Hi--I'm new to this board. I've been reading Ed's articles for a while and started looking in on this board about two weeks ago. Looks like there are several people here that can give the advice that I'm looking for. I have two 8mth old male dogs (same litter--two different personalities). Sire is Apache vom Leerburg, son of Otis vom Jacobiner and Edi vom Leerburg and dam is Gene Vom Geiersnest, daughter of Lord Vom Gleisdreieck and Hexe Vom Geiersnest (a granddaughter of Umsa Vom Bungalow). So far both boys look like they will do fine on their jobs. Chase has been going down to the local fire station since he was 4mths old--does fine around the trucks, lights, sirens, and firefighters in full gear. Still nervous on going up open stairs which we will have to work on. He's a solid built pup with a very intense food drive and average ball/toy drive. If his working abilities and temperment continue like his early indications show, then I am thinking of doing some serious consideration of putting him into a breeding program. I also own an older half-brother of his (same dam) who is doing very well in his working career. Great temperment--used as a demo dog with local scouts and in the public library system with children to teach the proper way to act around a strange dog, also solid around the firetrucks and crowds including Alberta in full costume (the UF mascot). This older dog is in the process of being trained in tracking for my county's S&R team--to specilize in looking for Alzheimer's patients and small children. (To this end he is a frequent visitor to the local Alzheimer's wing where he has had some situations where we could have had some bad moments with a intact male dog not bred with such a steady nerve and temperment (ie. ears bent back, fingers in mouth to look at big teeth, mega full body hugs, and kisses on nose--try to keep patients from doing such, but they are just big kids and move quickly). Chase's full brother Casey is a softer dog. He loves people (have been taking him to visit physically and mentally handicapped people since he was 4mths old) but I don't think he could handle a lot of stress like the other two. I don't want to sell him short since he is only 8mths old, but my feeling now is no. I went into so much detail so you could see that the work ethic seems to be a strong inbred family characteristic. Sire is with a Sheriff's Dept. here in FL and three littermates of the oldest brother are now with FL law enforcement. If anyone could give their advice on pro's and con's of bloodlines for breeding for working dogs please do so. I am really interested in any known faults/problems with these lines--medical, temperment, training ability. I still have quite awhile to make final decision, but I figure it will take me at least these next two years to learn enough to make a proper decision. "TJ"