Bloodlines and health issues - Page 1

What do you think are the healthiest lines out there, in terms of DDR, Czech, West German WL, West German SL and American/Canadian SL? In other words, which of the above "groups"  tend to produce the healthiest dogs over all and within those groups what specific lines tend to produce the healthiest dogs.

Also, within those groups, what health issues are most common? 

I'm just interested in hearing some input from personal experiences, as well as general knowledge on this subject.

I realize a 500 page book could probably be written on this subject and if anyone knows of a good book, please let me know. 
 

My German/American show line cross has allergies, which I know came from her father, a West German show line (Ursus v. Batu son.)

Other than that, she's healthy.

The two healthiest and longest-lived dogs I've had so far both are rescues and have no pedigrees.  However, Ranger certainly looks to be WG working lines, and I was told by a former German policeman that Tasha 'looks just like the police dogs we had in Germany after the war."  (see sig pic for her photo.)  She had a very high rear end, a reverse mask, and her nose was longer than the ideal 50/50 nose to muzzle ration. She also had rather long, weak pasterns, but her temperament was ALL GSD!  High energy, mischievous, and very protective of both the car and our home.

Girl, that's a tough one. I have a feeling one is about the same as the other. It would take some time, but you could log on to GSDCA.ORG and surf the list of GSD's that are/were eligible for the 13th year club. That could give you some idea of longevity. You can probably tell by the registered names if they are ASL's, GSL's, WL's, Czech dogs, etc.  Family longevity means a lot.

Then you could check the OFFA.ORG site and search their health databases for GSD results. It would show you which dogs were tested for what and the results.  That could give you a little look at which lines seem to be producing less health issues, which not and which breeders are consistently testing their breeding stock prior to breeding.A GSD with the CHIC suffix has been xrayed for hips and elbows and has taken the GSDCA temperament test, but that doesn't necessarily mean the dog has passed any or all of the evaluations. You would need to ask the owner if there is any interest. Of course not all results are going to be on that database, but it's a good start I think. The DM database might be of particular interest to you.

There have been so many GSD's evaluated for hip and elbow conformation that, without a name, it would take you ages to  get anything of value from that database.However, if you have any interest in a specific dog or dogs, kennel, there is a lot of information there on siblings and progeny. Search using the dog's registered name, part of the name or a kennel name and up pops all the eligible tests he or she has had, the results; the same for sire, dam, grandparents, sometimes 4 generations and all progeny assuming they too have been tested It even gives information on half sibs. .

Marj's health site also has some good information on causes of death and states of health for a lot of different, some with pedigrees. She's listed that link here a number of times.

Have fun..................

Link to the members of the GSDCA 13th year club:

http://www.gsdca.org/german-shepherd-dogs/the-13-club/13-club-members

This list isn't up to date.

I like my lines...East, West working with a pinch of old American bloodlines....
Mira just got this in the mail the other day;)) 
She is strong as an Ox, hips ofa good, elbows normal, her daughter Sam that lives with her will be 11 in April, and her son Theo turns eight in September
I've been close line breeding on what I have and now need to go look for some new blood,
the world out there is a scary place...



Mira is Maggie's Great-Great Grand-Dam, Maggie has her CGC, HIC and her AD and has an SG show rating



Mira is Rollie's Great-Great-Grand-Dam, Rollie has his CGC, HIC, and his AD also,and has a show rating of Good.

I think your idea is noble, but you won't get much participation because people take it personal if a dog is named that is in the pedigree of their dog. Also, many people won't acknowledge the ills in health ( physical and mental health) in the lines or individual dogs, and instead of seeing it as teaching moment, look at it as bashing moment.

There are always individual dogs from every line that live long, healthy lives. The trick is identifying those lines that consistently produce those type of dogs. My first GSD died at 7 1/2 from lyphosarcoma after a sad life filled with surgeries, allergies, and chronic bacterial infections while one of his brothers lived to be 13+ and never saw a vet for being sick.

Thank you everyone. 

Well, it doesn't hurt to try, Blitzen, lol! Thank you for all the info! I will check out Marjorie's site. You are right, you can usually tell by the names where the dogs originate from. I'm sorry about your first GSD. You just were unlucky and that really stinks. I know how you love and care for your dogs and sometimes life is so unfair.  I feel I am a magnet for unhealthy dogs. I am so paranoid about getting another, for a long list of reasons.. 

Mirasmom, You've done well! Congratulations! 

Gustav, You are right about this discussion possibly turning ugly and that is not my intention. I didn't think about that originally , but in light of your comment, I will let it rest :) 

 

Gustav is likely right, and that explains why my post almost immediately got a 'dislike'!

Guess someone is ticked off to know that an Ursus son passed on allergies!   But if you look at the amount of linebreeding in Ursus's pedigree, it's not hard to understand why!

Sunny, given hardly any GSL people read or post here these days, I'd be surprised that anyone would take offense about what you said about Ursus.
Ursus who?