What? a Show Line!!! - Page 2

Say "poo-poo" on that helper and find one that can make the most out of your dog, you will be glad you did!




Hanny got to do a bit of bite work and it was a blast. We went to a trials and the helpers had seen her walking around and being the perfect loving showline "pet". I asked if they would catch my old bitch a time or two because she really enjoys it and would be so very disappointed is she didn’t get to play for at least few minutes. They were kind enough to let us have a go. I went back to put her harness and just as we were walking to the field – it was a 50 yards or so, the handler cracked the whip and Hanny came alive! I did every thing I could to hold her back.

The handler gulped and started asking me all the important questions like “how does she bite?” and “do I have to be worried about anything?” I told him that she was a "proper biter" and the he’d just have to find out about her. After her first bite he yelled out “I like this dog!” to the crown that had gathered. He gave her another few bites and then said again that she was one of the best biting dogs he has caught in a very long time. Just about then the other helper, who knows who Hanny, loudly proclaimed "and she's a VA" and the handler acted so disappointed! It was so funny.


IMO
Hanny is my 6.5 year old VA IPO3 female. she is beautiful, tolerant of other bitches, has an ineradicable will to please, is protective..... she is what a GSD should be.

I work a show line and just figure the dog's work speaks for itself.  When he is ready to trial, I will go out and trial.  Anyone is welcome to watch (or even come watch train).  I will not say he is any better or any worse than any other working or show line because every dog is different.  In my club there are three show line males very close in age and each one is night and day different.  I have the dogs I have because that is what I wanted and liked.  I do not get a show line and train like I have something to "prove" to working line people.  I just train my dogs the best way for them and that's basically it.

This is typical of some "trainers" who prefer to work with workinglines because of their peculiar qualities.  It is much easier to train a dog with lots of prey drive that can take the pressure being meted out.  and in their minds the workinglines are better suited to some training techniques than showlines (or their owners). This is also why the sport has not grown into the mainstream here as it has in Germany.  Think of such trainers as idiot savants who can train but fail to see that if your showline does not work out to your satisfaction, you may then get a working-lines dog. It should be the mision of any member of a SchH club to promote the sport particularly among the younger generations.

Luckily, the the few trainers I've come in contact with understand that in order for a dog (or handler) to fail, he must be first given every oportunity to succeed.

Great discussion. Let me clarify that I love the working lines too. Some show people say WL are ugly and WL people say SL are deformed but the bottom line is a good GSD is a good dog. I too love the breed and swore I would never have a working line. Ha! Never say never.  GSDs have the personalty and traits that we love, be they show lines or working lines. They are loyal, devoted, and protective.
I work with my dogs because I love to train and so do they. We can debate until hell freezes over but the bottom line is the relationship and enjoyment we have with our dogs.

Trainer's just a jerk.  It's de rigueur for so many Schutzhund people to blast show lines; that's all there is to it.  I was at a Bernhard Flinks seminar and he told the group on the first day that "if all show lines worked the way this dog works, I wouldn't be saying the things I say at every seminar about showlines."  Yes, he liked my dog and said so.  And there was another showline there that smoked the so-called "working" dogs.  And there was a Dutch Shepherd there, a really nice dog.  HIs owner told me they get it all the time: "Dumb Dutchies."    Just stupid stuff - a lot of Schutzhund people like to insult.  Sometimes it's just joking, but it sure gets old fast.

I don't do Schutzhund but other types of service training. I have in my kennel 100% working lines, 100% Showlines, and Mixed Lines. My personal experience has been that there are suitable dogs within each of the 3.

As most trainers and breeders of service dogs ( while good looking dogs are nic) form and function is above looks. My dogs must be clear minded, social, good drives, with sound conformation.

I currently have a young male that is 75% Showline and is working out great.  Besides he is one heck if a beautiful dog.  He gonna make a great service dog I just have to decide if I will sell him or keep him as a stud - it appears he will be that good.

So hang in there, there is all kinds if predjudices in the GSD world.
TUFF

First off I would like to say that I have 2 Czech females and one showline male. I get the same thing too....people comment that the Czech dogs are ugly and are unpredicatable....I also hear that the showlines cant do the work (Schutzhund). The most important thing is that I am enjoying my dogs, I am doing SchH with my showline male  I have his BH and will be getting his SchH1 soon. I have also done PSA a couple times with him. His obedience is very happy and upbeat, in his protection work he is VERY serious and will bite an exposed or hidden sleeve or even a bite suit. He isnt equipment oriented at all. But I like haveing my dogs not equipment oriented.  Here is my showline male...
www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/454230.html  You can see pictures of him working under the "gallery" page on his pedigree.

I dont care what other people think about MY dogs....they are just that MINE and not someone elses. I love them for who they are! They all have their strong points and also their weaknesses.

So I say FOOEY on that trainer that made that comment about your "showline" dog.

I have a nearly nine year old showline bitch that has time and time again put a smile on the faces of "working people" with her bitework.

Showlines mature and learn differently than workinglines. It is, to me, the sign of a weak trainer who will malign one type because, in truth (though they'll never admit it) they don't know how to train it. A good trainer sees a dog who is not his ideal and sees a dog they can be challenged by and learn something from on the journey to making the dog a strong worker. A trainer who can only work one kind of dog is not much of a trainer at all.

just a word to the wise........anytime someone appears to be that "down" on your dog, they will consciously or unconsciously do things---set you up, to make your dog fail and then stand back and say, "see, i told you so."  or they will conveniently fail to see your dog do it right 100 times, but let your dog mess up just once and they sure as hell see that.  don't waste time, effort, or a good dog on jackasses.
pjp

Absolutely right! And I'll even add to that, "see, I told you so...you should buy a dog from me"! cha-ching!