Help finding right pup - Page 1

       I am a relative new comer to The wonderful world of Shepherds. I have owned one in my life. I have a family and I am looking for a good all around dog . I have searched many breeders websites, and have read alot. I am still very much in the dark what is good or not good. Showline or working line. American or German. I found these two nice dogs. Which type is better suited for pet, and maybe sports with my kids. HELP.

You cannot pick a puppy based on a pic!

Very rough rule of thumb:

If you are very active outdoors and somewhat dominant in personality and expect focus and obedience, get a working line dog.  Even my 70 something mother needs working lines as she is tough and hates wimpy dogs. 

If you have soft family members, get showlines.  If this is at all a question, show may be better.  Show dogs are often much less drivey, need less exercise, and are less dominant -- but the last is just a very loose rule.

A middling or soft puppy in a working line breeding may give you the best of both -- smarts, work ethic, a little drive, yet not dominant or rough.  I have a whole, male working lines dog who can socialize at a dog park and even put up with challenges from smaller dogs without hurting them -- but I got lucky and I train.

See this:

http://www.workingdogs.com/testing_volhard.htm

This is the sort of thing you should be doing with puppies and what you should expect. 

A puppy should make eye contact, retrieve up to 8' away, follow you, come to you and be handled without whining, fuss or fear at 7 weeks. 

If a pup is over 16 weeks old and does not make eye contact on command and does not retrieve, the pup is not going to work for you.

Good luck.

     I too have a thing for the long coats. I would suggest also that you do your research before you make a decision. It all depends on What you will do with your dog.
     There are a lot of different opinions about show and working lines.American blood or German blood. It all depends on who fancies what as to what advice you will be given.
     I will say both pups in the pic look real nice. Not sure if it's the pic, or the dog, but I would worry about that big collar of white on the long coat!

MVF is right. It was very interesting watching him spend about 3 hrs and 3 t-shirt changes in the heat and humidity Talk about dedication!)) testing my pups a couple of years ago, then drive all the way back to MA.
Me? I go on bloodlines and gut instinct. Sometimes I am wrong for the ones I pick for myself, but never yet on ones I pick for other people. I'm sure there's a message there somewhere. ;-)

Nice to see you posting MVF, Sweetie.
SS

You CANNOT... let me bold that in caps CANNOT pick a puppy from one picture. Every puppy looks "cute", they are friggin' puppies!

When you say, help me pick a RIGHT puppy, please define "right" - what is right puppy for you? This dog will be with you for the next 10-14 years. What would you like to do with it?