What's Better???? - Page 1

Without starting any confusion,I would like to hear from different people the difference,pros & cons,of DDR dogs v.s. West German Dogs???

I realize all dogs are different. Having said that, I can only speak about my own DDR blood, down from this foundation bitch.

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/14829.html

They are SERIOUS, Dog Aggressive, Stubborn, liable to take a cheap shot if they dont like what you want them to do. A  Real Handfull.  Now I'm sure others will have a totally different opinion.

10 years of experience and owning all kinds, american (1st dog didnt know), west german wokring, czech/DDR (mostly czech), and west german show (current dog and best ever for my family environment).

I disagree with Abhay, DDR are known to be stable, calm, clear headed and less aggressive than there west german counterparts. A great GSD if you want a good, focused worker, but then want them to come inside and settle down.

West German "highlines" are much more sedate. Not known for being great working dogs and certainly weaker than the other lines. They are GORGEOUS though, and wonderful family pets and home protectors. They bond harder to the owner (IMO) and that is one reason they are good personal protection dogs. Don't expect them to earn high scores in Sch, but who cares right? I mean Schutzhund is dying in america anyways.

West german working are usually what you see competing at high levels. Focused, prey monsters, fast, agile, and they don't know how to STOP! They are a lot of fun if you want to compete or stay in shape...Be careful if you have cats or neighbors who do....

American shepherds, oh why bother. DONT GET ONE! 

These are my experiences as best I can "generalize". Remember dogs are not cars and no two are exactly alike. I have seen show dogs work like working dogs, working dogs look like show dogs, and everything in between. Nothing can beat looking at the parents, meeting the parents, playing with the litter, and making a decision based on what YOU want, not what anyone on this board (myself included) tells you.

Hope this helps....

I do agree with Abhay, They (the DDR dogs) are very serious, my female Sam is very smart & has her canine good citizen & companion dog title, 
BUT, one night we were training at obedience school-outdoors- and it started getting alittle dark, we did have lights,
I wanted to work on her obedience title of companion dog excellent, so I put her in the line with all the other dogs,
and told her sit stay, and went & hid, I could peak at her where I was, and after about two minutes she stood up.
so the trainer guy walked over & just gave her that look and was going to tell her to sit.........I don't think so, she jumped 
towards his face like she was going to bite him, but he backed off & she backed down, she loves people,
  I can only guess she felt threatened.

The DDR dogs seem to make their own decision when it comes to problem solving.

I've met people that have West German lines too, and their dogs are very dedicated and willing to please their owners,
and also very nice looking, but I'm looking for less angulation and thicker bone in a dog, and a dog that stops to assess
it's surroundings, quietly, and cautiously, and I see that in the DDR dogs>

But then again, my opinion is one sided, cause I just have my easties by me 24-7.

And also my female Sam is more serious than her half brother Theo (he's a clown!)  Now you're into which is 
better a male or a female..............................

www.vonryansgermanshepherds.com

 

I think my dog is both, DDR and west right? or was it east ? ugh! I can never remember! Boss Von Hogg Phelps pedigree information--I would like to hear the pros and cons of both also---if nothin else yall hit the nail on the head with stubborn!

Stubborn isn't a trait of any GSD i have owned. Stubborn is allowed by owners and the dog takes it from there. Most people who have "stubborn" dogs usually have "communication" problems not stubborn problems. If you dog doesnt know what you want then how can they do it, and if they know and dont, you have allowed that somewhere down the line otherwise they wouldnt do that. Stubborn is another way for the dog to say "I don't have to and you can't make me". Compulsion anyone?

flip--- I agree, I think my boy just thinks he has to listen to me 'sometimes'.....took me forever with down, he just wouldn't do it, finally one day i was standing there saying DOWN,DOWN,DOWN, with treat in my hand, then i got so aggervated i just stood there staring at him not saying anything---after about a min he SLOWLY went into down...lol..like "alright, if i have to"....I was like " you little son-of-a-!," he knew exactly what i wanted the whole time....but now I know his look/ expression  he gets when he knows what i want hes just seeing if im gonna do something about it...my fault tho, can't enforce every command right that sec--2 young kids and sometimes gotta stop whatever their doing before i get to the dogs...come to think of it, he seems to know that, if the kids are around he is less likely to listen...

flipfinish,

 We all can only relate to our own experience.  Maybe you personally havent owned a stubborn GSD, but to act like a stubborn dog means a weak owner or handler is ridiculous.  I also have GSD's who want to please me so bad they just want to burst. But if you havent seen a GSD that is so Hard to the point of being stubborn, and independent, then you just havent seen enough dogs.

Ask some trainers who have experience working dogs heavy in this.

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/1455.html

Abhay   ?????? Now why did you post GRIEF????? MY GRIEF MUST HAVAE BEEN CAUSED BY HIM  ??/Huh?     Wonder how many dogs are bred on him.???????????????????????????????

I always thought they were strong mentally but very slow to mature in that department. Takes more time to show them before they show you. Yes corrections are part of they show you.