Working line German shepherds Working Dogs

Got nothing to add to this thread other than to say Scout75's Kofi is a really lovely boy.

the more, the better. thanks Moobli. how yah doing big fella?

I am never likely to have a German Shepherd as I prefer smaller dogs that are more practical for me, the environment in which I live and my lifestyle, plus I don't believe I'm the right kind of owner for a German Shepherd. Not at the moment anyway.

However, I adore looking at pictures, meeting, hearing and reading about other peoples, particularly the working line ones which I find more attractive to look at (obviously I'm aware that this is not the sole reason to get a dog, so fear not!), so I'm finding this thread very interesting indeed!

Thanks to those of you for sharing your experiences and photos on this thread.

hi smokey
i would be interested to know your opinion on my last dog.. Max. he was a rescue. i think he was from working lines. 30kg and 26". smaller head, smaller ears, shorter tail, and mad as a hatter!!! but lovely as anything!!




jeagibear/max/129689438039062027Custom.jpg[/IMG]

gorgeous dog

thank you clo. lovely of you to say so.

looks like a WL GSD to me!

Aww thank you.

Jeagibear, looks working line to me too. What a beautiful boy!!

thought so. thank you smokey

thank you scout, thanks for your kind comment too!
he was beautiful.

Great photos of Max - what a gorgeous boy.

I think all of the folks passing judgement on Nyrvana's dogs should take a visit to their kennels and speak with Margaret and Ulf - they are exceptionally knowledgeable individuals.

One of the reasons I chose Nyrvana for my WL dog was due to visiting about 8 or 9 years ago and meeting some of the dogs that MNJ had bred who were well into their teens and still fit and healthy. All the dogs I met, without exception, had outgoing and confident temperaments.

All I can say is that you pays your money and you takes your choice. I am extremely pleased with Zak and would be happy to trust Nyrvana's judgement in the future if/when I want another WL dog.

Not saying I do or dont agree with the breeding of a dog with such uneaven hips

But
Have any of the litters he has sired had their hips tested yet?
Are bad hips provenly genetic? where did his bad hips come from and are they bad?

Just playing devils advocate here because I worry about some of these tests if it is is a knee jerk way of taking good dogs out of the gene pool

Some of us have done both.

I'm just passing the same sort of judgements that would be passed by the vast majority if the aforementioned kennel had been of the showing variety - and rightly so.

A good track record is no substitute for full and proper health testing. It only takes one bad result to lead to the possibility of a dog suffering (and so many more when health tests are ignored) and one dog suffering due to lacklustre breeding practices is one dog too many imo.

I suppose I will never understand why any good breeder would ignore either the testing available or poor results from actually undertaking said tests. I mean, why risk it? No amount of "special drive" would make me choose an untested dog in a breed as numerically strong as the GSD.

What makes him a good dog? As SB has said - there are no working qualifications to speak of. And I'm willing to bet, even with my limited knowledge of GSDs, there are plenty more to choose from in the world of GSDs with a similar pedigree etc. Or is it ok because he's a "working" dog?

Pot and kettle here we come! I tell you what if this wasn't so tragic it'd be funny!

I'm pretty sure there are more tests needed on GSDs than just hips and elbows too???

I think this litter will be his first Ben.

No bad hips are not proven to be genetic unfortunately (it would be so much easier if they were!). It is entirely possible to have parents, grandparents etc with great hip scores and then pups to have HD. It is thought that environmental factors, such as diet, over exercise or high speed growth can have a significant effect on hips.

After speaking to his breeder about this particular dog I can well see why she has used him (and, after all, he is only a couple of points over the average) and I will be very interested to see/hear how this litter turns out.

Health testing is not a measure of health, unfortunately.

Just out of interest do you know much about the unplanned litter Moobli ???

Speak to his breeder and go and see him

This is what she says about him ...

Damian's drive is only part of it, he has the ability to control such tremendous drive without resorting to electrics or even a live check chain, I train him almost without correction. He also has the balance of prey and aggression seldom found these days, is totally social with people and dogs (dog aggression is very common in working lines these days) and has an endless desire to please without being so overtaken with social drive he can't be at peace with himself in a kennel. Of course he is not perfect, but he is an exceptional dog and showing more desirable traits every day I work with him. He has great natural athleticism, actually the only dog I have ever trained the A frame at full height from scratch, total determination in searching and so much natural energy that his ability to channel it is remarkable, he goes from being a firecracker on the field to a concentrated track to flat on his side in the van or the kennel. I would also add that only this morning, I got a request to buy him from a successful Schutzhund trialist who saw him at our trial, one of numerous requests which I get every time he appears in public so it seems I am not alone in thinking he is talented.


I don't really want this thread to turn into one about the Nyrvana kennel and/or dogs specifically - so perhaps we could make it more generalised again.

I wonder what your reaction would be if a total stranger came here and said they were breeding with a dog with the same hip score , and did not do any other form of health testing on their dogs, because in their opinion they don't need to.

I am sure like the rest of us your reaction would not be to understanding, but it seems due to the fact you know these people, you have decided that health testing is not necessary ...or at least that's the impression you give.

Nought so funny as folk :?