Shepherds
- Thread starter Dani
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I personally have had two dogs from there, both very good workers and companions. Just recently worked with a man that had a Leerburg dog, competed in nationals with him a few years ago, used him as a stud and has a phenomenal son out of him that just got his SchH I. Very clear, very driven and very focused. And like black puppy said, there are other breeders on the board that can help you find the dog you need.
If you are into a dog that is not as "bounce off the wall" as a working line dog but one that still has drive and a degree of working ability, you can also look at the German show lines. Good breeders of these dogs will title them, compete with them, and get hips and elbows certified. This is what my dog Gunnar is. He's been a great dog for us, he's happy to be mellow around the house but when its time to train or play, he will go for hours if you let him.
The main point is, which has already been mentioned, is that you need to research your breeder. There are still American bred dogs who are healthy and stable in temprament, just as there are working line dogs who are going to have health issues or bad tempraments.
The main point is, which has already been mentioned, is that you need to research your breeder. There are still American bred dogs who are healthy and stable in temprament, just as there are working line dogs who are going to have health issues or bad tempraments.
I don't think the folks on Leerburg are pro working dogs as pets. I can tell you it's hard and again, you must train and find them a job or outlet for all that drive and energy. Gabbi's parents are working dogs and she is loaded full of drive. I wish I had started way earlier w/her training. She's such a sweetie and I just want to do right by her, and not having an outlet for her energy, would drive us both crazy. Total high maintenance. Don't get me wrong, I love her and she's my dream dog, but I had no idea what a high calibur dog she would be. We're a work in progress.
http://www.leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/121657/Board/134/page/1/fpart/all/gonew/1#UNREAD
Here's a thread at leerburg discussing this very topic
Here's a thread at leerburg discussing this very topic
G
I agree!!! I have a west german working line and he is a handful. DDR/Czech, IMO, are a notch up from WGW dog. Ryot is something and if not controlled can be hazzardous. They need extensive training and have alot of drive. I swear I think Ryot is part Mali, lol. 
. Just jumping and bouncing and barking (to get whatever is in my hand). American breed dogs are NOT bad and I have seen nice ones. They tend to be more relaxed and more fit for the "family" scene. YOU have to find what YOU like and people who think AMerican see sloped backs. Its just what people are used to seeing, but you CAN find the less extreme american lines. Just like German Showline. They are known for roach-backs but that doesnt mean ALL GSL's have roached backs. Just go out and look for what YOU like.
. Just jumping and bouncing and barking (to get whatever is in my hand). American breed dogs are NOT bad and I have seen nice ones. They tend to be more relaxed and more fit for the "family" scene. YOU have to find what YOU like and people who think AMerican see sloped backs. Its just what people are used to seeing, but you CAN find the less extreme american lines. Just like German Showline. They are known for roach-backs but that doesnt mean ALL GSL's have roached backs. Just go out and look for what YOU like. - Joined
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Personally I use the same basic criteria for finding a GSD as I do for finding any breed. I first look for the style I like (most breeds come in "show" lines and "working" lines, which can be vastly different in looks, attitude, intelligence and instinct). Then I look for a breeder that produces what I like. I want a breeder who proves their dogs by showing/working in the venues I prefer (when it comes to the GSD, I want to know that the parents of my dog have the instinct, intelligence and athletic ability to be working dogs). I want a breeder who health tests their dogs. I want a breeder who does limited breeding, not kicking out multitudes of puppies for whatever lousy reason they choose. I want a breeder who is NOT in it primarily for the money (these last two completely disqualify leerburg kennels, of course). I want a breeder whose dogs whelp in the home and the puppies are raised within the home, being exposed to the hustle and bustle of a household - including children and various noises. I want a breeder who starts socialization at a young age and who knows the value of good socialization (also disqualifies leerburg).
It's difficult here in Alaska to get my kind of shepherd because nearly all the breeders are breeding for AKC conformation shows. I don't like those lines. While I value proper angulation, over-angulation is a huge fault to me. And shepherds aren't supposed to have long necks and soft teddy-bear coats and thick tails. Not all American lines are like that, of course- my Trick is half German, half American (working) lines and she's been the most fantastic dog.
People tend to think of hip dysplasia with the German shepherds, but much of what is assumed to be hip dysplasia is degenerative myelopathy or other problems. My Mom's dog has cauda equina, but to look at him (he's 11 1/2) you would assume he has hip dysplasia. His hips looked great under x-ray, however. My first full shepherd (born 1988) had degenerative myelopathy and I had him put down at 11 1/2 when he could no longer control his bowel movements. But Trick turned ten last May and - while showing some age - is still active and runs and jumps like crazy.
