Black and Red = Show / Dark Sable = Working... ??? - Page 1

(note this is somewhat tongue in cheek...)

I'm not yet in the market for my next Shepherd, but in looking @ pictures/pedigrees/adds on this site it seems that over and over it seems to be true that most of the top  "Show lines" are Black and Red, while most of your top "Working lines" are heavily Dark sable/Black.  It seems to be true in both American and Import dogs... as a high majority of American "Show lines" are also black and tan or Black and red.  There is a scattering of red sables or blacks but the trend seems really strong.. 

I'm glad to see a number of working line breeders who are also focusing on breeding for conformation and expression as well as working abilities... now if the show Line breeders would also focus on the working abilities it would be awesome!  Despite efforts in the past to encourage or require GSDCA Honors to include both show, working titles and OFA we still see far too many Select and ROM with neither.  

Just an observation... maybe in the future?? 

(I LOVE SABLES, SPECIALLY DARK ONES!)

windwalker,

You have come to the fork in the road. 

Working and Show have two different agenda's and altho you are seeing in general these color's associated with these line's there is variation's in the working line's.  As far as the show line's, beauty is in the eye of the judge's and the current trend's.  

Working dog's also have different agenda's, working is a term, it has many meaning's today.

I see another debate in the making's.

Good luck,

Brent.

Hi Windwalker,

yes, you are right! There is the typical trend or fashion, but if you do your research, you will find different dogs as well. We all have our preferences and mine is to be different than the mainstream. I can not speak for American lines, as I have never owned one or will ever want to. But I do own both German showlines and workinglines. My requirements are that they all can work and will have SchH titles and that the conformation is KKL1 and a V-rating (of course, DNA, ED and HD go hand in hand). I stopped worrying about the division of showlines vs. workinglines. Having watched many puppies growing up over the past 15+ years, I can say that the stereotyping is absolutely not true. I have had showline dogs with a lot more drive than workinglines. At the same time, some of my workinglines are very calm. It is the confidence and ability to withstand pressure issue that often divides them. If more breeders would stop looking for quick success and plan for more generations to come, it would not be such an issue anymore. But unfortunately, most breeders have specialized goals - working, showing or (ugly assumption) a monetary one. IMO, a good breeder is the one that keeps the standard in mind and looks at all aspects. You wrote that you are glad that there are workingline breeders keeping a focus on conformation as well. Can you tell me who and where they are? I have looked and checked and only came up with two: Shelley and myself. I am basing my criteria on the focus on KKL1 and V-rating. Don't get me wrong: There are plenty of excellent breeders here, but they also breed with dogs who have lesser ratings. So obviously, their focus is not on conformation. On the other hand, there are more and more showline breeders focusing on workability. You just have to do research.  The problem with most breeders is that they are either unable or unwilling to travel. To truly find a good breeding partner, you will have to look to Europe for guidance and matches.  Yes, it is expensive and can end up in a big disappointment (happened to me quite a few times), but as with anything in life: You need to take chances and risks.