What type of GSD should I choose?   Straight back or sloping?   Is there a lot of difference?   Can I tell whether or not a puppy is either?   Obviously will see mum, probably not dad?  Mum good health scores, don't know about dad.  Had alsatians in the past, not since name change to GSD, only recently heard of these different backs.  Any advice given about anything to do with GSD would be gratefully received.

The ones with the sloping back look to me as if their back end has crumpled and not very healthy either,when you see police dogs in action I can't imagine ones with the sloping backs being as agile.

You should still see decent pics of the sire as well as copies of any health certificates and other paperwork if you don't see him in the flesh.

Good Luck with your research.

try not to just look at their backs - 'English' lines and eastern european lines have straight backs but very different natures - eastern european lines tend to be very 'worky' and basically need more than being a family pet (met one in rescue and he was quite scary!) so whilst I agree (and have) that straight backed dogs are best (just have to see them jumping in agility to see the difference) you have to look at the dog as a whole.

Some german and more show lines have 'better' backs (in my eyes) there are a lot who are still low to the ground at the rear end and a noticeable 'kink' in the back which I hate.

I prefer the straighter backs to look at, the dramatically sloping backs make the dog look terribly unbalanced to my eyes, this huge noble head and forequarters trailing away to such skimpy looking hindlegs! But I'm no GSD expert! Make sure dad has good hipscores as well as mum of course, a good breeder should have a photo of dad as well as copies of his health results.

To be completely honest, this should be the least of your considerations when looking at GSD's.  Apart from the usual Hips and elbows, you have loads more diseases to watch out for in some lines including epilepsy and AF, which is more important than the 'look' of the dog.
And I say this with a complete understanding.  We recently got a GSD.  My idea of a GSD was our 'Alsatian' we had when I was growing up, so very straight backed, black and tan.  We done a lot of researching and it was terrifying tbh.  Almost put us off the breed altogether when all the health issue kept coming up but we persevered.  We found a breeder with lines free of epilepsy and AF.  Then we checked out the HS and ES for the past few generations which were all pretty even throughout(hips, elbows were fine).  What we actually wanted from the litter was the very last issue.  I had no colour preference but would prefer a bitch.  My OH wanted a black/tan with a lighter face and a male.  We now have a solid black bitch  :))  As she has matured, she is pretty straight back but with a slight slope, not accentuated like in the ring, but then, these dogs are set up this way.  This is not a natural stance for the dogs and when they are stood naturally, the slope is not so bad.
We chose agility lines too.  Working lines and show lines(with shtz background) were far too 'edgy' for our situation.
Hope this helps and gives you some things to think about.
Also, join a GSD forum.  There are some great minds on there that have such knowledge of the breed and lines/health.

Went away and checked out a couple of GSD forums and put them to favourites as they look pretty good to read later. Thank you for the suggestion. Over the years I have taken on 8 dogs which weren't wanted, either from ads in shop windows or word of mouth.  Spaniels, collies, alsatians, labradors, and shelties.   All brilliant dogs, pity about the original owners.  Now I thought I would have my own dog.   I feel like a complete novice, scared that even with the right research I'll get it wrong.

I know the shape of the back should not be the most important thing whilst looking for a pup, but I think with GSD's it's quite important since the badly coiled back can lead to whole lot of problems.
My grandmother bred GSD's [in Finland] and they were the tradional 'straight' backed black/tan ones[no GSD back should be completely straight, it should slope from the neck down in line towards the sloping croup] Beautiful healthy dogs with a beautiful temperaments. Ready to work, but would not go bonkers if they didn't get worked every day [like dogs from proper working lines would]
So personally I would try to find something similar if I was looking for one now, however I think it would be quite a difficult task.
I show my girl on a W&P day so I get to see many Shephards and unfortunately there are dogs in the ring who's backs are almost coil shape and the hocks are crossing over, making them look like they're going to fall over any minute. For me personally that is not the type I'd go for.
I also don't like the mad, over exited temperaments.
I would visit as many breeders as possible and see their dogs. Shows and working trials are good places to go to as well. It's worth doing your homework and wait for the right pup ;)

to be honest mind, when I was looking a while back I did first look at backs - as I wanted a dog for agility and had retired my Kim at 11 years (she did 2'6") - then I looked at all the other things... hip scores, epilepsy, epi etc and bought from an agility person. 

