Eric,

There are several good breeders that hang out at:

http://www.workingschnauzer.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard//ikonboard.cgi

Just click on the link to get there.

Hey there Richard. I'm new to the board (obviously). I have noticed on several occasions that you say that you prefer the BRT to the GS. I've been looking on the net to locate one but am having trouble. Can you tell us where you got yours or give the names of some notable breeders in the U.S.? After reading some of the posts on this board, I am afraid to purchase ANY kind of dog. I don't want some giant psycho dog from a "puppy mill".

Gary,

Contact me via a P.M. and we can talk and I may be able to steer you where you want to go. As a new breed that is primarily being used in the show ring there is a wide variety in temperament. There is also still a wide variety in the size of the dogs. They can range from a very mild mannered quiet dog to a very aggressive breed. I would not call a good working individual a good beginer dog. They have NO handler aggression at all, but they can be very aggressive to strangers and can be hard to read if you aren't familiar with dogs. Even when properly socialized they are pushy and may even bite just to get the attention they want.

They are slow to mature and the maturity rate also varies. Some don't mature until as late as 3-4 years. The bitch I have is just finally maturing at 2 1/2 and still has a ways to go. There is a difference in the way the males and females work so depending on your interest with the dog sex can make a huge difference. Females are much more in to "defensive" work. They are very in to protecting their handlers, or anybody else around, and don't like to work much a way from their handlers. I also think it is important to have a trainer that has worked with a wide variety of breeds. I can see how you could get the work screwed up easily if you try pushing the wrong things at the wrong times. They train up much slower than any of the Shepherd breeds and don't progress in as steady a rate. They tend to make huge gains almost over night and then plateau for a long period, then make another huge gain. This has seemed to be tied to maturity level. Just some rambling thoughts.

For working giants go to german k-9.net

Answering a post started over two years ago really doesn't help much, sorry. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />