East Working Line Ddr German Shepherds
- The East Working Line DDR German Shepherds are very sturdy & graceful dogs particularly long coated. They have really strong bones, large heads and expanded shoulders. These GSDs are used for military and search & rescue purposes.
- East Working Line DDR German Shepherds are mainly used to patrol territory borders and they are also excellent in tracking and attacking. DDR stands for Deutsche Demokratische Republik.
- The East Working Line GSDs have darkest colored coats among all GSD Lines. They are mostly black sable or sable, but some can be solid black, but it is very rare. Their backs are little sloped.
- These GSDs can resist extreme harsh weather conditions and long working days.
- These GSDs are more defensive and reserved in nature.
- The East Working Line DDR German Shepherd have very strict breeding standards. These GSDs are only allowed to breed if they are fit and free of hip dysplasia.
- Even puppies are tested for proper bone structure code quality temperament. If the bones in hip joint dont fit together correctly, one can develop a condition called hip dysplasia.
Facets A Good German Shepherd Temperament
While most working line breeders do not breed for the pet marketthey breed the true German Shepherd the way this breed was meant to be , based on the original standard and purpose of this breed. In my mind, one of the most important facets of a truly good German Shepherd temperament is the ability to make an outstanding pet. If he cannot bond heavily to his owner and family to be first and foremost a great companionthen his working ability becomes near meaningless to me as half of what he is supposed to have been is missing. A dog who falls apart if not worked 24 hours a day, paces endlessly in his kennel enough to wear out the pads on his feet until he is taken out to work, goes in circles all day chasing his tail, and is missing an “off” switch may happen to be an outstanding worker in certain fields, but is not a good German Shepherd in my mindand consequently, that is not a dog which I would breed as a German Shepherd Dog.
There is no component of what makes a good German Shepherd that the pet home does not need compared to the working home. Nerves? I will settle for nothing less than exemplary, topnotch nerves to trust any dog in a household with children, people coming and going, and a bustling family lifestyle. I would not leave anything less with my own childrenwhy should anyone else?
West German Working Line German Shepherds
The West German working line has been referred to as the most balanced in terms of appearance, temperament, and working ability.
Like its show line counterpart, it traces its origins back to West Germany, which existed when Germany was split into the East and West.
It is considered the closest representation of the types of dogs bred initially by Stephanitz.
In their breeding, greater focus is given to the correct working structure, a stable temperament, a strong working drive, and great ability.
The West German working line can be considered in contrast to the West German Show line, bred purposefully to work real jobs in service positions, but it also excels in many different sports.
Therefore, their bodies have been bred to take on a more defined working structure relative to the show line types.
Unlike the West German show lines, which were bred to conform to specific show standards, the West German working line was bred to excel in jobs such as protection and law enforcement particularly.
Nonetheless, the West German working line can also make for a great family pet with an active family.
Nevertheless, they require great attention in terms of exercise and mental stimulation due to the breed’s high working drive characteristic.
They have a lot of energy, and hence they need to be continuously occupied with high-intensity activities, lest they grow restless.
Subsequently, this build allows them to have a relatively balanced body, bred for speed, agility, and bite power.
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Types Of Show Line German Shepherds
Two of the most common show line German Shepherds are the West German Shepherd and the American German Shepherd.
West German Shepherd
The West German Shepherd is the counterpart to the East German Shepherd and is considered to be the closest breed line to the original dog that was created by Max von Stephanitz. There are both show line and working line West German Shepherds, but West German Shepherds are one of the most popular show lines because their look is considered to be the breed standard. Their backs are more sloped than the East German Shepherds, and they are not as physically powerful, either, though they can still hold their own compared to an East German Shepherd.
American German Shepherd
The American German Shepherd was bred with the most emphasis on its physical appearance. Its coat, typically tan or cream and black, is much lighter in color than other German Shepherd lines, which tend to be black, sable and black, or red and black. The American Kennel Club standard focused on the German Shepherds angled back and the flying gait or flying trot as desirable features. They are not bred as working dogs and are intended as family pets and for show.
West German Working Line Vs Ddr Working Line Vs Czech Shepherd
As covered above, working line German Shepherds can vary in utility across different dimensions. When choosing one that suits your needs, you must look at two factors: the context in which the dog was bred and how well the line was preserved. Lets look at each of these factors after comparing the breeds at a glance:
West German working line is more balanced in looks and working utility than DDR and Czech Shepherds. DDR GSDs are bred with a stricter emphasis on work, while the Czech line has recently become more appearance-focused. All working lines fare better in endurance compared to show line GSDs.
