Four Reasons to Choose a Working Line German Shepherd Versus the Show Lines

In this article we will consider major differences between the working line German Shepherds and show lines German Shepherds. We will consider whether the working lines are actually superior to show line dogs? Are working line German Shepherds that superior to Show dogs, or is this topic just clickbait? Any German Shepherd breeder worth their sale will agree this is worth asking and answering. True working line German Shepherds cost a mint. Considering the amount of money a pedigreed working line German Shepherd cost, understanding the difference between these two lines just makes sense! As this paper will argue, the last several decades of show line breed have introduced a plethora both health and temperament problems. Show line German Shepherds ought to be avoided at all costs!

Reason 1: The straighter back of working line German Shepherds is so much healthier than the extreme roach back of show-line dogs.

The roach back of the show lines are a big reason to avoid show lines German Shepherds. What an odd decision for dog breeders to intentionally select for dogs with a curved spine. The hunchback of Notre Dame? If a human baby was born with a spine shaped like this, we would say the baby had a birth defect. One does not need to be a vet to understand how wrong this is!. If we look in the wild, no wolf has a spine even close to the shape of a show line German Shepherd. Breeding a roach back in show line German Shepherd changes the shape of the dog’s spine. And this change negatively effects health. These health defects lead to severe joint pressure, such that, even if a dog passes its OFA certification at two years of age, the dog’s joints will often break down long before hitting old age. If you are concerned about owning healthy German Shepherds, do NOT buy a show line German Shepherd. The roach back is arguably a gross distortion of nature. It’s a walking health disaster. Working line German Shepherds, in contrast to the show lines, are dogs with a straighter, more natural shape to their topline. Go back in time fifty to sixty years and all German Shepherds would have had the shape and body conformation of working line German Shepherds. The true working line German Shepherd is not a new twist to the GSD breed. Quite the opposite. Working line German Shepherd breeders are continuing the breed standard. It is show-line breeders that have introduced a toxic health hazard into the German Shepherd Breed. Want a healthy dog? Steer clear of show line German Shepherds as if your life depended on it. The logical choice is to choose a well-bred working line German Shepherd.

Reason 2: Authentic working line German Shepherds are temperament tested against an objective standard.

Compare the work that goes into a dog earning a working title as compared to a show dog winning an AKC championship. The AKC championship is but a mere shadow of the working dog title. Often, the AKC championship has been described as a lightweight, virtual beauty contest. Purebred German Shepherd Dogs are put in a show ring. They trot in a circle and a judge evaluates their movement and conformation. Virtually nothing of substance can be learned about the dog’s temperament. As a working line breed, German Shepherds were bred and selected for their ability to do actual work. When dogs win a show championship, the judge is essentially saying the dog that wins is the prettiest dog in the room. But what of its temperament. The longer a pedigree emphasizes show pedigree dogs, the further that line moves from dogs tested against an objective standard. Compare the beauty contest show championship to a GSD that earns a legitimate working dog title. Earning the title requires the dog prove both its temperament and training by passing exams where the dog is tested against an actual objective standard. If the dog cannot demonstrate minimum standards of proficiency, the dog fails. Unlike the show where there is always a winner, dogs attempting to pass a working dog title often fail. Earning a title requires dogs prove their abilities by actually showing they can do the work for which German Shepherds were bred. So, if you want a German Shepherd that is more than a mere couch warmer, buy a true working line German Shepherd!

Reason 3: Litters from titled pedigrees tend to throw highly trainable puppies.

If you are searching online in order to buy a German Shepherd puppy, odds are you are thinking about dogs with capacity for protection work. This is likely true whether your intent is as simple as finding a great family companion to serve as a good family protection dog. The same goes for the family that hopes to pursue much more serious protection training. The expectation is that German Shepherds have historically been bred and developed for dogs with stable nerves, dogs that thrive under pressure. These are the kinds of dogs that tend to make better personal protection dogs. Too many show-line German Shepherds have little else going for them other than they are purebred registered dogs. But for many show line dogs, few dogs in their recent pedigree have ever been tested against any kind of serious objective standard. In contrast, when a breeder selectively choosing breeding stock on the basis of breeding stock that has been hand-picked by merit of a pedigree chock full of dogs proven their earning working line German Shepherd titles, it is no contest between the two choices. Dogs with a strong pedigree where nearly every dog in the pedigree has proven its ability to do high level obedience and protection work, when you stack up dozens and dozens of dogs in a pedigree, the odds of producing puppies able to perform at a high level, highly trainable puppies, the odds go way, way up!

Reason 4: Choosing to purchase a working line German Shepherd is voting with your pocketbook in a way that makes a difference.

How do we shift culture? One way we do so is by voting with our pocketbook. Just like many social media influencers can sway people one way or another, we do have influence. It might be small. But as more and more German Shepherd enthusiasts start voting with our pocket books when buying a German Shepherd puppy, demand for the exaggerated show line dog with a roach back will dry up and go away. Choosing a working line German Shepherd from healthy, trainable lines is a great way to be part of stepping on the scales of returning the breed back to its healthier and early heritage. German Shepherds were bred as working dogs. Let us return the breed back to its heritage of working dogs that are highly trainable. Searching for a new puppy, consider buying a working line German Shepherd puppy for sale.