Working GSD Breeder
- Thread starter JoLeigh
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Just because it is a GSD doesn't mean that it will have an off switch. It really depends on the breeding and lines behind the dog. My dog doesn't have an off switch, I can make him settle by giving a command but that's it. IMHO a good working bred GSD has a ton of drive aand never quits.
My own boy is a big dog at 92 lbs. I'd prefer a male around 70 tops. With a bigger dog comes the worry about breaking down sooner and wear and tear on joints. Judge is fast and quick but to be completely honest, he physically will never be as agile as a smaller GSD or Mal. I would keep that in mind when looking at breeders. Some lines can throw large dogs.
My own boy is a big dog at 92 lbs. I'd prefer a male around 70 tops. With a bigger dog comes the worry about breaking down sooner and wear and tear on joints. Judge is fast and quick but to be completely honest, he physically will never be as agile as a smaller GSD or Mal. I would keep that in mind when looking at breeders. Some lines can throw large dogs.
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I researched him extensivly before I bought him. He is what I wanted except his size.
All I will say is good luck. The high drive GSDs I know have no off switches and the ones I have see with off switches aren't spectacular working dogs, just mediocre. I think personally its an all or nothing thing with a GSD.
All I will say is good luck. The high drive GSDs I know have no off switches and the ones I have see with off switches aren't spectacular working dogs, just mediocre. I think personally its an all or nothing thing with a GSD.
Research away, sometimes you still get a dog like mine. 
Moderate to high drive (yup, he's not the driviest male I've ever met), reactive, hyperactive, and someone forgot to install his off switch at the factory.
The higher the drive the less likely the off switch ime. Truth is, I wager, the higher the drive it's usually coming from lines established by breeders who don't care if the dog has an off switch.
Backups breeder laughed when I said he'd be a house dog, I figured I'd show her and oh look... 2.5 and she's still laughing.
Moderate to high drive (yup, he's not the driviest male I've ever met), reactive, hyperactive, and someone forgot to install his off switch at the factory. The higher the drive the less likely the off switch ime. Truth is, I wager, the higher the drive it's usually coming from lines established by breeders who don't care if the dog has an off switch.
Backups breeder laughed when I said he'd be a house dog, I figured I'd show her and oh look... 2.5 and she's still laughing.
Research away, sometimes you still get a dog like mine. Moderate to high drive (yup, he's not the driviest male I've ever met), reactive, hyperactive, and someone forgot to install his off switch at the factory.
The higher the drive the less likely the off switch ime. Truth is, I wager, the higher the drive it's usually coming from lines established by breeders who don't care if the dog has an off switch.
Moderate to high drive (yup, he's not the driviest male I've ever met), reactive, hyperactive, and someone forgot to install his off switch at the factory. The higher the drive the less likely the off switch ime. Truth is, I wager, the higher the drive it's usually coming from lines established by breeders who don't care if the dog has an off switch.
I also think a lot of people accidentally encourage their Mals from a young age to be crazy and impulsive because they mistaken it as a sign of drive or toughness. Also just being kept as kennel dogs will tend to bring out the worst in this sort of dog. Sometimes, the dog just is what he is genetically and I think that is a given. But sometimes, I believe things could have been different in a different circumstance.
ETA: I don't want you to think I'm implying you've done anything wrong with Backup and that's why he is the way he is. I'd think of him more along the lines of he is what he is. Same with Harry.
No I understand and agree, honestly backup isn't the ultimate norm for the breed nor is he ideal in some ways (he's really, really hard to shape with) but he's still an amazing dog else wise (he won't give up - almost to a fault, and will try anything without thinking if you say do it for your tug - literally he's a jump first ask maybe dog, he'd have been amazing on a swat team lol).
He was bred by a kennel breeder and he started his first 7 months in a kennel. We started off switch training when we got him but it has been a life long process and sometimes I get tired of asking for never ending down stays for the same reasons I tire of crating- I'm a softie.
I believe the off switch is partially breeding and partially training but in the end you'll still get some of these Harry and Backup dogs and hopefully people are comfortable with that and pleasantly surprised when they get an Aeri or Panzer.
He was bred by a kennel breeder and he started his first 7 months in a kennel. We started off switch training when we got him but it has been a life long process and sometimes I get tired of asking for never ending down stays for the same reasons I tire of crating- I'm a softie.
I believe the off switch is partially breeding and partially training but in the end you'll still get some of these Harry and Backup dogs and hopefully people are comfortable with that and pleasantly surprised when they get an Aeri or Panzer.
