what to think about my male GSD?

[eggo520]

I am curious to see what some of the breeders and trainers here think about my male GSD, whom we adopted from an acquaintance who "could no longer keep him."

Jaga is a handsome guy with the traditional black-and-tan saddle look. However, he is HUGE for a GSD, I believe. I've never measured him but I'm fairly sure he would be extremely close to the upper end of the standard, if not over it. Also, while he has the sweetest, most lovable temperment a dog could ever have, he has no interest whatsoever in working or even basic training. He has little food drive, zero toy drive and just wants to sleep, eat and be petted.

While this makes him a great candidate for therapy work (which we plan on getting him involved in), it really doesn't strike me as adhering to the GSD standard. I'm 99.9 percent sure that our acquaintance got him from a BYB, but then I wondered if even reputable breeders ever get puppies whose temperments don't exactly reflect those of the standard...a kind of "throwback" I guess.

Is Jaga the product of bad breeding or is he simple on the extreme of the standard? We love him and would never give him up, of course, I was just wondering what others think

[angelaw]

Hard to tell really. I had a litter that was a 3-3 breeding on a really good dog. Expected ALOT from that litter. I got zilch. No prey, no food drive, no nothing. Just perfect little pets. Genetics would've said differently, but proof was in the puddin.

[WVGSD]

You may just have lucked out to have gotten a loving family companion with a very stable and mellow temperament. Not all breeders want to produce high energy, driven dogs. There is nothing wrong with producing German Shepherds that are loving and mellow family companions.

[Emoore]

Originally Posted By: WVGShepThere is nothing wrong with producing German Shepherds that are loving and mellow family companions.

There are many who would disagree with you on that.

[GunnerJones]

Just my arrogant opinion, in general a GSD should have the drive of the most energetic Labrador and have an attitude to go with it

[Chris Wild]

Originally Posted By: Emoore

There are many who would disagree with you on that.

Indeed.

Any dog of solid nerve and temperament is capable of being an excellent, loving family companion. However "mellow" is not a trait the GSD breed is supposed to have, nor one that should be bred for.

[VALIUM]

Besides temparement, I would also consider hypothyroidism,it runs in the breed. Did you get him checked for any thyroid problems?.

[Elaine]

This is what the local AKC showline people in my area are breeding for: dogs with no drive or focus. All they are breeding for are dogs for people that don't want to have to do much with them, so basically couch potatoes.

[pupresq]

Seems to happen a lot in lots of breeds. I had a lovely Golden who was from really good show lines, beautiful coat, lovely temperament, good food drive actually, but zero desire to retrieve. None. Worst Retriever I've ever had - beaten out by everything from Rotties to Dachshunds. Working drive just wasn't something that breeder was breeding for. On the plus side, Charlotte was an wonderful canine citizen and my beloved companion for 13 years.

IMO people should not be breeding GSDs (regardless of line) with no drive and low energy. I don't think that's what the breed is about. But there are lots of them out there and they can make fantastic pets. Must as I love the drivey demons on a personal level, I'll freely admit the other kind are much easier to place in rescue and can be lovely dogs. Congrats on your new family member.

[eggo520]

Musa, I've never had him checked for thyroid problems, though I probably should. I should also get his hips and elbows x-rayed. Being from a BYB, I am very fearful that he will have hip and/or elbow dysplasia down the road