Show German Shepherds and Working German Shepherds - Page 1

Is it possible to breed top quality  German Shepherd Dogs who can be highly placed at breed shows and also win WorkingTrials at the same time?

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If you mean the rule then yes Show lines can participate in the world cup but they normally don't stand a chance because they cannot bite.

However if you mean whether show lines are capable of competing with working lines then yes I have seen some great dogs in Europe which were showlines and could bite like hell

Incidentally same is the case with the BSP

Sure. Just change the show trends to cater to a more reasonable kind of dog (i.e. fits the standards perfectly but doesn't look like the showdog of today) and you'll get plenty of working lines that can win the ribbons.

It's all politics.

I have a couple very high placing schH dogs that are also V-rated.  Are ya gonna be the best in show and in trial? proably not, but you can place and have fun working both.

Vikram:  Showlines can't bite or they sometimes can bite like hell?  Which is it?  Are there not working lines that can't bite but they sometimes can bite like hell?

I submit that there are some show lines that can bite and I submit that there are working lines that sometimes can show, but the percentage of show lines that can bite is a larger precentage than the working lines that can show.  Therefore, if "we" wanted to find the best of both, for a "golden middle", then the correct course of action would be to only breed the showlines that can bite.  Breeding the working lines that can show would take longer, to achieve the goal of dogs that have both traits.  IF that is our goal.

Personally, I like having both types and not just one middle ground type.  The world today is all about specialization and not about "Jacks of all trades but masters of none".  There is room for both.  Just read this site and that becomes evident.  There are those that love both types.  The better looking, not so hyper but not so hard dogs.  Then the harder, but not as good looking (read structure) dogs.

This debate has gone on forever and undoubtably will continue on.  Why can't we just accept that there are two (with many crosses) strains of the German Shepherd Dog.  Then of course, there is the third strain of American Shepherds.  But let's not get going in that direction.

Evaluate the dog's conformation/ working ability on a case by case basis. Generalizing based on coat color, "lines" or any other preformed ideas does not do justice to the dog or the breeder's hard work. In my opinion, people who say "conformation lines don't work" or "working lines are ugly" are those who are intellectually dishonest and are unwilling to take the time to study the specimen in front of them and make an informed assesment. More of those people will not do this breed any good.

You cannot even compare the two anymore.   Show line breeders have all but abandoned traits that allow working dogs to work, and the current interpretations of the breed standard by the SV and AKC would make showing a working dog a joke.

1) I looked at the website, and found some of the information to be quite good. I actually passed it onto a few people I know who don't have GSDs who need some help with training.

2) I am so glad that there are a few breeders out there, like myself,  who are striving to prove many wrong. You may find it amazing and you may not even believe it, but there are some of us out here, who are actually trying to bring the working ability back to the German Show line.