oh and it's not really the 'sloping' which is the issue, although it is if the dogs run like they stack them, but the sort of kink in the middle of some of them - a slight slope (with a straight line) is what's aimed for in GSDs - not over done though!

Now I thought I would have my own dog.   I feel like a complete novice, scared that even with the right research I'll get it wrong.

I too took in rescue GSDs all my life, beautiful dogs ruined and scarred by other peoples treatment. Eventually I decided I wanted a pup of my own that I could bring up, train and love from the start. I researched for one and a half years visiting many many breeders ( before I knew about Champdogs for advice) looking for all the health tested and well bred puppies. Eventually 18 months later I found the breeder and pup of my dreams, waited for the birth, then another agonising 8 weeks and then came the time to take my pup home. She was the most adorable and easy to train pup with the best nature ever, but by the time she reached 12 months things began to go wrong. She had inflammatory bowel disease followed by HD. From 6 years to her death at 9 years she was virtually a cripple on painkillers until her quality of life was so bad I had to do what loving owners do for their dogs.
I have no regrets on my choice of pup because she was beautiful in nature and my once in a lifetime friend, but even though every health check possible had been done on the parents and the breeder was as devastated as me, it shows that it is possible to still have a poorly pup.
I still believe that 'HIM' above decided that this dog would need a lot of TLC and for this reason chose me to be her owner - which makes me the lucky one to have been allowed to spend time in the company of this wonderful dog.

It isn't so much a sloping back, rather that the rear is overangulated, giving a 'crouched' impression behind.  Working line dogs don't have this, they have a much straighter stifle. Really IMO somewhere between the two is ideal. Then, you shouldn't see the roach back or 'crouch'.  There are quite a few middle of the road type breeders producting exactly this type of dog. You will know how the puppy will turn out by the parents pretty much.  You will see some German show lines can be quite sloping, some quite moderate and there are middle of the road breeders. Some others will offer flat backed dogs (but careful with these breeders and health testing!) You are unlikely to see both parents in person, but you should be able to see photos of the parents of a litter on a website, so you know what the type is likely to be.

I would steer very clear of breeders who breed for the unusual colours, blues etc. Despite the fact that their dogs may look very appealing on the surface. Steer clear of breeders who only put 'pet' names of the dogs on websites, you want to be able to see pedigrees ideally, then you can seek advice on the dogs, look up health tests and pedigrees and so on.

Health tests should be minimum of good scores on hips for both parents, preferably with good hip scores going back into the pedigrees as well. Elbows too lower than 1 if possible. Don't compromise in any way on this.

Good luck! If you have any litters in mind you can always ask advice.

don't forget critically that the sire should be tested clear for haemophilia....

There are 2 breeders.  One has straight backed, long haired and hip scores 12/3 = 15 and 0 elbows.   The other slanting/sloping backed, short haired and hip score 1/2 =3.   Don't know about the sires.  What does anyone on here think?  I've been on GSD website but no opinions yet to speak of.   I need a dog to take on long walks any other suggestions.   Dogs when they weren't health checked years ago seemed to go on for years with no problems but now after a few years they all seem to have something of other wrong with them.  A rescue dog has been recommended but that is all I've ever had.

