Hi all,

I'm in abit of a dilemma I really like the Czech ddr German Shepards but every breeder when asked about the temperament around kids they all seem to avoid the question so now I'm abit put off.

Any advice anyone can give me please?

I'd guess alot would come down to the parents temperaments, what socialization the breeder does and the working drive of the line.

I fully understand that but as a whole are they ok with kids

Meet the parents, and as many other relatives as possible, is all I can suggest. 

The breed is so varied, it's impossible to say what the temperament of any particular dogs lines are.

It's an impossible question to answer. None of us here are likely to have much experience, if any with Czech bred GSD. You should continue your research asking the appropriate breeders. If they will not answer the question you need to make a decision on what is best for you and your family.

Your probably right thanks guys

First off, I've never heard of this 'strain' of German Shepard's (aren't they all the same). Secondly, as working dogs their temperaments aren't probably as well-suited to children as, say, a lovely little gundog - but then I'm biased, because I have two spaniels And third, any dog can be good with children if they receive the right start in life and early positive socialisation.

Not  familiar with Czech gsd but regarding working lines no reason why if well bred and bought up they arnt as good with children as any other. The owners ability to manage working lines who may have a stronger prey drive and need to be working in some way  would be more of a concern  .I have gsd and know working lines isn't something I would choose  as generally to up and at it for me.can I ask why particularly  these gsd ?

> I ask why particularly  these gsd ?

The dogs in the former Eastern block were not influenced by the showing fashion in the West and are generally of a more moderate and workmanlike physical type.

Certainly physically they appeal more to me too, but then my preference is for a moderately build natural dog type. http://www.germanshepherdguide.com/german-shepherd-types.html

Just ticks a lot of the boxes for me in what I like in a dog and also has a good working drive which I'm also looking for.

In all honesty my partner used to breed gsd while I've also had Rottweilers so it was a toss up between the two breeds and then we both decided on a gsd but I more intrigued by the Czech bloodline.

And here I'am today now thinking should I just stick to what I know ( Rottweilers), because yes it's a family dog I also know it's going to be myself who will be doing most of the training walking playing and general socialising with the dog.

the Czech ddr German Shepards but every breeder when asked about the temperament around kids

gsd but I more intrigued by the Czech bloodline.

Do you mean a Czek line born & bred here to a UK breeder or do you mean a mainland european breeder in Europe somewhere?
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AS I said try and meet the dogs and breeders.  Check on health and longevity compared to the Rotties.

From looking at the link picturing the various 'types', for me the West German Working lines would be more how I prefer to see the GSD.   The Czech line dog body-wise might be less exaggerated, but I can't go with that head-type I'm afraid - ditto for the DDR/East German working example.   As for the WG Show lines - THAT's where the breed has gone wrong in the UK.    Many people buy into these bloodlines which to me ARE wrong behind and with way too much topline roaching.   The example of the 'N.American /Canadian lines' aren't those shoulders too forward - or is it just badly stacked?

For me, again, of the four pictures across the top of the article linked, I MUCH prefer the fourth example.   He has the required slope from withers to back, without a banana-back/roach.

FWIW

for me the West German Working lines would be more how I prefer to see the GSD.

Heres the conformations they had, 1930's, germany....scroll in a bit, some good shots of what they used to be before show folk got hold of 'em.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsBi0PehfAM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLnPamdtI1A
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Yes born and raised in the uk.

The west Germany lines are very beautiful also, but I'am finding it hard to find breeders.

That have good knowledge and not just money grabbing, I understand you have to pay for excellent quality but again some people I have come across only seem to focus on that which I believe is also wrong.

I would turn the question around and ask if the children are good with dogs, and how experienced the parents are. It does make a huge difference if the kids are dog savvy and know what to do or not.  And listen to the parents when told what to do. Not left alone at any time with a large dog with high prey drive. Pretty much all my Malinois are okay with children, some love everyone, but I would never in a million years leave any of them alone with my grandson who is just 18 months. And I do have two dogs I wouldn't allow near any children under 13-14. One really dislikes children after having lived with a family with four -clearly had some bad experiences.

I wouldn't recommend a dog of working lines from any breed unless the owner was experienced and wanted to work the dog.

There is a thought that the Eastern European Working line GSDs are not 100 % GSDs possibly have other breeds in their genetic make up in the past. I must admit I am not overly fond of this type of GSD as they tend to have been bred solely for their "working/protection" drive. The GSDs that I have have most contact with have been from SV working lines & have been 150% temperament & character because of the tests that the dogs have to have passed BEFORE being bred from & eligible for registration in Germany.

They do have high work drive, but they also have high biddability, no point in having a high work drive if it can not be channelled into directable work, very similar to the very strong work drive sheepdogs I have lived all my life with.

I would advise anyone looking for a working line GSD to look to the country of origin where the dogs are DNA profiled & have been bred for generations for correct character & biddability rather than the somewhat murky world of Eastern European dogs. They may be more open now, but their history is shrouded in mystery

but I'am finding it hard to find breeders

...but, have you handled high drive dogs before? what exactly do you want it for, sport? or just quiet pet type?
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I must admit I am not overly fond of this type of GSD as they tend to have been bred solely for their "working/protection" drive.

Yes, similar thoughts were behind my post above, it's all very well wanting these dogs but their high drive & some raw working lines in them make a very self demanding dogs, if the drives are not expressed sufficiently they can get very frustrated.
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every breeder when asked about the temperament around kids they all seem to avoid the question so now I'm abit put off.

