Personal Experience in owning Working vs Show

[Lakl]

Since becoming a GSD lover and owning 2 showlines, I've spent a lot of time looking at the 2 lines. I'm not very active per se, but I do enjoy getting out with my dogs around the town, hiking and what not. So far, with my first 2 picks, I'm 0-2. My first GSD is fear reactive-mostly to strange dogs, but also in strange situations. She has gotten better over time with a lot of work, but she will never be a go anywhere type dog. My second GSD is solid in temperament, but his health is not so good and at 7 months, we've already had one surgery and are anticipating a second within a few months. Because his hips are extremely bad and he's lived most of his life in pain, he's never had the opportunity to develop properly and build muscle and strength for endurance. Very little activity wears him out and his recovery from surgery has been slow going.

It's not in my foreseeable future to get another dog as I plan to stick it out with these two until their last breath. But with 2 out of 2 gone wrong, I have been looking more into the working lines for my next GSD, or even a (bite your tongue!) working/show cross. But being that I don't have any experience with working line GSD's, I was wondering if anyone else would be willing to share their experience or perception in owning one of both lines? I don't want to start another useless debate about which line is better. That is not my intent. I simply am trying to find out others' experiences are in raising and owning the different lines.

All I really want in the future is a healthy GSD that I can be active with and even perhaps participate in agility or flyball, and things of that sort.

[trudy]

Just because these 2 haven't turned out you could also say that all purebreds are no good, that to gt a healthy stable dog a mutt from the pound would be best, or that the breed on the whole is no good, that all German Shepherds have bad hips and are spooky. Two for two, maybe that isn't a big enough sample and we also don't knwo if these are BYB, Show lines or pet lines,if parents were xrayed, if proper socializing went into your female, etc...BUT^ lets all agree you should get a working line next, they never have bad hips nor bad temperment...

I have 3 for 3, all TRUE Can showlines all stable and good hips....hmmm maybe well bred does mean something....no matter the line

[GSDAlphaMom]

Agree with Trudy, it's about a well bred dog. You will find weak nerves in all the lines. My neighbor has a working line sable as does a friend of mine both of which have horrible nerves, scared of their own shadows.

[Lakl]

My post is being misinterpreted. My interest in working lines is not because I HAVE showlines with issues. I got showlines, because that's what I was familiar with, and didn't learn anything about working lines until afterwards. ALL GSD's are open to issues, this I know. The more I learn, the more I am interested this line, but with no experience in owning one, I wanted to know the perceived differences from someone who's owned and raised both lines. My dogs issues are the result of their breeding and NOT their lines.

My fear reactive dog did come from a BYB, and all the signs were there when I visited and saw the parents, I just didn't know any better. My pup came from an experienced breeder with heavily titled dogs, both OFA'd good and excellent and he has a plethura of health and conformation issues. Although the breeder did nothing wrong in her choice of mating, I made a bad choice in breeders due to the lack of support or concern when the pup's issues surfaced. All of this is a whole other topic.

But again, my interest in working dogs is no direct correlation to my bad choices. I would just like to open up my options and have done more research when the time eventually comes that I am looking into getting another GSD.

[GSDElsa]

It all depends on the dog. An extremely high drive puppy from working lines with strong social aggression can be an absolute nightmare for the pet owner without explicit and strong leadership. A lower to medium drive with a well rounded pedigree can be a dream.

I don't think your typical GSD owner will NOT necessarily be able to tell the difference between a well bred showline and a well bred working line. WEll-bred being the key word.

[Emoore]

I've never owned a Show Line dog, but I've fostered both a German Show Line puppy and a German Show Line adult. I own a DDR working line dog and have owned another working line dog.

The show line dogs I've fostered were both very nice dogs. They were both more sociable with people outside their family than my working line dogs-- my WL dogs have been more stand-offish. The pup I fostered from 6 months old to 9 months old and he was, without a doubt, lower in drive and in energy than my DDR puppy is. He wasn't shy, skittish, or nervy at all but I would say my pup is a little bolder as far as going out and seeking new experiences. The 4-year old Show Line dog I fostered was much calmer in the house and lower in energy level than my 4-year old Working Line dog was. The show line dog was eventually placed in a home with several grandchildren and is doing great with them. He's really solid as a rock as far as his nerves and temperament.

Keep in mind this is my experience with only 4 dogs. Your results may vary.

[onyx'girl]

From your title, it is working vs show, and all dogs are different. I have two that are a mix of lines(one rescue with papers somewhere, one BYB no pedigree info on either), they aren't as stable as my well bred working line.
I agree with the above, any well bred line will make a great companion as long as you are actively keeping their brain and body busy. The handler/owner can be detrimental to any GSD if they aren't working with them to bring them to their full potential.
When doing research look at what the breeder has produced in the past, that should tell you lots about what you'll be investing in if you choose to support them.

[GSDElsa]

And I guess I should add well bred and appropriate for the household the dog is going into. My 7 month old is very stable and is a blast. But I do think that he could probably get himself into trouble if he wasn't in a home that knew how to channel his drives when he was turned "on." He can be a lot of dog when he is.


Point being if you go with working line, be honest with yourself and the breeder you choose as to what your capabilites are and what you are absolutely going to do with the dog, not what you think might be fun to try if you ever find the time...I DO think it is easier to get a high drive WL puppy than SL...so be careful what you wish for.

[Lakl]

Originally Posted by onyx'girl

From your title, it is working vs show, and all dogs are different. I have two that are a mix of lines(one rescue with papers somewhere, one BYB no pedigree info on either), they aren't as stable as my well bred working line.
I agree with the above, any well bred line will make a great companion as long as you are actively keeping their brain and body busy. The handler/owner can be detrimental to any GSD if they aren't working with them to bring them to their full potential.
When doing research look at what the breeder has produced in the past, that should tell you lots about what you'll be investing in if you choose to support them.

I guess that is where the uncertainty lies. I've been checking out working line breeders that other members have posted as consideration towards getting a puppy and trying to look at the differences. Only a couple seemed to have been distinct and specific about what "type" homes each litter was suitable for. And then, of course, the term "high drive" kind of scares me. I've watched the "Endy-high drive puppy" video several times and I KNOW I'm not ready for an Endy, though he is unbearably cute! It is few and far between that I see posts regarding a high drive showline, so that is what swayed me on my second GSD. Unfortunately, he has NO drive. Won't chase a toy or ball and taking the tug from him is as easy as giving it to him, but again, this could be related to his health.

[Lakl]

Originally Posted by GSDElsa

And I guess I should add well bred and appropriate for the household the dog is going into. My 7 month old is very stable and is a blast. But I do think that he could probably get himself into trouble if he wasn't in a home that knew how to channel his drives when he was turned "on." He can be a lot of dog when he is.


Point being if you go with working line, be honest with yourself and the breeder you choose as to what your capabilites are and what you are absolutely going to do with the dog, not what you think might be fun to try if you ever find the time...I DO think it is easier to get a high drive WL puppy than SL...so be careful what you wish for.

Great advice, and point well taken!