where do i even start? - Page 8

I don't think someone is looking for advice, I think they are looking for approval.  Only took a couple posts to figure that out.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and life is a learning experience.
Yes Breeders have to start somewhere and education and life experience are key.

I was someone that over the course of a lifetime learned the hard way.
So that it is what has helped me decide the criteria from who I will purchase a GSD from and what I feel the dogs and breeders should adhere too (titles/ofa/dna). AGAIN from my opinion. Also helps me appreciate really good breeders and there are some out there.

20 years ago bought a GSD from a breeder that did not title dogs or even rate hips. I had a very suspicous male with bad hips and ended his life suffering from degenerative mylophathy (sp). Looking back probably 1/2 showlines.  Did I love the dog yes, was it a battle and expensive experience yes. I had a nerve bag - that bit and in the end was crippled:(

5 years ago I bought a GSD from a breeder that claimed to have imported working lines etc...turned into a nightmare as the breeder had all sorts of legal issues..also a learning experience in that she required owners to title their dogs for FULL REGISTRAION> but never titled her dogs and still does not title her dogs. It was a tremendous hassle and a lot of BS. But a life learning experience from which I met some really wonderful people who are RESPONSIBLE BREEDERS!

Now after being part of Schutzhund (mostly watching)- I do NOT believe it defines all GSDS. HOWEVER at the very least breeders IMHO should atleast title their dog to a BH and buyers should ask to see the video not joking. Go to trials see the responsible breeders & competitors. I have seen some bitches forced into a BH. Its a shit show they have a title and the breeder is ready to start pumping out nerve bags. I recently read about one on this very board people are wondering whats wrong with their puppy.  So there is also a flip side to the titles if you dont see it...my opinion. If you watch you can clearly see the difference in temperment & soundness. Does a Schutzhund title make a GSD NO but it helps.

For all those that think titles and pedigree are BS how about DNA & OFA? 
We will never stop bad breeding but education can go a long way. 
At a recent national event I asked a top competitor why she was not breeding her super star. The answer was not thrilled with the dogs elbows they were rated fair but does not want to risk producing sub par. That is a breeder IMHO.
 
Good Luck there are haters on this board but alot of folks with knowledge tooo....take what you can and move forward.
C

What a novel approach. Everyone please help me with your advice, experience and opinions because I know nothing. But also understand if you don't agree with me you are a jerk. Classic.

Lol

Good post 3crzygsds

i think im not being understood properly...........i WILL get my dog/s checked for any and all health and tempermant issues b4 i breed her,  I WILL not just let 2 dogs bang, i get that i accept that that is whos things should be done by everyone heqalth + health = health (in theory). my biggest thing is and has been, showing my dog doesnt IMO make a dog better than the same dog unshown, then i could show my dog/s all i wanted to and the could still produce something else. i dont feel right charging someone who wants a good dog more, cause i gotta recoop my cost cause i showed his parents, I WILL NOT BREED AND UNTESTED(health/temp) but i think ppl put to much importance in the show........i also think that ppl in here (i have since joined some other forms), though VERY knowledgeable, r bias. (if u choose 2) i think its more efficient to 60% help me do what i wanna do the right way 40% try to teach me ur style. i got a whole bunch of "ur iggnorant, u dont know what ur doin, u need to get away from all gsd's", that wont stop me that will have me do some uninformed dumb shit on accident



i know once again this is gonna start some shit.... i wouldnt buy a schutzhund dog to protect me. schutzhund is a game, protection training is all together something else. Will your schutzhund trained dog protect you with his life when the person being bitten is beating it back wit a stick(i say if u trained him yourself NO) y because u havent trained your dog to still attack when scared,y cause your dog aint scared of you...IMO schutzhund is a game dogs have fun wit, and its cool, prob will get into it someday, but is it TRUE protection? dunno........U.S soldiers see guns and get mad @ the wielder, pull a gun on chuck liddell and watch him turn into karl lewis IMO

People put a lot of weight on titles because it is a standardized and equal way of testing their dogs.

At home, I personally, have some very nice horses that we plan to breed in the future. They have the genetics one way or the other, but we do the breed shows with them because it sets them head and shoulders above the rest of the well bred horses. We want to see where we can make some improvements on our breeding stock and where their strong points are. If you put your nice animal against the best of the best and they do well, you will have no trouble finding good homes and getting top dollar. It's also something we are very proud of, that ours do well at breed shows.

I'm not going to take your (general 'you') word for it that your dog is super and workable, I want to see the proof. There's lots of cute dogs at the pound, so why would I buy a purebred who's parents have no qualifications? That's why people bother to do it. Not to mention, you might find it a rewarding and fun acticity to get your dog involved in some type of training that you can get titles on. If this is really waht you want to do, then why not do it right?

supakmario, I don't mean to hurt your feelings, but you really need to work on your spelling. I'm not saying this to be unkind, but if you are committed to breeding, you will really have to appear to be knowledgeable and professional to potential buyers. Maybe you are more well spoken in person, but that is not how you are coming across on this forum. Spelling really does matter.

And which path are you going to take, SupaK, if you have the dogs tested a year or two from now
and they don't pass ?   You see you dont give us any confidence from the msgs you write that e.g. you
will be able to ensure no 'accidental' matings happen on the way to that point ; or that you would
be prepared to give up on the idea of breeding if, say, your bitch turns out to have really poor hips
(and she might well do, you would not necessarily see signs of there being any problem outwardly).
If instead of firing off random questions one after the other you were saying:  "well, no I didn't think
of that, but this is what I can do about it ";  "yes I am coming back to Germany within a short time and
we'll be here for x years, so I will have a stable environment to keep dogs in and breed from them" ...
we don't  get that feedback from you, how do we know how you are reacting / learning, & moving
through this ?   Agreeing with someone else in a similar position (Ladyhaze) on this post here,
and giving all of us collectively the finger, just doesn't advertise you as anyone who LISTENS. 

if she is not sounds ill fix her, bein a male i wont fix a male, unless he needs it for health reasons. if their not good to breed they wont, if the male is ill stud him out, if someone wants, i wouldnt even shop him (if that makes sense). i do listen, if i didnt want advice i wouldnt ask, if she aint, ill come back and (obviously knowing more 5, 6 years from now) get another..........i feel like i say "hey who can tell me how to drive a stick" and ppl come and say the ozone is diein, u shouldnt drive. how about teach me how, and suggest i get and eco friendly car. PPL jump down my throat judging me callin me ignorant..... then wonder y i curse them out 

Well, that sounds more like the right idea supaK. I still dont' think there's any excuse for cursing anyone out though, just take a deep breath and try to be objective about what they are telling you instead of taking it personally.

You said you were in Georgia, did you not? What area? Maybe some people here could give you some ideas on some sports in your area that you could try out with your dogs that you're hoping to breed? I really do think you'd enjoy some of the sports (there are so many to do!) and may be able to work toward some titles. It's also a great way to make connections to other GSD people too, if/when the time comes that you have a litter to sell.

It's a really great accomplishment to get a title on your dog and something you and your dogs can be proud of, plus would give you more credibility as a breeder and handler.  :)