| A huge gap exists today between breeders of Show | | | | might find very difficult indeed to manage. |
| German Shepherd Dogs and Working German | | | | "Prey drive" is of course extremely important in a |
| shepherds. There is very little meeting ground between | | | | working dog. But control and obedience are of far |
| the two groups, who follow completely different paths. | | | | greater importance. In any event, there are known |
| The present situation should not be allowed to | | | | instances in which the working dog with a very highly |
| continue. It is important to find a way to bridge the gap | | | | developed "prey drive" instinct is so concerned with |
| between German Shepherd Dog Breeders, who | | | | the "prey" that it loses all sense of discrimination in so |
| concentrate on breeding show dogs and working dog | | | | far as protection is concerned. |
| enthusiasts, who focus on breeding dogs that perform | | | | Sometimes the animal is so conditioned to attack the |
| well in working trials, regardless of their construction. | | | | "arm" of the "criminal" that it can only focus on this |
| THE VON STEPHANITZ OBJECTIVE. | | | | "prey object". If in a real life situation, a real criminal - |
| When the breed was originally founded by von | | | | not the "trained assailant" - were to discard the "arm", it |
| Stephanitz, more than one hundred years ago in 1899, | | | | is possible, in many instances, that the dog would be |
| the declared and primary objective was to breed an | | | | quite satisfied to attack this "prey object" and forget its |
| animal that was not only physically appealing but also | | | | real purpose. |
| useful. | | | | Of course this is not always the case and it does |
| Von Stephanitz made it abundantly clear that the | | | | depend, in many instances, on the correct training, but it |
| German Shepherd Dog was essentially a working dog. | | | | is incorrect to assume because the dog is a trained |
| His comments with regard to breed shows made this | | | | "working dog" and has competed in working trials, it will |
| quite clear. "The efficiency for work must count far | | | | necessarily be a completely reliable "protection dog". |
| more with the Shepherd Dog Breeder than the honors | | | | THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE BREED DEPENDS ON |
| of the show ring ..." | | | | MUCH CLOSER CONTACT BETWEEN BREEDERS |
| The views of von Stephanitz have been so well | | | | WHO ONLY USE "SHOW LINES" AND BREEDERS |
| publicized over the years, most serious breeders of | | | | WHO ONLY USE "WORKING LINES" IN THEIR |
| German Shepherds, all over the world, are well aware | | | | BREEDING PROGRAMS. |
| of the original purpose for which the German | | | | There are some top winning working dogs from purely |
| Shepherd was bred. | | | | working lines with exceptionally sound temperaments. |
| It is an unfortunate fact however, that many breeders | | | | They work with willingness and eagerness to please |
| today, in their efforts to produce animals that will attain | | | | their trainers,, enthusiasm and energy and are also |
| high honors in the show ring, choose to ignore this. | | | | excellent guard dogs with highly developed, natural |
| The reason for this is clear and understandable. In | | | | protective instincts - a feature that sadly lacking in |
| order to breed animals that will excel in the | | | | many top show specimens. |
| present-day highly competitive show ring, it is | | | | In addition to these fine qualities, many of these top |
| necessary for these breeders to use, almost | | | | working dogs are reasonably well constructed. When |
| exclusively, what are known as "show lines". | | | | exhibited in the conformation "show class" at Sieger |
| In order to breed an animal with the desired, angulation, | | | | Shows, they acquit themselves quite well. Even though |
| shape and the spectacular ground-covering side gait | | | | they are not awarded top honors, they still receive |
| necessary to achieve the highest honors, they | | | | fairly high "V" gradings. |
| concentrate on "show lines" and completely ignore | | | | Obviously it is in the interest of breeders, who |
| "working bloodlines". | | | | concentrate on purely "show lines", to seriously |
| Many experienced, serious-minded breeders are | | | | consider using these dogs in their breeding programs. |
| aware that, by doing so, they often sacrifice a great | | | | Similarly, there are quite a number of excellent "breed |
| deal, especially with regard to temperament. | | | | dogs", with exceptionally fine construction, coming from |
| It is an unfortunate fact that a number of animals that | | | | the best show lines, who also have remarkably sound, |
| enjoy marked success in the show ring, do not have | | | | sensible temperaments and strong protective instincts. |
| the bold, self-confident, fearless temperament and | | | | Working dog breeders who have previously ignored |
| natural protective instinct that is such a desirable | | | | "show lines" completely, would be well-advised to |
| feature of the breed and an essential requirement of | | | | seriously consider using these excellent breed |
| the working Shepherd. | | | | specimens. |
| The poor performance of many animals, in the "test of | | | | What type of German Shepherd are most people |
| courage" at recent Sieger shows, even though they | | | | looking for when they decide to invest in this highly |
| have SchhH 3 qualifications, is an indication that this | | | | popular breed? I sincerely believe my own special |
| qualification is not always a reliable indication of the | | | | requirements are, in many ways, very similar to those |
| animals courage and protective instinct. | | | | of most others. |
| It might appear from this criticism of "show breeders", | | | | What I am looking for in a German Shepherd, is a |
| that I consider the unsatisfactory situation that exists | | | | strong, athletic, well-muscled, handsome animal of |
| today is entirely their fault. | | | | sound construction, that would not be completely |
| This is certainly not the case. There are many areas | | | | overlooked in the show ring even though he or she |
| of improvement to which "working Dog Breeders" | | | | might be awarded top honors. |
| should also pay more attention. |In addition to faults of | | | | I want a dog that is completely reliable and friendly with |
| construction, one area, surprisingly enough, is that of | | | | family members, babies and children, tolerant of |
| temperament. | | | | strangers, not over-aggressive, but still a dependable |
| It is incorrect to assume that the temperaments of all | | | | protection dog, sufficiently discriminating to instinctively |
| top working dog winners are as satisfactory as the | | | | know the difference between a situation that may be |
| breeders would have you believe. | | | | potentially threatening to its owner and one that |
| It is a well-known fact that some working dogs, that | | | | presents no danger. |
| went on to win top honors, did so only after they | | | | If I am prepared to spend the time and effort to train |
| changed hands. Their original owners and handlers | | | | this animal, I would also hope to compete with a fair |
| were unable to control these animals because they | | | | degree of success in working dog competitions. |
| were unmanageable. This is certainly not the type of | | | | The dog must also possess a great degree of natural |
| temperament one should regard as ideal. | | | | intelligence, be very easy to train because of it's |
| Because of the emphasis on dynamic, and at times | | | | willingness to please and show no sign of obstinacy. If |
| frenetic, even frenzied and over-excitable behavior, | | | | the animal comes from a long-line of ancestors with |
| that many working dog breeders insist on to gain | | | | similar genetic qualities - with authentic training |
| maximum points, many dogs with "working dog | | | | qualification that validate this - this is far more likely to |
| bloodlines" have such extreme "prey drive" and "ball | | | | happen. |
| drive", this aspect of their temperament supersedes | | | | Is this too much to ask for? Definitely not. But in order |
| everything else. | | | | for dogs of this type to be more readily available than |
| "Working dog Breeders" often speak in glowing terms | | | | they are at the moment, there must definitely be closer |
| of the" tremendous drive" possessed by their dogs. | | | | contact between "show breeder" and "working dog" |
| Sometimes this is an euphemistic term for a | | | | breeders. |
| highly-strung, over-excitable dog that would never fit | | | | This is something that should be actively encouraged. |
| comfortably into the normal home and some people | | | | |