Shepherds

Dani

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#1
I've always liked German Shepherds: the well-raised, well-bred ones are amazing. However, as mentioned plenty of times on this board, there are many that are plagued with health problems, particularly with their hips. And, generally, show lines are no exception.

So, where is the best place to get a German Shepherd? A farm that raises even-tempered, health-screened German Shepherds? That's where my German Shepherd puppyfrom about 12 years ago came from.

We're not planning on getting another dog lol, it was just a recent thought I had.
 

neapolitanpitbull

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#2
My friend had a GSD named Max once. A lady had starved him, one more day and he would have been dead. I went with them to save him from her and he could barely walk. Poor guy. They are very sweet, though. And they shed A LOT. Definetly not right for a person with allergies. Max, the GSD my friend had owned at one time went to a new home because her dad was having trouble with him because her dad had allergies and now the new 'owner' wants to get rid of him again because she apparently cant control him :( :rolleyes: that was one of the things they asked her if she could do when they were asking her about how she lived and stuff! :mad: grrr. Poor dog. You have to do tons of research and make sure you find a good reputabale better. Yes, a farm that raises even tempered, health screened pups. Visit and check out their dogs, view the pedigree, papers, and health certificates for their dogs. Also check out where they live. Where you get your dog is important. Oh, and yes they are definetly prone to hip problems, Max had slight hip problems too.
 

Road dog

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#3
Don't rule out adopting a dog from a local breed rescue group. My Dakota is a rescue and she is the sweetest, most gentle dog I have ever known. I adopted her at the age of six months and immidiately started her on a glucosamine suppliment, and exercising her every day (the ammount and nature of the exercise is relitive to your dogs level of development. Growing puppies who's joints aren't fully formed need to take it easier than full grown dogs.) The vet says her hips are great, partly because I got an early start on building her up.

Granted, many rescue dogs come with a troubled past and have deamons that need to be overcome, but they can in many cases make the most affectionate pets because they recognize you as their saviour. Here are a couple pics of my girl.



 

Laurelin

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#4
I had a shepherd x growing up. Wonderful wonderful dog. His name was Shack. :) I wish I had some pictures of him scanned. Maybe I can find some soon when I get back home to show everyone. Unfortunately he had to be put down after two hip surgeries due to HD. It's so common in the breed.
 

Dani

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#5
Hip problems are much too common in the breed :( It's unfortunate, and infuriating.

Road Dog, Dakota looks like such a sweet girl :)

Oh yes, I forgot to mention rescue lol.
 
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#6
I've loved GSDs since I can remember . . . but, I don't know that I'd get one from a modern breeder. Probably the only way other than rescue I'd consider would be if I could find an old farmer who had been breeding his own farm dogs from his own lines. If I could find that, I wouldn't be too worried about the testing. I'd be looking for one that was the right size - by the old standards, not the huge dogs we see now, somewhere around 60-70 pounds. None of the modern sloping hindquarters. Just a good, solid big butt with a bouncy step and an even run.

My first was like that, and he was a marvel. Lived to be 16, never had any health problems at all, wonderful temperament, superb guardian, a joy to live with. Bimmer is very similar to him, but is a mix. Bear was an excellent Shepherd, too, but he was a GSD/Akita mix.
 
W

whatszmatter

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#7
GSD's rank 39th for hip dsyplasia, at 19% of those screened by the OFA. Breeds ahead of them, most French and English bulldogs, mastiffs, chows, golden retrievers, Chesapekes, Cane corso's, Filas, some spaniels and pugs. Obviously there are more, you can go their website and check it out.
www.offa.org

I'd say their stats are the most realistic of all of the breeds since they are the most tested, some breeds aren't very heavily tested and have lots of good dogs that go untested and lots of bad ones too, so their scores aren't always representative of the breed IMO.

