Got yourself an aloof GSD? Its your own fault - Page 3

I

Thank you for clarifying, Bancroft, I now understand what you are saying, I know that you used Tiekerhook as an example of the kind of dog that does not belong in the average newbies hands without lots of supervision.  To be honest, though, I am not in this world to deal with dogs for the average person, nor do I like the fact (in fact I hate the fact) that many breeders are more than happy to water down our breed just so they can sell them to everyone who has the money - regardless of whether or not they are an appropriate home for a correct GSD.  Not everyone deserves or should have a correct GSD, but ONLY correct GSDs should ever be bred.

We all see to have slightly (?) different ides about what a correct GSD is... temperament and construction wise.

Ah here come the "pet" owners. The temperament is written in the breed standard. All "ideas" aside, the standard is the standard, anything less is INCORRECT. I owned GSD strictly as pets for 15 years and still prized the correct temp over the softer dogs. They may be a little more work, but they are certainly more entertaining to live with.

You neither do yourself nor the breed any favours by being condescending. I've shown and worked my dogs (not sch) for many years and still believe there's always something for me to learn, clearly not a sentiment you share.

Hopefully, your halo won't slip round your neck and choke you!

Who is being condescending? What is there to learn? Crapper GSD's make great pets? Actually no they don't, the last person you want around a weak nerved dog, is a child. Before concidering any breed I read the breed standard and look into temperaments, excersize needed, yard size requirements and all of that. Something EVERYONE should do. If it doesn't sound like a good fit, look at another breed.

Example, I love the looks of the Norther breeds, Huskies etc. But I can't stand their roaming tendancies and destructive nature, so I don't own them. I don't own them and try to breed them into something they are not.

Ah here come the "pet" owners.  You don't think that's condescending, not to mention a little presumptuous?

 What is there to learn?  There's nothing for you to learn?  No-one knows more than you about this breed of ours?  Training methods, bloodlines etc? 

Well... I'm truly honoured to be conversing with you, albeit at odds!

M

There should be no difference, that's the problem IMO.  You said, "you reap what you sow"... true-ish, sometimes others, inevitably, reap what "we" sow.

Every Shepherd should be able to work, (the definition of which, is I suspect, the real issue here) every Shepherd should be correctly constructed.  You should be able to apply your last paragraph to every Shepherd.

IMO, no-one should use a dog or bitch for breeding JUST because they have fabulous working ability nor because they are JUST superbly constructed.  Both are absolutely necessary to meet the standard.

We are awash with crappola from both sides.  I see lovely looking dogs that are probably incapable of doing much... is that because of the owner?  Is it because they have a sort of cabin fever, from being shut in a kennel all the time trained / exerised on a machine, or are they genetically useless?  I can't answer that honestly.  I see good working dogs (oft described as, freight trains, biting machines, etc) that look like Jackals!  What's that about?  I see show dogs looking like their front legs come out of the same hole (old joke) because their only exercise is gaiting!  Their chests / lung capacity underdeveloped, they're never allowed to run  and gallop around. 

We can, I believe / hope, help each other and our breed, IF we look and listen.  Nobody knows everything, despite what some would have you believe!

I hate typing long posts on this bloody laptop, all I do is hit the wrong keys!

missbeeb

"Every Shepherd should be able to work, (the definition of which, is I suspect, the real issue here) everyShepherd should be correctly constructed."

THAT would sure make it easier for us rookies to shop for these critters.