| OUR GOALS |
| I have seen far too many beautifully conformed German Shepherds that have weak temperaments. This includes: FEARFULNESS / SHYNESS LAZYNESS LITTLE OR NO DRIVE (PREY, DEFENCE OR OTHERWISE) LACK OF NERVE LACK OF COURAGE AND SO ON.... In one of his last requests, the founder of the breed stated that he wanted his beloved German Shepherd dog to remain a working dog. In Germany they test these working abilities, along with temperment, intellegence, trainability, etc. on the proofing field of SCHUTZHUND. I have come to respect this test and can see it's importance in keeping the German Shepherd dog what it was designed and bred for. It does not make a dog mean! It gives the dog confidence and courage in all situations and the fortitude to remain calm and under control. Unfortunatly many breeders, most notably the "American Shepherd" breeders, have forgotten what this beautiful creature should be. They have gone down the single lane road of EXTREEM angulation where their dog's hind end is almost on the ground and they walk like kangaroos all the way back on their hocks and not their God given feet! Caring only for this deformed body type as long as it includes the "flying trot". I have seen some American breeders proudly display their progeny that have such a long neck and small head, that they bear the distinct resemblence to a LLAMA! Not to mention that most of them are afraid of their own shadow. Fear biters that make a bad name for us all. No dog is truly perfect, but the German standards are much more true to soundness in all facets. Unfortunatly many German show line dogs are rushed through their titles and this in my opinion is one of the biggest hinderences in German show line dogs not doing well in simple bitework testing. It is a shameful thing as many good dogs are wasted with poor rushed training. I truly believe that all the good character issues can be brought back into the show/conformation ring!!! It is, in my opinion, the lack of attention some conformaion breeders have given to the working aspects of this breed, that is at fault. The founder of the breed would be ashamed of some of what's out there winning in the conformation ring! Then on the other hand, I believe that there are alot of "working" breeders that have given up correct conformation to promote EXTREEM working drives. Dogs that bounce off the walls and chew through chainlink. A large number of these dogs do not make good pets as they are too "hyper" to keep busy and become destructive.. Yet, in my opinion, the founder would be happier with them than the some of the conformation breeders. In general these dogs have excellent focus and drives, yet they lack topline, have very little angulation if any. Some lack pigmentation, some have handler aggression problems .Some would say that in general they lack beauty, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. THERE ARE BREEDERS ON BOTH SIDES THAT ARE DOING A GOOD JOB..But, they are very few and far between!!! Anytime you start breeding for one thing and forget about another, you are asking for problems. Please note that there is alot of false information out there from people who don't have a clue, or are assuming things from the past or just what they've heard. Such as the working line breeders cutting down German show lines. Please choose your puppy/dog wisely and do your research. Visit the place, watch their dogs train,work and move. Look for correct conformation. Be sure of the parent's working abilities and their temperaments. Interact with the dogs. Listen for honesty and openness, as opposed to bragging. You will be glad you did! *************************************************************************** OUR GOAL IS TO PROMOTE THE WONDERFUL QUALITIES OF WORKING DRIVES INTO BEAUTIFUL CORRECT GERMAN CONFORMATION, WITH HAPPY, LOVING, SECURE PERSONALITIES THAT FIT WELL INTO FAMILY LIFE AS WELL AS EXCELL ON THE WORKING FIELD.. THEY ARE DOGS OF EXCEPTIONAL INTELLEGENCE THAT ARE SUITED TO MANY AND VARIED TASKS. SERIOUS SPORTS, AND/OR POLICE, SAR ,BOMB, PERSONAL PROTECTION etc, SERIOUS SHOW / CONFORMATION, HERDING, AGILITY + OBEDIENCE ENTHUSIATS ..... ALONG WITH THE AVERAGE PET OWNER , ... WOULD BE PROUD TO WORK WITH AND OWN !!! *************************************************************************** WE ARE OFF TO A GREAT START WITH THE DOGS WE NOW HAVE.!! KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THEM IN THE SHOW AND WORKING RINGS, AS WE PROCEED WITH TITLING. TITLING WILL GO SLOW HERE AS WE DO IT ALL WITH PRIVIATE TRAINING FOR EACH DOG. EVEN THOUGH IT GOES SLOW IF A DOG DOES NOT SHOW MARKED POTENTIAL IN SCHUTZHUND TRAINING, AND HAVE CERTIFIED GOOD HIPS, IT WILL NOT BE USED FOR BREEDING. IN MY OPINION IT IS MUCH BETTER TO GO SLOW AND GET THINGS RIGHT RATHER THAN RUSHING THE DOG THROUGH THE TITLES, LIKE IS SO COMMON IN GERMANY, AND COMING OUT WITH A POORLY TRAINED DOG THAT IS UNDEPENDABLE IN SIMPLE BITWORK TESTING Debby Melle ~ Castlebrook Shepherds 12206 S. 480 W. Remington, IN. 47977 219-261-2326 ~ or ~ ebinezer052899@yahoo.com. |
| EBONEZER VOM HAUS DARENGO SCH2, OFA GOOD NORMAL ELBOWS at 50 months DNA (SCH 1, 95 PROTECTION) |
| YENTEL v BULLINGER OFA GOOD H&E |
Artwork by Heather
Fisher
Fisher