Schutzhund? Tracking?

alfi

My GSDs are a mix of working lines from a breeder in west Germany who is looking all around the world for breeding the best of the best...I can give you more info on him if you like. I loved his dogs! They do have that "hardness" but if you deal with a working/guarding line of Mal you'll see what I mean!

I have to say that I like the way/style that a GSD attacks! Comparing to Rotties and Mals I noticed that the Rotties use all of their massive power and body to knock down a "bad guy" while the Mals bite with wide open mouth hard and deep and try to knock down the guy with bitting ...and my favorite GSDs are using both to knock down!! I really like that!!

elisabeth

It's almost like a GSD knows better - they use both their strengths, not just one or the other.

I am always interested in learning about different breeders/lines so yes, definitely if you wouldn't mind sharing the information I would love to learn more about the breeder.

I have also considered getting a older dog next time around, possibly with a SchH1 or 2 on them already. But I don't know. Maybe I am just tired of the "puppy/butthead" stage right now.. haha. That may change in another few years... lol.

alfi

I am sure it will change!! Yeah it seems like a GSD knows better lol!

If you considering getting a dog from there you will have to go and talk with him.
So you want just some info from what I have seen there and about our conversations or a phone number??

elisabeth

Just information for now, I think that would be sufficent since I have NO PLANS to get another dog in the next 2-4 years.. lol.

I want Stark BOMBPROOF before I do that.. lol.

There are a few breeders in the USA that I am considering as well. I belong to a GSD specific board and have been very impressed with their prodgey. Great working dogs, super companions and very healthy, sound dogs.

My breeder whom I got Stark from is great too but she is thinking of retiring her breeding stock in the next couple of years to concentrate on her horses (she breeds and races them).

alfi

Well he has one birth per year if you are lucky .

He runs a number of health tests like elbow/hip dysplasia and eye tests and generally all dogs must be healthy. (I can give you more info about that if you want)

About titles: He only breed dogs that have the following titles
BH, ZtP, IPO1 (at least), MH-Test (a Swedish Mental test - if you want again I can tell you exactly what is about), CACIB, BOB (at least in one country), of course Pedigree...I don't know if I forgot anything

He will give you a lifetime guarantee of health and you are obligated to obtain BH, ZtP (if you want), and MH-test when the dog is between 1 to 2 years old.

Of course the guarantee doesn't cover your mistakes...it just to be sure the dog is able to work. Getting a dog from him automatically makes you a friend and believe me he is maniac with checking if the dog is fine...I talk to him almost every day in the phone! lol!
I am sure I have much more to tell you but right now I have a crazy JRT jumping on my face...lol...EMMY Ah!

He is a little stubborn when it comes about his dogs and he wants to make sure you understand what you are going to deal with. If you know all about GSDs you can tell him what you like and what not and he can find you the dog you want even if it is from another breeder.

Many of his dogs are police dogs or military. What he wants of the breed is to get it back on track - as he says. Developing the best all-around dog-worker. He looks the temperament more than the look. He prefers the more elegant GSD not the "German-lines" heavier with the curve in his back but slightly heavier than the "American-lines".

Any questions you have?? Maybe I forgot something.

elisabeth

Sounds like he is doing right by Max.

What I want is a dog who can work, Max wanted a versitle dog, a dog that could work all day at any task given to them and then come inside and be the family companion - exactly what I want (and have at the moment ).

Looks don't matter to much to me, I would love a dark sable but that is the last thing on my list. I want a dog that can work with me, in whatever it is that we end up doing.

Health testing (OFA, OVC, etc..) and temperament are WAY up there on my list next to being versitle. I would say temperament being the first; health second; versitility third..

I guess I just want what Max invisioned and started when he created the breed. Now-a-days, that's hard to find unfortunately. I was lucky with my breeder, because we had the same opinions and goals for the GSD's which is why I went with her.

With the breed being segragated (Show vs. Working / American vs. Canadian vs. German vs. Czech) right now I think the dog Max created is gone, and this "new breed" has emerged. There are some breeders who are trying to get back to this dog but they are few and far between. It's sad.

alfi

That is absolutely true!! Even he says that! Getting back to the dog that Max wanted is his number one priority and that is why he is searching so much traveling.

But TBH nowadays they are closer to the show dogs rather than the hard worker Max wanted. And even some hard working lines are way behind what a Mal stands for! I own two Mals from working/military lines and I am thrilled with their capability! I would love to see some of their temperament in the GSD lines. Though I have to say that I found some really amazing dogs in his stock...but he keeps the best ones for himself for breeding and I think that's the reason that cannot take a puppy from him younger than 4 months old.

Oh he has some great dark sable dogs!!
I think I like your breeder!!

elisabeth

My breeder is amazing.

I researched for 4 years for one that I truely felt comfotable with.

It was SOOO worth the wait.

She just had a litter (10 weeks ago now) of DDR lined (pure black) GSD's. Those puppers were biting the rag right out of the birth canal... lol. They were amazing. I got to go and meet them when they were 6 weeks old and WOW just amazing puppies. You could see the potential in them even at that age. Dam was different but that litter shared the same sire as Stark. Truely a working dog.

But I agree, even some of the BEST BREEDERS out there have a long way to go before they get back to "Max's dogs". Hopefully I will see "those dogs" before I die, and own one or two, or three..

alfi

I researched breeders here in Europe and from what I have seen even the best working lines of GSDs have a long way to go compared to a working line of Mal.
....oh and I am so in for these beautiful GSDs!

I think they became nowadays more a pet than a working dog and many people own one for the wrong reason. And the judges the last few years give so much attention to the look of the breed rather than it's temperament!

Just take a look at this vid!
YouTube - German Shepherd half dog half frog
You heard the judge clearly say working type dogs will not win. They "don't fit the breed standard". and "the show dog not the working is the correct version of the breed"

elisabeth

Oh I totally know where you are coming from!

I own a WGSL and she is NOTHING like most showlines. She was bred to work first and be "pretty" later. At 13 years she has not had 1 health problem (either has any of her littermates) and remains in good condition (health and mind).

I am starting to see the working dogs in the shows more and more over in the USA though. Just recently had a club member enter her working line male puppy (from Czech lines I believe - but could be wrong on that). I have yet to know the results.

I personally think that the judges are uneducated about the breed and what is was intended for and that like you said is only hurting the beed as a whole.

The GSD was not intended to be "two types of dogs"; working vs. show. They were meant to be a GERMAN SHEPHERD who could DO IT ALL! People have lost sight of this vision unfortuntely.

I think a big part of that problem goes to backyard breeding and the general lack of knowledge on the new owners part. Education is a great thing, even in the dog world.