Question for breeders... - Page 1

Some obvious things would be long coat, to much white, no testicles (altho they may drop later), timid, ..... not sure how people can pick out show prospects. Puppies seem to change so much as they grow.

tRAILRIDER: It seems most show breeders have a built in nack and a talent after years of doing this and can telll at three weeks old, which pups are the best...

In my litters, I know the first and second week , the top pups, and in some litters like the last one,,,all seven are at the top of the list,,,have to go eni meni  mine mo.....no, there are two a litte less in drive  When they all are quicker that me at six weeks old and the mop pieces are in their mouth and I cant get it out nor keep them from getting it....hillarious....One of my first tests is the self wringing mop with the wide strips,,,,,well it onlly takes once across the floor and no more I cant keep them from getting it....  They are actually all faster than me , and concentration is awesome ,,,,dont miss anything or any noise,,,,,,also wagging tails and licky licky kissy kissy to everyone  , no timid,,,in fact they are overbearing in attention...if you hide they go berjert to find me....head in air.and where is mom  it is hillarious  I need a cam corder.....

I would imagine a lower level of drives would come into play.  If I had a pup that had lower drives than the rest and somebody wanted an active pet, I would lower a price for a pet home.  I would also give away the best prospect in the lot for free to an experienced and active participator in a sport or working arena.   

you would do what?   Mr Don....You  must be smoking some basil or oregano today...or a little too much amaretta in your ice cream    ????

GIVE AWAY THE BEST PROSPECT FOR FREE........DO YOU HAVE A MONEY TREE IN YOUR BACKYARD?

YOU MUST BE ONE OF THOSE RICH GUYS......MY LAST TALLY AS OF YESTERDAY WAS FOOD FOR PUPS AND BITCH ARE AT $1000.00 AND THEY ARE ONLY 8 WEEKS OLD., AND THE AD IN PAPER WAS ANOTHER 100.00.  THAT IS JUST FOR FOOD,,,RAW AND KIBBLE  ...COTTAGE CHEESE AND YOGURT.

You knew you would get arise out of that statement....

I'll put you in my will , when I drop dead out here in the heat on the hill.....the highest drive dog on the premises with ofa excellent hips will go to you....

  I would agree with trailrider, look for the obvious first, but ALL my pups are outgoing friendly daring to go anywhere, infact, they follow people around so much that some get stepped on.    My dogs can all do Sch.- but I haven't got into that sport, I am training one of my dogs to do bite work, it's alot of fun, I'm getting addicted to it!    I mostly do obedience.      My dogs enjoy the company of humans over other dogs.    Oh, by the way, all my dogs male or female are the same price, they ALL have the same parents, HELLO!!!!     I probably could have done more work with my dogs, but I've been busy raising 8 kids, that are growing up & moving out-------finally some free time!

Given the RIGHT trainer, any dog can excel, it's not the dog.

www.vonryansgermanshepherds.com

I think some time drives can kick in later than sooner too though. My male, nothing special really, showed play/prey but not obssesive. Its kinda why I kept him, just wanted a pet. I took him out to train at a year to 14 months and he had no interest. I took him out a 2.5 years (mostly for my own socialization with old friends) and he was nutso! Went on a hard sleeve and looked good , doing hold & bark, stick hits, and runaways his first time biting. Alot had to do with me playing with him with a "stick"! He learned the hold 'n bark and I whacked him with a whip like stick a few times to get his major stick, so he knew some, from country bumpkin SchH training LOL! I don't know I will ever title him though, but my point is the drives came later, so how do you decide that looking at a 6-8 week pup???

yellow,

some breeders give top pick dogs to experienced homes knowing the dog will get trained, titled and shown.  it gets your kennel name out there.

a lot of people will think "WOW,  must be a great kennel if Mr. So and so, would get a dog from  them.  maybe i should look into that kennels dogs"

i know of many breeders who will discount dogs going to proven working homes. i do.  

john

I have a couple of females that are very intelligent, and I tried to do bite work with them after the age of two, and they took to it quite well, but, too serious, I know they will protect me if need be, but, they are not police dogs, and if I had pursued training with them, it would be like having a loaded weapon laying around, I think I'll stick to their inherent protective abilities, and concentrate on obedience.    East German dogs are the best!    Pedigree is EVERYTHING, look for titles, of anything behind their names, also check-out the parents, they should be confident & outgoing, you should be able to play with them.

jletcher:  Thats a good thing to do , if you  are a kennel , producing more that just a few litters, a year, and have a husband with an income , or have a nice income to fall back on...When my husband died, he left me enough make an investment, and  live ok on , if I do it frugally...Every penny counts , as hes been gone 26 years...When I quit work to invest in a couple of  gsd 's and stay home in the country and do a little training and raise the progheny of my foundation boy and girl,,,the cost of living was not what it is today...and my income never moves upward...stays the same,,,

Larger kennels  , or people with more means than I, can afford to give the best out for that purpose...

Every pup counts for another month of food for the  ones here under the shade trees....Im a little kennel and with only me, is all I want it to be.

I was giving   The DON   a hard time ,also........