What keeps you going? - Page 1

Tonight my daughter and I talked on the way to a friends house. We talked about the good dogs that we had in the past and cherished those memories. But then back to the now where we see all the problems that plague the breed from temperament issues,  structure differences, genetic problems, and then the lack of workablity.  We just sat there thinking about why we stay with the breed?

We talked about  getting the puppies - the cuteness and puppy breath. We talked about the training and how it is not the same as it was back when we were just doing it for fun. We talked about testing and ensuring the dog is sound enough to breed only to find that there are no hips or sockets. Again why do we keeping doing it? 

As we had our talk we pulled in to the drive way of our friend's house. We started to talk about what we had talked about on the ride there.  Again the problems of what happens , the good and bad client stories start to fly, the days you feel you just want to hang it all up. So it got me depressed and thinking 


Do others feel this way and what keeps them going?  Are we crazy fighting a losing battle or is it worth it in the end

What are your thoughts? 

With me, i do not think of issues with the breed, Fortunatly i have never had any real health problems with any breed of Dog i have kept over 60 or so years and never with the present breed,
I have my own ideas an why these Dogs get problems but to voice them on here would fall on deaf ears so it is best kept to myself,
With my Dogs i become a different person i relax and nothing else matters, I wish it was like that more with my own species but it is not, Why i will probably never know, perhaps at times i should say different to what i really want to say, but then i only kid myself
Steve

ALL THE $$$$$$$ I RAKE IN FROM SELLING DINKIES PUPS IN THE CLASSIFIEDS AND ON CRAIGSLIST.

i switched to gsds from rotties after discovering my rottie i had could not keep up with me on the bike. my gsd girl spunk is one of the most obedient dogs i have ever had, a good bike-puller, grocery backpacker, ball-catcher, very loyal and eager to please. i loved the rotts when i had them but they weren't real motivated to do what i wanted. with spunky it's no questions asked, she's always watching me and waiting for me to let her know what to do. gsds are so versatile, beautiful, intelligent, loyal, and in the middle of the night kinda scary to would-be evil-doers (which is totally cool considering the neighborhood i live in). i wouldn't dream of owning another breed now. hope this helps. :-) major kudos to vom haus millers, this girl is the first dog i have ever had that was not a fear-pee-er.

I went thru that feeling a while back.  Why keep going?  I couldn't find what I wanted in a GSD and I was having a tough time with my own dogs.  The rescues that were coming to me had more and more issues (even dogs from good lines).   I still wanted that puppy breath but it look less and less likely that I'd get what I was looking for. 

Then Ty, my now 2yo, stepped in.  He was a surprise gift from a breeder I'd just met.  He's breeder just felt we were right for each other and he was right.  Ty is almost everything I could ask for in a GSD nearly perfect.  And what's more he'd inspired me to do more with my dogs and work to goals that I thought might be out of my reach, because he's capable of reaching those goals.  He reminded me of what a GSD is supposed to be.  Yes, he has his faults but his strenghts are so much more.

That's why we keep going - because there's always a dog of this breed that inspires us to more.


Melissa,

I appreciate the ones who truly loved the breed. I would hope  they stay to really improve the breed, not follow the crowd. The "IN" Look, is  what  has gotten the breed into trouble, as most breeds when the money becomes the focus. I am really liking the idea of some of the breeders beginning to  cross the working into the show lines.

My love for animals started at a very young age, I was the geek in school, but I had a mentor during college tell me one day during a time that I felt I was fighting a loosing battle, that I have to learn I can only control my space in the world and get a dog. He was a very smart man.  So what kept me going was I made my mark in the those who wanted to listen, and learn.
My dogs accept me for me, I take comfort knowing my ancestors help me along the way, and I raised a fine daughter who just got engaged to a very nice young man. He was the only date that went out of his way to make friends with Astra (Astra was very protective of my daughter). I think that is it in a nutshell. :)
Always,
Cee

I don't know about you, but moments like thisare what motivates me.  The breed itself defies the odds.  I agree about not following the "current styles".  We must adhere to the standard.  And I think crossing the working lines with show lines and German lines with American lines will bring about just that...a dog that meets the standard and is healthy.  If we could just get people to study genetics and research lineage prior to breeding and then neuter those dogs with faults we don't want passed on, we would be halfway there.  My hat is off to those who breed responsibly for the betterment of the breed.

My Faith in MY LORD and Saviour JESUS CHRIST 

He carries me when I need help and he picks me up when I fall..  He gives me the Love that my shepherds give back thru all I endeavor

He also gives me sense to quit when it is time to quit.