[Brightelf]

Jane, two breeders who have "the look" but (often) less drivey, less intense, less high-octane dogs:

http://www.milesriverddr.com

and

http://www.vonhena-c.com

A few of our board members have smart, handsome, fun dogs with good temperaments from these breeders. Just be upfront about wanting stable, easygoing, good beginner's dog.

 

[Brightelf]

I'll get EVERYONE mad at me, but here goes: In case you honestly just love a certain color, but want a relatively no-fuss dog this time around... why not select from a DDR breeder who does not breed for high-octane sportdogs? I posted a few links in my last reply. Mellow can be a good thing.

On the other hand, if intense is what you want, even the most easygoing pup in a litter where the breeder selects for high drives will be more intense than many pet folks are accustomed to. This intensity has advantages and disadvantages. Advantages may be the strong desire to work with you to do stuff, if you want a dog nudging you to play often... disadvantages may be reactivity.

I am happy I have

Grimm. He is very loving. But: He is too intense for me sometimes.

He is young. These lines stay young a long time. <span style="color: #3333FF">I have learned that folks loving and living with certain lines make it look easy, we aren't all suited to the higher octane pooches, even though others on the forum show cute homelife photos of their similar dogs.</span>

Make your choice based on what you want to live with. Intense or mellow, you can find one in dark sable, if you are willing to really put temperament first. Be wary of someone gushing about her dog's type and lines... if you cannot imagine living the way she does with her dog, including management of drives, energy level, intensity. Each dog IS different... but lines created for more oomph need someone new to those lines to choose wisely and with care.

 

[Brightelf]

Here are a few photos. Grimm is Czech. Dad is Congo Vikar, Mom is a Xero Pohranicni straze daughter.

The good and the bad: He is strongminded, loving, impatient, kissy, intense, funny, powerful, pushy, smart, reactive, social, and settles well in the house. Medium energy, medium drives. Happy upbeat guy to live with, deeply intuitive (really), who however can be overenthusiastic/impatient/reactive.

My FAVORITE pic: This shows his dearer, sweeter side... my special, strong-minded,

loving boy..

 

[Brightelf]

Jack, absolutely right.

Loki will get darker as he matures! Don't be surprised if he seems lighter first though, or if he develops a ring round his tail and a stripe down his back for a few weeks. Baby sables get the eel stripe and the raccoon ring tail thing happenin' sometimes. It's temporary!

Grimm at 12 weeks:

Grimm at nearly 2 years:

Jane, I specificly asked Dari at VanDenHeuvelK9 for "medium, balanced drives, medium energy, stable dog, must be able to be calm & settled in the house." He was the most stable male in the litter, and is deeply intuitive, and astoundingly empathetic... that's the last thing I expected from these lines, but he tenderly, lovingly gravitates towards anyone who is very ill or disabled or elderly, and tiny toddlers, too. He's all heart.

My challenge is surviving his teenagerhood--

the teenaged intensity in these lines is a lot to deal with (for me, anyway),even with mental and physical outlets. Expect to get more than you bargained for, so maybe find a wonderfully supportive club ..maybe the one you have for Onxy now?

who can help you either to
a.) channel that intensity into sport, or
b.) guide you instead to reward each and every CALM moment that dog has in learning self-control.
Grimm would love you if he met you, Jane. Grimm loves everybody!!