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German Shepard vs DDR or Czech lines? Login/Join 
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I have had 2 WGSD’s in a row, both were rescues and adults(3 and 9 years old). I have been thinking about when they go what my next dog would be and was thinking about another Shepard of some type. I want to get away from the health and hip problems and a smaller dog than what American Shepard s tend to run. I know we have a lot of dog knowledge here so I was hoping to get some guidance. It would be a family dog, just my girlfriend and I, there are young grandkids that come visit from time to time. I would also appreciate any breeder suggestions.

Thanks
Ed


" The people shall have a right to bear arms, for the defense of themselves and the State" Art 1 Sec 32 Indiana State Constitution

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Posts: 3761 | Location: Northwest, In | Registered: December 03, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Have you thought about a Malnois? They tend to be a tic smaller, but the shorter coat makes them seem much smaller than the Shepard.

Still susceptible to hip/elbow dysplasia, but generally better joints compared to the Shepards.

Intelligence is a high mark for both, with the Shepard being a touch more playful to the Malnois' higher aggression. Training is similar for both, and essential for good behavior.

I'd do more research into the kid situation (I don't know how young your grand kids are, or their temperament towards animals), but worth looking into at least.




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Posts: 3408 | Location: Southern Maine | Registered: February 10, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I love the way Malanios look but I am looking for something a little more chill.


" The people shall have a right to bear arms, for the defense of themselves and the State" Art 1 Sec 32 Indiana State Constitution

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Posts: 3761 | Location: Northwest, In | Registered: December 03, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Swiss White is one a buddy had and it lived a long time and had no issues, just age took her.
I have a friend who has had a couple of the East European ones and as he got pups, they became very loving family dogs, but, you have to socialize them with little ones as pups or get one who was a family dog.
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Posts: 400 | Registered: January 07, 2020Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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The European lines are going to be better bred. I got my last GSD from a breeder right outside of Frankfurt. All depends on what you want. Most of the solid lines are going to be bred to be working k9’s and not pets. I’d suggest doing some research to find breeders in the US that import their Sires and Dams from overseas. Get comfortable with the breeder, then put down a moving deposit. I just did this with a Mal breeder. My Mal got severely injured so while rehabbing her, I decided to put a deposit down that moves so I can at least be ready. The good breeders will have deposits for months or even years. Good call on not going with a Mal. I try to talk people out of getting them. Unless they are going to be worked daily, they are not pets.



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Posts: 13283 | Location: Down South | Registered: January 16, 2010Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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The Mals brother, the Belgian Sheepdog is a great family pet. Not aggressive and good temperament.
 
Posts: 11158 | Location: NE OHIO | Registered: October 22, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Sorry, you are considering an East German (DDR) shepherd??


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Posts: 18725 | Location: One hop from Paradise | Registered: July 27, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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My current Shepard had surgeries on both hips and my other Shepard died from lymphoma just trying to see if there is a little more resilient Shepard out there and closer to 60lbs than 90.


" The people shall have a right to bear arms, for the defense of themselves and the State" Art 1 Sec 32 Indiana State Constitution

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Posts: 3761 | Location: Northwest, In | Registered: December 03, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I have had two DDR German Shepards, both had to be put to sleep due to degenerative myelopathy (DM). Currently have a female 3/4 Czech 1/4 DDR lines and she is a carrier for DM from the DDR side. She is about 60 lbs and is extremely agile and fast. She has been spayed and is a super sweet girl who is a bit ornery at times. I have a male who is an all black Czech Border Guards line who has been DNA tested and cleared of the genetic issues. He is a super nice dog at 22 months old and I would have named him "Goofy" based on his personality (my dog sitter calls the female "the sweetest" and my male a "character"). He is about 80 lbs now and is rangy build with a HUGE head. He is faster on the straight-a-ways and has greatly improved his agility running with the female. As I type this, he is three feet away, facing me and napping. The female is in the living room chewing on a bone. If you decide to go the breeder route, I can recommend a few who do DNA testing in order to get the genetic diseases out of their bloodlines. I have seen a lot more DNA testing done by the Czech line breeders both here in USA and in Europe. I have seen almost no testing by the West German line breeders and I can understand their reluctance to suddenly dump 10-20 years of bloodline work for disease like DM which will hit the dog later in life after it has competed and been bred (I will say their show dogs have to be able to work and their work dogs look good but still have that DNA time bomb waiting to go off when they get older).

GSDs have a nice off switch. Mals don't. Yeah you can spend two hours getting a Mal tired but they nap and 30 minutes later they are re-charged and ready to go. I have been really impressed with some of the GSD/Mal mix dogs I have seen as working Police K9s.

Like my old USAF Master Sergeant K9 training instructor said, "German Shepherds aren't the best in any category.......but they are second best in all categories."

I see you are in Northern Indiania. Here is a good GSD breeder I can recommend:

Vom Eisenherz German Shepherds Facebook

Vom Eisenherz

Here is a Malinois breeder I can recommend in Missouri (she breeds more of utility line can do Search and Rescue or Police K9):

Milita Springs Malinois

Milita Springs Malinois Facebook
 
Posts: 4121 | Location: St.Louis County MO | Registered: October 13, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I'm still not at a point where I can have a dog but I've wanted a GSD for a very long time. I don't remember which member here recommended this breeder years ago, but I've had it in my favorites ever since.

http://chercarkennels.net/germanshepherds.html



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Posts: 2703 | Registered: November 05, 2012Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Following this thread. We have a 6yo Czech GSD with bad back issues. We had a female prior when I was growing up. I wouldn’t be surprised if we have to put him down within 3 years. He gets along well now, but over exertion gets to him. It’s pretty damn annoying, we spent an entire years vacation fund on him and got screwed by a bad breeder. I digress, we still love him like there’s no tomorrow. I would very much like to have an E. German GSD in the future.


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Posts: 7155 | Location: TEXAS | Registered: July 18, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by Keystoner:
I'm still not at a point where I can have a dog but I've wanted a GSD for a very long time. I don't remember which member here recommended this breeder years ago, but I've had it in my favorites ever since.

http://chercarkennels.net/germanshepherds.html


That is another good kennel up in Michigan. She also breeds really nice Dutch Shepherds.
 
Posts: 4121 | Location: St.Louis County MO | Registered: October 13, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Thanks, guys I appreciate all the info.


" The people shall have a right to bear arms, for the defense of themselves and the State" Art 1 Sec 32 Indiana State Constitution

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Posts: 3761 | Location: Northwest, In | Registered: December 03, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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We bought our first, first generation in America GSD in about 1995. At that time, the Wall had only been down for 6 years and Schutzhund breeders were still excited about the infusion of new blood into GSD lines. As our breeder put it, the East Germans are even more ruthless than the West Germans about culling unworthy dogs.

We’re on our second GSD now, a really nice sable female that we keep right at 70#, and she’s stayed very healthy (now 8 years old).

I’m frankly a bit surprised to read that people are still discussing East German breeding, 30 years later. I’m also surprised at some of the genetic issues posted in this thread.

If it helps to remember. GSDs were originally bred as herding animals, Shepherd.


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