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How Much Does A Working Line German Shepherd Cost
On average, working line German Shepherds cost $1500, although some breeders charge up to $4000 depending on bloodline, experience, litter size, location, and health screening. If youve found a working line dog for any less, you must be suspicious of the bloodline purity and breeding practices.
Always insist on meeting the parents, check the living conditions, and do your due diligence.
Meeting Your Working Line Dog Needs
I tend to group dogs into two categories: working dogs and pet dogs. This is NOT to say that working line dogs cannot or do not make fabulous pets they certainly do As long as their needs are met.
In a nut shell the difference is that, generally speaking, a pet dog is happy fitting in with day to day life. As long as they receive basic training to teach manners, have regular physical and mental exercise, and companionship and time with their family then they are quite content. Yes, they may become bored occasionally and show some problem behaviours, however most of these can be addressed relatively easily. In most cases if a pet dog was asked to do the job that their breed was originally bred for, they would struggle!
A working line dog on the other hand requires lots more!
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Major Bloodlines Of The German Shepherd Dog
There is probably more variety among the various bloodlines of the German Shepherd Dog than any other breed. There are obvious differences in body structure and aesthetics. But the largest difference is the temperament.
Some will disagree with the following statements and thats ok. The article is an attempt to give insight for those who are seriously interested in the German Shepherd. It is written by a 30-year student of the breed who has bred and trained GSDs for nearly that long as well. As with most any breed, breeding is everything. The dogs pedigree shapes the dog. So heres a frank look at some bloodlines within the breed. Yes, there are good breeders and good dogs within each bloodline.
AmericanLine
Shepherds from Americanbreeding are typically taller and longer than those from Germany. Although there is a breed standard from theparent club, there is little-to-no oversight as what dogs can be bred. As long as they are fully registered, theycan breed. Few American GSDs meet theAmerican standard, especially the temperament section. As a result, the almighty dollar and the showring has created a German Shepherd that is different from those in the restof the world . Health problems plaque these bloodlines aswell, more so than quality European lines. The American shepherd is not required to pass a temperament test, anykind of endurance testing, and is not required to be free of dysplasia.
WestGerman Show Line
WestGerman Working Line
EastGerman DDR
Large Size And Energy
Working line GSDs are large dogs and require ample living space. Their height and weight do not make them suitable for apartments and small living spaces or people with a sedentary lifestyle. Although not hyperactive, they need a daily discharge of energy to prevent behavior problems and becoming destructive.
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German Shepherd Dogs Working Lines Vs Show Line
German Shepherds are one of the most loyal and caring dog breeds you will ever meet. German Shepherds typically come in different lines including working and show lines. Today we chose to highlight the differences between German Shepherd dogs working lines vs show line so that you can definitely choose which line you want to adopt from.
What Is A German Shepherd Show Line
To accommodate pet consumer demand, European dog breeders began creating the Show Line German Shepherd, also referred to as High Lines and Sieger Lines. These dogs must pass the basic certifications required by the SV, but they are primarily bred for winning appearances at dog shows and as family pets.
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These Are Our Amazing German Shepherd Dogs:
| OUR BOY TOR |
OUR BOY TOR SON OF THE ‘GREAT’VA Enosch von Amasis
| OUR BOY TRUCK – 1 YEAR OLD | OUR BOY ‘TRUCK’Click on photo for PEDIGREETruck is an awesome young male with brains, brains, brains! He has exceptional temperament and drive, along with strong red color pigment! He is an extraordinary mover, and a very sociable, happy boy. He is an extremely important member of our family and produces awesome puppies.He comes from exceptional bloodlines: |
SON OF THE ‘GREAT’VA3 Laban vom Emkendorfer Park
Types Of German Shepherd Dog
Popular in North America since the 1970’s, the American and Canadian show lines dominate the national kennel clubs and are intended to conform strictly to the standards set by each of the governing kennel clubs. The American line dog is what you see most commonly here in the US, or a variation of it. Also referred to as the Canadian Shepherd, they have a common ancestor in the original shepherd, however they are really a breed of their own and are much different than shepherds found in the rest of the world. Typically they are large, heavy, have more angulation, thinner bones and significantly smaller heads. They do not have the required temperament to be a working dog, and most are not capable of protection work. Health issues such as hip issues and skin allergies are a concern which may result in a very expensive total cost of ownership or untimely death.
Originating in the communist Czechoslovakia and built on a foundation of working dogs used primarily for border patrol work, the Czech bloodlines are dominated by dogs who have a foundation of popular border patrol dogs and Czech military dogs. Unique to the this type, the original breeding of Czech dogs revolved around the Czechoslovakian Armys Pohranicni Straze kennel. Some of the czech bloodlines contain phenomenal working drives and tend to be intense, agile working dogs.
