American Show Lines - breeders & bloodlines?

[Freestep]

As was mentioned in another thread, ASL's tend to take a beating in here... I myself don't like the look of the ASL's, and to me, the temperament leaves something to be desired as well. However, I have met some ASL dogs that were quite nice, and so I know good, healthy dogs of sound temperament are out there. I'm not looking for one, I'm just curious.

So I am curious, what are the bloodlines and breeders of American show lines that produce healthy, sound dogs of working temperament? I do see them in the obedience ring, so I know they can acheive this at least. Are there any breeders whose dogs have gone on to other working venues like tracking, herding, SAR, etc? I have yet to see an American-bred GSD in Schutzhund, so I'd be especially interested to hear of this.

[cliffson1]

I think this thread is an excellent opportunity for the owners/breeders of the ASL, to have an insightful, informative, and productive discussion of these breeders and their dog's accomplishments. With examples of these dogs in these areas to support the assertion that these lines are more than show/pet dogs. I would like to see some names/lines of ASL associated with biddability, nerve strength, work ethic, working, sport, etc. I think this would go a long way toward dispelling the image of this line of dog today.

[Jax's Mom]

SEL CH (US & CAN) Stuttgart's Sundance Kid - German Shepherd Dog
This dog seems to appear quite a bit... I've always wondered what's up with that?

[Freestep]

Originally Posted by Jax's Mom

SEL CH (US & CAN) Stuttgart's Sundance Kid - German Shepherd Dog
This dog seems to appear quite a bit... I've always wondered what's up with that?

Probably just a popular show dog and stud.

I actually think his sire Lochwood's Sundance v Stuttgart isn't a bad looking dog, as American showlines go.

I've heard that Marhaven's Color Guard had a good, working-type temperament, but that is coming from ASL people so I have to take it with a grain of salt.

[selzer]

I think that the specialty dogs and the dog that go into the all-breed rings are quite a bit different. I like the all-breed ring dogs a little better. I really liked Manhatten. Dallas was ok and had herding titles as well, but he died at nine. I do not like some of his progeny, but it is hard to get away from him if you are breeding in that area I would think.

I recognize some names and have some behind some of my dogs, but I am strongly leaning toward all German show, I just prefer their looks.

[Freestep]

Originally Posted by selzer

I recognize some names and have some behind some of my dogs, but I am strongly leaning toward all German show, I just prefer their looks.

For some reason I thought you were breeding German working lines? Do you breed ASL dogs or do you just have some with that lineage?

[Whiteshepherds]

Originally Posted by cliffson1

I would like to see some names/lines of ASL associated with biddability, nerve strength, work ethic, working, sport, etc. I think this would go a long way toward dispelling the image of this line of dog today.

What kind of accomplishments do you think the ASL's should have to dispell the image?
Are you talking about titles, (I thought you didn't put much stock in titles?) or are you talking about examples of lines that actually "work" at real jobs. K-9's, Search & Rescue etc.? (Schutzhund is not a real job correct??)

[DunRingill]

I started with ASLs. Lara had her Am/Can UD and was pretty darn good at sheep herding.....her roadwork on "C" course was a thing of beauty. She was a pretty tough dog in many ways. Lara was a Reno granddaughter and came from old Colbert lines.

Here's a pic of Lara at age 10. We were taking pics of my other 2 dogs to register them with UKC and she went out there and posed herself! Never liked to be left out of anything.


Another pic at age 12:


I bred Lara to a German show dog (VA2 (I) Vopo vom Kirschental) twice, and kept a son from one litter and a daughter from the second. Logan was a Canadian and UKC Ch, Canadian group winner (I only took him up there for conformation 3 or 4 times) Am/Can UD and SchH1. So he was only half ASL but definitely all show lines!

[Freestep]

Originally Posted by DunRingill

Logan was a Canadian and UKC Ch, Canadian group winner (I only took him up there for conformation 3 or 4 times) Am/Can UD and SchH1. So he was only half ASL but definitely all show lines!

Awesome!

I once had a bitch that had some American blood. She went back to Krieger von Hiatt and Danlyn's, don't know if those are names anyone would recognize but from what I understand, they were old American working lines. She had a good solid temperament, and was my first "Schutzhund" dog although we pretty much washed out of bitework. I did put a CDX on her.

[selzer]

I breed GSL dogs, Odessa is, so was Dubya.

But Babs and Jenna (the ones I have pups out of) are out of Arwen and Dubya.

Arwen has some German showline 1/4, but also had Von Charisma, Covy-Tucker Hill and some other American lines. She goes back to Don Quixote and Bramblewood's Custom-Made, but also to Canto Von Arminius, and Marko vom Cellerland, and of course Uran. About 1//4 could be American or German, 1/8 I would be surprised if it was not German dogs, but I can only be sure of some of them, and it is all way back there now.

Rush I bought and his dam was all German Showline, his sire was about half and half American/working. I bred him one time to Babs and was not enthusiastic about the consistency or quality of the litter.

Jenna, I bred her to an all German Showline dog and am very happy with the results.

Jenna and Babs are 5/8 German showline.
Joy, Bear, and Dolly out of Jenna/Gispo are 13/16 GSL.

Arwen was a special bitch and there are things I love about her. But I also like the German dogs. Gotta choose.