German rules for German Shepherds - Page 11

There is nothing to say against pets - Labradors are good pets ( they used to be working dogs, do any of you remember? ), Retrievers are, Poodles are - but the German Shepherd breed is no pet breed, it´s a working dog breed.
Most of the German Shepherds are very good family companions, but they still are no pets.
There are one or two German Shepherds of pet quality in almost every litter anywhere, so you don´t need to breed for pet quality at all.
My dogs do live in the house - they do like it and I do like it - kenneling a dog is no precondition for training and never has been...
And training a dog doesn´t degrade this dog to a " sport apparatus " - I know a lot of people do so, I don´t like this, too, but nobody is forced to do the same.
Same about buying and selling - my dogs do stay with me for their whole life - it´s up to yourself, to nobody else.
But with all the above said AND sticking to the rules, there will be times in your life you wouldn´t own own single dog that is breedworthy at all.
Not important for me, because I know that there are more than enough German Shepherds out there, the breed is not waiting especially for me and my dogs.
Simply said:  training is training, knowledge and selection will follow, everything else depends on the owner, nobody else.
 

Most GS today are pets, at least the vast majority.

the breed is desirable as a pet for many reasons. It started with World War I  vets coming home with stories of dogs they saw, or even brought back from Europe. It evolved with the public seeing the great services Police K9 provide. It continued through people feeling the need, or really needing protection from an unfair world. I would hazard a claim that very few people acquired their first GSD without one major reason being the dogs protective reputation. I do not see in the breed standard any wording which excludes the GSD as a pet. The reality is there are a percentage which need to be in the ''right'' hands or could be a problem or even dangerous in the ''wrong'' hands. Every person who works their GSD or trials their GSD should be thanked by the numerous breeders out there who benefit from the publics perception of our great breed. The origin of this thread points out the problem of the United States not being United in the GSD world. If you move the "I" in ''united'' you get ''untied''. [ learned that in Boy Scouts]

Susie there are still working lab lines. and good ones at that. Though they look very different then the akc show labs. Most pet owners have off shoots of the show lab. very few have pets off the working lines if they do they were the culled puppies. The majority of field bred labs are either using them to hunt over or are trialing them in sport. So its not a used to be.

Its no different than gsds and I can assure you besides the bite inhibition a field bred lab is no pet either. Some are just as hot as upper level malis and gsds.


I contribute the dilution of all working breeds not just to breeding but to the way of life here. The majorities way of life does not need a dog. The do not hunt, free graze cattle or sheep in traveling herds that need protecting, etc........ A very small percentage of people still engage in these tasks. So the day of the working dog as a majority vs a minority is dead in the US. The minorities are hunters, sports enthusiasts, and civil personnel. I for one hunt over my gsds for dove and duck. I use them to track downed game. service dog skills around the home. and compete in protection sports for fun and the training for ppd for the homestead. But my dogs work and most definitely earn there keep. Most peoples do not use there dogs for there intended purpose. So with that said you will always have a huge separation between those whom do not use working dogs and those whom do. There will always be a few whom want well rounded working shepherds and they will always be few compared to the majority that dont care. But this change in mentality and way of life has ultimately led to the demise of the working dog of any breed in the USA. IMHO beside the few whom attempt to preserve it.

So I doubt trying to implement any program of such would do any good. Im definitely not against it but ultimately the consumer controls the demand. and the money is all most providers want. So you must change the consumer not the provider. If you control the provider then the only thing that will happen is you will give some providers the ability to jack the prices of the pups even higher. Thats what businesses in any venue do. If you dont control the knowledge and money of the consumer you will NEVER fix the issue.





 

Steve- I in no way am referring to,or comparing you and Gina as the outdoors, warehoused dogs.
I am talking about "Team this, or Team that" that have kennenels bigger than my house, or the ones with "tent city" with numerous dogs where sure, they are breeding dogs with titles.
They also try to pawn litters of pups off to others to raise until time of sale, and claim they are. "Mentoring" someone.
I myself have 2 longcoat male dogs that live outside all the time.
They are both longcoats, and they prefer it outside
It is obvious to anyone thatt has read your posts over the years that you love and care for, and about your dog(s).
And back to the subject of working a dog;
I will be giving it another shot , I too will put my best foot forward, and grin and bare it, the sch club.
I just really think when it is not fun for me and my dog, I don't want to do it.
I do OB with my dogs, I also do a little tracking with some.
I have more than a few German Shepherds, and I myself know they are not ALL breedworthy.
One of my females has never been bred, she is now 12 years old, and of course, I have one black female, that is my "blue producer", who has not been bred in "years",
Yet they will remain with me, until they retire to Maple Rest".
Once a dog is mine, it's here for the duration.

I think if one compares the "working" dogs with the "show" dogs in most breeds, they will see a very big difference in type and temperament. Field setters/red setters - way less coat and feathering, smaller, more agile than their AKC peers, the Irish Setter. Less interested in human interaction.  Born and bred to do a job ... Rotties, Dobes, Labs, Sibes, GSD's, Cockers, et al.

" I just really think when it is not fun for me and my dog, I don't want to do it. "
Without any sarcasm, if this is the case, something went terribly wrong during training.
At least your dog should scream of excitement on the way to the club, pulling you on the training field.

I like it that you keep you dogs, Kitkat, and it takes a big person to admit to and learn from their mistakes.

I´m with you, Blitzen, good care of the dogs is the most important part of ownership.
And a German Shepherd doesn´t need to trial for being a lucky dog - I never wanted to implement this thought.