I should also clarify where backups drive is lacking is food. He doesn't care at all about food. Praise is also not a long lasting motivator, he will come a bit for it but in the end he'll bore and stress. His world begins and ends with something he can put in his mouth. It's made life challenging but the more I figure him out the more I start to think those with an outside perspective are right, he's actually a pretty dang good dog. Hyperactivity, barking, spinning, edgy intensity, and all. lol
Sorry for going so far OT. I can relate this back to my gsd clients, I have an IPO bred GSD that rivals the Malinois I know, and a friend with a GSD who is almost a carbon copy (a bit slower due too size) of Backup, he's also IPO bred.
IME you don't need ring sport bred dogs to find crazy if that's your goal, just be sure to evaluate what is higher on your list crazy or off switch because they more often than not don't come hand in hand.
Sorry for going so far OT. I can relate this back to my gsd clients, I have an IPO bred GSD that rivals the Malinois I know, and a friend with a GSD who is almost a carbon copy (a bit slower due too size) of Backup, he's also IPO bred.
IME you don't need ring sport bred dogs to find crazy if that's your goal, just be sure to evaluate what is higher on your list crazy or off switch because they more often than not don't come hand in hand.
And a great point made by a few others already is that you can research all you want and still end up with a weirdo dog, puppies are a crapshoot. I'm seriously considering going with a green young adult for my next dog so that I know what I'm getting.
I know there is a small group of people near Montreal that breed and trial GSDs in Ring. I'm not sure if they have a kennel name though.
I know there is a small group of people near Montreal that breed and trial GSDs in Ring. I'm not sure if they have a kennel name though.
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Judges breeder breeds for serious performance dogs, the majority of her dogs produced are working K9s in some way or another, dual purpose,detection work etc. Her dogs are kennel dogs and are only rotated in the house one at a time for a night then back out. Not ideal cause I want a dog to live in my house not be a kennel dog.
I also think some people mistake frenetic energy as drive in puppies. Even the best laid plans and research can give you a Puppy that you have a hard time living with.
I personally think you can find what you want in an IPO bred or working bred GSD. The Czech lines tend to run very sharp, a bit more biddable but a lot sharper than the West German Working lines and IME their nerves aren't as strong. I prefer a nice Czech/West German cross.
I also think some people mistake frenetic energy as drive in puppies. Even the best laid plans and research can give you a Puppy that you have a hard time living with.
I personally think you can find what you want in an IPO bred or working bred GSD. The Czech lines tend to run very sharp, a bit more biddable but a lot sharper than the West German Working lines and IME their nerves aren't as strong. I prefer a nice Czech/West German cross.
There is a nice little Czech/WG girl that comes out to training. She would be really fun in ring, drive for days and she's pretty small and agile. Her owner wants to get her AD and BH, but primarily she is a family pet and as far as bitework they are focusing on PP working with the jacket. They have started learning the object guard though. She's super cute guarding her suitcase. Really, really nice girl... super social off the training field (except not with other dogs), but very very hard while she is working!
No one's perfect!
He seems like such a good, hard working boy in your agility videos. He really does.
True, it can be hard to tell when you get a puppy. Although, if you want a dog who can be a good companion (which means different things to different people, some breeds would rarely fit some people's definition of companion LOL) as well as working prospect, you stack the odds in your favor by going to breeders who raise their dogs in that manner. Still not a guarantee though, hyperactivity is certainly within the realm of possibility in the breed just like reactivity, guardyness and being "weird" about strangers or environmental stuff. I believe Harry's breeder's dogs are all house dogs.
There's certainly some breeders selecting for extremes in working/sport bred GSDs but there's certainly others breeding for characteristics of an all around good GSD instead of an ultimate sport GSD. A friend of mine breeds working GSDs, she does IPO and puppies from her litters have gone to sport homes, performance/obedience homes, working k9s, detection dogs, SAR dogs, service dogs for autistic children and active family pets. These dogs have drive to spare but are good companions too for appropriate homes. To me, that is what a GSD should be.
He seems like such a good, hard working boy in your agility videos. He really does.
True, it can be hard to tell when you get a puppy. Although, if you want a dog who can be a good companion (which means different things to different people, some breeds would rarely fit some people's definition of companion LOL) as well as working prospect, you stack the odds in your favor by going to breeders who raise their dogs in that manner. Still not a guarantee though, hyperactivity is certainly within the realm of possibility in the breed just like reactivity, guardyness and being "weird" about strangers or environmental stuff. I believe Harry's breeder's dogs are all house dogs.
There's certainly some breeders selecting for extremes in working/sport bred GSDs but there's certainly others breeding for characteristics of an all around good GSD instead of an ultimate sport GSD. A friend of mine breeds working GSDs, she does IPO and puppies from her litters have gone to sport homes, performance/obedience homes, working k9s, detection dogs, SAR dogs, service dogs for autistic children and active family pets. These dogs have drive to spare but are good companions too for appropriate homes. To me, that is what a GSD should be.