I am biased, I have a German working line dog. But I have no experience with show lines. If you go with rescue, you may not be able to know the mom and dad. See their lines and hopefully have ofa of hips and elbows.


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I am biased, I have a German working line dog. But I have no experience with show lines. If you go with rescue, you may not be able to know the mom and dad. See their lines and hopefully have ofa of hips and elbows.

Yea I kinda figured if we adopted we wouldn't really know the linage, but hopefully like you said we would at least get the important health info. This is just mainly for if we do decide to get a puppy.

What's the working line like? I know each dog is different, but what are their energy levels like, etc.

 

I would also consider a SL/WL cross. My dog is half West German showline and half West German/east German working line. He is a FANTASTIC dog... He can go go go when I want him to but he also settles marvelously in the house and does not go crazy during bad weather if we can't get out of the house(though admittedly that doesn't happen often in SoCal).

I'm assuming by bite work you mean doing Shutzhund? Well I think a SL/WL cross can certainly do it but they may not have the drive to excel at it, though that is a general statement, individual dogs will vary! We are currently doing herding training and he LOVES it and sometimes it's hard to get him to stop. I think he would also love agilty... He's not as large as the full WGSL's, he is 9 months and 63lbs and I'm guessing he'll end up between 70-75lbs.

Anyways, just another option to consider. I wouldn't trade my dog for anything... His temperament has been phenomenal too and so far health wise he's been perfect. You just want to make sure the breeder knows what they're doing when it comes to mixing the lines.

 

I would also consider a SL/WL cross. My dog is half West German showline and half West German/east German working line. He is a FANTASTIC dog... He can go go go when I want him to but he also settles marvelously in the house and does not go crazy during bad weather if we can't get out of the house(though admittedly that doesn't happen often in SoCal).

I'm assuming by bite work you mean doing Shutzhund? Well I think a SL/WL cross can certainly do it but they may not have the drive to excel at it, though that is a general statement, individual dogs will vary! We are currently doing herding training and he LOVES it and sometimes it's hard to get him to stop. I think he would also love agilty... He's not as large as the full WGSL's, he is 9 months and 63lbs and I'm guessing he'll end up between 70-75lbs.

Anyways, just another option to consider. I wouldn't trade my dog for anything... His temperament has been phenomenal too and so far health wise he's been perfect. You just want to make sure the breeder knows what they're doing when it comes to mixing the lines.

Thanks I will look into a cross. Is yours an import or is it american bred with german lines? That's another thing I have been reading, German Imports are more....energetic? i guess is a good word than the German lines and American lines. Where did you get him from if you don't mind me asking?

And yes I meant Shutzhund when I said bite work. Sorry I should have been a little more clear. My bf is more addiment on having the dog do that than I am (though the more videos I watch on it the more my heart soars when I see it. It is amazing watching the dogs and how responsive they are).

 

I personally have fostered a working line pup and we placed quite a few dogs in working homes so there are definitely high drive dogs in rescue. In fact, many high drive dogs end up in rescue because their owners can't handle them and breeders don't want them back.

If you are willing to do some legwork you can find pretty much any kind of dog you want in rescue.