Anyway .. as far as finding a breeder .. you research and research and ask for references and check out information given you by breeders and then you make your decision. It doesn't matter what breed. You never buy online without really delving deeply into what you're getting and who you're buying from. On the surface so many can look good .. I got a beautiful German/Belgian lines GSD whose grandfather was 15X a Schutzhund III .. and she was a neurotic mess, most likely from lack of early socialization. Trick was purchased from a breeder in NJ (I'm in Alaska) and has been the perfect GSD for me. Two of my chows came from out of state - the last one from Ontario, Canada. Both are great dogs.
It looks like I have a puppy coming in January .. another GSD ..
She's German lines, all schutzhund background, going to be a handful but I have a pack of girls here who need a challenge! *LOL*
Melanie and the gang in Alaska
It's difficult here in Alaska to get my kind of shepherd because nearly all the breeders are breeding for AKC conformation shows. I don't like those lines. While I value proper angulation, over-angulation is a huge fault to me. And shepherds aren't supposed to have long necks and soft teddy-bear coats and thick tails. Not all American lines are like that, of course- my Trick is half German, half American (working) lines and she's been the most fantastic dog.
People tend to think of hip dysplasia with the German shepherds, but much of what is assumed to be hip dysplasia is degenerative myelopathy or other problems. My Mom's dog has cauda equina, but to look at him (he's 11 1/2) you would assume he has hip dysplasia. His hips looked great under x-ray, however. My first full shepherd (born 1988) had degenerative myelopathy and I had him put down at 11 1/2 when he could no longer control his bowel movements. But Trick turned ten last May and - while showing some age - is still active and runs and jumps like crazy.
Anyway .. as far as finding a breeder .. you research and research and ask for references and check out information given you by breeders and then you make your decision. It doesn't matter what breed. You never buy online without really delving deeply into what you're getting and who you're buying from. On the surface so many can look good .. I got a beautiful German/Belgian lines GSD whose grandfather was 15X a Schutzhund III .. and she was a neurotic mess, most likely from lack of early socialization. Trick was purchased from a breeder in NJ (I'm in Alaska) and has been the perfect GSD for me. Two of my chows came from out of state - the last one from Ontario, Canada. Both are great dogs.
It looks like I have a puppy coming in January .. another GSD ..
She's German lines, all schutzhund background, going to be a handful but I have a pack of girls here who need a challenge! *LOL*
Melanie and the gang in Alaska
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Hey Jynx and Barb -
I can't give all the details yet as things are still in negotiation. She's about six weeks old and black and tan. She has Mink von haus Whittfield as her grandfather on her sire's side, and her dam's father has been the Hungarian National (working) Champion. I know I said the pup was German lines, but there are some Czech lines in there too.
I know it's crazy to get another dog when I already have four, but five is generally my limit .. *G* .. and with three chows and just one GSD, things are definitely NOT balanced! Besides, my young chow needs a buddy to play with. The other dogs are 9, 10 and 15 years old and they can only put up with playing with the "monster" for so long.
(See how well I justify a fifth dog??? *LOL*)
It will be fun to work with her. She will not only be trained basics and tricks and all that, but she'll learn service dog behaviors so that if I end up needing that she'll be ready. I could have used a service-trained dog when I got really sick .. Trick is good but she wasn't trained to turn off lights!
I'll post more when she gets here, of course!
Melanie and the gang
I can't give all the details yet as things are still in negotiation. She's about six weeks old and black and tan. She has Mink von haus Whittfield as her grandfather on her sire's side, and her dam's father has been the Hungarian National (working) Champion. I know I said the pup was German lines, but there are some Czech lines in there too.
I know it's crazy to get another dog when I already have four, but five is generally my limit .. *G* .. and with three chows and just one GSD, things are definitely NOT balanced! Besides, my young chow needs a buddy to play with. The other dogs are 9, 10 and 15 years old and they can only put up with playing with the "monster" for so long.
(See how well I justify a fifth dog??? *LOL*)
It will be fun to work with her. She will not only be trained basics and tricks and all that, but she'll learn service dog behaviors so that if I end up needing that she'll be ready. I could have used a service-trained dog when I got really sick .. Trick is good but she wasn't trained to turn off lights!
I'll post more when she gets here, of course!
Melanie and the gang
W
I have a Mink grandaughter, she's soon to be 7 now, on Dec 31st actually. She's awsome, if she wouldn't have had pyometra at age 2 breeding her to a the right stud would have probably given us some great progeny. Tons of prey, good defense, fairly strong female, very stable temperment and never wants to quit. Besides some of the gray coming in around her mouth most people think she's a year or two old by the way she looks at first and acts. Excellent, Excellent tracker as well, very natural.
melanie,,ewwww she sounds promising!!!! and I can certainly understand wanting another,,I always want another dog, my youngest now is 5 years old, and I have a house full of cripples *vbg*..
