[sandy]

so cute, I loved my German Shephard but they are so fightening to many people you end up an enemy when out on walks otherwise I would love one again!!

[little blue]

Aww Sandy.. theres so many in Rescue.
Open your heart and home to a GSD, you'll be my friend forever!

Seriously, its not the breed but some owners that give 'em a bad name.  We always muzzle Sheba if shes off our property - she's so nervous after a neglected and abusive puppyhood, its for her safety and to keep people coming up to her which freaks her out, then she barks (try explaining that shes just nervous when shes going at it and they're backing away accusing her of being 'nasty')
This is the dog who lies on her back like a baby, head on my knee, paws round my neck for a cuddle!

Hows the lead training going with Eddie?  He's such a handsome boy.

[sandy]

No, sorry but we have are hands full of Labs!!! My old German Shephard was also nervouse and worried about things too, she would always gently wake people up if they fell asleep on the sofa or in the garden sunbathing, she ended up with hip displacia and had to be put to sleep, lovely dog she was

[little blue]

 

she would always gently wake people up if they fell asleep on the sofa or in the garden sunbathing
/quote]
Dont think Sheba knows the word 'gently' She's abit like a tank!
HD is the curse of pedigree gsd. Sorry, I wont start ranting about breeding, now I've had my say about rescues...

[doganjo]

HD is the scourge of many breeds.  The Kennel Club has a list for each breed of diseases that should be tested for.  In my opinion the general public should be educated to check that list before they even consider buying a puppy, ensuring that both parents have been tested clear of any relevant diseases.

[MrRee]

Eddy's lead training is going well thanks. I walked him into the village and back and he was an absolute joy,slack lead and walking at heal all the time. A little nervous of cars (the French don't give you a wide berth at the best of times),but he's getting better all the time. He wasn't even phased by the gun shots from the Chasse in the neighbouring field as we walked passed.

My views on Pedigree breeders?  If you like playing God and breeding an animal to the industry "accepted" standard,even if that standard means health issues,then in my opinion,they are nothing short of hypocritical,insidious abusers. I'd never buy a pedigree dog and I wouldn't want to know or socialise with the breeders. Someone should parody the industry,like they did with the film Strictly Ballroom,and show it up for what it really is.......... Ree

[chickenfeed]

 :)Mr Ree i agree with you about pedigree dog breeders i would not say they all have the same ethos though i think the kc is as bigger hypocrite as you will find and some of the breed standards nothing short of cruel its all about the money with many breeders rather than the love of the animal ( and yes i know a lot of dog breeders ). i had a dog once from a family hamo but found out later the dog came from a puppy farm in wales lets just say i was duped and the breeds rescue home even told me to put the dog down (i didn't) they would not not rehome her so i  contacted the kc club all they did was protect the breeders identity and block me from doing anything about these dispicable breeders. my current dog has kc papers but i brought her through a lot of reserch and avoided any guidance from the kc.
i am glad his training is going well keep up the good work.

[little blue]

Dont get me started on puppy farms... my friend had a rescue cocker who was originally from a puppy farm, his tail is docked to the point of non-existence and he had his voice box clipped.
Our GSD is a pedigree, but  the rescue weren't keen on handing on her papers (again, identities) and I'm not bothered.  She's spayed, so why does it matter?

Well done Eddie, he sounds like he's coming on a treat!

[doganjo]

I am a pedigree dog breeder and I take GREAT exception to these comments and to the comparing of myself, and other responsible people like me, to puppy farms.  You have none of you substantiated your reasons for these views.  You are just jumping on the bandwaggon of that biased and emotive BBC programme.

I have a litter of pups when I want another dog rather than buying in, or when a number of people want a puppy from either my dog or my bitch.  I have bred 8 litters in 25 years.  I am a Kennel Club Accredited breeder and as such I have certain regulations to abide by.  I must provide registration certificate, pedigree, (most people don't realise these are different documents), properly prepared bill of sale, written instructions on feeding, training, worming, health, my dogs must be HD free and chipped for identification, plus a whole lot more.  In addition my puppy buyers receive their first year membership of the breed club, a toy, lead, food sample and a piece of bedding with the scent of the pups and Mum on it, as well as a description of the registered name I have given the pup. My pups are all called after hills or mountains in dedication to my late husband, and I follow the same alphabetical naming system as the French Club.  My bitch will go onto high protein extra quality food as soon as she is confirmed in whelp, and a proper worming programme put in place.  She will be whelped in my own bedroom in a brand new correctly made whelping box with roll bars for the pups' safety, with vet quality bedding, and she and the pups will move through to the kitchen into a puppy pen after one week.  I have a CCTV system in place so I can watch them at all times.  I am expected to take back and /or rehome any dog I breed for whatever reason.
All that costs time, money, effort, dedication and love, but my pups cost less than half that of a labradoodle which as I have said before could inherit diseases and conditions from both sides. 

Please be very careful when referring to pedigree breeders.  They are in the main caring people dedicated to their own breed.  Kennel Club Breed Standards are not a recent invention.  They were first set up by working terrier and hound people originally and have progressed considerably into the well thought out templates for each breed.  There is absolutely no cruelty involved whatsoever.
rant over

[chickenfeed]

 :)its nothing to do with the bbc ( not got a clue what the bbc has to do with it)
i have had a bad experience with a kc reg dog i brought from a lovely family home the litter & mum were to be seen there i was given a starter bundle and took my new pup home (after much reserch and guidance from kc) the dog was in good health at my 1st vet check but the dog was showing starange behaviour even at a very young age to cut a very long distressing story short the dog turned to be a bad apple i had her spayed and she turned on the vet & staff then she attaced my english bull terrier he life ling companion and then she bit my arm whilst feeding her, i got intouch with the rescue centre for her breed and they had a copy of her pedigree they told me that she had been breed on a puppy farm in wales and was not born where i brought her from some 200 miles away from wales they would not rehome any dog from that breeder because of the very same problems i was having they said to have her put to sleep, i could not bring myself to do this so a family friend with no dogs or other animals took her home. i contacted the kc to get the details ie address & phone number to basically be told to go away.
i did trace the breeder with the help of the rescue centre and other duped owners the breeder has since moved on i am told.

earlier this year i was looking for a boarder terrier the first place i went to was 2 miles down the road it had a sign out advertising bt's council app etc. i went to the door ( no appointment) to be told her and her son shared the breeding / selling she being in cambs him in exmoor she had no puppies there until he drove them down in two weeks would i like to leave a deposit ( quick exit)

i also know some brilliant breeders that treat their dogs more like pets than a money making scheme, it a pity they dont breed what i like to keep.

[doganjo]

Sorry for your bad experiences but to be honest that is not bad breeders or the breed club or the KC - it is sheer bad luck.  You really mustn't go around tarring everyone with the same brush because of that.  I know HUNDREDS of good breeders.  I have had a 'bad apple' too - a rage syndrome cocker - I didn't blame the breeder at any time.  ONE incidence of the disease was found inn the 5th generation back after extensive investigations, so how could she have known that was on the side of the stud she used.

[MrRee]

If the breed standard was well thought out,why does the KC hold a list of health issues for each breed? Why haven't they "bred" out these issues? Breeders (and I made no mention of puppy farms either) breed dogs so they look like the accepted standard. Which was my original point about breeders,facile,pretentious and materialistic........... Ree

[Snoopy]

Breeding Pedigree anything has its responsibilities.

Not all breeders have the same goals and same reasons for Pedigree Breeding.

Some breeders are only in it for the money, and tend to become "puppy farms" even if they only
have say six bitches to breed from.

Then there's the good ones, the ones that do it to keep the breed going, the ones who dedicate
long hours, time and expense into doing what they believe is right for the breed to continue.

Annie is as passionate and as dedicated to breeding dogs, as we are to breeding pigs.

There is always two sides to every view of subjects, plus a lot of grey areas. 

Just please remember, there are some good ones out there, luckily some are good members of this forum.