German Shepard Puppy
Who does not love a puppy, especially a furry, playful German Shepard Puppy? Over the years breeders have split into three categories; Sporting, Working, and Show lines for German Shepherds. It is very important to understand what line you are getting and why you want that line. Before we dig into those lines, I want to say you can find pure German shepherds at your local humane society. If you are not looking to show your dog or use it for sport or work, I highly encourage you to visit your local humane society and save a life. With that said you can still do some amazing things with a pound puppy when you do the right training with them. Foundation Style Dog Training, LIMA, and understanding ethology can take you a long way with any dog without relying on genetics.
What is a sporting line German Shepard?
Sporting line German Shepard puppies are bred with high levels of barrier frustration, so they can easily do a bark and hold. If you get a German Shepard puppy with high barrier frustration, they will be very vocal when they cannot get to something or out of something such as a kennel.
Sporting lines German Shepard will have a high prey drive and will enjoy working and playing for long hours. They are not lazy dogs that will be happy with a 30-minute walk each day. They will want to chase, bite, and play tug.
What is a show line German Shepard?
Show line German Shepard’s puppies are bred to meet AKC’s breed standard a major difference is the look of the dog where sport and working lines are bred for temperament and ability not the right “look”. According to the AKC:
Hindquarters: The whole assembly of the thigh, viewed from the side, is broad, with both upper
and lower thigh well muscled, forming as nearly as possible a right angle. The upper thigh bone
parallels the shoulder blade while the lower thigh bone parallels the upper arm. The metatarsus
(the unit between the hock joint and the foot) is short, strong and tightly articulated. The
dewclaws, if any, should be removed from the hind legs. Feet as in front.
They will typically have less drive, aggression, and limited barrier frustration. A dog will be disqualifying if they attempt to bite a judge.
What is a working line, German Shepard?
In the United States, it is becoming harder and harder to find true working-line German Shepard Puppies. This is mostly due to the only people who want this kind of dog are police, military, and some private security contractors. For the most part, these agencies import and breed their own dogs such as the LAPD.
Working-line German Shepherd Puppies are high-drive, extremely prey-driven, and clear-headed. These dogs have little to no bite inhibition. They are typically bigger than show-line German shepherds. These dogs must work, they will have behavioral problems if they are not given an outlet for their high drive to work.
What type of German Shepard Puppy is right for you?
That is a question only you can answer. Do you plan on getting an AKC dog and want to win dog shows? Do you want a great dog to sport work like IPO or French Ring? Do you need a dog that will bite first and ask questions later?
Whatever direction you go when selecting a German Shepard puppy, be sure to do your homework on the breeder, check for health screening on the parents, and ask for references. In addition, always consider your local humane society or German Shepard rescue. No matter what dog you get, dogs only know what you teach them so teach them right. Every handler has the dog they deserve. Train Safe Train Smart
Cite
AKC German Shepard Breed Standard. 1994