You'll love the czech blood, my czech girl will be 12 in April, unfortunately she has severe arthritis in her knees,( but she is still crazy and runs the roost around here..I swear they are some tough dogs , this one has no pain threshold, which can be good and bad , but sooooooo much fun to work with!
Keep us updated!
diane
You'll love the czech blood, my czech girl will be 12 in April, unfortunately she has severe arthritis in her knees,
( but she is still crazy and runs the roost around here..I swear they are some tough dogs , this one has no pain threshold, which can be good and bad , but sooooooo much fun to work with!Keep us updated!
diane
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whatszmatter - good to hear about your dog and the nice solid temperament! What you describe in yours is what I'm looking for in mine, so hopefully I get what you got! *L*
Jynx .. there's always room for another puppy, right? *LOL* I've never had a GSD with Czech lines .. Tori had some Belgian lines in her, Trick is German/American working lines. So this will be a bit new to me, but I always like a good challenge. I prefer dogs with a lot of "OOMPH" to them, you know?
fillyone - she won't be here until mid-January, I think. I'll be sure to take lots of photos! Unfortunately the latch on the battery compartment of my camera just broke yesterday, so I need to decide if I want to buy another cheapie or look at what I REALLY want in a camera (like $1000 on up .. *L*).
Melanie and the gang in Alaska
Jynx .. there's always room for another puppy, right? *LOL* I've never had a GSD with Czech lines .. Tori had some Belgian lines in her, Trick is German/American working lines. So this will be a bit new to me, but I always like a good challenge. I prefer dogs with a lot of "OOMPH" to them, you know?
fillyone - she won't be here until mid-January, I think. I'll be sure to take lots of photos! Unfortunately the latch on the battery compartment of my camera just broke yesterday, so I need to decide if I want to buy another cheapie or look at what I REALLY want in a camera (like $1000 on up .. *L*).
Melanie and the gang in Alaska
Well, I am a pet owner. I know nothing of bloodlines and pedigrees, but that's fine with me because %90 of the dogs I consider bringing into my life are from unknown background.
Due to the popularity of GSD's the shelters are bursting with them. I volounteer with an Orange County based rescue group and we almost always have close to 40 GSD's in our care at any one time. Sadly there are dozens whom we can not save in time and they meet their end via the needle having spent their final days in concrete and steel cages.
All my dogs have been rescues, and will continue to be so. For the casual pet owner, escpcailly a first time GSD owner I think adopting an older puppy or adult dog from a rescue can be a great was to introduce yourself to the breed and gain experiance. Most the dogs that come through our doors are a year or more old and one can get a really good feel for their personalities and temperments. We match over 300 GSD's a year with suitable homes.
Forsomebody who is looking for a dog who will strictly be a family pet, I think that going to a rescue and choosing the GSD that fits your particular lifestyle is a viable means of aquiring a dog.
The is my rescue girl, I adopted her at 6 months of age and she's been the best dog I've ever owned.
Due to the popularity of GSD's the shelters are bursting with them. I volounteer with an Orange County based rescue group and we almost always have close to 40 GSD's in our care at any one time. Sadly there are dozens whom we can not save in time and they meet their end via the needle having spent their final days in concrete and steel cages.
All my dogs have been rescues, and will continue to be so. For the casual pet owner, escpcailly a first time GSD owner I think adopting an older puppy or adult dog from a rescue can be a great was to introduce yourself to the breed and gain experiance. Most the dogs that come through our doors are a year or more old and one can get a really good feel for their personalities and temperments. We match over 300 GSD's a year with suitable homes.
Forsomebody who is looking for a dog who will strictly be a family pet, I think that going to a rescue and choosing the GSD that fits your particular lifestyle is a viable means of aquiring a dog.
The is my rescue girl, I adopted her at 6 months of age and she's been the best dog I've ever owned.
she is gorgeous! I have a couple of rescues, one gsd and one aussie so I am all for rescuing as well , and just for the reasons you stated, alot of newbie GSD owners have no idea just how hard it can be raising a gsd puppy, to get an older dog is to "see what you get", and saving a life at the same time..
Road, are you a member of the gsd board? I ask only because since you are working at a shelter/rescue, this board has a HUGE rescue section, where you can post dogs in need, and alot frequent the board looking for a dog as well. The url is http://www.germanshepherds.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php
Diane
Road, are you a member of the gsd board? I ask only because since you are working at a shelter/rescue, this board has a HUGE rescue section, where you can post dogs in need, and alot frequent the board looking for a dog as well. The url is http://www.germanshepherds.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php
Diane