I think you need to go for a type that you actually like. Meet these dogs in the flesh first to see that you like what you see and also how you feel about the breeder. The sire will be most important and you should know all you can about him and meet him if you can and the health test results. Do either breeder work or show their dogs or are they just pets??

when I bought my first puppy (second shep) I went to a breeder and saw the pups, their parents, a great auntie aged 9 and particularly a gt gt grandpa who was 12 and who was absolutely stunning!  The parents were lovely, but what sold me the pup was the older relatives... all fit and well and good structure (this was a show kennel at the time, but the dogs were so well put together!).  This pup turned out to be the most fantastic dog, we learned agility together, she competed until aged 11 (at 2'6") when an injury stopped her well before she was ready...... you need to decide what you're looking for rather than merely going by hip scores.

Think you'll find if you go back on that site, you've actually had quite a bit of advice.  I know I've given some.  Anyway, don't let the rescue issue put you off.  Most people want to push the rescues but if you want a puppy, that's entirely your choice.  You've also been asked your area on that site so you can be advised of decent breeders near you.  You get what you pay for and considering you are looking for a active healthy family member, you shouldn't factor cost in too much.
Also, those hip scores are too odd (12/3) for my liking. 
Most decent breeders will have a website where they have the past health history for their breeding lines(so Hip scores for generations).  They will also post Kennel club names of the breeding dogs so you can research the health and history of the dogs for youself.
Happy hunting for your puppy!

I would recommend contacting Sheila Rankin - German Shepherd Breed Council - 01708 342194.  She'll give you advice and help you decide.   There is a lot of variation in GSD, and a minefield of health issues to navigate.

Just for comparison; we have one of these part eastern European line worky types, Lol, ;-) and she is foremost and utmost a family pet.  She is the most pleasurable dog we have ever owned; a very calm honest temperament with an on-switch for work, and off-switch for companion/house mode, and a stunner to boot.  It's just not the case that all worky types are beyond living in a family, however, as with all types, or combinations of type, finding a good breeder that is committed to health and knows the linage is very, very important IMO.

First of all thank you all for your replies and thank you to cracar who also replied on the gsd forum.  I must admit I knew which to choose before posting on both forums but was hoping to be told what I wanted to hear.  I would love a long haired straight back but 12/3 is bad.  The one I will have is the short haired sloping back with the good 1/2.  I have read both past histories on the KC web site.  I thought some one might say 1/2 is good if straight back but on a sloping back not so good and go for the long haired one.  No wonder my nickname is Bunnyfluff Brain lol.

No probs, Bunnyfluff(name makes me giggle!!)
My bitch has a very slight slope and at times when standing naturally, looks straight backed.  Thing is, the people who are interested in 'bettering' the breed are either showing or working their stock.  These are the ones that breed from health tested and usually keep a pup for themselves too. 
Pet breeders(who usually are the ones breeding straighbacked) are not.  Straightbacks don't do so well in the ring so aren't really shown.
Also, stay away from any breeder that breeds for unusual colours(white, blues, that type of thing). 
And, lastly, the more knowledgeable the breeder about lines, the healthier the dog will be.  Pet breeders are not knowledgable enough to know where epilepsy and stuff is in the lines and what not to mix.
Why not look at working lines?  I would love a dark sable working boy! and they tend to be straighter backed.
I will PM you the name of someone on the other forum who can really help you.  What she doesn't know about the breed isn't worth knowing!lol.  If she gives you advice, you take it! 

I'd never rule out a hip score of 12/3 if the lines behind it are good and also with elbow testing too they have something more going for them. Have you asked why higher on one side, often correlates to an injury, but not always.
The dog that hasn't been elbow scored could have horrendous elbows too.. Without testing this is a complete unknown and not something if ever consider when it's so easy to score them

I believe both breeders are genuine carers of GSD's.  Elbows 0.   Lines going back are evenish.  eg 4/3=7 6/4=10 5/7=12 6/3=9 2/5=7 and so on.  Just been talking to someone in a shop who said as a rule of thumb double the largest number and if under 18 ok.  I'm home alone and giggling manically.   Oh, by the way, other health issues fine.