The ABC's of GSD breeding

[Jo Ellen]

Ay yi yi DDR, East German, American, European, working & show, longhaired, white, herding....this is complicated. I come from the golden retriever world where there is conformation and field LOL

I'm looking for a companion GSD that is low-key and not highly reactive (including not aggressive), calm, confident, intelligent, and easy to handle. What type should I be looking at?

Can someone recommend a top notch breeder in the Pennsylvania area?

[wolfstraum]

what part of PA??? I am in SW PA.....

I am definitely PRO European lines....show or work for companion - because of stability of nerves and solid social temperament. Choosing carefully, you can get a great companion out of either Euro subtype.

Lee

[SunCzarina]

I'm pro DDR - in particular Grafental lines. Otto is strong, stable, easy going, loves people, very adaptable, athletic, just awesome GSD with none of the edgy bad stuff my west german workingline bitch has.

I'd have to ask where abouts but my friend has a Grafental grandchild who comes from somewhere in NY, they're around the northeast.

Sven Grafental is the one name I see commonly in pedigrees of wonderful DDRs

[Emoore]

Originally Posted by SunCzarina

I'm pro DDR - in particular Grafental lines. Otto is strong, stable, easy going, loves people, very adaptable, athletic, just awesome GSD with none of the edgy bad stuff my west german workingline bitch has.

I'd have to ask where abouts but my friend has a Grafental grandchild who comes from somewhere in NY, they're around the northeast.

Sven Grafental is the one name I see commonly in pedigrees of wonderful DDRs

Me too, but then I'm a little biased.

[Jo Ellen]

Can someone give me the basics about the types? How does DDR differ from European or how does American differ from European? What are the Euro subtypes?

I'm in central PA, but I can travel

[Jo Ellen]

strong, stable, easy going, loves people, very adaptable, athletic, just awesome GSD with none of the edgy bad stuff

This is exactly what I'm looking for Stability of nerves is very important to me, probably the most important quality I am searching for. I don't want to be afraid of my GSD or of what he/she might do.

[wolfstraum]

Euro show - black and brown (run the gamut from tan to red) - bigger, more placid on a day to day level -

Euro working lines - all colors, predominant color is sable - light to dark....DDR dogs bred for color in many kennels for pet market....many of the straight West german working types can be more nervy DEPENDING on the pedigree and line breeding IMO....well bred dog - balanced stable, happy, yes - mouthy!, has drive to make training easy, genetically solid so socialization is just for fun not needed to condition dog to accept society! Can be all West German, Czech, Dutch, Belgian or combined...mine are combos of all plus some DDR....

DDR - good looking darker pigmented dogs generally, not as biddable overall, must be careful with lines as some real aggression ( ever hear of Boban Grauen Monstadt??? Sven Grafental son!!! major major notorious aggression) - not as common in sport world....

Not goign to touch the ASLs here.....

Lee

[Castlemaid]

Here you go:
(Types of German Shepherds, by Wildhaus Kennels )

A good detailed article about the three main types of dogs. As an active companion, any of the types will fit your need. The working line subtype differences are more subtle and may not make a big difference in what you are looking for.

[Jo Ellen]

Is it bad to have a working line but not be too much into "working?" I'm assuming working means something along the lines of tracking, herding, protection, etc. I just want a GSD that I can live happily with me doing fun outdoor activities (going to the lake, hiking along the river trails, fishing (?? LOL), playing ball outdoors ... just ordinary, low-key, unspecialized kinds of things.

Thanks Castlemaid for that link, I'm reading it now. Very helpful. I think anytime we get into the purebreeds, we have to stop and ask ourselves if we're selling the breed short by expecting them to adapt to our lifestyles when they way we live might not be the way they want or need to live.

[wolfstraum]

A friend in York PA has a litter coming - working lines.....both parents good in house and with kids (dam with kids)....got a pup for a friend of a friend from the last litter of same cross....would probably suit you well...

Lee