GSD - Page 3

Thank you Hans...   as that's my belief also.

I do like a harder temperament dog than the American Show line....

I do like a dog that's more physically stable than the American OR German show lines

I do like a dog that is calmer than the top competition working dogs.

I like a dog that you CAN train for anything you want, but who isn't a basket case if they only
get general training.  The goal for breeding should be that well rounded dog who could do SAR, Police
Agility, herding, pet therapy with equal ease.  In breeding for the extreem (either extreem) We
are doing a disservice to our breed .  This is especially true of breeders  who are producing 5-6 litters (or more)
each year.  If they're only breeding one litter every year ortwo then they can take
the time to hold onto competition level dogs until the right  home comes along, or take a dog back
when it's not fitting in well. 

A friend of mine who had owned a fantastic Rottie, and a great GSD went out and purchased a "working line" dog
locally.  At 10 months he nailed the Vet badly (and this Vet happens to work very well with dogs, not the ditz kind folks
complain about) The dog was also very hyper and when over excited had bitten both she and her husband... not in anger
but in frustration.  She called me to see if I knew anyone who might be able to train him... but when I called her back
2 days later with several suggestions the young dog had unfortunately been euthanized.  He was just too much dog for her
and when she called the "breeder" they said... "Yeah, I had a couple in the last breeding I did with those two parents that
had to be destroyed also... just a crazy gene that shows up."   (He also advertised 2 months later for another breeding of
the same two parents... "As great Family pets".)

I hate dogs who bite and don't know who or why they're biting and don't remember it 2.3 seconds later. I hate hectic, frenzied dogs who only show aggression out of frustration. I most of all hate breeders who think these traits make a dog "tough" or "extreme." 

I don't think everyone necessarily has to be able to handle a properly bred GSD with a correct level of aggression, but they should not be so unfit for "normal" family life that they cannot be assimilated into any world but a kennel/competition world. Someone with common sense and half a brain should be able to properly manage a properly bred GSD with correct temperament. They might have a long road (and maybe even some bumps)  from puppyhood to adulthood, but it should be a rewarding journey, not a hellish nightmare. 

Until breeders stop breeding according to trends and lose the DENIAL about problems in their lines, we will continue to hear stories like WW's story above. 

I have seen American pet type lines that in many ways were more the ideal all around GSD than German lines. Of course you have dig through a ton of shit to find an ounce of what you are looking for. Sometimes it is worth it. :)

I believe that's sometimes true- because the Am. lines (and some German lines) haven't been selecting for any particular temperament traits, so they haven't selected AGAINST anything, either. Sometimes you can get lucky more easily than picking through carefully bred (for the wrong reasons) GSDs. I have seen some of what you're talking about more than a few times.   

Nadeem6...glad you were joking, I was just going to add your dogs are laughing at you! Apparently you are great sport for them! And since you are a helper...doubly so! Congrats! LOL! Mine laugh at me as well, I think the balancing on 2 legs thing is an endless source of humor for them...! jackie harris