yet.. at this point, to have such a GSD . look listen and learn first. if one does not care about behavioral traits .. then IMO you are  blinded , you will miss the best aspect of having a canine .. or youmay end up like many others  .. self serving , really caring  about ones-self foremost  and the GSD is no more but a commodity .., like those in the horse world.good luck

ALPHAPUP, I will post a picture of the puppy as soon as I am able to get a good one, which is not easy.  I've made a few efforts, but don't yet have a shot that's good enough to post. I'm starting handling classes with her tonight, so hopefully I'll get one soon.

My main reason for posting the photo is I am trying to learn to judge conformation. I know his conformation doesn't look much like his offspring's: she takes much more after her dam. But, I do have some thoughts about his conformation, and want to know if they're correct.

I did temperment test the pup before bringing her home, and I liked her temperment. She is very confident, outgoing, has a strong prey and toy drive and likes people. First time I saw her, I called her and she came running to me, and put her paws up on my knees. She is soft on correction, however, so maybe not a schutzhund candidate, but lots of potential in other areas.

As for conformation, I'll admit I took something of a chance. Even experienced breeders sometimes misjudge young puppies. I took the breeder's word that she has show potential. I could see she wasn't overangulated, and moved nicely for a pup her age and had good bone. As she's matured, she's turned out to be narrower in the chest and body than I expected, but her movement is beautiful.

Sunsilver,

LGZS means Landesgruppen-Zuchtschau. Regional Confiormation Show! Your puppy's sire received his V-rating in a regional conformation show.

Chris

Quote: I did temperment test the pup before bringing her home, and I liked her temperment. She is very confident, outgoing, has a strong prey and toy drive and likes people. First time I saw her, I called her and she came running to me, and put her paws up on my knees. She is soft on correction, however, so maybe not a schutzhund candidate, but lots of potential in other areas.

OK, so first off with that pedigree you have show dog. Second, you did the temperament test??? Have you done this a lot??? I have had dogs that were handler soft that bit the shitango out of the helper. Better to have someone else do the test.

Jeff. this is my 4th GSD, but the first one that hasn't been a rescue. The temperment test spells out exactly what to do, and how to interpret the results. Not exactly rocket science!  And after 4 dogs, one of which needed the 2x4-between-the-eyes approach for correction, I do know how to judge if a dog is hard or soft.

If I decide to try schutzhund, I'll let the experts decide if she's suited for it. I might be in for a surprise. She loves tug-of-war games with my other GSD, but will rarely do it with me because she looks at me as alpha.

(Okay, I'm exaggerating about the 2x4. But, well...you get the idea!)

Sunsilver - I am happy for you . If the pup is what you deicded what you want then AOK. My post was in regards to not knowing you or any of your capabilities. But i would like to add . I state this again not knowing what you mean by temperament test. but this post is more so for novices. temperemnt test is hogwash . to evaluate a pup on observation and experience I am ok with .the problem i see . the test are to ritualized. pups need to be evaluated in context. once had a freind that tested for dominance. he held the pup and watched him squirm and fuss. he put the dog down and the pup withdrew 4 feet , immediately turned around jreturned to him, jumped into his lap and bit him . my comment to him : you thought the dog was dominant because he struggled in you arms . so ..was that a protest or did the dog struggle because it was so insecure and tried desperately to escape? he didn't answer . my comment . This dog is dominant and agressive because at 10 weeks old when you put him down he ran back , challenged you and dared to proceed to nip/bite you . that is dominant aggresive . not beacvuse he had a fit in your arms !!** Understand what i mean now?  One can have experience to "in-see" the bent / temperament of a pup and so on. BUT as is written in books about temperament test -- partly hogwash !. it is Not always so. there is not a cook book approach to this . J. Oehlson brought out that point [which i acknowledge]. but again as written in books . this alpha bit is a lot over /mis consrtued. If you are doing rag work with a pup ... it's response has nothing to do with you as an alpha. [unless you are pressuring the dog and again that relates more to the stress level of the dog than rank status]. and even at what you stated i have seen young dogs that had no interest doing rag work until 1 + year then look out . could work in defense and on a bite suit with sthard stick hits. but my personal preference is interested in protection sport to see this in the pup at 6,7,8 weeks . only for the reason if i see it i can develop it starting at about 8 weeks. - Any way good luck with your new pup and my best to you

Very true, A[phapup, I realized temperment tests have their limits. But it did accurately show the important things: confidence, intelligence, prey drive, pack oriented, not fearful or shy. That's a pretty good base to work with.

Sunsilver ..YES!! that is a very very good start. and more so than others have  had in their pups. :-).

just out of curiousity, why would you want to know if a dog is pack oriented? and why would that be important?