Hey Christine, how about doing a member bio and showing some pics of your dogs and what you've trained them for. Maybe some experiences in trialing them?

The term "sharpness" has to be used in the correct context, and with understanding of the breed standard.

Christine, you're coming from a back ground of non-working dogs. You told us that you have a West German Showlines GSD and stated that it's parents were both SchH titles, etc. - I'm not sure that you realize that most Showlines dogs are just a bare step ahead of the poor quality of the American bred GSD, and that most Showline GSD's recieve their SchH "titles" tested on a weak judge that will let Showlines dog pass, and sometimes the judges are simply payed off to title these weak dogs. It's a lot more common that you'd think, and I've seen it with my own eyes, unfortunately.

Simply watch a titled Showlines dog and compare it to a titled Working lines dog - there is usually *no* comparison there.

And the weak standards of the average Showlines dog is why you don't see them in Police work, etc. They don't have the nerves or temperament for real work.

This is not opinion, it's fact - I hope it helps you to see that the GSD's that we're discussing don't really have that much in common with the GSD's that you base your experience on.

The pointing breeds are trained as personal hunting companions. They hunt quail each season. The retrievers retrieve duck (land/water) and quail as personal hunting companions. We used professional trainers many years ago for the hunting dogs and we were fortunate to have a great trainer who taught us a lot and we've trained the newer dogs ourselves using his techniques. We enjoy working the dogs. It's great to watch hunting dogs work in the field. Although they are my pets, they love the field work and the field trial bred dogs really should be worked. They're not couch potato dogs. I get my dogs from very good breeders who go through enormous time and expense to campaign their dogs to get titles.

Well, its been a few days and Im regrouped!

I want to share something: I have panic attacks, anxiety disorder and agoraphobia. I have had this for 18 years.
Ive been on medication, daily, for 18 years.

It's nothing I hide - everyone who knows me, knows I take medication and have these issues.

My trainer believes THAT could have been the reason I was his toy. He could 'feel' the nerves in me.

We are looking at Golden Retrievers right now, and found a great breeder, who is a good friend of my husbands brother.
I will attach a link if I can.

http://onfourpaws.com/

They are now almost 4 weeks - and the disposition of the parents and grandparents are happy and very content.
Our daughter, Abby who is 6, even played ball with them!
That was a sight! She has never attempted on her own to touch any dog, and she was having a great time with 4 full grown Golden
Retrievers!

I need to get into the shower - but wanted to say hello!

Have a great day,
Debbie

Debbie,

Thank you for posting back. I am so happy to hear that you are searching for a puppy that will work for your family.

I commend you for what you decided and I know it must have been difficult.

I also want to say that I in NO way think you had a pup you could not handle at all. I think you had a pup that did not fit your "life and family". IMHO there is a big difference in those two statements.

Hi Mike,

Yes, our trainer will be going with us to check out the pups.


Thank you for your input, it is truly appreciated.

Debbie

Mike,

I agree with what you have written, but we need to remember that there are service dogs that specifically are used for anxiety and things like that.
Goldens are an excellent choice for this.

I tend to forget about the "service" aspect, like seizure, anxiety ect....

Carol...

I had not really thought about the anxiety - panic disorder connection until the trainer brought it up.

Its not like Im a mess all day - LOL - as I am on 3 different
medications - but I thought it would be good that the board know what's up with me, on a bit of a personal level, since we all try and help each other out as best we can, and things like this are important to know, when relating to one another.

Just as if someone had any other medical condition.

That is another reason I share it with pretty much everyone I have any relationship with in life.
We live in a small town.

Its important they know - in case anything were to happen to me, and also because it gives them a better understanding of who I am, and why they mostly see my husband driving me about town! LOL

BTW, your dogs are gorgeous!
You must have a large piece of land, for 5 dogs!

 Quote:

You must have a large piece of land, for 5 dogs!

Carol just roams around in the wilderness with her husband and 5 dogs (didn't I read 6 somewhere??).