Breeding a WL to a SL?

[Ocean]

In the late 90s, Karl Fuller bred his Jassie Kirschental to 3 well known WLs. Jassie would be considered a SL though Kirschental is not your typical SL kennel. I heard that the progeny did well as search detection dogs or were bred to produce such kind of dogs. Perhaps Carmspack can weigh in on why the pedigree might have worked to produce such dogs.
Progeny list for V Jassie vom Kirschental - German Shepherd Dog

[selzer]

I am not against it in principle. If a show-line breeder wanted to inject more drive or better pasterns or some other trait and could not find a suitable candidate within show lines for what he was looking for, he might try a total outcross to a working-line dog.

The selection of the working line dog would need to be made with attention to all the details.

The first generation would probably be all over the place, with very little uniformity. The breeder would have to choose one or more prospects to be bred back into the type that he is striving for (show-lines) and line breed. For this, the breeder would have to let the puppies grow out some before deciding on which dogs to use to breed back in. The second generation might be an improvement in whatever the trait, and in uniformity, but no guaranty. Again, the puppies would need to grow out some before choosing the best dogs, and it would probably be years before it would be evident what besides that trait had entered into his lines.

I think for the most part, many breeders do not have the patience, persistence, or the space to do such a venture right.

[cliffson1]

The GS was really never meant to be uniform in type because of its make up. This is actually a creation of the show world in past thirty years.....breeding for physical uniformity comes with a price.

[doggiedad]

yeah it does and the price starts at $1,200.00. LOL.

[QUOTE=cliffson1;2504929]The GS was really never meant to be uniform in type because of its make up. This is actually a creation of the show world in past thirty years.....

>>>> breeding for physical uniformity comes with a price.<<<< [/QUOTE]

[Lakl]

Originally Posted by cliffson1

The GS was really never meant to be uniform in type because of its make up. This is actually a creation of the show world in past thirty years.....breeding for physical uniformity comes with a price.

[PupperLove]

Originally Posted by Freestep

They have enough energy and drive to require an outlet for it, but are too weak-nerved to do well in SchH work. Some of these kind of dogs don't even make good pets, because weak nerves + high drives + inexperienced GSD owner = trouble.

This is what most breeders are afraid of, and why they don't often mix the lines together.

THIS is my dog exactly!! His dam was from WGSLs and his sire was mostly DDR. I love him to pieces but, holy terror! He's a gorgeous dog, a hard dog, and has such high drive and intensity, I think he would do awesome in any type of competition, but his nerves get the best of him. It's too bad because I think he would be capable of so much otherwise. Thankfully he clams down nicley within a few minutes, but still....being out in crowds with other dogs would be way over his threshold.

When I got him I didn't really have that much knowledge of lines. Live and learn I guess, but he's prepared me well for my next GSD! I can say that much!