Please show me your WL gaiting! - Page 34

Ewwww, did you just say AKC malinois?

Gotcha, HD. I just think there are better ways of explaining why one favors the lines they do that don't need to include making snide remarks about the dogs they don't like. It's counterproductive, puts everyone on the offensive and is just plain meanspirited and hurtful.  Eew...AKC Malinois for example .

 I don't special my ASL or show her much in OB anymore, but I do try to get to the local all breed shows in the Tampa Bay area. Also some local OB  trials, IPO trials, tracking trials, herding trials. Anything having to do with working dogs.  So, if you and your girlfriend ever get down this way, let me know and we'll meet up somewhere; I'd love to see your dogs. Does she show Ewww AKC Malis?

BTW this is my first ASL, she needed a home and I needed a dog. She replaced the female in my avatar. She was a V rated Sch3, UD, agility, herding titled wonderful dog, I gave her a retirement home. That's what I mean about versatility in this breed. These dogs are awesome, aren't they?

No, she shows EWWW sammies, i would never date anyone who dealt with ewww malinois....

See, its hard to tell humor in here...the ewww malinois was meant to be a joke....
I will let you know next time she has something there and i happen to go.

I knew that was a joke, HD . I used to breed and show Malamutes, I knew a lot of Sammie breeders. I love that breed.

" the beauty of the breed is in it's utility"

Too many people use this phrase as an excuse to look past an ugly dog.  I'm sorry, I can't.  I dislike owning an ugly animal as much as I dislike owning a dog that is a nut case.  I need both pretty and utilitarian, and when I don't have them, I do complain about what's lacking.  I can't get past it.  I admit my shallowness when it comes to aesthetic, and do not apologize for it.  No more than I would apologize for wanting a solid stable animal in my home.

Nothing wrong with that, Xeph. LIfe is short.........

@Blitzen, my comment was not meant to be snide, and I don't think most people except you saw it as that. It reflects a factual occurrence in my life of having had many many GS. In terms of HD, these two dogs had temperaments that were moderate to severe in weak nerves/shyness. If I knew a line of GS that had a disproportionate amount of HD, I would shy away from it, the same goes for any other mental/ physical issue that isn't cosmetic. I am not a mean person, and you don't know me to insinuate that I always cast dispersions on anything. Ask Xeph's who has met me, unlike yourself, if I am the big bad wolf you try to project out of ignorance. This is a major problem in this breed, people talking about what they don't know, or people reading into things to support their likes. I have said countless times, that I don't care what lines a dog is from as long as it represents the breed....you choose to ignore those comments because of your agenda with me. The irony is that even rationale ASL breeders acknowledge the lack of strength in temperament in those lines. 

I've found myself referring to this thread as I watch my two dogs and compare.
One, a mix of GWL and A?L. As a pup he was hard core, ball driven, tug-of-war crazy; always push- push- push. Very hard bite and very willing to use it. Very visually driven, very little interest in following his nose. As an adult he is very attuned to my slightest expression, runs where I point to, listens (when he wants to!) and takes his jobs very seriously. Super confident, he checks people out then goes about his biz.
The other dog, still a youngster, is AL. He has that long, flowing, beautiful gait that started this thread and I would say he is 'soft' since he won't bite hard, his ball drive is minimal and he doesn't get tug of war. He is more suspicious and wary of people and already stands down anyone who comes through the gate. Very nose oriented, can catch a scent and follow it endlessly but unlike a hound will drop it in an instant when called off. With him it takes only a one time correction, verbal only, and he has the picture. He has good self control and is confident but cautious with new situations.
They are different as night and day. So what makes them the same breed?
Brains. LOTS of brains. Theses guys are team players. They are always asking, 'What's the game and what's my position in it?' No shows, no trials, no ribbons or medals. Just healthy, well built, intelligent dogs that are willing and able to learn whatever the job is. Intelligence is the unifying factor. GSD's have always been known for it and I'd like to see it stay that way regardless of the 'jobs' we ask them to do. Brains and plenty of power to back it up. Great combo.

The brains are definitely one of the main things that attracts me to this breed.

Let me tell you a quick little story...shortly after my husband passed away, I acquired a GSD rescue, and began training him to be my Hearing Ear dog. He'd been tied to a chain most of his life, and had NO IDEA what a knock on the door meant. For the other tasks, I was able to teach him myself, but for the door, I needed help.

Within 15 minutes, he'd mastered the task, and the trainer asked what else I wanted to work on, as I'd paid for a full hour. "How about the kitchen timer?" she said.

We did maybe two trials with the timer, then I said, "You  know, I rarely ever use this thing. Let's proof him on the important stuff like the alarm clock and smoke alarm."

Several months later, I'm sitting at my desk, timing some fish that's in the oven. The timer is right beside me, so I am sure to hear it beep. It goes off, and right away, Ranger comes and nudges my elbow.

WTF??, I think, I never trained him for this! He must be generalizing from the other sounds like the clock and smoke alarm!

Several days went past before I remembered about those two very brief trials with the timer! I'd forgetten, but HE hadn't! 

Oh, and what's his breeding for these very important tasks, that COULD save my life some day? (Without my hearing aid/cochlear implant, I can be standing right underneath the damn smoke alarm, and not hear it.)

Haven't a clue...a back yard breeder in the Gatineau area of Quebec, who drank himself to death shortly after I adopted the dog. He looks to be working lines, though, and has a beautiful, full-mouth grip and will tug until he wins. I never did schutzhund with him because he was a service dog, and that's supposed to be a no-no. His teeth are also worn to the gums in places, because while tied to that 8 foot chain, he used to chew on rocks for amusement. They were the only toys he had.  I thought he'd have a hard time gripping a sleeve with a mouth like that.

He is an excellent watch dog, but once someone is let into the house, he will be offering them his favourite toy within minutes. He's medium drive, and content to chill when in the house, but if things get too boring, he will come and stick his big head under my elbow, and try to pry me out of my chair...