ok, this is a novice Q, but I'm trying to learn about pedigrees. How do I know when looking at pedigrees if it's working or showline? Does anyone have any suggestion on a book or a website that can teach me how to look at pedigrees?

Well there is the WinSis program that has alot of pedigrees, pics, and information in it if you want to spend the money. Also the pedigree database online has many registered dogs on it as well and it's FREE...it's at http://www.pedigreedatabase.com.

More likely than not if you are looking at a pedigree and you have mostly V's in front of the names you are looking at a show dog. Now if you are looking generations back in a pedigree and you see some V's this is not the case as the lines split back then....for example Bodo Lierburg was a VA-7 in 1966 and if you compare his structure to what they consider a VA dog these days you will see a huge difference.
Now I'm not saying that you won't see a working line dog with a V rating these days because you will, but it's not as common or important to a working dog breeder because working ability over "conformation" is paramount to most of your working line breeders.
The more you look at pedigrees and research them you will recognize major kennel names and if they are show or working.
Then you will see the breeders that try to mix show and working together so you will see show lines on one side and working on the other.

In case you didnt know, the conformation/show ratings are;
V excellent
SG very good
G Good

Now this post is regarding german lines...Czech lines are different.

I hope I helped.......or I confused you even more <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Pat

No, you helped a lot. It's exactly what I was looking for. Thanks <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />