Recommend a GREAT German Sheppard Breeder with in an hour of Lancaster

**son of the revolution** · May 2nd, 2009, 03:00 PM

As in the title , can anyone recommend a GREAT German Sheppard Breeder with in an hour of Lancaster ? We have a Pure Bred AKC Golden Retriever already . We've wanted a Sheppard for sometime now , both as a companion for our Golden , but also because the same Golden thinks that everyone that comes by is here to play with him ! Dont get me wrong , he's fantastic with the kids , and I do think if push came to shove he would attack to defend any one of us , but a Sheppard is going to be a much greater deterrant .

Kinda of thinking of it like the Golden is my CC Weapon ( out of sight , benign and innocent looking ; till the SHTF)

While the German Sheppard would be my OC Weapon ( Highly visible deterrant effect , but also totally benign until the situation dictates otherwise )

Anyway , we'd be looking for a breeder , somewhere within an hours drive of Lancaster City . Obviously for purebred's , preferably one that deals with " working dogs for Police/Search and Rescue , etc . One that handles the European German Sheppard blood line would be desiriable as well . Its my understanding the European lines of Sheppards tend to be larger in size, especially across the chest , they tend to have less a problem of hereditary hip displyasia issues and they also tend to weigh more .

Anyone have any recomendations ????

**Exbiker** · May 2nd, 2009, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by son of the revolution

As in the title , can anyone recommend a GREAT German Sheppard Breeder with in an hour of Lancaster ? We have a Pure Bred AKC Golden Retriever already . We've wanted a Sheppard for sometime now , both as a companion for our Golden , but also because the same Golden thinks that everyone that comes by is here to play with him ! Dont get me wrong , he's fantastic with the kids , and I do think if push came to shove he would attack to defend any one of us , but a Sheppard is going to be a much greater deterrant .

Kinda of thinking of it like the Golden is my CC Weapon ( out of sight , benign and innocent looking ; till the SHTF)

While the German Sheppard would be my OC Weapon ( Highly visible deterrant effect , but also totally benign until the situation dictates otherwise )

Anyway , we'd be looking for a breeder , somewhere within an hours drive of Lancaster City . Obviously for purebred's , preferably one that deals with " working dogs for Police/Search and Rescue , etc . One that handles the European German Sheppard blood line would be desiriable as well . Its my understanding the European lines of Sheppards tend to be larger in size, especially across the chest , they tend to have less a problem of hereditary hip displyasia issues and they also tend to weigh more .

Anyone have any recomendations ????

What are you willing to pay and if you get from working lines how much activity are you willing to give it? Where will it stay, in house or kennel?
You are looking at 1000 to 3000 and a dog that will need formal training.

PS it`s a Shepherd and true European dogs are smaller then American over sized dogs.

**son of the revolution** · May 2nd, 2009, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by Exbiker

What are you willing to pay and if you get from working lines how much activity are you willing to give it? Where will it stay, in house or kennel?
You are looking at 1000 to 3000 and a dog that will need formal training.

PS it`s a Shepherd and true European dogs are smaller then American over sized dogs.

LOL , Im going to assume your the resident expert Im looking for since I see you have one as your avatar !

Activity is not a problem at all , our Golden gets worked out at least every other day , in addition to the normal playing with the kids , walks , etc .

Our dogs ( past and present ) have always been a member of the family , full run of the house ( after crate training ) . The only real limitations is no sleeping on the bed or furniture ( but my wife is even starting to relax that one ) .The golden is usually on the floor next to our bed , or sleeping outside the kids room , if not IN their room with them .

Didnt know about having the size difference reversed . I have been told for years the European lines were bigger . Learn something new everyday

When you say " formal training " are you talking about the basics ? Sit , Lay , Heel , Come , Stay , etc ?? Or do you mean actual K9 Type ?

Working dog training is what Id be interested in .

**Exbiker** · May 2nd, 2009, 06:17 PM

http://workinggermanshepherd.com/ near Carlisle. Molly has nice dogs.

http://www.dekka-haus.com/

http://www.kromerhaus.com/gsd.htm

http://www.wolfstraum.net/

http://www.charwillkennels.com/shepherds.htm

**Exbiker** · May 5th, 2009, 01:20 PM

http://www.workingdogs.com/standard_fci.htm

If I did the metric convesions right:

Males
height at withers...23.6" to 25.6"
weight...66 to 88 pounds

Females
height at withers...21.7" to 23.6"
weight...49 to 71 pounds

**••SpraynPray••** · May 5th, 2009, 01:26 PM

have fun picking your dog! GSD's are the best Family dog in my opinion and I think anyone with energy and a big enough backyard should own one.

Good Luck!!! =D

**Tomcat088** · May 5th, 2009, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by son of the revolution

LOL , Im going to assume your the resident expert Im looking for since I see you have one as your avatar !

Activity is not a problem at all , our Golden gets worked out at least every other day , in addition to the normal playing with the kids , walks , etc .

Our dogs ( past and present ) have always been a member of the family , full run of the house ( after crate training ) . The only real limitations is no sleeping on the bed or furniture ( but my wife is even starting to relax that one ) .The golden is usually on the floor next to our bed , or sleeping outside the kids room , if not IN their room with them .

Didnt know about having the size difference reversed . I have been told for years the European lines were bigger . Learn something new everyday

When you say " formal training " are you talking about the basics ? Sit , Lay , Heel , Come , Stay , etc ?? Or do you mean actual K9 Type ?

Working dog training is what Id be interested in .

Ex biker is absolutely right about the size differences. The German bloodlines are smaller, and many times their coloring is quite what most people who are used to seeing American Shepherds. I would describe it as a bit more "unrefined" than the American lines. Their faces are actually quite a bit different, I find the American blood lines faces to be more handsome. The problem with some of the American lines has to do with the people that breed only for show. They have stressed the angular lines of the hips so much, that it's becoming a fault (in my opinion), and you're starting to see more and more hip problems with some of the American lines. It has to do with where the hips are located under the animal, and how they have to carry their weight. The angular lines of SOME of the American shepherds is getting so extreme that their hips aren't really under them the way they are on the German lines, and they're having to support themselves with mostly muscular strength, and not the actual bone stability.

Many of the show breeders are losing touch with the personality traits that make GSD's what they are. It sounds like you have the right idea behind what you are looking for, a working dog. Try not to get caught up as much on the showmanship and the bloodlines. I don't know the area, but if there is a military base or something like that around, you may want to speak to them. The major bases here in Texas usually adoption programs to adopt their retired GSD's that have come back from Iraq. Most of them are great dogs, many of them not even injured. Just something to consider. Depending on what you expect from your GSD, you may or may not want to have it do some "K9 training". Either way, they're wonderful dogs and best of luck to you.