Well, I don't know about anyone else, but I looooved those pictures on the studs page, didn't see any dogs there though. he he he he he

I'm sorry, what can I say.....bad boy, BAD BOY

Those dog's don't really seem to be that much bigger boned, they just look fat, poor spindly little legs.

I don't know where they are weighing their dogs but I didn't see any 130-140 pound shepherds on that website. I saw maybe 115 pound shepherds that were quite overweight. The woman in those pictures is small, you can tell the actual size of the dogs by how some of them are next to a vehicle, a true 140 pound dog is a VERY LARGE dog, and IMO a GSD should not be that big, to me a 100 pound GSD is a huge GSD.

I have owned extremely large dogs, my last Rottweiler stud was almost 160 pounds, being 32" tall with a 31" head. He was very oversized but I loved him dearly and he lived a good long life of 13 years with minor joint problems, he was an enormous dog, a true 125+ # dog would look big even standing next to a line backer. The largest dog I owned was a Mastiff/Great Dane mix who stood 36" tall and weighed in at 207 pounds, he had a sadly short life, developing severe HD at age 4 and was put down (a rescue puppy)

I agree in that if you want a larger dog, go for a larger breed. Oversized dogs are referred to ask oversized because they are not just large, they are TOO large, and it can negatively affect their health, longevity, and working ability.

A shepherd-like dog with a good amount of bone and a heavier structure with a more muscularly dense frame would hold the weight better, a dog from lines that have been health tested and re tested, proven healthy with long lives and physical ability.

If you are set on getting an oversized GSD (which, to be honest, 100-110# range isn't too bad considering the 150# monstrosities I've seen) then go with a breeder that has a nice long contract with lots of hip and elbow goods and excellents, try to find stock that have had their hearts cleared by a canine cardiologist to ensure the size isn't a strain on their insides to keep up with.

Best of luck to you!

 Quote: Jennifer Marshal

I don't know where they are weighing their dogs but I didn't see any 130-140 pound shepherds on that website. I saw maybe 115 pound shepherds that were quite overweight. The woman in those pictures is small, you can tell the actual size of the dogs by how some of them are next to a vehicle, a true 140 pound dog is a VERY LARGE dog, and IMO a GSD should not be that big, to me a 100 pound GSD is a huge GSD.

I agree with you! There are a lot of people out there that will tell you their dog is 150 lbs, but when you see them in person, its more like an 85 lb dog. It's quite funny to me.
Anyway, like I mentioned before I dont want something enormous!! Just a GSD with a little more substance I guess. I'd be more than happy with one between 90-100 lbs! I don't want anything bigger than that cuz I know I wont be able to handle him, especially since I only have a few pounds on the boy I have now.

Thanks for all your opinions guys! I really appreciate it. And keep them coming too! : )

 Quote: Kristen Shepherd

I don't want anything bigger than that cuz I know I wont be able to handle him.

Thanks for all your opinions guys! I really appreciate it. And keep them coming too! : )

It does not matter the size of the dog as far as handling, it is all in the training and relationship you have with your dogs.
I know people who can't handle a small mixed breed, cannot imagine what would happen if they got a big dog.

Those are big hairy dogs, and probably either overweight or not as big as advertised.
I like the look of them, they are beautiful, but, I will stick with tenacity, drive, temperament and physical stature...looks are a bonus. (I like a good looking dog, don't get me wrong, but the other stuff takes precedence. I am a Mal/Dutchie person through and through but a good working GSD is great to watch or train for someone else. (Oh yeah, a good Bloodhound is a plus as well.... )

And did you notice on that site there is not a pedigree to be found for any dog featured. With all those titles and accomplishments listed they seem to have *forgotten* the pedigrees. :wink:

They "breed for genetics", eh?

I'm intrigued and would like to subscribe to their newsletter.

I knew I wasn't going for this particular kennel anyway, but can anyone recommend any other breeders/kennels. I'm in the NC area and I am willing to travel. I've done a decent amount of research, but still have a long way to go and was just hoping I could look into a few of the places some of you may have had a good experience with.

Kristen, why not compromise and find a good WORKING dog breeder who just happens to have a great dog who produces pups slightly over the standard? I own one such freak. I used to constantly worry about his size as far as hips, joints, jumping, etc., but he happens to be quite sound, and as agile as possible for his size.

I am continually nauseated by people who are so in awe of his size and then immediately ask if I'm going to breed him. If I ever did, you can bet it wouldn't be to a large bitch. Yes, he can jump (very, very well). Yes, he can climb. Yes, he can do very difficult obstacles. BUT-I am kidding myself if I don't think that his weight is going to wear on his joints with all that activity. Every time I watch him leap the 6' fence that I spent thousands on to contain him , I wince as he lands, because I'm picturing the force on his elbows as his 95ish lb body hits the ground. I keep him as skinny as I can without alerting the authorities, and he still weighs over 90lbs. Much of it is bone density, because he doesn't appear any larger than many 80lb dogs. I chose the parents I liked the best, and knew that my dog might be large, as his sire was very large. However, his sire was 11 when he was born, and had attained just about every title I've ever heard of (IPO3, mult.Sch3, LGA,FH2, rated KKL1 for life, etc.) and was still in great shape at 11, with good hips and elbows. To me, that's a working dog who just HAPPENS TO BE BIG, rather than these mediocre, overgrown PETS who are bred for nothing but outrageous proportions.

Yes, I know I'm rambling, but the point I'm trying to make is you can get a nice HEALTHY well-bred working dog who happens to be on the high side of the standard. Why allow these people to continue capitalizing on poor genetic freaks? These are not what the GSD was supposed to be. Get a mastiff or a Great Dane if a 85-90ish lb dog won't do.

BTW, Kristen, have you ever done any serious bitework with a dog that size who is NOT playing? It's not easy, to say the least. A too-slow decoy nearly was bitten by my dog on the unsleeved arm just last week b/c he accidentally hit the dog with the whip (just meant to come close). Luckily, I insist on EXCELLENT control on a biting dog that size (or any size, really), because we were able to call my dog off mid-air and the guy was not bitten. I'm 5'3-4ish, and not big, and I was unprepared for his sudden burst of strength, even though I've been handling him his whole life. I would not ever want a dog any bigger for protection work, provided you could even find a GSD that size who will bite.

Sorry for the length.

 Quote: Chris Duhon

Well, I don't know about anyone else, but I looooved those pictures on the studs page, didn't see any dogs there though. he he he he he

I'm sorry, what can I say.....bad boy, BAD BOY

LOL, I am female and even I noticed that while they might like their dogs big, they sure like their skirts short ;-)