I would be looking for working line breeders that test and title their breeding stock. Do your homework, do your homework, do your homework. I can't stress this enough. There are lots of breeders that aren't what they seem when it comes to GSD's. Even if you think you found exactly what you want, keep looking and compare, evenutally you'll know what's right and what's a load of BS.
 

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#8
I have always lived with gsd's, my dad had one as a service dog when he ws in korea, and also had them growing up, so it was natural that we always had gsd's.

I've had quite a few over the years, 4 of my own when I moved out on my own,,none of them had/have hip or elbow problems, thank goodness. my first one came from a woman who ws breeding DDR dogs (got me hooked on them)
2nd from an am line breeder (a HUGE mutant of a dog *vbg), the 3rd is a rescue I got at 12 weeks, (czech) who is now 11, with pretty bad knees, a couple of surgeries for it, but now loaded with arthritis,,my 4th, is a ddr dog, who will be 10 on 12/26,,his only health issue was a blown anal gland a couple years ago. I've been very very lucky to have had some wonderful dogs thus far, with minimal health problems.

Diane
 

Red_ACD_for_me

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#10
Personally, I would go for a dog outside the US such as a GSD with Chekz or German lines. I am not a fan of the American bred Shepards that you see in the AKC show ring. I think there back ends look deformed IMO. There are some great breeders right her in the US however that breed these chekz and German lines. Most K-9 dogs for police work are imported in from outside the US because of the better quality of there dogs.
 

oriondw

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Personally, I would go for a dog outside the US such as a GSD with Chekz or German lines. I am not a fan of the American bred Shepards that you see in the AKC show ring. I think there back ends look deformed IMO. There are some great breeders right her in the US however that breed these chekz and German lines. Most K-9 dogs for police work are imported in from outside the US because of the better quality of there dogs.

100% agree
 

bubbatd

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#12
I love them too !! Do the Monks at Skete still sell them ??? they must be fabulous ! All German lines and well socialized .
 

fillyone

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#13
Personally, I would go for a dog outside the US such as a GSD with Chekz or German lines. I am not a fan of the American bred Shepards that you see in the AKC show ring. I think there back ends look deformed IMO. There are some great breeders right her in the US however that breed these chekz and German lines. Most K-9 dogs for police work are imported in from outside the US because of the better quality of there dogs.
Anyone thinking of getting a GSD must research the line types before they decide. To point someone to Czech lines without a HUGE disclaimer of what these dogs can be like is doing a disservice to the breed. There are more and more Czech and DDR GSDs showing up in rescues and shelters because many are not ready for the drive and energy level of working line dogs.

Anyone leaning to a working line GSD needs to spend a lot of time talking to breeders while being honest about their intentions with the pup. Of course every litter has lower drive/energy pups and so it is quite possible to get a pet workingline but PLEASE do a lot of research into breeders before buying a GSD of any line.
 

LionRun

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Anyone thinking of getting a GSD must research the line types before they decide. To point someone to Czech lines without a HUGE disclaimer of what these dogs can be like is doing a disservice to the breed. There are more and more Czech and DDR GSDs showing up in rescues and shelters because many are not ready for the drive and energy level of working line dogs.

Anyone leaning to a working line GSD needs to spend a lot of time talking to breeders while being honest about their intentions with the pup. Of course every litter has lower drive/energy pups and so it is quite possible to get a pet workingline but PLEASE do a lot of research into breeders before buying a GSD of any line.
So very true.
 

Red_ACD_for_me

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#15
So basically you would rather an American bred AKC low to ground back end show dog bred GSD than a GSD who can do its job :D ? I grew up with GSD's from German working lines and they were great all around family dogs. They needed a good dose of excercise and training but so doesn't any herding breed or most dogs for that matter. Your talking to someone who owns a 67 lb ACD who would be cujo in the wrong hands and protects better than any of the the GSD's I have owned. However, I do agree with you on RESEARCH it is a must before you invest in any breed of dog :) .
 

