For those of you who have working line GSDs worked in SchH and also in the house as house dogs, please tell me of what lines they are, male or female, and how common/rare you think this is. I am new to SchH training and am looking to acquire a dog for this sport in the future and would like to also have it as my pet in the house - not saying I expect a Labrador retriever by any means - but can these dogs work and yet bond closely with a family despite it's higher drives and disposition? I guess I am looking for what to expect realistically here.

Thank you much in advance.

Not all working dogs are "hyper", energy and activity level do not denote drive. Keep that in mind. With that said, we've got 4 high drive GSDs and all are perfectly fine in the house.

one bitch linebred Harro Lechrainstadt & Sagus Busecker Schloß, one bitch with the same dam and a sire out of Ico Ardhaus (won Nationals with Gary H 2x in a row), one female that's a Mink granddaughter, and a son of Stormfront's Brawnson that is Czech/DDR in pedigree.

All of them get "up" for work quickly, yet all of them can calm and remain calm in the house as well. But we limit who can be out with who due to personality differences and dominance levels.

The idea that working line dogs can't be house dogs is bunk. Usually bunk that showline breeders use to sell their crap LOL...

I have two working line dogs that are house dogs. One is a 6 month old pup line bred on Fado v Karthago and the other is a CZ/DDR bitch that is linebred on Held v. Ritterberg and carries a fair amount of the zPS blood. While I will openly admit she is not the ideal house dog, I beleive that has more to do with the fact that for 3.5years prior to me getting her she was a kennel dog than her lines. She is not hard to live with per se, but we are still educating her on the fact that shoes are not an appropriate food group! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> She has a thing for chewing, so I just have to treat her like a pup and make sure there is nothing around for her to occupy herself with. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I am not a professional trainer in the least, this is my hobby.

I have a Leerburg female, 9 1/2 months old. She comes to work with me, has an outdoor kennel, comes in the house at night and sleeps in her crate. She is very much a part of our family and is bonded closely with us.

Apart from being the mischevious pup (wouldn't want it any other way! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ) She is very well behaved and learns quickly. She already has a very grown up bark and shows up the PSD's when we are at training. (Smug smile to myself).

As for my other half who, quote: "Don't want a big F*&^ing hairy shepherd", you couldn't get her away from him for any amount of money. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

At the end of the day, when you go to sleep at night, isn't it nice to know you have a working line dog in the house with you.

All very helpful and encouraging replies! Thank you all. If anyone else has anything else to add please do as well, it's most helpful to me!

Our working line GSD "Lodi" is a house dog. He is very easy to live with. He has free run of the house, whether we are at home or away... has since he's been 6 mo. old. He is calm and very well behaved. When we traveled cross country and stayed at my Mom's house for several days recently, Mom (not a dog person) referred to Lodi as "the big lazy slug". <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Yeah, when nothing much is happening, Lodi is pretty mellow. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Lodi (Artemis vom Kiefern Tal) is also a nationals level schutzhund competitor, having scored 94-98 points in protection in the 4 national trials he's been in so far.
His pedigree is here:
http://www.esc-registry.org/private/lodi/pedigree/index.html

If you want to get an idea what a pup (any bloodline of any breed) would be like to live with as a house dog, take a good close look at what the pup's parents are like as house dogs. While not a perfect indication, this will give you a pretty good idea how the pup will end up when grown. Do they have an "off switch", or do they bounce off the walls with excess useless energy? You cannot judge this by looking at what they are like when "working". There are low drive dogs with no "off switch", and high drive dogs with an "off switch". Hyperactivity and high drives are two separate things.

Laura

I also had a kennal dog that i got at about 9 and 1/2 months old. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> She took to the house well. Had to go room by room till she felt safe. about two days. Along with long walks and a creat training I was able to house train her in about two weaks. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> The long walks help to relive lots of energy. Work with a ball to help run her. With all this she was a great dog. one of the reasons why i want to work with working dogs

I have a 9 month Bastin vom Kokeltal son out of Afra vom der Inpromenade, we are training in schutzhund.
He is a house dog. He is very very hyper in the house. He will eventually calm down for naps or bones, but any noise or activity will rouse him into super play mode. He must usually have an activity-you will learn to throw a ball while doing other things.
He is my bud, and he loves me, I have no doubt, but I have to say-he can't be loose when most people come over-his idea of a greeting is frightening to most visitors and he would knock a small or weak person over. He will and does hurt people (jumping, claws) who insist they can handle petting and playing with him, even after being forewarned and shown how he plays-and he is a pain to take on a walk when frail people insist upon petting him and talking that crappy baby-waby voice stuff-he goes NUTS and wants to scream and jump on them-he has to be just about wrestled down.
This is all in fun and joy, please understand-he has no malice in him, but since I hope to title this dog in schhutzhund, I am holding off on obedience, and it's not always easy to handle a dog bred and worked like this without compulsion.
Before bedtime, all toys must be put away, and I do mean ALL. He does not soil the house or chew my stuff, but any dog toy left out will be bounced, chewed loudly, and shoved repeatedly on the closest warm body.
It can be done, yes, of course, I agree with everyone-but I have had to make many personal -um, adaptions to behaviors (?) acceptances (?). he may get calmer as he ages as well. I guess what I'm saying is it will not be nearly as easy as living with a low drive animal, so please be prepared!
I almost forgot-it's lots of fun too....

I have a Yoschy daughter that goes to work with me every day, lays behind my desk. She lays beside the couch while watching TV. She lays beside my bed at night. Don't get me wrong, she is HIGH energy, but can contain herself. They can be fine housepets.

Housepets? What. . .dogs live as housepets? No way, I don't want a dirty stinking animal living in my house.

And those killer monsters that get that perverse attack training called Schultshound. . .I can't believe that is even legal!

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> ---------NOT---------

Yes, working dogs make GREAT housepets and family companions. Much better in fact than most of the other choices. . .BYB, ASS breeders, etc. . .