What should I expect from a working line pup?

[Kentai]

Thanks for the help everyone,

Thanks Vislor, I thought Tony was a really good guy and seemed to know his stuff when I went down to visit but its good to hear that other people who know a lot more obviously agree.

Its good to hear that people who provide enough excercise seem to get on pretty well with them in the house. I'm just trying to build up a picture of how this new pup will fit in once he's here but I think im prepared for a rocky ride till he matures now I think whats scared me is the amount of chat about working line/showline and how different they are!

The reason I decided to go for a working line is that I live in a rural area and have a very active lifestyle which I think a more athletic dog would enjoy. Typically weekends are spent camping/hiking in the lakes and during the week its rare that my current dog gets less than 4 miles walking off the lead and chasing rabbits and pheasents as they appear. Also I really love how sharp and alert they always appear, I'd like to train tracking and obidience work with him as well as a good range of fun tricks and games. Our deerhound has got to about the limit of her willingness with tricks and obidiance and I really want a dog that will have the scope to do all the things I'd like to do in the future. My deerhound gets about half hours training on an evening but sadly she gets bored after that

I think whatever I chose it was always going to be a GSD but I guess im just looking for some reassurance I've not signed myself up for something I cant handle!

Ps: Stuart, Id not heard much about using a treadmill to supplement excercise before. Do your dogs enjoy it? Do you just use a human treadmill with a long base or a specific dog one? Maybe sounds like a silly question but do they not get bored? Only becasue I know i do lol

[Chip Chesterfield III]

I have had chip for just over 4 months, he is 6 months now. He is working line gsd.

He is quite happy running around the yard or laying down chewing a bone or anything else he gets a hold of.

It's when I bring out a ball or a tug the fun starts, he just won't stop.

He prefers the ball to food or praise or anything.

I think it's pretty much up to you to make your pup whatever you want.

You can make him a high drive adrenalin junkie if you want or don't encourage his drives and he will become a couch potato.

I am hoping to have both, a sociable friendly dog around the yard but able to be switched on for work when desired.

a

[Moobli]

Originally Posted by Sylvieliz

Highly intelligent, highly active, not being rude but if your not the same would not bother. Can make smashing dogs but working dogs are bred to work and if they are not kept fully occupied and under control can become a problem.
Not an easy ride but could end up with a dog in a million.
Wish you all the luck in the world x

Haha I love that ... I am definitely going to say the very same thing to people wanting a working border collie as a pet

[Moobli]

Originally Posted by Chip Chesterfield III

I have had chip for just over 4 months, he is 6 months now. He is working line gsd.

He is quite happy running around the yard or laying down chewing a bone or anything else he gets a hold of.

It's when I bring out a ball or a tug the fun starts, he just won't stop.

He prefers the ball to food or praise or anything.

I think it's pretty much up to you to make your pup whatever you want.

You can make him a high drive adrenalin junkie if you want or don't encourage his drives and he will become a couch potato.

I am hoping to have both, a sociable friendly dog around the yard but able to be switched on for work when desired.

a

That sounds very much like my lad. I have found working german shepherds to be very social and adaptable. Mine has easily fitted into my lifestyle. The more you build their drives by working them, the higher they get but if you don't work them and just give them plenty of exercise (as well as obedience training) then it seems possible to keep them quite mellow

My good friend, a police dog instructor who has had working lines for the past 30 years, told me that is a lot of untruth spoken about having a continental working line GSD. Some sport type folk over-rev them on biting and build on already high prey drive and these type of dogs could then give problems in an inexperienced home.

Kentai - if you are honest with your breeder and keep your feet on the ground, treat your WL as you would any other GSD, train him and give him plenty of exercise then I think you will be absolutely fine.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Kentai

Ps: Stuart, Id not heard much about using a treadmill to supplement excercise before. Do your dogs enjoy it? Do you just use a human treadmill with a long base or a specific dog one? Maybe sounds like a silly question but do they not get bored? Only becasue I know i do lol

Here is a short film of Kee on the trewadmill, she always seems to enjoy it, as she is often seen standing on it hoping I will turn it on

On the days when she does use it, she now doing and hour at 5 mph

Just on dogs in general, I spend a great deal of time out in the hills camping with all my dogs, I go off for days on end,.. you dont need a working line dog to enjoy that kind of activity,... I would suggest that you look at none working line as well, they will be good for your lifestyle and probaly less work

PICT0003 - YouTube

[Kentai]

Thanks for the video Stuart, I had not heard of supplementing a dogs excercise with the treadmill before, but I will certainly look at investing in one as my pup gets older just incase I cant get out for as long as usual one day.

I've chatted quite a lot with the breeder and the posts here confirm what I was hoping to hear, so I think it sounds like a WL dog should fit in fine with my life and I am so exited about the challenge of having a new dog to teach and train! As Chip said it would be fantastic to have a dog that will relax in the house but can really switch on when its time to work. Counting down the days now. May seems like ages away and time is dragging so slowly now I know my pup will be coming

Thanks for all the help everyone, I will keep reading the boards to try to keep learning as much as possible and let you all know when I pick my new puppy up in May!

[Moobli]

It is great that you think a WL will suit you and your lifestyle, and I look forward to hearing all about your pup (and seeing lots of pics!) when he/she arrives