Oh, I don't want you or anyone to think that in my post I was speaking to the working lines' soundness of temperment. I don't have any experience to speak on dog temperment. I was only referring to the exercising portion of dog ownership. I just know from reading, reading, reading that the working lines like more exercise. I don't know much beyond that Woody <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> !

Woody,
Maybe I should have spit in the food when my 4 sons were teen-agers. Heh heh

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Woody,
Maybe I should have spit in the food when my 4 sons were teen-agers. Heh heh

Wait........ <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> You mean I wasn't supposed to??!

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Woody,
Maybe I should have spit in the food when my 4 sons were teen-agers. Heh heh

My toddlers do it in mine, guess I should return the favor. Those kiddoes sure do scurry for cover when I pull out the prong, though. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> They got collar-wise way quick. Conditioning them in on the ecollar as we speak. Ed's videos make fine parenting advice for us newb parents...screw the dog, basic ob finally got my kid to sleep through the night! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

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GSD's have a reputation built up, mostly associated with police dogs when it comes to a bad guy.

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I would argue--strongly--that their reputation has been damaged a lot more by careless breeding and ownership of crappy, biting, nervy dogs without regard to their original purposes. I don't see the "police dog" stereotype as a negative unless you've ran from one before.

I agree with you regarding the careless breeders and owners damaging the GSD breed, but I didn't mean to imply that the GSD police dog stereotype is a negative....on the contrary, I was trying to say that to a bad guy he sees the GSD as a definite threat and won't stop to access (not that they could) whether the GSD will attack him or not. That is what I view to be a very positive reputation...the reputation that says "don't mess with me or mine". Example: when taking my last GSD to a park (NOT dog park), there were several instances where some guy or guys in a car would slow down to a crawl when seeing me in the park (early morning, no one else there) or seeing my car parked there (lots of car theft and other crimes skyrocketing in Phoenix) but as soon as they saw her, they sped off. Happened enough times that I realized she protected me just by being there; her presence was enough.
IMO, as far as working lines or show lines, there are a lot of good GSD's out there that are from neither specifically, at least are not pedigreed. A lot of them show up in GSD Rescue organizations or at the shelters. Beautiful dogs with good temperament that would make excellent family dogs. People get rid of their dogs for the stupidest reasons, kind of like they change their shoes or their spouses...you know, a dispensable commodity <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> and they end up in one of those places.

I had some male students from the "mean streets" in a junior high classroom one year. They would be model citizens now if I could have only used an E-collar.... Note to school district...only kidding.

Hi,

Thanks everyone. I am going to try and answer all questions and concerns. Please excuse any choppiness, it has been a very long day. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Woody, I suspected that you meant I should spit in the dogs food. YEECHHHHH! However, I will do everything necessary to ensure a happy healthy family (dog included.) I will probably pass out <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> when (and if I do it). <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Elaine, I have been a GSD lover since I was a small girl. It is the only type of dog I have ever wanted. I have been researching this seriously for over ten years. I have read a few books and articles on GSD's. After reading these books, I figured the working line dog is the one that would best fit my needs. I know they need more exercise and that is perfect because I get some form of exercise everyday.

I have seen a few working GSD's "in person" now and all I can say is "WOW!" The first one I saw amazed me with his sheer determination while playing fetch with his owner. The part that struck me was when the ball went into some bushes and the dog did not hesitate while chasing after the ball!

The other dog that I was able to spend some time with impressed me so much that I hope to have one of her pups. She was extremely calm and again incredible while playing fetch. I was told by her owner (breeder) that the dog never leaves the children (hers) alone. This even included one of my children, whom this dog had never met prior to that day. She was calm. No snarling, jumping or any "off the wall behavior". This female acted as though we had known her forever. Even my "dogs aren't special" spouse was blown away.

I also know that I should not select the "alpha" dog. Everything I have read so far tells me that I want a "middle of the road" puppy.

I have researched several breeders and narrowed it down to three.

I know I can't enter every activity with my dog. I am interested in schutzhund and agility. I am just starting to learn about schutzhund and then intend to start researching agility more extensively.

I do intend to get the CGC and would also like to get the TDI certificate.

As for feeding the dog, I think I will feed the dog OUT of the crate. I will probably sit nearby and have the children near me involved in some kind of activity. This will probably serve to acclimate the dog to "people being around".

One more thing, I just reread Woody's comment about some Corso owners having their kids take food out of the dogs mouth <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />. My only question: What if the children decide to do that to someone else's dog...... <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I thank everyone for your input. If any of you have any other suggestions, feel free to share them with me.

Carolyn, it sounds as if you are doing everything right to become a responsible pet owner. I still think that a working line dog of most breeds is too much for the average pet owner to handle, since most of them only give very basic if any training beyond housebreaking, but it sounds as if you will do what's needed to have a wonderful companion.

In case anyone thinks I'm anti-working lines, I've known many GSDs as well as other breeds from both show and working lines and my personal preference is either working lines or a combination of show and working lines. IMO the average GSD show line dog has been made too extreme. They just aren't like the GSDs I grew up around.