I would be curious to hear how people who are experienced with pedigree research go about it. The first question that comes to my mind is "HOW" do you distinguish a good, better, or excellent pedigree if you have no first hand knowledge or personal experience with the never ending bloodlines for the working GSD.

I would think that alot of the opinions are too subjective. I mean some people like one bloodline and hate the other. Who's to say who's right? A person new to working line GSD's is bombarded with a 1,000 internet breeder's and Discussion Boards "ALL" claiming to have the answer and the best dog with the best bloodline!

It would be fairly easy if a person was experienced enough and able to watch these dogs in action. Most if not all people do not nor cannot do that.

So, when you're studying pedigrees can you tell me exactly what you are looking at and why? What are you're sources and guidelines? Aren't most people taking a chance no matter who the Stud or Bitch is? How detailed is you're research?

I think people like myself are going to be forever at the mercy of a few if we cannot learn to do the research and develope our own opinion. I hope this all makes sense.

Thanks,

Glenn Wills

I think the best place to start is to look at lots of dogs and collect pedigrees, this is much easier since the internet has arrived. Pick dogs out that you like, looks, temperament, health, etc.. and get pedigrees on those dogs. Pick out dogs that you DON'T like and do the same..

You will begin to rule out some of the bloodlines that are what I consider "fads"...people breeding to whoever wins a championship, etc.

I look at the dog, his or her parents and grandparents and progeny. Talk to experienced breeders and trainers, ask questions. Be prepared for some of them to be annoyed by you!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> It's the only way to learn.

Don't just look at the dogs scores or performance on the trial field either, being around a dog in a normal setting tells me more about the dog than seeing him heel down a football field. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I certainly count myself as a great "non expert" and was faced with just that when I made a decision to obtain a solid working lines GSD with suitable temperament for SAR work and wanted to avoid a "sport dog" but needed good drives and nerves.

Having a current working x show cross who does not have the necessary strength of nerve but more than enough prey drive, I knew I wanted to "do better" this time around.

Hours and hours of searching, talking to folks, bouncing pedigrees off of folks and I did find great similarities in the lines of dogs claiming to meet those criteria.....// Of all things, the dog I chose (bred in Holland) is "first cousin" to a SAR dog in Missisipi (bred in Illinois) -- strickly a coincindence....

I did a lot of searches for dogs in the sire & dam linebreeding; went to babel.com, translated koer reports and spend about a month on emails and a lot of phone calls. I think the internet ads to give an idea of breeding intent....and just the sheer volume of information and looking for patterns really was helpful.

I really do wish that there was a good resource for "current lines" of GSDs , what kind of dogs they are and what they produce.......but I do not really know of such a resource; it would be most welcome.

Time will tell if the approach worked...