How did you first start off - Page 1

There are so many breeders, trainers ect here

How did it all begin for you? What got you started in Sheperds or training?

WOW

102 people looked at this post but NOT one is willing to share thier story

but yet we will name call, bash and everything else.

Interesting

Ok, I'll tell you what got me hooked.

My grandfather was a State Policeman with a GSD for a partner. For some reason the dog only liked me when the family would gather, my grandfather would always pen him up in the kennel and I would hang out in the kennel with the dog all day.  Everyone thought I was nutz but noone came in to get me out and grandpa told me he (Major)  loved me. I was 9 years old.

A couple years later grandpa died in a police drug raid, the dog was shot and was taken to the hospital. After surgery and Major getting better he didn't trust anyone to be handled so the hospital called the family to see if the dog can come home or "Honorably" put to sleep. Lucky for the dog, I was at grandma's that day to answer the phone, everyone was busy so I put it on speaker and I heard everything. I cryed and cryed saying I'll take care of the dog. But my family said no, he should be "Honorably" put to sleep it was for the best. That was one of my worst days in childhood.

The next morning my dad woke me up early and told me to get in the truck. I remember not wanting to get in the truck, because I figured they needed me to help put him to sleep. I told my dad no. Well, that didn't go over too good with my dad, so I had another bad day.

We got to the hospital, I couldn't stop crying the whole way in there. I remember everyone staring at me like I was nutz. The Dr. walked us back the long hallway too a room where Major was in a big kennel he instantly growled and showed teeth. That made me happy for some strange reason and I ran to his kennel and he just loved me silly. He was that happy he piddled all over his kennel like he held it for days.

My dad told me to hook up my dog and take him to the truck and I did. Noone else said a thing. We walked out to the truck and when my dad opened the back of the truck, there was a nice shiny new crate that said Major and new bowls, toys, treats.. it was like a petstore in there and I never knew it.

Soooo, that's how it all started for me. Major's dad was Canto von der Wienerau.

Perhaps of those who have "looked", there are not many breeders and/or trainers.

And then, maybe they are waiting for you to start things off.  Possibilities.

I myself have had gsds in my life from at least 7 yrs of age.  The first being a sable.  Of course, back then and for many years later, I did not understand the differences in the lines.  To be completely truthful, I've only known this for the past 13 years or so.  (American vs German vs Czech vs DDR vs W German).  And then there are the Show vs Working.  The internet has been a life saver in many ways with the learning and researching, etc.  I wasn't up on which lines were most saught after etc until then as the gsd people I was around were more American lines at that time.  Names I remember being thrown around then were Covy-Tucker Hill, Fran-Jo, etc.  Wow has my life expanded now!

I've had gsds from shelters, back yard breeders (before I knew what that meant), low line breeders and better.  I seek to have better all the time.

I now own two beautiful girls.  One is all W G show lines and the other, wg show/czech/ddr.   They may not be the top lines but, they are much better than what I've owned in the past.  However, each and every one I've had in my life has left their mark.  I've loved them all each and everyone.

I am still learning and seeking information on a regular basis.  That is why I frequent the pdb as much as I do. 

Ekvon,

This might not be what you were looking for but, I'm not a professional breeder or trainer either.  Just thought I'd help start the thread going a little.

I look forward to what others will post.

"102 people looked at this post but NOT one is willing to share thier story

but yet we will name call, bash and everything else.

Interesting" (original poster)

Why is that interesting?  Maybe that's exaclty the point - some of us feel our story in NOT interesting!!  Maybe some of us have forgotten how we got interested it's been so long!!! (old age senility)

My interest began at a young age, with a family German Shepherd named Ricky. He was the best dog ever! I learned to walk holding onto  his collar. As I grew, he allowed me to treat him like the horse I always wanted. There was always a GSD around in my childhood. As my brother and I grew up, our love for the breed grew stronger. I can't imagine not having a few GSDs lying at my side, anxiously awaiting our next adventure together.  I guess you could say the breed has been a constant in my life.

I have always had rotties, friend of mine is a breeder of GSD's, asked me to bring a female home that she kept getting back to evual her. OH MY, I fell in love with her. I think my friend knew and pulled a fast one on me. She had a gentle side to her that could bring tears to your eyes, and yet had that edge that  made her capable and willing. She was an old soul because of what she had been exposed to. She also taught me to love the females, I have always gone for the males. But what she brought to the table, in gentleness and intellgence was awesome. So I began hanging out at the kennel and learning the GSD's, the rest is history. I love the breed and I miss her everyday.

Sorry, not much time to write on weekends these days...

I started out as a student with a local (then) Sacramento dog trainer named Steve from River City Canine after buying a really awful 1/2 American, 1/2 German male puppy from him, which I eneded up selling to the military because he was so unstable in temperament. (Probably made some soldier a hell of a sentry dog once the corpsman sewed him up a few times)

Steve recommended I attend the '86 USA Nationals in Sacramento that year, and showed me the USA magazine with ads in the back for stud dogs. Noting that I seemed to like the sables in the pix, he encouraged me to contact a breeder in Southern CA who had sable working dogs, from whom I bought my first W. German working line female, Emma vom Gewolbe, (Wanko Maaraue granddaughter, bred to Quando vom Holzheimer Linde) shortly thereafter. Emma had her litter the night I got her... My A-litter vom Haus Roecker. (old kennel name) I was still only to Chapter 4 of the whelping book I'd bought when she delivered the first puppy on my bedroom floor. (Skip to Ch. 9: Building a Whelping Box... ;)

I titled a pup from that litter, a MALE I named "Antje" to his SchH 1 in '88 training with Dean Calderon. I bought Brix Laimbachtal, a couple of females by Grief Lahtal and Wanko Maaraue from Joe Kuhn in the mid-late 80's and started a breeding program as my "horse" place in CA  transformed into a dog facility from that point forward.

The rest is history.

Shelley

This is actually a good thread.

How many of you had someone to "mentor" you thru? 

Forgot to mention "King" my grandmother's GSD. King taught me to walk, too. He was my best firend as a small child. Couldn't wait to get to Grandma's house every few days to hang out with him. When King passed away, she got another dog from Guide Dogs from the Blind who flunked out for hips. How proud I was at 8 yrs. old "heeling" Kim around the neighborhood and giving him hand signals to the amazement of my friends. Kim made it to 12 yrs. old, god bless him, but Grandma didn't get another dog. she was dying of cancer and didn't let on to anyone for years, but didn't think she would out live another GSD, so she did without. Once a GSD person, you're ruined for life IMO. I know I sure am! I know somewhere up in heaven my grandmother is smiling down on us.

SS