Well, back to your original Q, I do not see how any breeder of any breed could possibly give you a realistic answer to that question, what are the kids like and a whole lot of related variables comes to mind, not least are they likely to/or is it possible that one day they come running in excitedly with one or two strange mates which the dog has never seen before and who just grab it to cuddle it.....there are a whole range of variables related to kids which you need to take account of & which I don't see as coming into your mind at this point.
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As stated before I have mainly handles Rottweilers,the reason for wanting this breed of dog is for protection purposes for my family and I.

No I have thought about this my son at 4 has been around dogs since he was born, to be fair to that comment the gsd he has been in contact with is a highly trained police dog so his training is top of the line while my ten year old has been around dogs but never owned one as a pet.

Just noticed your comment about protection purposes and not sure what you mean? I have gsd and he is a soft as they come but doesn't sound or look it and being of guarding breed is alert to people and things. He is my pet and I actually have no idea how he would react if I or the house was attacked but I certainly didn't get him with that in mind.

If you after one as a protection dog unless you have someone who can propperly train one or you have experance in that area your better off buying a propperly trained one.

If you are in the UK, you need to be very careful about owning a "protection"trained dog of any breed & simply buying a fully trained dog is definitely NOT the answer for civilians, even the Police force's who are turning to imported fully trained dogs find that not all turn out to be "satisfactory"for a variety of reasons.

Are you looking for a dog for protection from any particular source for your family ? I know several estates that employ protection dogs, but they also employ full time dog handlers as well.

I also have friends who partake in VPG & similar dog activities, but they are never allowed to even start the protection phrase,until the & their dogs have been extensively trained in control first.

A 4 year old even one that has lived with protection dogs from birth is still learning about the world let alone how to behave with a highly trained protection 24/7 & I would be wary & highly vigilant about allowing unfettered access of such a young child to any dog. Were these police dogs with their handlers when your son was allowed access to them ??

Snap!!!,
Zuma is 3rd GSD and all three think the way to answer the door is to stand on back legs with front feet on the frosted glass panels and shout loudly
There is a step up into the house so their head is same or higher than anyone outside and its amusing that most people are standing a step or two back when I open the door even though dog is usually behind the sitting room door by then (but looking at them through the front window)
As soon as anyone is in and the front door shut he is sitting right in front of them waiting for a fuss but callers don't know that so it is very good for speeding window replacement & solar panel salesmen etc on their way

I would be wary & highly vigilant about allowing unfettered access of such a young child

A neighbour of ours refused to come near our house and would ring instead.
As a child (about 5/6 years old) he was friendly with a foreign (gulf states) boy of the same age and knew the dog very well, they were playing in friends garden and had plastic toy guns and Paul found himself flat on the floor with said dog standing over him snarling, growling, pining him down and generally scaring the s*** out of him.
Dog was family 'protection' dog  and no-one had considered small kids playing cowboys

that sounds familiar tatty-ead ! , I've had couriers hiding behind vans in the road having rung the door bell and scarpered rather than wait for the door to be opened and meet the hound of the baskervilles, 
said hound I usually waiting behind the babygate for fuss and a treat

the reason for wanting this breed of dog is for protection purposes for my family and I.

In what situations? You can't take a dog everywhere, and if you just want one that will guard the house, then pretty much any dog with the right looks will do. I have Malinois, they are showdogs, they do Discover Dogs at Crufts, they meet lots of people, I VERY VERY actively do my best to teach them that strangers are to be trusted. I've had some of them actually crawl up and sit on complete strangers' laps. Anyone is allowed into the house (a lot of barking but that's all noise) but if I did not INVITE people in, they would stand no chance whatsoever of getting inside. If one of my dogs is in the front garden alone, no matter how soppy they are, nobody not family would be allowed in and they certainly do LOOK scary. We had to move our postbox far away from the house as the postman was so scared -even though it was outside the fence.  Surely GSDs are the same? The guarding instinct is there naturally and should never be encouraged unless it is a police dog or similar.

LOL
Best one I had was some chap backing away from the door saying 'your not interested in double glazing are you' and catching the back of his knees on front bumper of car parked behind him - he had walked round it to get to the door
He finished half falling and half sitting on the bonnet and then scuttling down the road !

OH said I should have said 'oh yes, come in'

Agree goldmali gsd and many.other breeds would be similar including rotties.although. I. Feel.your comment.was.rhetorical :)

Spot on Goldmali.  In a domestic, family setting I do not believe a high-drive protection dog is appropriate, or necessary.  The children need to be considered - their friends need to be able to play with them safely.  You need to be able to walk the dog safely, etc etc.  Bear in mind that under the dangerous dogs act, now, private property is covered (so anyone who hasn't broken in is protected) and it also covers the garden.

I have a mix of dogs here, 3 pure and 5 crosses, and all of them would protect me or my home to varying degrees against an intruder, from alert barking up to a bite if someone broke in: not all of them are breeds or crosses of breeds with guarding instincts.  A full-on protection dog simply is not necessary - very often just a big dog is offputting enough by itself.  My big lad is dobermann X dalmatian, he's as soppy as it gets with people but his look (almost all black) and size is enough to be a deterrant to anyone with less than law-abiding intentions.  And although, like Goldmali, I actively work on teaching my dogs to be sociable with people, he would still protect me if the need arose.  He's the most territorial of all my dogs.

Loool

Searched for Czech Shepherd Dogs.  I cannot believe that they are asking for £7000.00 for one in Sittingbourne, Kent.

Yes I have one and I don't even have any kids but she loves them, but I think she was socialised with them when she was a puppy (I got her at 11 months) she's not keen on wildlife or some dogs though.