When you study a dog's pedigree both vertically and horizontally, it tells you of the dog's genetic potential and the possibilities of what it could be. When you watch a dog working or performing in an event or competition, it shows you its capabilities and what the dog looks and appears to be. However, when you look at that same dog's offspring and producing record together with how it's progeny look, work and perform, it is only then will you know what the dog really is, and what it has to offer and contribute to the breed. - French's German Shepherds
There are often differences in understandings, terminologies and definitions of what a "Working Dog" is, especially with German Shepherds. Some would define dogs only involved in IGP (Schutzhund/IPO) as "Working Dogs." Others would use the term, "Working Dogs" to differentiate between "IGP (Schutzhund/IPO) Lines and "Show Lines," especially "American Show Line" dogs that are bred according to "Breed Standards" to compete in Conformation Shows.
We would respectfully disagree with those assertions for such differentiations. IGP (Schutzhund/IPO) is a 3 part program that includes tracking, obedience and protection. Many Conformation Champions and Grand Champions have "Performance Titles." A Herding Dog is indeed a working dog. Service Dogs including Seeing Eye Dogs for the Blind are Working Dogs. Disaster, Tracking, and Search and Recovery (SAR) dogs are Working Dogs. The German Shepherd Dog is one of the most versatile breeds of dogs known to man and dog. Just because a German Shepherd Dog does not do bite work does not mean it is not a "Working Dog." Working Dogs can also be attractive in appearance.
Wikipedia defines a "Working Dog" as a "canine working animal, i.e., a type of dog that is not merely a pet but learns and performs tasks to assist and/or entertain its human companions." Many Show Line German Shepherds have Show and Performance Titles in Conformation, Herding and Farm Activities, Obedience, Scent Activities as Tracking, Agility, and for use as Service, Therapy and Emotional Support. The graphic below shows different German Shepherd Lines.
In North America, there are three dominant lines/types of German Shepherd Dogs:
American Show: American Kennel Club (AKC), United Kennel Club (UKC) and Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) Lines,
German Lines, both Working and Show, and;
Other European Working Lines.
There are strengths and weaknesses of each of the distinct
different lines/types of dogs depending on the desired use of a
German Shepherd dog. Unfortunately, subjective personal
preferences, likes and dislikes as well as kennel blindness can
enter into the discussions of lines/types of dogs. French's
German Shepherds appreciates the German Shepherd breed diversity. We embrace and
promote the "Total Dog" and strive to breed multipurpose,
multidisciplined German Shepherd Dogs for both show, work and
performance.
American Show Lines
In North American there are actually 2 sets of American Show Dog
lines; "Responsible Conformation Breeders" and "Pet Quality
Breeders." The vast majority of German Shepherd Dogs in the United
States are "Pet/Companion Quality" from "Pet Quality Breeders" and "Backyard Breeders" available at a lower cost than "Responsible Breeders."
The difference is "Responsible Breeders" are concerned with
improving the Intelligence, Breed, Health, Temperament, Quality, Type,
adhering to Breed
Standards and participate in competition, while "Pet/Companion Quality Breeders" main concern
is that the parents
of a litter are registered and purebred dogs.
West German Lines
We
believe the West
German Working line GSD’s are the closest representation of the
German Shepherd dogs developed by Max von Stephanitz. Stephanitz
is the person credited for developing the breed and the one who
set the breed standard’s guidelines. He was also the first
president of the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde, also known as
S.V..
The West German
Working Line’s main focus is on stable temperament, high and
strong drives, and excellent working ability. Aside from the
line’s working ability, the West German working line is also bred
for their stunning looks. The West Germans prefer calmer demeanor
and perfect colors. The backs of West German working lines are
often more sloped than the DDR/East German working lines – but they
can remain as energetic and active as the DDR/East German working
lines. In West Germany, health evaluations were not historically as strict so
this line may encounter more health problems than their East
German lines.
