I want to start researching what type of GSD puppy I should get. I want the dog as a companion that I can do some obedience work/competitions with. I don't think I want to go as far as Schutzlund training although I'd be interested in seeing a Schutzlund event.
I currently have a 2yr old neutered Norweigen Elkhound/Heeler mix that got along well with my male German Shepherd/lab that I had to put down this past Nov.
My question is should I be looking at working line german shepherd puppies or some other bloodlines? I'am afraid the working lines may be too high energy for an indoor dog.
I have never personally been around a true working line shepherd. Any advice/info would be greatly appreciated. Also I know this a Leerburg discussion board, but does anyone know of good breeders of working lines in the West Virginia area of the country so I can visit and see the dogs.

Thankss in advance for any responses.

I am in Pittsburgh PA..I have 3 working line females and 1 Am x German puppy mill female who had immune system problems and has lymphcarcoma at 7 years old... 2 retired of these are retired and spayed> I also have a male who has sired one litter so far, and all live together in the house - with some rotating kennel time...especially when one of the females is in heat. I train in schutzhund and AKC obedience - will be finishing a title on the male at the upcoming show in Pittsburgh next week.

The working lines can be livable if raised properly. If you want to do agility or obedience you can probably go either way - but the working lines seem to like to work <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> and many probably built a bit more athletically for agility. I do definitely suggest German lines from a breeder who works their dogs.

Lee Hough

I have 2 working line shepherds, both live in the house. At the moment, I don't even have a yard. I have talked to a lot of people who have given up their dogs when living here because it "wasn't fair to the dog." My dogs are fine. Both are excellent in the house. The younger of the two might start to get a little antsy if she doesn't get enough excercise, but all she does it start beating up on the older one (like she's doing right now)!

I make sure to take them out at least 30 minutes to an hour every day, and usually for long (2-3 hour) hikes on the weekends where they can run to their hearts content. But sometimes it rains for extended periods of time here and none of us want to go out in the rain!!! Even if they're stuck indoors for a week they are okay, although they will go, get a ball, bring it to me to throw, and then bring it back again. All day. The older one used to do this too, but now the puppy will just steal the ball when I throw it so she's given up on that!

As long as you give them plenty of mental/physical stimulation, they'll be fine.

I do agility with my older dog, and she's amazing. I've never seen a dog pick everything up as fast as she has (although I've never seen a border collie start training). She's so fast and clean, and she watches me so well that she could do tricky jump combos after 3 months of training better than dogs with legs and titles!

I'd go with working lines, 100%, but hey, I'm a little biased! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Meghan,
You don't have a yard?!?
Man, I knew you were the patient type, but that brings dog ownership to a whole new lvl when you have two working line dogs that need to be walked just for potty breaks...ouch! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

...walking out two working line dogs...

I agree, wow. We also don't have a yard where we live, but the very high-drive working-lines GSD bitch is able to stay calm (it's all relative) whe walked out 2-3 miles a day with some hard ball playing and obedience mixed in. She is 13 months.

She is so stimulated by being outside, it was initially hard to housebreak her (at around 1 year old) -- just too much to see, hear and smell. She couldn't think about her bowels until she was back in the nice, boring crate.

While the exercise is really important, keeping your dog mentally stimulated may be even more so.

While I don't use a clicker much for "real" training, I do use it for playing with Targa in the house. I get out the clicker, she gets creative, and we shape behaviours and see where we end up. Consequence is she can turn every light in the house on and off, fetch cats by name, turn to her right or left on command, all kinds of doofy stuff. She also loves to find things by name (sock, kong, bandana, bone, whatever), or find hidden snacks and toys.

I think of it kind of like board games for thinking dogs.

A high drive dog is very much a presence in the house. She will play quietly by herself for awhile, but some of her games really stink if you are a cat, or don't want the laundry sorted by the dog.

Your working dog is not going to be like a "normal pet" dog. Crate for her safety and your sanity, and be aware and interact with her when she's out and all is well. I think you can make it work without much pain <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

but some of her games really stink if you are a cat, or don't want the laundry sorted by the dog.

BWHAHAHA!!

*sniff* Stephan, you just made my day, buddy! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I know, it's a HUGE pain. Especially when (like today) there were little kids (5-10 years old) with big dogs on flexi leashes being dragged wherever the dog wants to go. And a lot of these dogs are very dog aggressive, and I'm always afraid Djenga will get attacked. Sorry, I'm just a lil aggravated with these kids, don't mind me...

I guess it's good that it's always so busy around here, the dogs get worked under huge distractions like construction (ppl throwing things off roofs, jackhammers, etc), kids running by, other dogs...but it's a huge pain cuz there's not really anywhere to let them off leash safely. I just go to the side of one of the buildings, and they're both really good and always come back if I call and ignore everyone that passes by, so I can give them the excercise they need. And I take them for 2-3 hour hikes thru the woods on weekends, where they'll run their hearts out.

I think I'm lucky that I have two, because Djenga loves to pick on Cassie. If she's feelin good, all she'll do it climb all over her and gnaw on her. I don't think Djenga has chewed up a single thing she shouldn't have since we got her, even though there is crap all over the floor. Well, not CRAP, but shoes and stuff like that. If she gets really antsy, I give them each a rawhide chip...I buy 5 lb bags and they keep them busy for a while, and seem to help them settle down for the day.

Patient? Yeah, I guess that could describe me! lol, but they are really suprisingly easy to live with, even Djenga, who I thought would tear the place apart! But she is so wonderful, and is turning out better than I ever could have expected.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Yeah, she's been described as sorta like an ADD 5 year old with scissors and a loooong reach.

But damn, she's just exactly the right dog for me. Anything else may just as well be stuffed and have a {brand name omitted} tag on it's butt.

She's my kinda girl. There's something so sweet about when she scrunches up her face until it's all little pig eyes and teeth, and that big, pink tounge out the side of her mouth -- right before she bops me in the nose <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Frank,
I too, am looking for places in West Virginia for assistance of the GSD. I will be moving there sometime this year. I have a GSD pup at 12 wks old and this is my first one. I am not sure what I will train her in at this point. I am still checking out websites in southern WV. I will living in Monroe County.
If you find out any info in that area, I would appreciate you letting me in on it. Thanks. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I know if I don't walk my GSD pup every day, I pay for it later. The bad weather and working really can interfere with the outings. She sometimes is uncontrollable without exercise.