LionRun

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The research part is what I agree to. Research and learn all you can, and then make an informed decision.
 

fillyone

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#17
So basically you would rather an American bred AKC low to ground back end show dog bred GSD than a GSD who can do its job :D ? I grew up with GSD's from German working lines and they were great all around family dogs. They needed a good dose of excercise and training but so doesn't any herding breed or most dogs for that matter. Your talking to someone who owns a 67 lb ACD who would be cujo in the wrong hands and protects better than any of the the GSD's I have owned. However, I do agree with you on RESEARCH it is a must before you invest in any breed of dog :) .
We're not talking about my preferences, you pointed someone directly to Czech lines and I wanted to point out that these dogs are ending up in shelters because people like the way they look and don't research the needs of a working line dog.
Have you seen all the black sables out there? Have you seen how many breeders are now breeding working line dogs with out titling or working them first? I've got my fingers crossed about a young pup that was sold to a family here who had NO clue what a Czech/DDR pup meant to their family.

I'm saying it's irresposible to automatically say that American lines are **** and everyone should get a working line dog without discussion of the needed exercise, outlet for drive and need for intense research of breeders.
 
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#18
Anyone thinking of getting a GSD must research the line types before they decide. To point someone to Czech lines without a HUGE disclaimer of what these dogs can be like is doing a disservice to the breed. There are more and more Czech and DDR GSDs showing up in rescues and shelters because many are not ready for the drive and energy level of working line dogs.

Anyone leaning to a working line GSD needs to spend a lot of time talking to breeders while being honest about their intentions with the pup. Of course every litter has lower drive/energy pups and so it is quite possible to get a pet workingline but PLEASE do a lot of research into breeders before buying a GSD of any line.
Amen! My Gabbi is just that. Granted she is a back yard breeding, but both parents have their papers, not titled. She is one bundle o'drive and energy. I had no idea what I was getting into. She is my first and last puppy. I am sticking with the adults. Training training training. I have a schutzhund trainer right now, I doubt my Gabbs is schutzhund material but I'll take the obedience that goes with it. There are working line dogs out there that do not have that high drive, you just have to look and ask the breeders for it. Biz is one of them and has that great Slovakian look. I don't like the Amercian show line GSD either.
 

Jynx

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#19
I agree with Barb, Living with DDR & czech dogs is NOT most times, for the faint of heart.

As for the American lined dogs, we've most likely hashed this out before. While some may not like the appearance of extreme angulation (what your seeing in alot of the am show dogs), and I'm one of them, a GSD needs SOME rear angulation for movement. Again, while maybe not appealing, it certainly is a "myth" that the more angulation means a dog is dysplastic.

Certainly one does not have to go outside the US for a good dog. Most dogs imported are pretty pricey, and think about it, "they" aren't selling their really good dogs, they keep them for themselves. (certainly not to say you can't get a good dog imported!)

I would absolutely never ever suggest to someone to get a Czech dog if they were unexperienced, looking for a pet only. I have a czech female who is almost 12, she has rotten knees with a couple of surgeries behind her, I wouldn't trade her for all the tea in china, she has been the best dog I'll ever own. BUT, at this age, this dog still "flits" when she moves, she NEVER has walked a day in her life! She is constantly ON THE MOVE, and she better have something to do or she'll find something to do not always good.

A normal "Joe T Public", would have 1. gotten rid of her by now, 2. gone bonkers trying to keep her busy. Sure she's first and foremost my "cherished pet",,but she also has had a life that's kept her busy, both physically and mentally. (I can afford that luxury of time)

My DDR dog is probably a little out of the norm, he has been the easiest self trainer I've ever had the pleasure of living with, couch it all day OR run the boston marathon all day, he's a go with the flow dog, at 10, he shows no signs of slowing down either.

Wonderful dogs in the right hands.

In the end, a GOOD GSD is a GOOD GSD, doesn't matter if it's purple, green from the us , germany or the moon, IF you can find a good breeder who's breeding sound/healthy dogs, then you've got it made.

Diane
 

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