In 2017 French's German Shepherds introduced high quality West German Shepherd Show and Working Dog Lines into our 2nd generation existing American Show Lines. There are some who assert that a highly titled IGP 3 (Schutzhund 3 or IPO 3) Sieger or Siegeren is beauty over function. French's German Shepherds believe dogs can be both attractive and perform as Working Dogs. A German Shepherd does not have to be ugly to be functional. We simply ask those who make such assertions, "How many National Champions or World Championship level Schutzhund 3's/IPO 3's have they trained or owned?" We have been selecting certified sires for breeding (KKLI/KKLII), to improve the quality of our lines at a top world-class level.
Additionally, the Universal Sieger Program was designed to
promote the breeding of the German Shepherd Dog in the United States
of America, addressing both physical qualities and character
attributes. The Universal Sieger reveals the most impressive feature
of the breed’s versatile working abilities.
East German Lines (DDR)
This type of
German Shepherds is bred to endure terrible weather conditions and
long working days. This line is referred to as being "Hard Dogs. "Their main purpose was to patrol territory
borders, but they also worked as tracking, search and rescue,
police and military dogs. These dogs were bred to have lasting endurance and athleticism. Unlike show
lines, they also tend to be more aloof and defensive. The East
German Communist Party took control of the breeding and registration
of the German Shepherd pedigree and made the German Shepherd part of
its military. They were specifically bred to be muscular, have strong, large
heads and to have incredible athleticism and power. If any of the
German Shepherds showed signs of a weak temperament, hip dysplasia
or any other disease they were not used for breeding. After
generations of breeding, this line became an extremely agile, pain
tolerant, extreme drive, athletic warrior type dogs and
unique in its working abilities.
Read More...
French's German Shepherds were asked to
breed Chopper Maroshek (MPC), the famous Czech Working Line
SEAL Dog into our "Total Dog" lines.
This request began a breeding line that will produce
Germans
Shepherds totally black in color. We are in the final stages for developing this type of breeding program and
have acquired an East German (DDR) female for this Chopper line.
Czech Working Lines
The
original and the development of breeding the Czech working
happened in the Pohranicni Straze kennel of the Czechoslovakian
Army and are known for their phenomenal working drives. They are
considered "Hard Dogs" and often more agile and intense than other lines. Most of these dogs
were remnants from the former East Germany. However, the dogs from
the Czech Socialist Republic were also used in this strict
breeding program. Like the East German Working line, the Czech
Working Line is powerful and agile. Their coats also have dark
pigments. These dogs are bred for stringent work and can excel in
agility, obedience, and protection jobs.
Read More...
French's German Shepherds have been approached to breed Chopper Maroshek (MPC) the famous Czech Working Line SEAL Dog into our "Total Dog" lines. This request is to begin a breeding line that will produce Germans Shepherds that are totally black in color. We are in the initial planning stages for developing this type of breeding program and hope to also include a Czech dog in our lines.
Main Different Lines and Types of the German Shepherd Dog
In the breed circles of the German Shepherd Dog, a controversial subject is a discussion of American Show Lines and Working Dogs. The founder of the German Shepherd Breed, Max von Stephanitz developed a Breed Standard based on mental stability and utility. The Captain's motto was "Utility and Intelligence." To him beauty was secondary, and a dog was worthless if it lacked the intelligence, temperament, and structural efficiency that would make it a good servant of man. Some American Show Line German Shepherd Champions do not have the ability to work or even pass a herding instinct test to be a "Shepherd" as the name of the breed implies.
This is why French's German Shepherds and other likeminded breeders have breeding programs for the "Total Dog." A well-bred German Shepherd Dog is virtually unsurpassed in its working versatility when compared to other breeds. The breed is popular because of its strength, agility, athleticism, hardiness, intelligence, enhanced hearing and scent abilities, trainability and obedience. A German Shepherd Dog is a loyal, devoted faithful working dog and companion.
Who would you rely on for canine detection and protection knowledge - sports and club participants in controlled environments never even having bred or trained a "National Champion," let alone a "World Ranked" dog? Or those with Nationally and World ranked and titled dogs - well-bred and trained dogs owned by Special Forces Operators, Veterans, Navy SEALs and Special Forces Canine Handlers with proven "real world actual life and death experiences" in war zones and uncontrolled environments?
Fun Facts: One factor that sets the breed of the German Shepherd
apart from other breeds is their intelligent work ethic. They
need jobs, challenging ones to thrive.
