Opinion on this pedigree - Page 1

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/dog.html?id=2757152-don-von-adeloga

On the face of it this pedigree looks good, however, way back in the bloodline on the sire side there is a problem lurking. Unfortunately, behind Ballack and his sire Figo there are several males who are known carriers of epilepsy. The source of this knowledge goes back through Hagadahls Hamisch who was born in 1999. Figo died suddenly when he was five years old.

The carriers all go back to Ingosohn of Erol who is thought to be the source and he was around in the early 1940’s. This is confirmed by the birth date of his son Arno of Saba a UK Champion whose birth date is given as being September 1945. This is not the moment to start howling that it is too far back to be relevant today. The epilepsy from this line continued until the late 1970’s when it started to fade away. I suspect that this was due to UK Breeders changing to adopt all German bloodlines and move away from the English Lines. The point is that the disease was carried forward for almost fifty years. Epilepsy is still seen in the UK in some sectors of the Breed but it does not appear that often as far as I know. Many epileptic case were not reported as the animals were in Pet homes.

I am not trying to create a panic here but anyone with these lines should research the bloodlines. Clearly, epilepsy is a problem that can carry forward for many years and where it is identified Breeders should research their bloodlines. Just because where it is known and one or two cases arise then the only way to be sure to avoid the disease is to avoid it.

Mackenzie

Considering the rather miniscule ptobability, I'm thinking that it is worth the risk...

http://www.gsdinfo.co.uk/Health/EPILEPSY%20IN%20THE.htm

&

http://www.allaboutgermanshepherddogs.com/famousechoes.htm

Going back to the pedigree...

Notice the long female tails... Kirschental is the longest, but Wildsteiger Land is also long. What do you make of this? This was one of the things that drew me to it.

I love the dam's side! Tinkie is a littermate to our boy Timbo. Very balanced and sound dogs both mentally and physically.

Yes, that's what I thought that the Kirschental female brought to the table. A sort of counterbalance to the aggression on the father's side... So far, he's a fantastic pup. Confident, observant, dominant, playful and very open. Showed reaction to a whip-crack (socializing at a local club while they worked an adult Mali on the table nearby) at about 3.25 months by getting his hackles up, moving forward and barking at the helper as if he were on the table. Gotta like that...