[GSD Fan]

As you guys should already know, I have reserved a puppy from this female: Connie

However, another thing you guys should already know is that I perfer a black and tan GSD. The breeder has another female, Tigress's Homepage , Tigress, who will be bred in my timeline.

Tigress is black and tan and looking at her past puppies, they're very cute and black and tan. So, I'm thinking about switching my reserve to Tigress.

Here's the problem.

Tigress puppies have more drive than Connie's and also her puppies tend to be more dominant. I keep telling myself to stick with Connie because a Connie puppy seems to suit a first time GSD owner better. BUT, the breeder did say both Tigress and Connie produce puppies that would suit me.

So, the pros of going with Tigress are:
1. I get the color I want
2. Her hips are excellent, top 1%!

The cons:
1. More energy= more excercise. (I'm not used to giving more than 3 walks, hour at a time, a day)
2. I've dealt with dominant dogs before, or so I think, so would I be able to handle a potential dominant GSD?

What do you guys think I should do and why?

 

[Deuce]

I think you should talk with the breeder. She should have an idea as to which litter would fit better with you and once the puppies are born, which puppy would be ideal for you.

 

[GSDAlphaMom]

Your breeder will know best but there are different dominance levels within a litter. Chances are Tigress will have some pups with less drive. As your breeder if she has produced some with less drive. Is your breeder willing to give you contact from previous litters?

 

[CaseysGSD]

You are already planning on 3 one hour walks a day and don't think you can give more? Just me but I think that's more than enough for most dogs! I only go for 1 one hour walk a day with my pup and 30 minutes of ball and she more than happy with that!

 

[Stosh]

Personally I never picked a pup by color but I've never had my heart set on what the dog looked like. I agree, let the breeder help pick one suited to your lifestyle and energy. Even a gsd with a 'lower' drive is quite a dog!

 

[GSDElsa]

Well, first off, just because one individual dog has excellent hips does not mean it's necessarily something that is common in the lines or something she is consistently passing onto her offspring. Yes, it certainly ups the odds in her favor, but you need to look at the entire picture. I see quite a few fair ratings in her pedigree and she's line bred with Aron a few generations back that I believe is mild HD (if I remember correctly noch zugelassen is mild).

I'm a little confused about how you know about the puppies that Connie has produced? I get the impression that the breeder just acquired her in June? Was she previously bred?

I personally don't think I would make a decision until you know what stud is going to be used and how he might bring out the good and bad qualities in each female. And I would also say don't plan on getting a puppy from either female unless you are certain you are getting the right fit.

 

[PaddyD]

What about the sire? My dog's dam was a sable and her sire a black and tan. Look how she turned out?

 

[BlackGSD]

I would let the breeder choose. Also be aware that depending on the male she is bred to, there is NO quarantee that the black and tan female will have black and tan puppies.

I wouldnt' let her hips be a factor. There is no guarantee there either, and there is nothing wrong with the other females hips.

(Personally I would go with Connie, I really am not to keen on the other female. ESPECIALLY her pedigree.)

 

[Shadow's mum]

They are both beautiful looking dogs. Personally I like the look of black and tan better. You need to speak with the breeder about temperament and how suitable each litter would be for you. if it were me and the breeder said that either litter would produce the right pup for me then I would go with the black and tan (because I like that look best). having said all that, if you were originally going with Connie, you must have had a good reason.

3x 1hour walks a day = more than enough exercise imo.

 

[Emoore]

That whole "top 1%" and "top 5%" line is part of what I didn't like about the breeder's website. As far as the dog's functionality and its likelihood of producing puppies with good, fair, or dysplastic hips, whether the dog is "top 1%" or "top 20%" means nothing. If a dog's "top claim to fame is her hips" (their words, not mine), that's not saying much IMHO.

 

[Jax08]

What color was Connie bred too? What colors is the breeder expecting from her litter?

If there is not a suitable puppy for your, will your deposit transfer to Tigress's litter?

You should speak to the breeder about your concerns.

 

[BlackGSD]

That whole "top 1%" and "top 5%" line is part of what I didn't like about the breeder's website. As far as the dog's functionality and its likelihood of producing puppies with good, fair, or dysplastic hips, whether the dog is "top 1%" or "top 20%" means nothing. If a dog's "top claim to fame is her hips" (their words, not mine), that's not saying much IMHO.

:thumbup:

 

[GSD Fan]

GSDAlpha, I didn't think of that but I'm pretty sure she is.

GSDElsa, Connie was just bred recently in October. So yes you're right, but I assumed her puppies less stuff than Tigress because Connie has an on and off switch plus the breeder said that Tigress puppies tend to have more drives and be more dominant.

Paddy, She hasn't choosen a sire yet, but she said the sire will most likely be similar to Connie as far as the lines. Not sure if she said he'll be the same color.

Jax, yes, if Connie doesn't produce a suitable puppy she will switch my reserve to Tigress. We already talked about that. I think Connie was recently bred to Wasko. It's on the breeder's site Connie came from, Long Haus.

I appreciate you guys feedback and will try to get in touch with Sherle tomorrow. Thank you!

 

[bocron]

Hard choice, but when you look at Tigress's pedigree, she is 1-2 on a dog named King von Rameros, who is OFA fair. So I wouldn't put her hip rating as a huge contributing factor. She does go back to Pirol and some Antverpa lines, which I like personally, but the rest of her pedigree is so-so. Check out this link to get a better idea of the linebreeding behind her. Tigress v RossHaus - German shepherd dog
Of course, who she will be bred to is half the equation obviously, so there is that.

 

[GSDElsa]

GSDElsa, Connie was just bred recently in October. So yes you're right, but I assumed her puppies less stuff than Tigress because Connie has an on and off switch plus the breeder said that Tigress puppies tend to have more drives and be more dominant.

Well why would you make an assumption on Connie's offspring if she's never been bred before? An on and off switch has nothing to do with "less stuff" in my opinion. If Tigress DOESN'T have an off on switch and is producing puppies that don't, that would be a major concern to me..and it has nothing to do with "more drives." More drive has nothing to do with not having and on and off switch. The dog that just won worlds should, in the ideal GSD, be able to be equally as chill in the house as much as they "bring it" on the field. The "on and off switch" is something that in non-negotiable to me.

So is the dog that Connie was just bred to the litter you're going to be getting or are you lined up to get something from her second litter?

 

[GSD Fan]

So is the dog that Connie was just bred to the litter you're going to be getting or are you lined up to get something from her second litter?

I'm lined up to get a female puppy from her second litter.

I dunno why I assumed that, I just did. I mean, I figured "If the mother has an on and off switch, then maybe her puppies will". Then the breeder stated she would breed Connie to a male similar, so I said to myself "Mother with on and off switch + Father who is similar = puppies that are a combination of mother and father."

I think I'll just stick with Connie.

 

[GSDElsa]

I would talk more in detail with your breeder. I would hope that both females have an on/off switch, can be good housedogs, and are a pleasure to be around....

 

[GSD Fan]

But what should I ask my breeder? She's already stated that both Tigress and Connie would produce a good puppy for me.

 

[Emoore]

But what should I ask my breeder? She's already stated that both Tigress and Connie would produce a good puppy for me.

In that case, choose the one you want. Or the one that comes up first. Hopefully she'll be able to guide your choice better once pups are on the ground and she knows a little about their fuzzy little personalities.

 

[GSD Fan]

Okay. I know what I'll do. I'll come up with as many questions I can about both females, write them down, and ask her. We'll see how it goes and if you guys want, I'll update you whether or not I get my reserve switched to Tigress or not.

Once again, thank you guys for the inputs.