Correct temperment, What is it? - Page 2

Dawulf--AMAZING link.  If only other GSD related websites were HALF that informative.  Love it.  

Jim, likewise, your rich, informative text will also, quite likely, fall on deaf ears--or simply never be read at all by the "my-dog-is-just-SWELL-at-dockdiving-SO-screw-the-original-working-dog-standard!" crowd.


SMH

= 1 dog
DNA   Epigenetics   In-Utero Nutrition    Maternal Influence   Vim/Vigor   Imprinting   Vaccinations  Volhard Puppy Temperament Test

Pack Structure   Genetic Obedience   Socialization  Intellectual Stimulation   Blood Panel/Physiology   Skeletal   ZVV3/IPO3/VH3/PSA1,2,3

VPG3/KKL 1 tr. 5JV1/P  SAR  CGC  FH1&2   ZtP   Service Dog   Ch   True/Original Pedigree   Nature/Nurture  (Indefinite List)   = Temperament


The word correct is subjective; In other words whatever turns you on.

Per the FCI Breed Standard
The German Shepherd Dog must be well-balanced (with strong nerves) in terms of character, self-assured, absolutely natural and (except for a stimulated situation) good natured as well as attentive and willing to please. He must possess instinctive behavior, resilience and self-assurance in order to be suitable as a companion, guard, protection, service and herding dog.

 

Working Dogs
an attempt to produce a strain of german shephrds which combines working ability and beauty of conformation
elliot humphrey and lucien warner

is a good source to understand the correct temperament of a GSD.


 

Humphrey and Lucien Warner produced a 1934 book Working Dogs with an extensive report on this program and a broad discussion of working dogs in general, which is even today an important reference work. In this book they take notice of the separation of German Shepherd lines for work and show, even in the very early years:
"It will be remembered that at the turn of this century the German Shepherd as a breed began to split into two strains. The one produced beautiful dogs, including all the show winners. The other produced working dogs, including all the working champions. No dog of the championship strains born since 1909 has produced winners in both show and working classes. Thus the cleavage is complete."
(Humphrey & Warner, 1934) p226

The book has a statistical break down, a lot of work in the days before Excel

did i not say on the other thread the experts will only be able to come up with some flowery descriptions based on the written standard.

hell the experts can't even agree on the "correct" shape or color of a "correct" gsd.

face it, the gsd is what anyone thinks it is, even if it is limited to pure fantasy.

You know, Vk4GSD, you sneer at the breed standard, but if breeders and judges paid MORE attention to the breed standard, the breed would be much closer to what its BREED FOUNDER envisioned.

Here's the temperament section for the German Shepherd Dog Club of Canada breed standard. Part of it is word for word the same as the American standard.
  Temperament   The breed has a distinct personality marked by a direct and fearless, but not hostile, expression, and self-confidence and a certain aloofness, which does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships. The Shepherd Dog is not one that fawns upon every new acquaintance. At the same time, it should be approachable, quietly standing its ground and showing confidence and a willingness to meet overtures without itself making them. It should be poised, but when the occasion demands, eager and alert, both fit and willing to serve in any capacity as companion, watch dog, blind leader, herding dog or guardian; whichever the circumstances may demand. The Shepherd Dog must not be timid, shrinking behind its master or handler, nervous, looking about or upward with anxious expression or showing nervous reactions to strange sounds or sights, or lackadaisical, sluggish, or manifestly disinterested in what goes on about him. Lack of confidence under any surroundings is not typical of good character. Cases of extreme timidity and nervous unbalance sometimes give the dog an apparent, but totally unreal, courage and it becomes a "fear biter," snapping not for any justifiable reason but because it is apprehensive of the approach of a stranger. This is a serious fault subject to heavy penalty.  

great article dawulf!

Is this going to be another working vs show, my dog is better than your dog argument?

Why is it that the will to serve is seldom mentioned in these sorts of threads? Without that inborn sense in any GSD it will not be able to meet even the simplest demands of its owner. It won't be a LE K-9, a service dog, a dock diver, a protection dog or a satisfactory companion to most. That is mentioned in the Canadian standard Sunsilver posted above -

"It should be poised, but when the occasion demands, eager and alert, both fit and WILLNG TO SERVE in any capacity as companion, watch dog, blind leader, herding dog or guardian; whichever the circumstances may demand".

To those who like to look down their noses at dock diving dogs, OB dogs, agility dogs, try it yourself and see how easy it is. Try to breed a single dog that will be able to get a V rating, a KKL1, an IPO3, OB titles, agility titles..... Easy to sit back and condemn something one has never tried to accomplish with one's own dog. The day of the tending dog is nearing the end. The goal today should be to produce a versatile dog, one that will do anything that is asked of him, a dog with the will to serve no matter what he or she is asked to do. Until you have challenged yourself and your dogs in all venues, you have no clue what it can and can't do and whether or not it has inherited that all important will to serve.

Joy Tiz no longer trains dogs, she is now on Fox News and other conservative talk shows.