Working lines good with families?

[meldleistikow]

I just had a breeder tell me in an email that working lines have no place in a family home...PERIOD. This breeder has bred working lines and appears to have some now, but mostly show lines with Schutzhund titles.

I agree that a working line dog should go to a working home or very active family that can stimulate them and get out the energy, but not good at all?

Thoughts?

[Lucy Dog]

Working lines can absolutely work with families. Check back in tomorrow and I'm sure you'll hear tons of responses from people and their working line dogs as family pets.

The right breeder will match their puppy up with the right family (or situation).

[4TheDawgies]

Unless you have over the top working lines then no.
But there are definitely working lines that are too much for almost anyone.

But they are not good examples of the breed and are against the standard if they are like that.

I have both show lines and working lines. Both are great family dogs.

[Freestep]

Originally Posted by meldleistikow

I just had a breeder tell me in an email that working lines have no place in a family home...PERIOD.

Sounds like HIS working lines have no place in a family home.

I have two working line females in my home, they are companion dogs. Yes, they have a lot of energy and require training, but what dog doesn't?

[LaRen616]

I have a working line female, she is just a pet for now, she loves people, great with children, great with other dogs and cats. She's very sweet and loves to cuddle.

She has medium/high energy but is calm and relaxed inside my home, outside is when she gets wild.

[GSDElsa]

I would say if this individual is breeding working lines that cannot live in a house with a family you should probably avoid them at all costs.

I can see the wisdom of a "top" competitior wanting their dog to spend more time kenneled than not. For your average Joe that wants a companion first and foremost and a working buddy second...rubbish.

Even more rubbish if you're talking about a working line "pet."

There are dozens and dozens of people who keep their working working lines and their pet working lines in the house with their families.

[bocron]

We have 8 GSDs in our house. 6 are from working lines, one is Czech and the rest are German or Belgian. The czech dog is the only one who doesn't spend a ton of time in the house, but it's mostly because our 10yo male doesn't really like him. When my daughter has her dogs (the 10yo is hers) with her somewhere else, the czech guy comes upstairs, too. Otherwise he hangs out in the basement where my husband's office and shop are.
It takes a bit of work with some of them to teach them to leave the cats alone and not obsess over them, but other than that they mature into good house dogs if trained to do so!
Annette

[wolfstraum]

I currently have 3 titled dogs who live as pets...1 a senior, 2 very active and lively...I have also had 3 or 4 others (Sch1 to Sch3) living in my house as pets - most of my pups are in pet and pet/sport homes - one dog who is certified SAR, then became a K9 on border patrol (Canada) for State Police, is also certified for Narcotics, making many finds, and patrol...he lives in a home with a 4 year old girl who belongs to Him! This dog is as serious and drivy as they come (balanced!!) and that child is his responsibility when he is not on duty as a LE K9....

Yes, people do breed these out of control, nearly OCD, "extreme" dogs - and no, they won't be good pets...so look for someone who breeds what you need.

Lee

[meldleistikow]

Thanks to everyone for sharing your experience with your dogs. I plan to go with working lines.

I had a Czech line that I loved. He was easy to train because of his high ball drives. He was so focused and quick on every command. He was also an easy going dog when he was in the house and great with my two young daughters. He had no issues with other dogs or even our cat, but he was raised with the cat and the cat was the boss. He was a running buddy and played lots of fetch to burn off energy. He also loved hide and seek. I unfortunately had to give him up a few years ago because of divorce and no where to live that would let me keep him. His current owners let me see him whenever I want. He is almost nine, very healthy and still has lots of energy.

I want another dog like him and was hoping that it wasn't an isolated incident that he was such a good family pet. We are a very active family. I am a runner and we walk our dogs to go pick kids up from school and to go watch the kids play soccer. We also have a cabin on acreage that we go to in the summer where the dogs get to go nuts and swim all day.

I plan on going with working lines, but I wanted to hear others opinions. BTW, I emailed this breeder 3 weeks ago and gave them my phone number as well and they just got back to me. I know breeders are really busy, but that seemed like a long time.

[jprice103]

I have a WL and she is a big couch potato! She has just about zero drive! If she was put in a true "working" home, she'd be miserable. All WL dogs have different levels of drive, so yes, some are MORE suited to be a family dog than others.