My father is a breeder who is particular who has his puppies and as K9 said the men folk come out and want the biggest dog and then tell the wife that its only going to be a pet for the kiddies.
They have one dog that is very impressive to these (excuse the expression) "wankers" as he looks quite aggressive in his pen/yard. when they ask about his progeny they are asked what they want from the dog etc... There have been a couple who seem a little offended when told that in their care a dog like this would become dangerous, they have no intention of putting in the time and effort to produce the "full package" but just expect it to be that way naturaly.
Its a wonder the dog bite statistics in Aust arn't higher.

K9,

Hello. Some 6 years ago I purchased a Bouvier from Centauri Kennels. She has been an exceptional dog, very balanced and mentaly sound. I haven't trained her to do much 'work' but she uses her working potential every day. Our household is boisterous with our three sons (5,7, & 9).

Her father is a robust and able dog with a big personality and a schutzhund III to document it.

Why a working dog? Lesser dogs would fail; great dog and a safe family.

Take care,

Ok, I am very new here so please forgive me is I say something offensive or inappropriate.
I have been somewhat burned in the past by a breeder. In my ignorance I purchased a German show lines pup for a huge amount of money. The breeder assured me that he would have good drives and with the right training could have SAR potential. Well, needless to say we could hardly get this pup to play ball let alone SAR.
I am now planning on purchasing another pup in a year or so and have begun the search for a breeder. I have been seriously considering Leerburg. But I went to the real GSD website mentioned above and according to some information on it Ed isn't a good breeder for a variety of reasons. It's rating system was also confusing in that it appeared to say that Ed bred to SV standards and didn't breed "real" GSD's at all.
I FIND THIS INFORMATION INCREDIBLY HARD TO BELIEVE CONSIDERING ALL I HAVE READ ON THE WEBSITE, SEEN IN HIS KENNEL VIDEO AND ALSO FELT FROM HIS TRAINING VIDEOS.
How in the world is one supposed to make an informed decision on something like this?
We have no doubt that Ed's dogs are incredible working dogs. Our concern is that they may be too driven to live with a normal family day in and day out.
How does one go about determining this?

Hopefully I am not breaking any web board laws or ethical issues. I am just confused in the utmost.

Thanks for any and all insights into this.

I have been seriously considering Leerburg. But I went to the real GSD website mentioned above and according to some information on it Ed isn't a good breeder for a variety of reasons. It's rating system was also confusing in that it appeared to say that Ed bred to SV standards and didn't breed real GSD's at all.
I FIND THIS INFORMATION INCREDIBLY HARD TO BELIEVE CONSIDERING ALL I HAVE READ ON THE WEBSITE, SEEN IN HIS KENNEL VIDEO AND ALSO FELT FROM HIS TRAINING VIDEOS.

Ed does not breed to SV regulations. Why should he? First, the system in the U.S. is way too difficult to utilize in any real breeding program. Since to follow the rules the minimum is a B, AD, a G rating in a show, a schh I, and two korung's, and a hip x-ray rated under the German system. This isn't a problem when you have these things cropping up in your back yard every weekend. Try doing it with a large enough number of females that you have bred to produce your own line of GSD's. Hell, after that much work on a bitch she could produce chipmonks instead of puppies and most people will just keep on breeding her. Or, as it seems most people in America do, they just buy someone elses rejected female from Germany and use her since she has all the prerequisites, and once again, she could produce chipmonks but they'll keep breeding her because of their investment in the bitch.
The ability to test your production and move onto better producing females is the key to a successful program.
Ed and I visited one of the top producers of malinois in the world in Sept. They have NO titled females, yet their kennel name (and the name of their predicesor with the same stock) is so well represented in working events they over shadow everyone else. the dogs are healthy, and strong working dogs. The ability to adjust your program to suit the goals quickly and effectively should not be underestimated.
The SV system is being abandoned by the police dog breeders in Germany's state of Northrhine-Westfalia. I wouldn't put too much stake in those that want to strictly adhere to the SV program in America.....they usually use it for status and sales not to develop a line of GSD's that produces working individuals with some degree of predictability.
In fact, I believe that the United SchH Clubs of America is lacking our own breed worthiness sytem. One needs to be developed where interested parties can show up with their breeding females and obtain a breeding license in a weekend. Maybe something modeled after the old DDR system or the Rottie ZTP? I don't think that USA should abandon the SV program for those that want to use it but it is just not functional in America. just my two cents.

Thank you for your 2 cents. It is nice to have a different perspective. The more I visited the "real GSD" site the less I liked it and the less sense it made to me. The rating system was hard to follow and
I don't think I will be going back there.
The breeders they recommended were doing just what you said. Importing already titled bitches.
There is so much information out there to sift through it is incredible. It seems to me that a lot of time you just have to go with your gut. Otherwise as a novice you could really be sucked in by hype.

Witnessed a breeder that claimed to be reputable selling their pups at 5 weeks old. This breeder also refuses to return calls when buyers have questions or problems with the dogs they've purchased. If anyone wants to know who they are send me a private email.