I was just looking at the puppy page, I bet they can also fly!

Interesting.

On behalf of your friend who was making the inquiry, I invited the breeder to the board here to address the comments.

I suppose some of the stories of heroism on the web site do seem a bit enthusiastic.

But I don't think I'd immediately jump to the conclusion that the quality of the dogs is equal to the quality of the web site.

American Showline dogs aren't everyone's cup of tea--I get that. Those of us with healthy, well-tempered American dogs are used to the working line GSD folks considering them inferior, or at least not "real" GSDs.

I'd even admit that there are a preponderance of poorly-bred American Showline GSDs out there--it's not unlike the abundance of poorly-bred Labs in world. It's the curse of popularity. But I think it's a mistake to assume that every show dog is a weak-nerved bag of dysplasia. Because it's just not true.

If someone is interested in a showline dog, they can vet breeders in the same way they would a working breeder. There are good ones and bad ones.

(I have no knowledge of or experience with the breeder in this OP.)

 Quote: Rich Pallechio

Everything they say about the dog caring for the baby is true. However, WL GSDs go beyond that. They mow the lawn, take out the garbage, drop the kids off at school and pick them up (driving the family van) and mine has been giving me excellent investing advice. He warned me about the coming meltdown in subprime mortgages over two years ago, when he was still a puppy!

Haha! Who taught him to drive, Toonces the cat?

 Quote: kurt smith

 Quote: rich pallechio

Everything they say about the dog caring for the baby is true. However, WL GSDs go beyond that. They mow the lawn, take out the garbage, drop the kids off at school and pick them up (driving the family van) and mine has been giving me excellent investing advice. He warned me about the coming meltdown in subprime mortgages over two years ago, when he was still a puppy!

Haha! Who taught him to drive, Toonces the cat?

They are naturally drivey dogs. No one has to "teach" them to drive. They are born knowing it, as their antecedents were, back for countless generations.

Dang. I must have gotten the short end of the show line stick.

My little West German show line pup is a humble sheepherder. I love her though, even if she isn't close to being half as talented as the other show lines.

 Quote: Janet Koehler

I was just looking at the puppy page, I bet they can also fly!

They oughta be able to generate some lift with those floppy ears.

Connie! "Naturally drivey dogs", I love it!

Can someone please clue me in? In the show line world, what makes a dog a champion? I have watched the dog shows on TV and I can't tell that the dogs do anything other than stand and run in a circle. What are the qualities that make for a SL champion? What do the judges look for?

The better term for it is 'conformation', I would think. But since it is not my area of expertise, I am willing to hear from one who is familiar with it.

I think it also depends on what kind of show lines. There is a difference between the American and the German/European conformation shows.

It appears Heidelberg is American show lines. And while I prefer the German lines and hold an appreciation for the working lines, I appreciate all well-bred German Shepherds and their versatility in our human world.

Showline dogs (of any breed) compete in conformation--which is a competition against the breed's standard; i.e. How closely does this individual dog typify the details of the breed ideal?

In some respects, it is a beauty contest, insomuch as the "beauty" is defined by how the dog is put together--structure, size, angulation, head shape, dentition, coat condition and color, etc. Every breed has a different detailed standard. Many standards include descriptions of the breed's ideal gait, which is largely a function of skeletal structure, So that is also taken into consideration, as is whatever temperament can be assessed in this kind of arena.

Purebred dogs exist because somebody thinks that physical conformation matters. It is what "defines" a breed. The very concept of "breed" is a human-created invention. The only reason a GSD is a GSD and not a Coonhound is because of physical conformation to a standard.

All that said...as a competition, conformation shows aren't for everyone. But then neither is tracking. I'm happy to allow different strokes for different folks without too much judgement about what other people prefer. A well-bred, healthy, genetically sound dog that is lucky enough to participate in any kind of enrichment activity with humans that love her is a lucky dog--showline, working line, American, German, etc. I believe there's a type or variety of purebreed dog out there to suit any person's interest or ideal. But it doesn't serve anyone to criticize a Basset hound because he isn't a Borzoi.