Seeing Eye - GSD?

[Rangers-mom]

I just adopted the GSD that we were raising for the Seeing Eye. We got him from the Seeing Eye breeding facility in Morristown, NJ when he was 7 weeks old. I know that the Seeing Eye breeds for temperament and health. I am sure they don't breed for breed standard. I know that they have extensive records about his parents, grandparents etc.., but other than that i don't know anything about the GSDs that come out of their breeding facility. Does anyone else have an x-Seeing Eye pup? Can any of you tell me what you know about their pedigree? Is he American, european? I don't even know what that means because i really know nothing about GSDs except that my GSD is a sweetie.

Thanks,
Robin (mom to Ranger almost 9 months old)

[carmspack]

did he not pass for some reason?

[Lilie]

If you could post his pedigree there might be someone who is more familar with his lineage than with the actual breeding facility.

[Rangers-mom]

He was removed from the program because he is very afraid of street grates. A lot of dogs are dropped from the program because of all sorts of things.

I am looking back at my original post and i suppose that pedigree is not the correct term since I am sure that the Seeing Eye does not register any of their dogs. I am not sure where their breeding program would fit into this board. Their dogs are german shepherds and they are carefully bred for temperament and health. They are not exactly pet dogs but not exactly working dogs either (as sociability is extremely important to their breeding.) perhaps i should be posting on another section of the forum?

Thanks,
Robin

[Lilie]

They aren't purebreds? Are they AKC registered?

[carmspack]

oh I do know that -- dogs are culled from service , very decisive in the decisions -- I thought it might have been an orthopedic problem .
Oh they are WORKING dogs . Pedigree could be generations of in-house breeding , before you get back to a familiar name . That does not mean the dogs are unkown to the facility as they keep very detailed records on all related dogs in the effort to increasing success ratios.
The dogs likely are not registered with AKC -- but are entered in to a private registry where they track and document their own dogs.
I suppose when you were allowed to adopt the dog you were required to spay/neuter .

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Moderator MaggieRoseLee had a wonderful girl from there, I believe.
ETA - I let her know about the thread, I bet she will stop in when she gets the chance!

[Rangers-mom]

Lilie, i don't have his "pedigree". To be honest it really isn't important to me. I know that the seeing eye has been in existence since 1929. I am not sure how long they have been breeding their own dogs. I do know that their puppy raising program started in 1942, so i would guess they were breeding their own dogs then.

I know when i took him to the vet she said she could always tell a Seeing Eye dog from other dogs. I actually didn't ask her for an explanation, but it leads me to believe that their is something a little different about their breeding in general.

As i said, perhaps i should post on another section of the forum?

[carmspack]

they would have a fairly consistent uniform body-type , size range .
I guess this means you have a pretty good pet , and that would eliminate you from being a raiser again?

[Lilie]

Rangers Mom - certainly no problem not knowing the pedigree. I know nothing about the program you wrote about, I was attempting to keep this thread bumped up. I was hoping others who are much more knowledgable than I would pop in!!! Very interesting!!