input please - Page 1

This is one of my males. We have started schutzhund with him. So far he is not doing bad. Although it does take a lot to get his drive going. Exception being if his sister is around. Thanks for any info.


http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/dog.html?id=705624

Oh dear heavens.  You don't clarify exactly what input you're in search of, but since you asked open-ended, here's my thoughts:

He's not even a year old yet, and he's already got offspring on the ground.  You bred him when he was 7 months old??????  What were you thinking?

No hip or elbow x-rays to be found behind him, or on the bitch you bred him to--who, surprising no one, I suppose, has already had 2 litters in her short 3 yrs of life--and it looks like you've got to go back quite a ways to find any dogs that have hip & elbows certified clear on this male or on the female bred to him. 

And it just screams "ethical breeding practices" that this dog's dam's name has now '...been changed...', because reputable breeders see no value in maintaining the history within a pedigree by not changing the registered names of their dogs, breeding stock or otherwise. 

Please, please tell me that you've seen the error of your ways, and now that you're starting to work with this male in Schutzhund--presumably with an experienced trainer and/or training group or club--you're going to have your female spayed so none of your dogs 'accidently' breed her again, and are going to knuckle down really become familiar with the official standard for the breed, the tenets followed by ethical, reputable breeders, and the problems created when people allow 7 month old male dogs with absolutely no information regarding most of his relatives' health, hip and elbow status, nor any third-party evidence of their working abilities and temperament to breed females with exactly the same lack of qualifications.

As far as your male's training progress so far, give him time--he's still a baby, not even a year old yet.  Some dogs aren't mentally ready to handle the bitework part of the program until they've matured more mentally...on occasion, that can be as late as 2 to 3 years of age.  Besides-- he's only 11+ months old...you can't have been working him in Schutzhund all that long, 'cause he hasn't even been alive all that long!


 
 

Another PDB thread I wish I'd have never opened.

Ouch !

There is a correction that needs to be made he is almost two years old. I only have been working him for the last seven months.

Yes, I apologize for making that error in reading the dog's age; still in 2012 operating mode. 

So I will give you credit for not using him at stud at 7 months of age; the rest of my commentary I stand by, including the need to give your dog time in the work.

Ofa prelim report done on him six months ago showed ofa good. dm report clear. Ofa prelim on female he was breed to was also ofa good dm report clear.

"There is a correction that needs to be made he is almost two years old. I only have been working him for the last seven months".
That makes up for breeding a dog that has nothing behind it ?  @Hexe
I hardly ever post on here, BUT after replacing the keyboard I just broke after seeing that pedigree DAMMM!!!!!. To answer your post with a good decoy/ trainer, and some growing I am sure he will be fine for a club dog. 

They're called 'preliminary' x-rays for a reason, and you did those AFTER the litter was born. Still doesn't wash.

Dirk,
Every dog has a genetic limit that they can reach. You may be able to actually go
over that 'limit' with any one dog, but the reality is, that dog will never be able to 
produce his or herself if the genetics to do so are not there to start with. There will
always be 'anomalies'  that both meet and exceed what most think they are capable
of, but the reality is, they will never be able to produce that. That very thing is just one
component of what defines a dog as breeding material. Overall health, temperment
and solid nerve along with working ability is so important when making the decision
to breed. Those important criteria can be traced back to good solid breeding for
generations. 

Work your dogs as much as you can, hold off breeding them until you put a title or two 
on them, certify hips/elbows. At least try to break the 'chain' of 'nothingness' behind them
genetically.  Learn as much as you can from your dogs, watch and see how 'easy' it
seems to come to the dogs that have been bred for generations to do the work. 
It is no coincidence that they just seem to 'get it'. In short, make your dog the best he can
be, he deserves that, and you will learn more than you can imagine along the way if you 
keep your eyes open and look at him objectively.

Dirk, I hope you will read this info pasted below and really take the words to heart.

This link/quote was sent to us quite awhile back, and it simplifies what so many will try 
to explain to you about the importance of genetics etc.


Taken from http://vomvastklippa.com/

Below you will find two quotes by Gunther Diegel, Director of Schutzhund Judges for the Verein für Deutsche Schaferhund (SV) in Germany.

The first quote is Mr. Diegel’s comments on working a genetically weak dog. The second quote is a reminder of what Schutzhund should be. I have added both of these quotes because of my complete agreement with both statements.

 When this dog finds himself under stress, as all dogs do at times, he reaches back to his ancestry to get help or relief from the stress. But, as you can see, when this dog reaches back for help from his ancestors...there is nobody there."

The reminder here is that the origin of Schutzhund and the rules under which we "compete" were developed to "test" the dog’s temperament (courage and hardness NOT "play prey" or "ball" drive) for breed suitability - not for a sport. We cannot lose sight of the fact that Schutzhund is a BREED SUITABILITY test or we do a disservice to the German Shepherd dog. Conscientious breeders should train and test their bloodlines...not simple be in the "puppy business".