First and Foremost !! - Page 1

I beleive... The most important traits in a GSD and chronological order, do you agree or disagree and why ?? 1. Health 2. Temperament 3. Ability Health... without good health you don't have much of anything else, because you don't have a dog. Temperament without the correct temperament your "working" dog isn't going to work "appropriately" Ability Every GSD was intended to work, the "work" varries they do not need to be "high" drive to do some of the work they have come to excell at, ie. Therapy, Seeing eye, Family Members. Yes I place ability last, as I feel you must first have the body, then the mind, then the "go". JMO you don't have to agree if you don't I'd love to hear your reasons and where you place the above values, and if you do again would love to hear your reaons. Have fun with this you guys :-)

Important Traits? 1 Temperament 2 Temperament 3 Temperament 4 Health, Ancestrial longevity 5 Conformation Without "PROPER" temperament you have nothing. Each category is inclusive of many factors--- Has worked for me! "Did I stress temperament"? Morgan

Agree with PJDogs, great to have a really healthy dog, but without a really healthy temperament, no use at all. First in line Temperament, second health, third looks and conformation. Cheers Mo - Mascani

1) Health 2. Tempermant 3. workability 4. Physiological make up. I.e. Looks,Bone Structure, If it Be a Showline The Conformation IMO C.S

Form follows function

nikkigsd-- Seems many equate conformation to the show "ring"? Conformation is the way the dog is "put together". If you don't have a proper rear, for instance, your dog may be incapable of a good bark and hold--- can't raise his front end? If the front is incorrect the dog may not be able to properly "open up and extend" his reach--- reduced ability to Go GO Go!! Conformation DOES matter------ Honest

What is temperament?? Will somebody define that??

Echo I think I will go with your order of things. W/O health you don't have a dog for long! Dog1 Temperment is the way a dogs mind works (shy, social (nerves) etc) and their drives (IMO). Everyone has their own idea of good and bad temperment. A top notch schutzhund prospect (busy,bitey, chewy) would most likely have a bad temperment for a older person wanting a couch potatoe and vice versa... just one example.

The most important to me is all of the above. Why should I not have everyone of these traits in my GSD? I insist on these traits then depending on what I am wanting the dog for, I may look at certain traits that I want in more abundance.

Dog1, I think temperament is one of those losely defined terms that means many different things to many people especially those in the GSD community. In my book, good temperament means stability; i.e., a dog that is reliable in all situations, not inappropriately aggressive, and has a good on/off switch. I've seen it used in the context of working ability also relative to dogs that are rockets on the field. Good question though. Is it the whole dog or an aspect of it's ability to work or not work?