I have been reading this board off and on for over a year now. I had a male GSD that I purchased last year from DDR working lines. He was a good dog but did not work out to be what I wanted. He had some behaviour issues that would not straighten out. He was a good dog but was not working out for my needs.
I am considering getting another GSD that is from Show Lines (German) and wanted some imput.
I am going to use him as a companion, light obdience and maybe fun agility. I do not plan on going at this and being strongly competitive. This is just for fun. I am wanting a dog that I can take to work with me and maybe use as a Therapy dog as well. I have a cousin who is a quad due to an auto accident 15 years ago and he started me going to hospitals and such with my previous GSD...who was working lines BTW. He was just a lot calmer and not as drivey as some...just what I needed.
Anyway, the sire is Idol von Brenzarm and the dam
is a Vuernheimi Nick daughter and Leif Von Noriswand Granddaughter. The sire also has lines going back to Rikkor V. Bad Boll, Ulk von Arlett, Uran Wildsteiger Land and many others.
I guess I am looking for some feedback from those of you who are more familiar with show lines (yes I DO KNOW that most of you on here do not care for the show lines but please remember I am not looking for a strong working dog) to tell me what you may know, if anything, of the temperment of these lines...good and bad. I know that the working ability is not going to be there but for my needs I don't have to have that. I need a calm sure temperment and these pups seem to have that. They are four months old now...only a couple left...but they are calm and sure with new things, people and other animals. I feel good about it but I respect everyones opinion on this board.
I am looking forward to your reply's....
Again, I hope I don't start up arguments over work v. show...that is not what I am trying to do. I know the difference and how some of these Sch 3 ratings are achieved at times. I am just looking for friendly advice.

Thank you....

If you have done the background checks on the pups from the dam & sire and feel good about them, then by all means get the pup you want.

I personally would stay away from show lines, get a pet grade pup out of working lines. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

An honest breeder of working line GSD's can place a pet grade pup out of most litters. That would be my choice for what you are looking far.

Good luck on what ever decission you make. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I agree 100% - stay away from show. Pet quality working is way to go...u have better chance of good temperment, nerves, etc.

Check your PM's

Well, I have decided to wait and find a working line puppy/young adult to have as my next dog. Now the fun part of researching breeders!!
I guess what I need to tell breeders is that I am looking for one that has the nerves but maybe not the same real high drives that would make a good Sch dog? Is that kind of the right track to take. I don't want to get one that could possibly make someone a great dog...but I don't want "pet quaility" if that means putting up with "second best" I am assuming that in some litters you may have one that is good in all respects but maybe not as drivey...Make sense?
Feedback is welcome!! I hope this is the way to go!!
Thanks so much for all of your input...

I have a 6 mo. GSD from worling lines and for the past 7 years I have obed. trained for a kennal with over 100 dogs all pet or show lines. The main dif. I have found is that in working line homes the breeders seam more awqare of the emportance of early socializing. GSDs that are not given the required socializing early will be very shy, and with out the proper handling you will have problems down the road. If you buy from show-pet stock, get it at 2 to 3 mo. and spend a lot of time socializing. It will save a lot of trouble later

while I agree that working lines are best if you want a working dog, please don't discount the conformation lines for pets. I bought a conformation line puppy from a breeder, not knowing the difference at the time. this is a great dog, extremely intelligent, wellbehaved, and dedicated to me. I decided to join a schutzhund club with this dog. The club president was unsure about my dog, after I showed him the website for the breeder. But after lightly testing my year old GSD he seemed empressed. This dog has strong prey drive and an easy temperment. I wanted a good, strong dog to work with and to go as far in schutzhund with just the two of us, owner and loyal companion. Please give these dogs a change. I have owned many dogs in my 45 years and yes one american GSD too, years ago (Big Mistake) This conformation dog is proving to be an excellent working dog and my best friend.

There is something called luck....

 Quote:

Originally posted by Shepherdgirl- Deanna:
There is something called luck....

...and good isn't the only flavour it comes in. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Dei.

I found out here that my dog's lineage is of German Conformation show line, the sire and dam both have Sch1-3, IPO titles throughout their lineage but they are considered show line dogs.

My dog is not a short back dog like show dogs. But he is full of energy and high spirited, most people that see him are impressed with his will and show of energy. He is heavier looking then most GSD that have the qoute unqoute excellent conformation (I'll post pictures as soon as I get my webpage finished).

He is all the dog I can handle he does everything I want and need. Now I will say that he does not compare with the $30k Chec GSD (including all his training) patrol dog that I worked with but I was told that the appitude is there, he just needs more training. The Chec dog, I think was a little smaller, prettier with longer hair (not too long) and black and red. Looking at their temperment it seem to be almost the same the main difference being the training, going by the Deputy Sheriff handling "Chec".

If I could get another dog like this, I would. A dog with anymore drive then this would be too much dog for me, and most people that are not experts in this field. He is ok in most enviorments, he's ok with small children, they can pet him but he will move away, he only seems to like family member petting him. He is ok with strangers that I can see appoarching if they don't act aggressive. He loves to bite but he does not try to bite everything that moves fast.
He seems to know when and why, but unless things are happening really fast waits for my decision.

Like most dog owners I'm biases but I would not be if he was a slug or a maniac dog. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />