Good bloodlines for WLS

[clearcreekranch]

OK, working lines folks, I need to seriously start learning about good bloodlines and reading pedigrees. I want to be more than prepared when I am ready to get my next dog. Tell me what bloodlines to look for to get a high drive, solid temperament, good conformation......working dog for Shutzhund, protection sports.

[wolfstraum]

LOL everyone who trains has their favorites and not so favorites.....some based on research and experienced, some based on statistics of BSP/WUSV winners/participants.

Personally, I train, title and koer my dogs, bred and bought....and live with them as well...so I prefer the lines I have and how I combine them - or I wouldn't do it/have them! Start studying websites of breeders who breed - train - title AND Koer their dogs and see what gets titled from their breedings - then talk to them and see what they actually know about their lines and why they combine certain lines. Everyone is going to tell you what they have is "the best"....and remember - most breeding kennels in Germany have dogs that live from birth to death in a kennel - not as house pets who work as well....

Lee

[Samba]

I don't know about good or bad lines?? To me, it lies with the breeder. It matters most their understanding and thus choices. Without understanding, a person can create poor combinations.

I look for what the breeder produces with their lines. What do their dogs actually do? Have had good luck with breeders who have trained dogs extensively and demonstrate an excellent understanding of the temperament, traits, skills, strengths and weaknesses in dogs. Without this wisdom, people can make bad combinations of good lines and dogs. They can can breed poor representatives from good lines, also.

[Liesje]

Originally Posted by clearcreekranch

OK, working lines folks, I need to seriously start learning about good bloodlines and reading pedigrees. I want to be more than prepared when I am ready to get my next dog. Tell me what bloodlines to look for to get a high drive, solid temperament, good conformation......working dog for Shutzhund, protection sports.

It's not just the dogs and bloodlines but how they are combined.

No dog is perfect, even some dogs considered the "best" and most sought after have had threads on here where our experienced breeders have given examples of their faults or what has been produced with some bad combinations. That is not to prove that these dogs are bad, but to illustrate that each breeding dog is only half of the equation breeding is more than adding 50 and 50 to get 100.

Also a lot of it is personal preference. Many people on this forum have or desire dogs that I personally would not want to train and could not live with (I'm talking about high level SchH prospects not the average pet or shelter dog w/ unknown background). I'm sure there are a good many people here who can't stand my dog. I think the trick is learning and deciding what is important to YOU. Finding that dog is not as hard as it might seem, but you have to know what you're looking for...

[BlackthornGSD]

The best thing is to go watch dogs do the stuff you want to do with your dog, then bug the people who own the dogs you like--find out their dogs' parents then look up their pedigrees. Over time, you'll start to see what dogs and what common ancestors you like as far as their drives/personalities/working qualities/looks.

[clearcreekranch]

Originally Posted by BlackthornGSD

The best thing is to go watch dogs do the stuff you want to do with your dog, then bug the people who own the dogs you like--find out their dogs' parents then look up their pedigrees. Over time, you'll start to see what dogs and what common ancestors you like as far as their drives/personalities/working qualities/looks.

Did this for the last 15 years with my Arabian horses, but I was hoping some of you guys would share the breedings that you like. Maybe I should rephrase it: Tell me what lines you like and why.

[LaRen616]

Originally Posted by clearcreekranch

Tell me what lines you like and why.

This is a great question and I think you should make a new thread with this question! I would love to hear the answers! They should say what their dogs energy, drive and personality are like.

[Liesje]

For my all-around house pets and performance dogs I cross train in multiple venues, I like dogs with medium prey drive, medium to high defense drive and a medium to high threshold. For conformation I prefer males that are medium sized (like 70lbs), medium boned, masculine but not overly heavy in bone and not too fine either. Don't care if it's working line show line mixed lines or a pound dog.

[BlackthornGSD]

Originally Posted by clearcreekranch

Did this for the last 15 years with my Arabian horses, but I was hoping some of you guys would share the breedings that you like. Maybe I should rephrase it: Tell me what lines you like and why.

The problem is that what I like may be very different from what you like. Part of the learning is figuring out what you like and why. And a lot of things you won't see as the main topics of discussion.

For example, to me, intelligence, interactiveness, and eagerness to engage are some of my sine qua non elements.

When was the last time you saw someone mention interactiveness or eagerness to engage with the handler in a stud dog description?

Others might want hardness and intensity as their priority. Others may want drive with a distinct off-switch. Others may want malinois drivesa and reflexes. Someone else may care most about a beautiful head or shoulder.

And, on top of these preferences, the question is--what do you want to do with your dog(s)--the best dog for ring sport may be different from the best dog for schutzhund who will be different from the best dog for herding who will be different from someone's ideal dog for wilderness SAR which may be different from the ideal dog for disaster SAR which may be different from the ideal dog for agility competition etc etc.

Now I believe that a good GSD would be capable of doing well at any of these (except probably high-level conformation!)--but that is different from seeking your ideal prospect for an activity.