Hock walker? - Page 31

Ibrahim,

 Kuma (the dog in the video) isn't a dog that I bred, I only raised and trained him. Sorry if I gave that impression. I would have used the term correct angulation to describe my ideal dog, but there isn't a benchmark for what we all deem correct. I would describe the majority of WL's to be moderate.

To everyone else I offended. It's probably not a short list. LOL.

 I'm very opinionated and call a spade a spade. It has nothing to with being crabby, more than likely I'm just an asshole. My condescending remarks were in responce to Vonissk's comment about the sheep that joanro addressed. I also take issue with terms like the "golden middle", I don't believe that a high drive working dog is any less capable of being a good family dog then their watered down counterparts. It's not like WL's need an actual job to be happy, take them out throw a ball for them, walk them and they are happy.  If a person can't take the time and effort to obedience train and excersise their dog then they have no business owning one in the first place. I have and have had some good dog's, all with the exception of one are good in the house, with children and prey animals.

I don't want to run anyone off the board, so Sunsilver please don't take what I say to heart. My Min Pin comment was a little mean, but he's a kick ass little dog. LOL.

 

"It has nothing to with being crabby, more than likely I'm just an asshole."

Yes but we all have a right to decide for ourselves what type of asshole we prefer.  LOL...

Not necessarily but I've been fooled.  Did it have a head like a collie?

No, but it didn't have one like a chow, either, and it wasn't black and red. For an ASL, it had pretty good secondary sex characteristics, and the typical big ears of the ASL. As ASL go, it was fairly moderate in angulation, but that loooong upper thigh definitely gave it away.

It might have had a bit of German WL in it, but I'm reasonably sure it was pure ASL. I've seen a lot of mixes, including my own GSL/ASL cross, and they didn't look like this dog.

 

I swore I'd never talk about my dog here and I'll probably regret I did.

My female is an AKC CH., she does not have a head like a collie, she is not a hockwalker and her temperament is steady. In the last year, with 2 months off from being in season minus another 6 weeks off when raising a litter, she has earned  her BH, AD, RN, CD.  That makes 4 titles earned in less than 8  months. She is currently in training for her CDX and I hope to show her for her IPO1 early next year. Will she make it, I don't know. She tracks, and her OB phase is steady, but will she bite a sleeve, I'm not sure just yet. 

This dog has had 6 homes in 4 years through no fault of her own. I am her 7th owner; that would be enough to break the spirit of many GSD's, not her. She gives 110% to everything she does, nothing is half way with her. No one will ever be able to convince me or anyone else who knows this dog that she is lacking in temperament or conformation because she is 3/4 ASL, 1/4 GSL. 

A good dog is a good dog regardless of it's lines. 

___ >A good dog is a good dog regardless of it's lines.

AMEN! There are good ASL and bad ones, just as there are good german dogs and bad ones.  Tarring all am breds or german breds with the same brush is just being ignorant. Its a childish way to think, IMO.
Marjorie
http://www.gsdbbr.org The German Shepherd Dog Breed Betterment Registry
BE PROACTIVE!
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Keith,
   Sunsilver has been around long enough to be an expert at identifying the different lines. I may not agree with her 100% of the time, however she deserves the respect gained by her knowledge. I would be saddened if she were to leave this board as I know without a doubt that she has saved the lives of dogs by her timely posts.

I am not trying to re-open this thread, I only want to say this; a well known German breeder who read this thread sent me a personal e mail with this advice as a way to improve temperament while breeding showlines, start with the best female you can lay your hands on, select a male known for producing good temperament and which compensates your females structure, when litter is on ground, and this is most important thing to do, put aside the puppies with serious structural faults if any, then from remaining choose the puppy with best temperament, keep doing this in future litters and in few generations you will notice that you will start having stronger temperament and drives in your litters, don't get too happy and keep choosing your flag carriers in same criteria. Just for the info

Ibrahim

Sounds like a commonsense approach to ANY breeding program to me, not just a mixing of show and workinglines.  Anyway, I think it bears repeating, "don't get too happy and keep choosing your flag carriers in same criteria".

Thanks Daryl, yes it is not meant for show work mix, it is a general breeding advice, I think it says if you select correctly within the show GSDs, in a few generation one can improve on temperament.

Good work Ibrahim and nice to see a thread that has such a high degree of interesting comment.

Louis

I don't think anything holds true for all cases. And many of us have seen examples of great dogs in all lines. But we seem to forget about the many many people who have gotten a dog from specific lines and the dog did not exhibit the traits that were expected or represents the breed. If I go get say an ASL dog tomorrow, what are the chances I will get a dog like Blitzen?? If those chances are high, then I say the line is in good shape........but over the years, I have had countless number of people reach out to me and say that they were referred to me because they heard my dogs had good temperament, AND they had had a ------- line dog and it was full of weak temp or health issues. My point is what about these people? If for every Blitzen's experience there are as many or more with negative experiences......where are we. Should we encourage this with a 50/50 chance of not getting a good confident representative of the breed.? I struggle with the lack of integrity in breeders today to achieve what they want at the greater good of the breed.