What should I expect from a working line pup?

[Kentai]

Hey Everyone,

Thanks for helping me out with my question before about when to get my pup. I've been slowly working through as many threads on here as possible and learning a lot of really useful information about what to expect when I get my new puppy.

I have never owned a working line dog before so I just wondered if people could give me some help on what I should expect from a high drive dog, particularly in regards to training. I know it will get plenty of excercise though obviously not while he is young so the excess energy should not be an issue but i've got so many questions about what it will be like and I just want to learn as much as i can as early as possible.

Also is there anyone I can PM to ask about the breeder/lines I am getting him from? The kennels looked really great when I visited but i'd really appreciate any additional information or confirmation that I made the right choice?

Thanks,

[Chip Chesterfield III]

Have you ever had any pup before.?

Post your pups pedigree so we can have a gander.

a

[Vislor]

I'll be happy to give you my opinions on any working line breeder/litter. I warn you... it will be honest!

[Kentai]

I've had deerhound pups before one from a pet breeder and one from a show breeder but this is obviously a very different proposition to a working line GSD pup. I just want to learn as much as possible before it comes to bringing him home so I can try to prepare.

Sire (I belive this is the right dog):
Diggen vom Steinteich - German Shepherd Dog

Dam:
Gina vom Burgdorfer Holz - German Shepherd Dog

[Kentai]

Thank you very much,

I am a very active pet home so the dogs suitability for schutzhund is not of paramount importance but honest feedback on whether I have made the right choice is very welcome.

Like I said they looked really great when i visited but at the end of the day if there was something i didnt know or had made a seriouse mistake its only a deposit.

[Stuart]

Working line dogs can be very hard work indeed, they need to be continualy challenged, but they are also very intelligent and very capable of learning virtualy anything you want to try,...if they dont get the stimulas they need, they then become very restless, whiney, and unhappy dogs

One of the problems of owning a high activity dog, is what to do with him/her if ever you become housebound for whatever reason, its ok when the dog is getting the attention it needs, but what happens when you are sick

Kee, is only part working line, and she is bad enough, I have trained her for the treatmill on days when I cant get out with her, it is not very often, but she is hard to live with if I cant,..so the treadmill is very handy,..other than that it is scent games, hide and seek, anything to try and satisfy her

You dont have to go as far as the sport of Schuzhund, you could take up agility, or tracking, look for clubs now before you need them.

Rather than PM-ing anyone, ask any questions you like in open forum, that way we get to learn at the same time as you do, and you get more answers..we might have had our dogs longer, but no-one knows it all, so we would like to see the answers to the questions you need to ask too,..and remember no question is a daft one, if you dont know please ask

[Vislor]

Ah, Tony Masons dogs. I've heard of him through mutual friends he sounds ok from what I've heard.

Its definitely not an 'alarm bells' name!

[Lutgard 1]

A hard but rewarding life with your working line pup!

[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

[Moobli]

I am not completely new to working line dogs (having known a number of workline operational police dogs but that was a decade ago now! Time flies!) but am new to personal ownership of worklines. I have had my boy for two months and am really happy with him.

To be honest, I haven't really found him any harder work than either my showline boy or my obedience bred bitch when she was younger and he is a darn sight easier than my first GSD who was a failed police dog rehome.

Zak is easily trained, intelligent and always up for training/exercise. I do have a very active lifestyle though and am fortunate enough to live on a 14,000 acre estate with miles of tracks and footpaths for exercise, tracking and searching training etc.

Much probably depends on the lines your dog is from, and the drive of the individual dog. I got my working boy at 8 months and so had a good idea of his activity levels and drive etc before I decided to have him. The advice I was given when looking for a workline was just to be totally honest with the breeder about what you intend to do with your dog and the reasons for wanting a workline and they can generally advise which litter, and even which pup in a litter, might suit what you are after.

I have found that there is a lot of "talk" surrounding worklines, but actually there is no mystique to owning one, you just need to find the right lines and breeder and then give your dog plenty to do and involve them in your life as much as possible. Many workline dogs will spend their days in kennels waiting to be brought out to the training field or for a competition. I actually think an active pet home which includes daily training and lots of exercise is equally as good (if not better) than some competition or working homes.

As you haven't had a GSD before, just out of interest, why are you going for a workline?