Working line cross - Page 4

Wait...if I cross showline with working line, won't I be getting shit on my gold?    I heard that once on the net, so it MUST be true!  But which dog is supposed to be gold??

The show world is so specialized that a couple of millimetres in ear length or carriage can make the difference between a first place ribbon and a second. With such a 'cookie cutter' mentality, of COURSE the show folks do NOT want to outcross their dogs to anything that might change the appearance. The show world is all about uniformity, which is why many breeders of working dogs (ANY kind of working dog, not just GSDs) opposed the showring. Some breed clubs have even fought long and hard against breed recognition because they knew the show ring would ruin their breed, or at least cause it to split into working lines and show lines.

I believe genetic diversity is healthy for a breed, and have nothing against crossing lines. But then, I'm not breeding for the show ring, and probably never will.

SS, do you really think it's only the show line breeders who  pitch a fit over crossing the lines? I don't. Not by a long shot.

Blitzen, reread my first paragraph to answer your question!   

Oh, and here's my 'nervebag' cross between lines...  

I did read you first paragraph. It's the second that looks like you think show people won't breed to working line dogs.

The show world is so specialized that a couple of millimetres in ear length or carriage can make the difference between a first place ribbon and a second. With such a 'cookie cutter' mentality, of COURSE the show folks do NOT want to outcross their dogs to anything that might change the appearance. The show world is all about uniformity, which is why many breeders of working dogs (ANY kind of working dog, not just GSDs) opposed the showring. Some breed clubs have even fought long and hard against breed recognition because they knew the show ring would ruin their breed, or at least cause it to split into working lines and show lines.

What am I missing? Ask Jenni who gave her the most grief when she bred her WL to a GSL.

Currently I am watching a litter out of a WL female, mostly Czech lines,  bred to a GSL x ASL sire. Both parents have advanced OB titles. 3 or 4 of the pups have been retained for OB and SAR training. They are only 7 months so it's too soon to tell how it worked out. The pups' conformation looks good to me, one blk x tan, 6 sables.

I just don't agree that when a serious breeder of either line, and by serious I mean the people who get to the front of the line, are "hating" when they give their opinion on things like this. They know what it took to be successful and I have never met one who spent their time worring what the other guy does.

How many times have very successful people stated here, to paraphrase, you are not likely to get the best of either line. Everyone who breeds has their own vision of direction they want their dogs to go and what they feel is needed or lacking in their dogs.

The bottom line is that breeders who participate and have goals in show/sport/work/LE will do what gets results in their area of participation.

People who don't participate and just sling around phrases like sl or w/l or cross or czech, whatever, are just looking for an edge in puppy sales to a pet market.

Actually I don't think it's anyone else's business which dogs are bred to which dogs. I think it's interesting to see what different combinations produce and how the litters turn out.

I am puzzled why any "just starting off" breeder, as Rockbottomranch seems to be, would want to buy a stud dog anyway.  Makes far more sense to just pay a stud fee and see what you get.  Then if you don't get the result you hoped for, you can simply use a different dog next time, chosen to avoid what you were less keen on in the previous litter and if you are over the moon, you can repeat it.  Much cheaper and less hassle than keeping a stud that may turn out unsuited to your female and even if he suits her just fine, if you keep anything you have to find another dog anyway..  Once you've proven what bloodlines suit your female, then you can choose a male to buy from the same lines and minimise the gamble.

Margaret N-J

Kaffir, this practise makes me wonder all the time.
As soon as people think logically, it´s way better to invest in good females, and choose a stud out of all the studs available.

Same folks still here I see.  Howdy.