I think there is a member here with a vondersauk puppy (Tetley's Mom?), but does not post often. I'm partial to working lines, and I think you will have a better chance of finding a mellow working line appropriate for a pet that can still dabble in Schutzhund than in finding a show-line dog that will work for you in Schutzhund. If you feel that a show-line would fit your situation better, make sure that you find a breeder that actually works and titles their own dogs instead of sending the dog away for titling. If they work and title their own dogs, they will be taking care to breed for workability - if they delegate the task to some other entity (like sending the dog to Germany for titling, where they are often rushed through the training and the titles are dubious), then the breeders will only be focused on breeding mainly for conformation, and the opportunity to gain valuable insight into the temperament of their dogs is lost.
There are a few working line owners on the board who bought easier, lower drive working line pups to be mainly a companion dog, then later on decided to try out this Schutzhund stuff, and their "pet quality" dog really shined! My own experience in our club is that show-lind GSDs just . . . dont want to!! They don't want to track, they don't want to do obedience, and they don't want to do the protection stuff . . . all very disapointing and frustrating especially for a beginner. But then again there are Show lines that do very well and even go on to compete at high level - but these are from breeders who train and compete with their own dogs, so they really care about breeding for working ability.
As for the debate against full and limited, that is up to you, and what is important to you. It seems to me from having read similar discussions on this board, that people who are against limited are mostly against a breeder having that control over them. But I think that if someone does not have any plans to breed their dog, then full vs. limited should not make a difference, and if someone is serious about breeding, and serious about doing it right, then they would, all along, plan to OFA, train and title and make sound decisions about their future breeding choices, and if they are going to do all that, they would meet the conditions to have the limited registration upgraded to full anyways, so what is the big deal?
Limited registration has nothing to do with keeping the supply low. Do you have any idea how many GSDs are available? How many breeders, both reputable and not are out there? How many pure-bred GSDs die in shelters everyday? What did I read in an other thread? over 7000 pure bred GSDs on petfinders in the USA alone? UNWANTED GSDs. These are the ones that are listed on the internet - how many more are languishing and dying in shelters, or are being re-homed through private effort, or are being dumped in the middle of no-where that never get brought into those statistics. With that number of GSDs out there, the limited is not to keep the supply low, as the supply far exceeds the demand, with so many dogs looking for a home, but the limited is one way the breeders try to NOT be part of this huge problem of too many dogs, not enough good homes.
If price is an issue, you will find that in general working lines run from around 1000 to 1500 dollars, while show lines usually run from 2000 and up.
Quote:Also, back to what I believe would fit my situation and wants the best: a large short hair female GSD for family companion/protection.....but would also like the option to do some Schutzhund training....however, is a dog more adapted to working going to not be as well suited as a family companion? Can a good breeder help me select a pup that will split the difference.
Yes, a good breeder will be able to match you with a puppy that fits your situation. And a good breeder will also work very hard to rectify a sitution that isn't working out. I have working line that is just a perfect house dog, super-sweet and gentle with the cats, gets along great with my older female (who is not that good with other dogs), will mellow out and settle in the house when things are slow, and works his heart out for me when playing and training, shows great potential for Schutzhund, and not doubt when he matures, he will be impressive, but still the kind of dog you can take into a group of five years old and have him love every minute of it. He is solid as a rock, no noise sensitivity at all. I have taken him to watch horses in a riding arena, and watch kids doing hockey practice in an indoor rink, and he just watches with interest, no fear, no worry, no inappropriate reactions.
And to be fair, my first puppy from this breeder did not work out. He hit adolescence and all H broke out. He was not the same dog I started out with. My breeder (even though she has a multi-page contract, and normally only sells on limited), went to bat for me - as opposed to the story that larrydee related about another breeder. She took the dog back, had it evaluated, is placing him with law enforcement (he'll love it there!), and I got another pup that is EXACTLY what I want in a GSD! Nothing is guaranteed, but having a respectful, trusting relationship with your breeder is really more telling than what the paperwork says.