German German Shepherd VS American German Shepherd

There is a huge difference between the two. The main difference being physical structure (huge generalization here).

If you're just looking for a good companion, you can find it in either line. Just because a breeder breeds for the showring or schutzhund doesn't mean they don't occasionally produce dogs that make wonderful pets.

I bet if you get a bit more specific about what exactly you're looking for in a dog (do you have kids? what activities, if any, you're interested in doing? how active are you? etc.) someone might be able to point you in the right direction.

There are basically three different "lines" of dogs out there--American, German Showlines, and Working lines. None is "better" or healthier than the others--there are good and bad breeders of any type. There are also expensive dogs in each line, and moderately-priced (but still very good and healthy) dogs in each line. For a well-bred puppy, regardless of which line, you can expect to pay starting at around $800 and go up to $1500 or so. More than that, and you're probably buying more dog than you need--a show prospect or a super working prospect.

As you've already learned, hip disease is one of the biggest health problems with this breed (but there are many others too)--and the best way to find a dog with the best shot at being healthy is to find a good BREEDER.

Check out some of the threads here on the different lines--to see what they look like (they are three very different "looks") and feel free to ask more questions. Tell us what part of the country you're in, and you might even get some breeder referrals nearyby.

Finally, rescue is always a good way to go. There is an active purebred GSD rescue section of this board, and many dedicated rescue volunteers all over the country who work to find homes for purebred dogs that have been left at shelters for whatever reason. Most of these dogs are evaluated and checked for health and temperament before placing them with a new home, so it's a good way to "know what you're getting." With any puppy, you're mostly buying potential.

Is there a difference between the two? Try "three minimum!" There are American showlines, American pet lines, German showlines, and the European working lines which aren't as different as the showlines are but include West German working, East German working (DDR), Czech working, and a couple others. Price tends to be highest in the showlines as a generalization, but there are a few working line breeders that are waaaaay up there in cost. That brings me to another point about the GSD. You will often pay for what you get so if you look for an $800 breeder or less, Caveat Emptor. If you were to go with working lines, you have no need to spend more than $2000 as that's getting high for a working line. For a German showline, many puppies that aren't long coats (a disqualification) start at $2000 but there are exceptions, of course. I am not up on the American line pricing (My preference is to the European working line dogs).

Your best bet for getting to know the various lines is to go to an AKC dog show and watch the German shepherd showing and visit a schutzhund club where you can see working lines and German showlines. You can get a feel for how they look, how they walk (big differences), how they act, it's really the best way to know that this is what you want. The first time I was at a schutzhund club I knew that a working line GSD was exactly what I wanted.... well I knew even before that but seeing them in action cemented my desire. Once you have an idea of what you like and after you've talked to the owners and handlers you can then start a breeder search.

If you want recommendations here (even before you have a chance of seeing the dogs in person), I'd suggest making a list of what you want to see in a dog. What do you want in energy level, intelligence, protectiveness, what is your ideal GSD, what activities do you plan to do with it, how much training are you willing to do, how much time you have available to spend with the dog, your experience level, etc. It does happen that someone decides they want a dog of type A but they are recommended a type B dog and it ends up being the best match ever. And yes, working line dogs can make excellent companions, same with showline dogs, so don't read those labels and think "I'm not going to work/show, I don't want one." Remember that a good breeder who is striving for health and temperament and structure for work/show will produce very sound dogs. Some of these dogs aren't drivey enough to work or don't have the best conformation for show, but in a pet home they are absolutely fantastic companions because they were still bred for soundness, strong nerve, intelligence, all the great qualities that make for a model doggie citizen. A good dog with good health and great temperament is priceless.

I also like the American Showline, the moderately angled All Breed Gsd's are what I like, and are what my breeding program is geared towards. My Leuka is more laid back couch potatoe type of gal, but get out a ball and it's like you just got out candy to a kid!! The eyes light up and she's off and fetching!!

My younger has a tad more energy and is perfect for the ring! Attitude and all! Along with her show career, I also want to title her in tracking, I think she will excel!! She is my constant companion and "shadow".

I love them both equally..... it is neat because they are so different.

Keith,

Glad you found the links helpful!

To answer your question about what is meant by "drive" here's another article. It's covers most aspects of dog temperament (and the vocabulary generally used to describe them) and will help arm you with even more knowledge of what you're looking for in your puppy search.

Joy Tiz' Elements of Temperament

Originally Posted By: MaxGunnaryou're not allowed to buy one until you rescue one, its in the rules somewhere I know it

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Good one!

Glad I qualify x 3

I prefer a good dog no matter the lines...

I have owned german working lines, german show lines, and american show lines and adore them all and they all came with incredible assests.

I love the drive and willingness to please in my german working lines,disliked the fact that she doesnt have an off switch,she is on constant go mode unless she has had a THOROUGH workout.

I love the pigment,the easy to work with personlity and the great moderation of chase drives in my german show lines,but found they either lacked confidence of I had health issues in the dogs I personally owned (I have to admit,it wasnt many)

I love the sweet easy nature of my american show dogs,with quick brains who love to make me happy but dont over do it. The goofy fun side they have with that slight touch of im awesome attitude. I find them so easy to live with,so easy to train,so easy to love yet find them with their own heartbreaks. I find many american line breeders,breed solely for angle or movement and forget the rest of the dog which is a diaster in itself.

I have to say I love em all,and its about what stage your at and what you need. Id get another german working line in a heartbeat,and plan to do so when I have the space and time to committ to that dog. For now I am very happy with my awesome american show lines as great house companions who are content no matter how busy or unbusy my weekend is!

Good luck

I have an intersting mix of dogs...

Apache, my first GSD (RIP) was solid AM (not show) dam with the working police K9 sire... Great dog.

Cheyenne, German Show and BYB. Nice dog, really good drives, loves to track, to bad I didn't work with her more on that. We track for fun.

DeeDee, American Showline and German working line. Great focus, willingness to please. Her only problem is that she has major problems with sounds, thunder, gun shots, etc, so she didn't all the good nerve.

Lakota, German showline and working line cross. Great dog, great nerve, very balanced, can be a couch potato or out playing ball for hours. He has two grade two DJD elbows, which I know what line they came from.

Raya, is German showlines. Very up beat happy gal, showing an interst in tracking so we are going to do lots of training as soon as we have grass. Nice nerve, not great but nice.

So even though I haven't had but one dog that wasn't crossed lines, I can get an appreciation of all the lines.