It really depends a lot on the particulars. Amount of backmassing, what kind of recessive genetic issues you might expect in these lines, and health and temperament of father/daughter. I'd just enjoy your dog. What's done is done.

 

Saco: Thanks for your input. I plan on enjoying her. She is so different from my prior 2 GSD's. Just continue to be frustrated with her bouts of extreme hyperactivity & destructiveness (unlike I've ever experienced). Hoping it's an adolescent phase and not a genetic flaw.

This isn't a dog, but my Arabian mare was bred to her half brother (both had the same sire) whether intentionally or by neglect. I bought mare and unborn foal, and had the resulting foal for 20 years, til I had to put him down last year. I had the dam for 17 years.

They couldn't have been more dissimilar. She was a beautiful chestnut with a gorgeous dry head, a beautiful body and the worst legs I've ever seen on a horse. Her son was bay, like his sire, didn't have nearly as nice a head as Amy but he had better legs. Their personalities were different as night and day and interestingly--he's the ONLY foal that survived of that particular line past 5 years old, they all had an intestinal defect which killed the sire, grandsire and resulting foals, except mine. He was healthy for his entire life until his death, never once colicked and if he hadn't injured himself I'm sure he'd have lived longer than 20 years.
When I had their pedigrees done, 20 generations back to desert-bred, the amount of line breeding in both dam and sire lines was pretty alarming. As it was, she never had another foal and he was castrated and neither of them had health issues, nor were they mentally deficient in any way.

cvamoca: Thanks for sharing your story about your Arabian mare & offspring. I'm hoping that Cassie is just having an extreme adolescence & that things will even out in the near future.

Cassie is long haired & her sister that we met is short haired. Cassie is a beautiful dog & she gets a lot of complements when we walk in the park. Interestingly, I've encountered several people who have had a long-haired GSD in their past. Just hoping that she evens out in the near future & displays a beautiful temperment.

I inquired with the breeder early on, as to whether Cassie was the rowdy puppy in the litter (because of her extremely destructive behavior) The answer I got was that she wasn't. Now, I'll still forge ahead to keep her busy with exercise, play, mental stimulation & obedience training. Hoping the issue is more me than her, so I'll keep training me as well.

 

This isn't a dog, but my Arabian mare was bred to her half brother (both had the same sire) whether intentionally or by neglect. I bought mare and unborn foal, and had the resulting foal for 20 years, til I had to put him down last year. I had the dam for 17 years.

They couldn't have been more dissimilar. She was a beautiful chestnut with a gorgeous dry head, a beautiful body and the worst legs I've ever seen on a horse. Her son was bay, like his sire, didn't have nearly as nice a head as Amy but he had better legs. Their personalities were different as night and day and interestingly--he's the ONLY foal that survived of that particular line past 5 years old, they all had an intestinal defect which killed the sire, grandsire and resulting foals, except mine. He was healthy for his entire life until his death, never once colicked and if he hadn't injured himself I'm sure he'd have lived longer than 20 years.
When I had their pedigrees done, 20 generations back to desert-bred, the amount of line breeding in both dam and sire lines was pretty alarming. As it was, she never had another foal and he was castrated and neither of them had health issues, nor were they mentally deficient in any way.

So, yeah inbreeding and line breeding crap happens, often for the stupidest of reasons, but hopefully you'll be fine and so will your dog.

Sometimes it creates a super animal if the genetics are right. Sometimes it doesn't.

 

When I was breeding dairy goats, there were many herds who would breed a whole crop of daughters back to the sire. That would bring out all the "nasties" so you would know what would pop up, and possibly also get you a couple of nice type kids.

Nasties would be culled.

Not something I ever did

 

When I was breeding dairy goats, there were many herds who would breed a whole crop of daughters back to the sire. That would bring out all the "nasties" so you would know what would pop up, and possibly also get you a couple of nice type kids. Nasties would be culled. Not something I ever did

Thecowboysgirl: Thanks for your input. I'm hoping Cassie doesn't end up with a title of "Nastie". I'm forging ahead, as if she is just an obnoxious adolescent, but when I heard about the father-daughter breeding, I got to wondering.

 

There isn’t anything you can do about it now. Why didn’t the breeder disclose this to you? Did they give you the pedigree before you bought the dog?

 

I found the breeder”s website and see they are mixing WGSLs with pet line and American alone. Royalaire are oversized pet lines. Von Salerno is a reputable breeder of WGSLs and work their dogs. They do a lot of titling. This breeder has 11 breeding females. I wonder what their justification is for mixing lines, and breeding a father to a daughter. I wonder if Von Salerno knows they are using one of their dogs as a stud.

 

There isn’t anything you can do about it now. Why didn’t the breeder disclose this to you? Did they give you the pedigree before you bought the dog?

I found the breeder”s website and see they are mixing WGSLs with pet line and American alone. Royalaire are oversized pet lines. Von Salerno is a reputable breeder of WGSLs and work their dogs. They do a lot of titling. This breeder has 11 breeding females. I wonder what their justification is for mixing lines, and breeding a father to a daughter. I wonder if Von Salerno knows they are using one of their dogs as a stud.

LuvShepherds: Thanks for your input. I don't know why they bred a father & daughter - wondering if it's more lucrative for the breeder to have less dogs & breed only with dogs that they own. They had links to pedigrees on their website. I followed the links, but I wasn't familiar with the pedigree DB. I may have missed it, by identifying with the father's common name, versus pedigree name. I'm not sure how the sister's owner discovered the breeding situation. I'll have to ask him, the next time I see him at the dog park.

I'm not trying to cause trouble for the breeder. I was just a bit stunned to find out about the father-daughter breeding (wasn't something I thought was likely). If the breeder was a back-yard type of breeder, I'd have been more cautious. The owner of Cassie's sister is pleased with his dog so far. Their Facebook page denotes some happy dog owners. Guess others are happy.

At this point, I'm hoping that Cassie is just a rambunctious adolescent (no genetic issues) & that I just need to keep working with her. I started taking her to the dog park about 6 weeks ago. She has been slow to feel comfortable & play with the other dogs. Meeting her sister & another GSD has been good for her & she is starting to get more comfortable with playing chase with them & a few other dogs. At least for the last 2 weeks, when we return home from a walk in the park & a visit to the dog park, she is pooped out for a couple hours (then ready to go again).

I've held off with using an e-collar, but I think I need to start using one to deal with Cassie when she is in a hyperactive state & won't comply with any commands. I have to put a stop to the jumping & biting with me, when she wants to play & while we play.

Cassie is a good looking dog & I get lots of complements, when we walk at the park. Just hoping that her behavior evens out by around age 2 (give or take a few months).

 

It all depends on how the genetics go together. Reputable breeders don't breed father/daughter.

It is what it is now. Just check her hips/elbows/tv and love her.

 

It all depends on how the genetics go together. Reputable breeders don't breed father/daughter.

It is what it is now. Just check her hips/elbows/tv and love her.

I agree. Chalk it up to a learning experience