German v.s American blood lines - Page 1

What are the differences in temperament (if any) between the American and German blood line of GSD?

Also, does one need more excercise than the other?

Any insights are helpful.  Thank you.

Angus,

Welcome.

This topic will bring you a wide array of answers; most will probably be more negative towards the American Lines.

Many of us started out with American Lines because that's all we knew and that's what was available to us.

You may get a bit of a history lesson with some answers too as to the time lines when the great division came to be in the German Shepherd.

Basically, most have found the American Lines to be weak in temperament, not as stable; timid, shy, fear biters that would not stand their ground.  (Now understand, this is not true for all of them.)  I myself have owned a few that would rival the German Lines and the same can be said for some German Lines being the same though, it seems the Germans tended to remember temperament in their breeding programs where the American Lines look to have focused more on beauty and extreme angulation forsaking temperament in doing so.

As far as exercise, they ALL need exercise.  And not just German Shepherds, but all dogs.  Yes, the GSD is and should be a very active dog who NEEDS a job.  Any job.  Herding, SAR, Tracking, ScH, Agility, Babysitter, Guardian, what have you.  But, they ALL need exercise.  Exercise of the body and the mind.  The GSD is a thinking dog and therefore, you must stay a step ahead of him/her in their quest to find something to occupy their mind.

There are some nice American Lines out there.  There are some very nice German Lines out there.  Many have found that once they made the switch to German Lines, they saw such a difference in temperament and drive, that they have never went back.  I am one of those people.  I love the intensity and the challenge in my dogs' eyes.  There is a drive there that has come missing in a lot of the American Lines now.  Mind you, not all, but in many of them.

I do not care for extremes in either lines.  I detest seeing these gorgeous dogs walking on their hocks (most American Show Lines) and I hate the extreme roached backs on some of the German Show Lines.  However, there are good dogs in both lines if you don't look for the extremes. 

Temperament to me is more important than beauty.  And, to me, the German, DDR, Czech lines show me a stronger, more stable temperament.  But, that's just my opinion.

I take it you may be looking for a German Shepherd.  So, good luck in your pursuit of the right dog for you!

I'm sure you'll get some very good information here.

Good post gsdfanatic.

gsdfanatic is right on the mark in my opinion too. the only thing I will add is that temperament and drives or activity levels actually will vary within a litter from pup to pup so don't stop evaluating at the bloodlines or country of origin if your getting a pup and your breeder is keen they will tell you the couch potatoe from the taz manian devil.

Angus, all of the GSD's have the same origin, yet the great divide started soon after the V Troll Richterbach was imported into North America during the late 1950's. The Troll became the 1957 Grand Victor and the rest is history as they say. At this link you will find some evaluations of the Troll, as well as see the names of his successful progeny: http://gsdca.org/GSDReviewed/tdogs/TrollRichterbach.html

The most famous descendent of the Troll is his grandson, the Lance of Fran-Jo. In my opinion, the overuse of Lance as a stud dog is where the great divide begins. Check out the Lance at: http://gsdca.org/GSDReviewed/Ldogs/LanceFranJo.html

The established F.C.I. breed standard was "revised" by a few American breeders with the winking approval of A.K.C. judges, and during the later 1960's the dog known as the Am-bred GSD began to appear. Enough about the Am-line dogs; as there is plenty to read and discuss about them.

Wow, I will start a small war with my next statements! Let's now take a look at what was known at the time as the West-German GSD. At that time the dogs were not divided into a show-line and working-line; they were essentially all the same dogs. Now, watch the successful impact of the brothers Hermann and Walther Martin of the Zwinger Wienerau and Zwinger Arminius as they apply their interpretations of the F.C.I. standard with the approval of the S.V. judges. The brothers Martin established the new look of the German show-line dog, and continued to refine this look until we see the VA-1 Zamb Wienerau.

Now, until this point the division among German lines was quietly happening, but it was now apparent that from this time forward the only dogs who stood a chance at the BSZS were dogs who emulated the look established by the Zamb Wienerau. Now the great divide begins as to what is now a European show-line and a European working line, and this divide continues.

When will the great divide end? When a beautiful dark sable, grey sable, red sable,  bi-colour, or black dog of correct temperament and absolute conformation to the F.C.I. standard is a clear candidate for the VA-1 seat. Now, let the rumble begin!

Regards,

Bob-O

Now for some answers to your original questions. What is/are the difference(s) between the lines? I guess there is one (1) empirical difference, and that is that dogs registered and bred within S.V. guidelines are still judged by soundness, working ability, conformation to the S.V. standard, and a few health-related requirements. Do the German-line dogs have overall higher drive? I think the answer to that is "yes." Are they closer to conformation with the F.C.I. standard? Perhaps most are. 

Overall as a group; are the German dogs an animal of better quality? I think I can say "yes" to that one as well without any reservations. Do they require more exercise and/or attention? That is a hard one to answer, for I do not know what you seek. If you seek a couch potato, then of course you can find that moreso in the Am-bred lines. If you seek a dog with normal to high drives and needs, then you will have better luck with the German lines.

Regardless of its recent lineage, due to a long process for breeding as a service animal the GSD is the dog that requires and deserves much attention from its human family.

Regards,

Bob-O

Thank you everyone for your very helpful insights!  You have all confirmed my thoughts.

Angus