Vom Geliebten Haus
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German Shepherd Breed History
Historically, German Shepherds originated in Germany and were used for herding purposes. They would lead the flock and protect it from predators.
The development of the German Shepherd Dog breed is credited to Cavalry Captain Max Emil Friedrich von Stephanitz back in the 1890s.
Stephanitz occupied himself by experimenting with dog breeding, intending to standardize the working shepherding dogs in Germany. In 1899, a shepherd dog named Hektor Linksrhein caught his attention at a dog show for it apparently possessed all the qualities he desired.
For that reason, he purchased the dog and changed its name to Horand von Grafath. This name is now known as the first-ever registered German Shepherd Dog in history and the main breeding stud that basically founded the breed as it is known today.
To this day, the standards and requirements that Stephanitz set for the breed are recognized around the world and are still followed strictly in Germany.
How Did The German Shepherd Lines Evolved
The discovery of Horands ability and genes became the core of the breeding system of working line GSD. Stephanitz continuously worked on the inbreeding procedures using Horands bloodline. The results were successful when out of Horand came Schwaben and Beowulf which became the origin of the present German Shepherd worklines.
In 1907, German Shepherd Dog became more popular in America when its first exposure happened there. It was in America, where GSD shows became more famous because of this new breed.
The development of the cross-breeding process of working line GSD greatly improved during the Second World War in order to help both the Axis Powers and Forces for both military and paramilitary activities.
After the war, both America and Germany became highly strict in breeding and training program of the German Shepherd working lines.
Presently, the breeding program of German Shepherd lines can be either for working purpose or for show or domestic purpose which will be further discussed below.
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What You Need To Know About Working Line German Shepherds
The German Shepherds origin story had nothing to do with dog shows or cosmetic appeal. Originally bred in the waning years of the 19th century, the German Shepherd breed was the product of Max von Stephanitzs obsession with creating a line of dogs that were intelligent and strong enough to perform physically demanding, and even dangerous, jobs while maintaining a loving and loyal nature for their masters. In this singular goal, von Stephanitz was completely successful as the countless generations of German Shepherd working dogs can attest.
Stephanitz established the strict guidelines for the breed in 1899 with the progenitor of the breed and started the Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde . In the 120 years since the advent of the German Shepherd breed, there have been three distinct versions of the working line breed.:
- The West German Working Line: When you think German Shepherd, this is the version of the breed that typically comes to mind. A healthy temperament for owners of all ages, this type of working GSD excels on the job and at home with the family.
- The East German/DDR Working Line: This breed was developed during World War II and is the version of the breed used mostly by the military due to their athletic bodies and unmatched work ethic.
- TheCzech Working Line: An offshoot of the DDR line, this version of the breed comes from a single breeding kennel and can are typically used in both military and police work.
Behavior And Temperament Differences:
As physical characteristics changed from dog to dog. as the same, the behavior of every dog is also varied. Many factors affect the behavior of the dog. But the main factor is that how you trained a dog. Show line dogs are not socialistic. They are feared of people. On the contrary, the working line GSD feels easy and comfortable among the people. There are also many other behavior differences in both of them that are mentioned in the table.
| Characteristics | |
| Excellent | Medium/low |
Working line German Shepherds are used for working purposes. Due to their aggressive nature, they are mostly used for protection. The show GSD line is calm and lazy. This characteristic increases their use in dog shows. This polite nature of the show line also makes them family dog.
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Finding A Puppy Who Is The Best Fit For You
Finding a good, ethical breeder is one of the most important ways to ensure you are getting off to the right start in obtaining the puppy who will be the best fit for you and your household. Breeders observe their puppies personalities and drives and can match the right puppy to the right individual or family.
You may also wish to acquire a puppy from one of the breed-rescue organizations listed in the AKC Rescue Network currently, over 40 GSD rescues are listed, a testament to the popularity of this magnificent breed. If you choose this route, be sure to discuss with the breed rescue organization your needs and what you are looking for in a puppy they should also be able to help you find the puppy whose temperament and personality will be the best match for you.
Nadia Adams of Oher Tannen German Shepherd Dogs has been a GSD breeder for 15 years and comments, A well-bred German Shepherd Dog is highly intelligent, thriving on praise and wanting to please the owner. This combination makes them very trainable, which is one of the most appealing qualities of the breed.
This breeds high level of intelligence and strong willingness to work mean your GSD must receive consistent and ongoing training from an early age. A bored GSD is a destructive GSD. That said, states Adams, the sky is the limit, if the owner ca devote a good amount of quality time to the dog, especially during the critical first year of life.