Reading Pedigrees - Working Line vs Show Line

jessGSD · Nov 18, 2021

Hey all! I've been working on learning the complex code of reading pedigrees (which is greek to a beginner, haha)

But I'm still a stuck on how to tell if a dog is Working Line or Showline.

Eg. Bruce von Cohinor : His pedigree is full of V/VA scores but a great deal of IPO3/SCHH3 as well.
Bruce von Cohinor

I've heard a lot of people say that a show line won't score well in IPG and a working line won't score well in Conformation.
So would he be considered a show line? Is there a tell-tale sign from a pedigree one way or the other?

Thank you for your help with my newbie-ness

NadDog24 · Nov 18, 2021

He’s a show line. I’m sure more knowledgeable people will show up here soon but WGSLs can do IGP they just aren’t always as suitable as a working line

LuvShepherds · Nov 18, 2021

Without even reading names, I can tell by the pictures of all the dogs in the pedigree. In this case, it’s easy because they all have the Showline coloring and the shape.

EMH · Nov 19, 2021

Easiest way you can tell is from phenotype.
Showlines, specifically West German, are the classic black and red, as well as the more angled back.

Working lines are definitely have a flatter back, with a slight angle at the croup. Moreover, they're typically leaner and more agile looking.
They also come in a variety of colors, from solid black, to sable, to bi-colors, to reverse masks, etc.

West German Showlines are practically a different breed at this point insofar that their phenotype is locked down and can constantly reproduce the type.

Reading Pedigrees - Working Line vs Show Line

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